Paksi Site: Knights of the Nine

Becoming a member of the Knights of the Nine faction provides a new quest line to follow. Part of the quests involves obtaining the high-quality Armor of the Crusader as well as the Weapons of the Crusader. After the quest line is finished, one Knight at a time can be commanded to follow as a companion, until told to return to the Priory or killed. Note that none of the Knights are "essential" characters, and can thus die. Any dead knights will be replaced by a generic Knight of the Nine.

History

When Pelinal Whitestrake gathered the Relics of the Crusader, he struck down Umaril the Unfeathered, the Ayleid tyrant and sorcerer-king. Although physically Umaril was defeated, his spirit survived. He bound himself to his mistress, Daedra Lord Meridia and was cast adrift upon the waters of Oblivion. Umaril sought vengeance and eventually killed Pelinal in his spiritual form. After Pelinal was killed, his Relics were scattered all over Cyrodiil.

Thus, the Knights of the Nine were formed, as men who only followed the Eight and the One, or the Nine Divines. As time progressed, all the Knights managed to recover all the Relics of the Crusader. However, as the war of the Red Diamond approached, the Knights fell back in with the whims of man, taking their weapons and armor into the war.

The first artifact recovered was the Cuirass of the Crusader, the only part of the armor that would be recovered by the Knights of the Nine in whole.

When Sir Berich slew Sir Caius, a chain of events occurred that would rend the Knights apart. Sir Berich took the Sword of the Crusader and the Greaves of the Crusader into war, and he never returned. He would later turn to evil, causing his wraith to haunt his tomb in Underpall Cave, slaying any unwanted visitors seeking the Relics, with the same Sword that became corrupted by Lord Berich Vlindrel's curse. Sir Henrik took the Shield of the Crusader into Fort Bulwark, a massive fort made especially to protect the Shield from those who would misuse it. He died protecting it from invaders. TheMace of the Crusader, however, was never recovered. Sir Ralvasconstantly tried to obtain them, but he could not. Without being able to "walk in the faith," he tried many, many times, never able to cross the chasm that separated him and the Mace. He went for days, refusing all food and drink. He died soon after. Sir Juncan also fell from on high; when he slew a beggar in the Chapel of Chorrol in cold blood. The Gauntlets of the Crusader he wielded fell from his hands; heavy with the sin he had committed. Then he was blasted with a curse that affected him and all his lineage with the loss of stamina, including Kellen. The rest of the Knights, Sir Gregory, Sir Casimir, and Sir Torolf, all went into war, to die there.

Sir Amiel, in all of this, was the last one to fall. He tried to keep the Knights together. He and Sir Casimir were the ones to return the bodies to the Priory of the Nine. Then, in one last attempt to try to obtain the last Relic that had not been recovered, he set off. Old and weak, he managed to get very close, but died within sight of the Helm of the Crusader. His bones still sit in the cavern, undisturbed.

Such was the Fall of the Knights of the Nine.

Founding

The Knights were founded by Sir Amiel Lannus in 3E 111, following his heroic turn in the War of the Isle, with the high purpose of recovering the Crusader's Relics, the weapons and armor of Pelinal Whitestrake which had been lost for thousands of years. They were born out of the sense of optimism and ambition that characterized the first century of the Third Era. Tamriel was united and at peace for the first time in centuries. Nothing was impossible.

Growth and expansionEdit

The fame of the Knights was established early on when Sir Amiel led them against the Wyrm of Elynglenn to recover the Cuirass of the Crusader, which had not been seen since the First Era. Soon, the greatest knights of the day were lining up to join the new order, and the Priory of the Nine in the West Weald of Cyrodiil became a magnet for the great and good. The Knights were the toast of the Empire. When Berich Vlindrel joined the Order, the scion of one of the great noble families of Colovia, it was clear that the Knights of the Nine had become the Empire's most prestigious knightly order. In relatively short order, the Knights reclaimed three more relics, and their fame soared to new heights with each one. No one doubted that they would eventually succeed in their quest to recover all eight relics.

War of the Red DiamondEdit

Sadly, this early promise of the Knights did not survive the ravages of the War of the Red Diamond, which tore apart the Empire beginning in 3E 121. At first it, seems that Sir Amiel was able to keep his knights out of the war. But the very success of the knights undermined this, as many of the knights came from important families from across the Empire which were lining up on either side of the bloody civil war. Sir Berich was apparently the first to leave the Order to join the war on the side of Cephorus I, carrying the sword and greaves of the Crusader into battle with him. Many other knights seem to have left the Order shortly after this, some joining the war on one side or the other.

End of the order

The end of the Order was as ingomonious as its beginning was glorious. Following the victory of Cephorus in 3E 127, Berich Vlindrel became an important figure on the winning side. It seems likely that he was behind the Imperial decree which officially dissolved the Knights of the Nine in 3E 131, although in truth this was little more than a formality, despite Sir Amiel's best efforts, the Order had never recovered from the bitterness of the civil war.

ReorganizationEdit

In 3E 433 Umaril the Unfeathered returned and began desecrating the Chapels of the Nine. The Hero of Kvatch met aProphet outside Anvil's Chapel of Dibella, believing him to be the next crusader, the Prophet sent the hero off to visit the wayshrines of the Nine Divines. The Hero manages to collect all eight of the Relics of the Crusader and lead his Knights against Umaril the Unfeathered, defeating him in both the Ayleid Ruin of Garlas Malatar and his Oblivionplane, destroying him for good.

Priory of the NineEdit

Priory of the Nine in southern West Weald is the base of operations for the Knights. The Priory has a main building, a stable, and a chapel. There is also a small garden and an archery area on the grounds. Once you obtain the Crusader armor, you do not need to repair it yourself. Simply place the armor on the armor rack in the basement and it will be restored to full strength.

QuestsEdit

Main article: Knights of the Nine (quest)

The Knights of the Nine quest line involves several quests. The quest line generally follows this order. However, in order to complete "The Path of the Righteous," you must first complete "Nature's Fury" to obtain the Boots of the Crusader.

MembersEdit

New membersEdit

These people must be accepted into the Knights of the Nine before they become members.

Areldur – From the Chapel of Stendarr in Chorrol
Avita Vesnia – From the Altar to Kynareth in the Great Forest
Brellin – Joins the Knights' cause near the finale of the quest
Carodus – From The Great Chapel of Zenithar in Leyawiin
Geimund – From Skyrim and brother of Gukimir
Gukimir – From Skyrim and brother of Geimund
Lathon – Squire of Sir Roderic; returns to you the Greaves and the location of the Sword.
Sir Thedret – Prisoner of Conjurers in Fort Bulwark
Sergius Turranius – A smith who repairs weapons and armor in the basement of the Priory of the Nine.
Knight of the Nine - Generic unit that replaces any of the knights that die.