A militant holy order that espouses a “direct action” philosophy.

The Order of the Naked Sword¹ is… unsubtle. But it is a knowing, deliberate lack of subtlety. The name that these armor-clad warrior-monks have chosen for themselves reflects their terminally simple philosophy:

Most problems are best solved by violence.

The Knights of the Naked Sword aren’t fools, and they do not insist that violence can solve all problems, nor that it’s always the only solution. But, they say, naked force solves far, far more problems than most people are willing to admit. Should you find that the direct approach isn’t working, do not conclude (as most people would) that violence isn’t the answer. It’s entirely possible—nay, likely—that the real problem is that you’re not using enough of it… and that is most often due to weakness. The Knights believe that weakness—lacking the strength to confront obstacles with enough force to smash through them, leaving nothing but victory, or lacking the conviction to apply as much force as is truly called for—is the cause of much of the world’s evil and suffering. And so they train constantly, fight constantly, study constantly—study tactics, techniques, the vulnerabilities of their enemies.

The Knights have much to show for their dedication. The Order of the Naked Sword is no impoverished monastic brotherhood, no rag-tag band of errant do-gooders. They are an army—as organized, professional, and numerous as the armies of most nations. The Order’s simple dogma and their unwavering dedication to battle against evil attracts many would-be recruits (though the Knights are notoriously selective about membership). And this is no peacetime reserve army, either; the banners of the Naked Sword are rarely furled for long, as the Order is engaged in a nearly-constant war against the barbarian tribes on the southern frontier of what once was the mighty Celdic Empire.

But however far the Knights may be from the romantic ideal of the merciful, compassionate paladin—who sheds tears for the suffering of the guilty and the innocent alike—it would be a mistake to think that they’re bullies or blusterers. They are paladins above all; and when they fight, it is for justice and salvation, not for profit. The archangel Raziel is the Order’s primary divine patron; and the Knights of the Naked Sword share their icon’s intolerance for injustice, and his boundless generosity, in equal measure.

Such a description applies to few people so fully as it does to the famous grandmaster of the Order of the Naked Sword—Kasimir “Blackbeard” Ilic, a hulking giant of a man who’s said to be the greatest fighter on the whole continent. Known to fly into a rage at stories of tyrannical and cowardly rulers, or at the unjust suffering of the oppressed, Kasimir is also selfless to the point of being self-sacrificing. He will not hesitate to give the literal shirt off his back to a pauper, and is said to own nothing—no land, no wealth, no personal possessions beyond the bare necessities—because he can’t stand the thought of owning something which another man could use more than he can.

The Order’s relations with other holy orders and monastic brotherhoods are sometimes strained by the former’s preference for direct action above all. Though no paladin would ever wish to harm another who serves the cause of Good, there is nonetheless a great deal of friction between the Knights of the Naked Sword and the Order of the Raven—and, in particular, between Grandmaster Ilic and Valeria. Ironically, both believe the other to be zealots, blinded by principle, unheeding of reality. In Blackbeard’s view, the need to compromise with evil is caused by weakness (were one strong enough, there would be no need for compromise); and weakness is a sin, as it is always possible—and therefore obligatory—to be stronger. Of just this sin he accuses Valeria, whom he sees as being far too willing to bend her principles to the point of betraying them, in the service of her cause. (As for what Valeria thinks of Ilic—that is too obvious to belabor.)