Knights Panther
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Knights Panther are a fictional knightly order in the Warhammer Fantasy fictional universe and games.
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[edit] Overall
Knights Panther is one of the two largest and most important of the Knightly Orders in Empire. Together with White Wolves they are larger than all the other orders combined. They are avowed enemies of Chaos and are dedicated to the eradication of mutants and the preservation of racial purity within Empire. To a man, they are renowned for their obsession with racial purity, and their fanaticism in hunting down mutants. Their code of honour requires them to never suffer a mutant or other bearer of the mark of chaos to live.
[edit] Allegiance
To their Grand Master and local Elector counts. In Talabheim they form the elite corps of the standing army. In Middenheim Graf has directly under his personal command a unit of Knights Panther, who are sworn to defend and obey the Graf until he depart the throne or death take them.
[edit] History
The Knights Panther claim to be the oldest and trace their existence back to the wars against Araby nearly a thousand years ago. During those wars Knights from all over the Old world invaded the lands of Araby, first driving them from the south of Estalia, and subsequently carrying the battle into Araby itself. The returning knights brought back many great treasures plundered from the palaces of the Sultans of Araby, including gold and silver, precious gems, silks, furs, and exotic animals the like of which had never been seem in the Old World. Amongst these many creatures were panthers, tigers and leopards liberated from the extensive pleasure gardens of Istrabul, as well as furs which they proudly displayed as cloaks and saddlecloths, or decoration for their helms. When the knights paraded through the streets of the cities of the Empire many did so accompanied by one of these marvellous creatures padding beside him, led by golden chain. This created such an abiding impression that the Knightly Order founded by these returning crusaders became known as the Knights Panther. Some of the panthers carried off by the victorious Old Worlders were eventually to become fur saddle cloths or trimming for fur cloaks, and this helped to reinforce the association. Today the original panthers and even their hides have long gone, but the memory of the Arabian wars is maintained by the Knights Panther. Their battle standard was made by the College of Light, one of the first Colleges of Magic to be established in Altdorf. It protects the Knights Panther from magic by warding away evil sorcery. The banner was created as part payment for property owned by the Knights Panther which the Wizards wished to adopt as their College. Even today, after much rebuilding, the central tower still stands as it did then, and continues to be known as the Panther Tower.
[edit] Appearance
Although the original furs have long since mouldered away to nothing, the Knights still trim their clothes and crests with whatever exotic spotted or striped fur they can obtain. Their shields carry the emblem of their order, the fabled spotted panther of Araby.
[edit] Famous members
- Seneschal Heinrich Kessler, slayer of Azhag the Slaughterer.
- Baron Heirinch Von Torlichhelm, Master of the Order.
