The Defenders of the North
Since the Empire was first formed we have stood proudly as guardians of these lands, hunting the devanu that forever seek to enslave us once more. But now we face a new threat from our own kind. The cold-hooved Delgon seek to enslave us, coming down from their mountains and slaughtering our kin. I do not care if they say the Enarii are with them. I do not care if our oath means that we should stand by and watch. I do not care if breaking that oath will carry a sentence of death. I cannot command you to follow me, but now is the time when I must ride for what I believe in.
(Spoken by Danomar the Oathbreaker)
During the centuries since its creation, the Empire has gone through many upheavals. The devanu have proven to be a continuing threat, but the unswerving loyalty of the knights have always kept that in check. Clans have risen up from within the Empire and blood has been shed. Emperors have even been killed or usurped, but none have ever truly questioned the Empire itself. The threat in the north changes everything. All the clans of the Empire have forces of militia to protect their territories, but for the most part they are poorly trained. Protection from the devanu is largely provided by the brave Knights of the Emperor. Since the Fall of Emperor Agelor, the fubarnii serving within the Knighthood have always taken an oath at an early age that they will serve the Emperor against the devanu threat but shall never shed fubarnii blood upon pain of death. During the first Delgon attacks the knights stood by as the towns burned, bound by their oath. The knights saved many civilians by pulling them to safety, but would not involve themselves in the fighting even as their brothers were slaughtered. It was not long after that Danomar chose to break his oath and led a group of his followers against the Delgon, temporarily delaying the Delgon attacks. The Emperor has kept silent on these actions and it is not yet known what the consequences will be.
Source: Chronicles of Anyaral