Dread Knights

In the book excerpts I posted I made mention of Dread Knights on a few occasions. This term was not originated by me and has actually been used several times in many different fantasy works. I have to admit though my knowledge is limited as to what role they serve in different works of literature or games. I just know that I liked the name and it kind of stuck with me.

Awhile back I was formulating ideas in my head for the Shadowlands. That is a region of the world of Kurth that lies along the Northeastern coast of the Western Continent. In the back history of the world a great evil was slain there in the distant past and ever since then anyone or thing that remained in that region for too long became corrupted. One of the ancient Kings Of Pelador launched a crusade in the region and many Peladorian Knights joined his banner and cleansed the region. While the King and most of the Knights returned to Pelador some of them remained to carve out their own fiefdoms.

Over time even these once proud and noble knights became corrupted and polluted. Evil crept into their minds and bodies and soon they would transform into fell creatures of abyss and chaos. Some know them as Shadowlords and others refer to them as the Dark Lords.  Over two dozen small princedoms exist in the Shadowlands each ruled over by a Dark Lord. They send their minions out into the Savagelands and take back barbarian slaves to serve them.

Most of these barbarian slaves simply become disease ridden parodies of their former selves. Not unlike the walking dead, pathetic wretches that are used like cattle by the Dark Lords. Those who are the strongest and fittest though get elevated by the Dark Lords to become Dread Knights.

The Dread Knights are rewarded by the Dark Lords with strength and power and longevity. They do not wither or die of natural causes. Instead for centuries they served the Dark Lords as knights of their realms. Their fighting prowess is matched only by their cruelty. They dress in blackened armor adorned with spikes and horns to drive even more fear into the hearts of men.

While at one time over a thousand of these foul knights polluted Kurth now they are but a memory of its past. During the last great crusade by King Novan III a grand battle was fought towards the end of the campaign and the Great Knights slain the last of their kind. It was an epic last stand though and they claimed many Peladorian Knights before the last of them was snuffed out.