The Knights of the Cudget are an ascetic order that keeps peace along Thring’s border. The Cudgels are few in number and almost unrecognizable as knights. The Witch Queen *(23.16) *and the clans of the Barrier Range frustrate or outright destroy questing knights who charge into their lands with mount and blade. So for generations, the Cudgels have cast aside weapons, armor and mounts to study esoteric magic traditions. Many can barely swing a sword or walk in chain mail, but are formidable in whatever arcane discipline they devote themselves too. All initiated knights carry an enchanted cudgel that signifies their rank. When the border is quiet, many brothers venture into Thring and elsewhere to battle evil and seek arcane knowledge.
The leader of their order is known as the Spellknight. He alone can conjure the dreaded Phantom Steed. The Phantom Steed, by some accounts, is made of thundercloud, has hooves of fire, and charges through the sky like a meteor. It has not been seen for at least a decade. The current Spellknight, Sir Codwise the Old, is an elusive character unpopular among his brothers. He spends most of his time compiling a personal library via contacts in the Necromantic Office (29.14.35). The Cudgels have traditionally frowned on necromancy and are loathe dealing with Shuttered and they hope to replace him soon.
Before the band of landless knights that would become the Cudgels seized this forest (Birlwood Hold), it was home to the Birls, a witch clan. As the wooden gargoyles the Birls breathed life into resisted steel but were vulnerable to wood, the first Spellknight Sir Eclan the Lame and his knights fashioned cudgels and used them to destroy the gargoyles.
Sir Codwise has bred the chicken dragons.
Connection:
- The Spellknight has been polymorphing chickens into dragons in an attempt to harvest dragon blood, at least one of these chicken dragons has escaped (19.15).
Hooks:
- Who are some prominent Knights of the Cudgel? What are their deeds?
- What properties do their enchanted cudgels hold?
- Is the Phantom Steed a demon, or something else?
- What is Sir Codwise the Old up to in his dealings with the Necromantic Office? Who are some pretenders to his leadership?