The famous Shotgun Knights, famous for the shotguns they carry and their ‘no bullshit’ stance they’ve taken in the face of evil and criminal activity have found their home here in Meteor City. At first, they started as a group of former police officers and other lawmen who sought to help any and all survivors by taking them into their protection. Once realizing the world had became quite a crappy place to live in with outlaws and zombies – they took to arming themselves with shotguns and a shoot first, ask questions never attitude. Since then, Outlaws, Vampires and zombies quiver with the thought of running into one of these shotgun toting crusaders. Luckily, and sadly for the citizens of Meteor City, these strict warriors are the protectors of the city and have found a base here where they keep a nice stock pile of shotguns (which they call swords, by the way) and enough whiskey to sink a battleship. Their favorite hobbies are protecting scavengers on missions outside of the city and killing flesh eating zombies for sport. Forget what you ever thought about the donut sucking police officer waiting to give you a traffic ticket, if you so much as shoot your gun at a rat in Meteor City without permission, you’ll be shot. If you stare at a Shotgun Knight too long, you will be shot. If you offer them a got damn donut they will put their boot up your ass, and then you will be shot. Martial law reigns in Broken World, and those who carry the biggest stick rules. The Shotgun Knights carry that stick, and the biggest pair of brass ones to go along with it.
Aliases: Shotty Knights, the Knights, the Shotties, the Redcoats, SK
Motto: Aim High - Miss Never.
Appearance: Shotgun Knights are uniformed solely by red leather jackets or vest that don the words ‘Shotgun Knights’ in white on the back, along with their symbol (two swords crossing with a Shotgun rising up through the middle). They like to further distinguish themselves from other normal human beings by sporting Mohawks, wearing aviator glasses, getting tattoos and wearing red Rambo like bands around their heads. They are all physical specimens – when not on duty, they work out intensely by doing normal calisthenics, and not so normal calisthenics, like practicing throwing knives and hatchets while in the middle of a back flip.
Usually Found: Outskirts of Meteor City Area, Patrolling Meteor City, SK Headquarters
Personalities: Shotgun Knights have one thing in common – they are aggressive. These are men and women who in these trying times have taken the ferocity of the predators lurking outside those walls, and doubled it in ruthlessness. They aren’t the most approachable of people, but they have the best interest of Meteor City’s citizens at heart, and will die gladly in their defense. If you’re looking for a hug or a pat on the shoulder, the Knights are not the ones to seek out. If you’re looking for someone to save your life and sleep with your wife or husband in the process, then you’re in the right place.
Protocol: Shotgun Knights are never ‘off duty’. They must always be ready to deal justice, even while sleeping with their significant others. The Knights, those of rank, greet each other as Sir. Always salute a superior officer with a nod and fist over your heart or the tip of your hat will do. Never, ever take your jacket or vest off unless you’re taking a bath, washing it or getting laid – though we recommend you keep the vest on just to remind whoever has the pleasure of having you in the sack just what you’re made of. Keep your shotgun shined at all times, your hair in some sort of good arrangement. Men, if you’re not man enough to sport a Mohawk, there will be none of that curly or hiding your face bullshit – keep it neat and out of your vision. Women, same for you, but don’t let your hair pass your damn shoulders or we’ll take a machete to it. Only jeans, khakis, and boots are to be worn – no dresses or dress pants unless stated otherwise. Men – beards are optional, but we’ll respect you more with than without. If you shoot someone without righteous cause – you will be shot yourself, plain and simple.
Transportation: Usually found on horses, but some higher in command officers ride motorcycles or drive cars.
Weapons: Shotguns (their swords), pistols and rifles mostly, but they have killed outlaws, vampires and creatures with other items too embarrassing to mention – for the outlaws, vampires and creatures sakes that is.
Ranks: In order from top to bottom:
- Chief Knight
- Deputy Chief Knight
- Knight First Class
- Knight Second Class
- Knight Ranger – Knight Detective
- Knight
- Squire
- Page
Duties:
Chief Knight – The Chief Knight is called many things: Knight Commander, Head Honcho, Big Guy, Big Papa, or the most favored Sir-Kick-Everyone’s-Ass-Before-Breakfast. The Chief Knight has done it all, he’s made zombies cry, made Outlaws piss themselves and made Vampires want to start a vegetable garden. To gain the station of Chief Knight damn near means you’re the baddest MFer in Broken World and have the history to prove it. The Chief Knight does whatever he damn well pleases – sometimes he goes out on patrol just to remind the zombies who their daddy is, sometimes he works to solve cases, and sometimes he’ll be seen at SK headquarters teaching the Squire/Pages a thing or two – but his most important job is giving orders to his Knights and making sure they are all taken care of and are upholding their duties with honor and distinction. The Chief Knight rarely leaves Meteor City due to the importance of his station, but best believe if he is seen outside of the City – best believe something serious is going down, and everyone should be afraid, and I mean everyone.
