Wielders of Three Holy Blades
The Knights of the Cross, also known as the Knights of the Sword, are a group of people who wield one of three holy swords, each forged with one of the nails from the crucifixion of Christ. While the three often work together, they are less a formal faction and more an association of allies who serve a common goal. The knights may be broadly described as a force of good or light, opposing and seeking to balance out forces of darkness and evil. While this is a subjective description, they do consistently work to protect the innocent. Beyond this, their primary mission is not to destroy those who evil, but to help to redeem the corrupt and those who have been led to do the work of evil.
Empowered by the Heavenly Host through the holy swords they bear, the knights are led to where they are most needed, often seeming to appear by sheer, uncanny coincidence or given flashes of intuition to guide them. It is unclear who may be called to be a knight, but a potential wielder of one of the blades must demonstrate a fundamental understanding of how and under what circumstances the blade is to be used in order for it to accept them. The swords may lend their power, temporarily, to those not formally called to be knights, particularly in moments of great need when innocent lives must be protected, but a blade allowing itself to be wielded once is not the same as being called to serve as a full-time knight. Generally, a blade is only passed on when its wielder is killed or must retire.
Apart from the powers and insights granted to wielders of the blades, their loved ones are generally shielded from evil by Angels of Heaven, allowing the knights to do their duty without worry that those closest to them will be drawn into it. However, said loved ones still have the choice to become involved. If they do, then they are no longer afforded the protection of innocent bystanders. As active participants in the affairs of the knights, they are responsible for the consequences of their own choices.
The knights specifically oppose the Order of the Blackened Denarius, a faction of fallen angels who have bound themselves to ancient coins, thus ensuring that they cannot be banished back to Hell. However, they have very limited powers until a host takes up one of their coins, allowing the denarian to possess them and act through them, much as other demons might. Denarians are unusual demons, capable of powerful physical transformations and showing a variety of unique magical gifts.
See Also: "The Knights of the Cross" at the Dresden Files Wikia
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