Knights Penitent

For the cosmetic set of the same name, see Knights Penitent (Cosmetic Set).

"To have any hope of scourging humanity free from sin, you must begin with yourself."

- Knights' mantra^(src)

Knights Penitent
Race	Humans
Leader	Inarius (formerly) Prava
Affiliation	Cathedral of Light
Headquarters	Cathedral of Light, Kyovashad, Fractured Peaks
Type	Knightly order
Standing	Active
Appearances	Diablo Immortal (mentioned only) Diablo IV Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred Book of Lorath (mentioned only) Book of Prava

The Knights Penitent are an order militant of the Cathedral of Light.

Lore

"An army of sheep led by a mad lion."

- Lorath Nahr^(src)

A Knight Penitent cremation rite

The Knights Penitent are dedicated to freeing humanity from sin. It is said that only after achieving a state of sound body and mind can one bring peace in the style of the order.

The Knights almost always wear helms. It is said that this is because they would go blind if they were to look directly upon Inarius. Those who serve as knights are promised to bathe in the glory of Heaven in exchange for their service. Knights are paid wages, but all knights are obliged (or at least expected) to tithe to the Cathedral. Their dead are cremated.

The Knights would often cry "Inarius!" in battle. Lorath Nahr suspected that the Knights would continue to do so even after the angel's death.

The Knights were among the remorseful devotees that undertook a pilgrimage across Serac Glacier. Many of them perished in the snow.

There is a minimum age one must be to become a Knight Penitent. Trials must be passed before knighthood is obtained.

History

"May we fight true in His holy name. Blessed be the Light."

- Reverend Mother Prava^(src)

Early History

The Knights Penitent defeat the forces of Zakarum

While the origins of the Knights Penitent are unclear, they served the Cathedral of Light during the Great Enmity. Based on artwork found in Light's Watch, it appears that the Knights Penitent waged war against Zakarum at some point, emerging triumphant.

The Knights once patrolled the woods around Margrave, lighting braziers to ward off evil. A garrison was sent to Yelesna, where they helped train the local guards, but implemented draconian laws on the townsfolk.

After the Days of Ash, Donan invited the Cathedral of Light into Scosglen to aid in the rebuilding process and provide protection. The Cathedral was willing and able, and Knights Penitent were garrisoned at towns across the land.

Knights Penitent were garrisoned at Light's Watch and patrolled the roads around Margrave, dispensing the Light's justice, until a company was called away on an apparent suicide mission. A skeleton crew was left to guard the fort until they would return. The keep was abandoned, and it was overrun by monsters. There is evidence that the keep may have been overrun, the skeleton crew unable to hold it.

Recent History

The Knights march on Hell

The Knights Penitent marched on Hell itself under the command of Prava and Inarius. A small group of knights remained in the Cathedral of Light in Kyovashad to "keep the faith."

Though the Knights Penitent held the upper hand against the demons as their patron went to confront Lilith, even able to slay an Oppressor, everything went wrong after Inarius was killed by his former lover. With their leader and patron dead, the Knights' faith and resolve faltered as the demons renewed their assault. Without their leader, the Knights Penitent quickly became overwhelmed even as Prava attempted to remind them of their faith and continue fighting but was swarmed by the demons herself. Ultimately, the Knights were slaughtered with no apparent survivors. When The Wanderer arrived in Hell in their pursuit of Lilith, they found only a scant few knights still alive but were left maddened by their horrific losses while Prava herself was still alive, albeit wounded, and managed to escape back to Sanctuary .

Knights Penitent keep townsfolk away from the Cathedral

The Knights continued to function after the death of Inarius, but were left in a pitiful state. Lorath Nahr noted that the Knights at Kor Valar continued to march, assemble, and train within its walls, though were weighed down with the burden of their failure. As the Blood Harvest intensified, the Cathedral refused to engage the vampires. Instead, the Knights were used in Kyovashad to keep the panicking people at bay from the Cathedral.

In-game

Diablo Immortal

Knights Penitent in Diablo Immortal

The Knights Penitent are available as a cosmetic set in Diablo Immortal.

Diablo IV

The Knights Penitent appear in Diablo IV. The following types appear:

• Acolyte
• Adherent
• Cleric
• Dreadknight
• Herald
• Inquisitor
• Knight Errant
• Pale Knight
• Revenant Knight

Known Members

"Knights who serve the light shall forever bathe in the glory of the heavens. Join today!"

- A poster on a Knights' garrison board^(src)

A Knight Penitent

• Lord Commander
• Grand Inquisitor
• Inquisitor Aldara (deceased)
• Lord Avitus (deceased)
• Commander Antje
• Knight Captain Razia
• Knight Captain Vigo (deceased)
• Knight Soliana Coste (presumed deceased)
• Knight Fabian
• Knight Gastev
• Sir Cromwell (deceased)
• Sir Lynna (turned renegade)
• Fiend Handler Clark
• The Curator
• Devoted Champion
• Asalon (turned renegade)
• Grendan (deceased)
• Mera
• Omas
• Sacred Physician
• Sentinel
• The Warmaster
• Urivar (turned renegade)
• Yorin (deceased)

Trivia

This section contains facts and trivia relevant to this article.

Cathedral of Light knight, as seen in Light's Watch

• The Knights' origins are arguably contradictory. Diablo Immortal implies that the Knights existed by 1270, though the Knights do not appear in the game itself, nor are they referenced outside their cosmetic set. In contrast, Diablo IV depicts them as servants of the Cathedral of Light, which Inarius refounded at some point after Diablo III: Reaper of Souls, the implication being that the Knights Penitent were formed by Inarius also.
• In Light's Watch, a stain-glass Cathedral knight can be seen. However, the design is very different from the standard Knights Penitent design.