Deputy Chief Knight – So you enter the Chief Knight’s office to find him sitting calmly behind his desk, writing out schedules while eating a boss quality sandwich when out of the corner of your eye you notice a figure sitting in the shadow of the room, their silver lined shotgun sitting on their thigh, their body unmoving and silent. Meet the Deputy Chief Knight. Forget whatever you’ve imagined about what a second in command does – the Deputy Chief Knight isn’t just some guy or woman waiting for their chance to get in the Chief Knight’s seat. No – they are the ones with the distinctive honor of blowing away anyone the Chief Knight orders, and it’s usually done with a big, ear to ear sickening smile on their face. The Chief Knight has earned the right to sit around and draft papers, only because while Deputy Chief they’ve gotten more blood on their hands than a midwife. The Deputy Chief is usually found not too far away from the Chief Knight, and if they aren’t, best believe there is a poor Knight somewhere getting reprimanded, or villain out their getting acquainted with the feeling of the Deputy Chief’s boot up their ass.
Knight First/Second Class – These Knights have either kicked ass as a Ranger or as a Detective and have ascended to the status they were meant to be in – leadership. KFC or KSCs are usually found leading attack parties against outlaw brigands or large zombie gatherings. They are the ones the Rangers, Detectives and Knights answer to, and are also the ones at fault when someone gets out of hand. Meaning? If a Knight screws up, they get yelled at, and if they get yelled at, that Knight’s life will be made a living hell. First/Second Class Knights are the Captains of the Shotgun Knights, and can usually be found training Pages and Squires in the art of badassery – which is actually one of the highest honors a Shotgun Knight can have.
Rangers – Knight Rangers are considered the most insane of the SK, basically since they don’t have time for normal civilization. No – these SK prefer being out in the wilderness killing zombies, outlaws and vampires for sport, and maybe, just maybe once in a while a survivor in need of help will come around and they’ll escort them to Meteor City. To become a ranger, special training along with the love of gore and bloodshed are the only requirements. This is the most honored duty a knight can obtain – aside from the stations above it – but most that become a Ranger don’t want to do anything else. The rangers are mostly found on horseback marching up and down the broken highways of the world, and if you need something killed, don’t hesitate to flag one down. Just don’t waste their time, or you might be the one they filet with their shotgun instead.
Detectives - So, not only can you plow your way through a zombie horde but you can also figure out what they were thinking and what they did that morning before you blew their heads off. Knight Detectives help solve the mysterious of the Broken World, track down missing Meteor Citizens and help hunt down Outlaws and their hideouts. They are the closest thing to normal law enforcement in this day, and are highly respected and revered for their professions. They are often seen riding together in pairs, one jotting down notes, and the other nonchalantly blowing the heads off of zombies while explaining the physics of footprints versus running speed.
Knight - The rank of Knight is the ‘Thank God I made it through basic training’ rank, and finally you can wear one of those awesome SK jackets, wield yourself a shotgun and be called by your rightfully earned named - Sir. Knights are usually found patrolling Meteor City, and are usually the ones sent on Scavenger hunts, protecting Scavengers as they rummage through the remains of other destroyed cities. Though often seen as the lowest grade of the Knights (not to mention they get yelled at the most by their higher command) they are just as deadly and fierce as any other knight. They are usually young, ranging in the late teens – mid-twenties range of age.
Squires/Pages - So you want to kill with the big boys? Get your ass in gear, youngin’. Welcome to SK training school. Squires and Pages are put through all kinds of hell through basic training – usually starting at the ripe ages of sixteen and ending their training on their eighteenth birthday. Ouch – you might think it’s a long time for training, but when you consider the mutants and wild creatures lurking around outside, you can see why the training might take a while in making them the most capable warriors of all time. When not getting their asses kicked or polishing their superiors’ shotguns, boots or glasses – Squires and Pages also patrol meteor city, usually in groups, and trust me – they might be the last ones you want to cross. They might be young, but after taking the SK pledge and getting yelled at all day, they are the most likely to put a pistol to your skull for causing any kind of ruckus. Squires and Pages are usually called ‘meat’ – seeing as in their current state they are nothing but meat for the zombies scouring the lands. No matter though, in due time they will become dangerous. Very dangerous, and when they get their Knight rank, try calling them meat again, and learn just how well you can take a punch from a trained killer.