| “ | Olympic Knights have no master but our conscience. We defend the Society's Compact, subservient only to duty. | ” |
— Fitchner au Barca - Golden Son, Chapter 13
| ||
The Olympic Knights are an elite group of twelve Gold knights, supposedly the greatest and most skilled warriors in all of the solar system, who serve as the force that protects the Sovereign and uphold the Compact of The Society.
Crests of the Olympic Knights, by Khuzdul1
Overview[]
The Olympic Knights all wear unique armor meant to represent the dominant themes of man, like the Institute Houses, and separate them from other Golds. Each Knight wears a cloak emblazoned with the pyramid of the Society and a signet ring bearing the Olympic Crest.[1] Some of the older knights, such as Lorn au Arcos, often refuse to wash their armor out of superstition, as they believe that they might wash away the good luck that enables them to survive.[2]
The punishment for Olympic Knights who break their oaths is known as the Kiss of a Thousand, in which the offending Knight is skinned alive one cut at a time.[3]
Involvement[]
Pre-Saga[]
Red Rising[]
- 738 PCE
During Darrow's time in the Institute, rumors of the Morning and Rage Knight positions opening begin to spread throughout the Society.
The Death of Anastasia[]
- 739 PCE
The Love Knight retires, and his daughter Kalindora au San begs Octavia au Lune to let her take her father's post.
Due to his close friendship with Brutus, Fear Knight Atlas au Raa is sent to the Kuiper Belt to wipe out the Ascomanni. To cement Atlas' exile, Octavia appoints Asmodeus au Carthii as the Fear Knight.
- 740 PCE
Atlas au Raa reports that his fleet has been ambushed, with only two ships remaining. Octavia orders him to continue radio silence, and writes Atlas off as dead. A new Fear Knight is appointed to take his place.
Lorn au Arcos and Venetia au Rein officially retire from their posts as Rage and Morning Knight.
Golden Son[]
- 741 PCE
After proving their worthiness in Luna's Dueling Circuit and The Olympic Trails, Fitchner au Barca beats Proctor Jupiter for the Rage Knight post, and Cassius au Bellona takes the role of Morning Knight.
- 742 PCE
In his attempt to steal the moonBreaker from the Ganymede Dockyards, Nero manages to decapitate the Hearth Knight before being captured by Fitchner and a fully-mended Cassius.
The Wind Knight is killed by Ragnar Volarus during the Lion's Rain.
Morning Star[]
- 743 PCE
Darrow and Cassius kill the Society's Truth and Joy Knights when they infiltrated Octavia's bunker during The Fall.
The Solar War[]
- 744-746 PCE
Sometime between 744-746 PCE Darrow liberates The Den in the Eternal City from the Shadow Knight.
- 747 PCE
Atlas au Raa completes his mission and returns from the Kuiper Belt to re-assume his post as Fear Knight.
Iron Gold[]
- 753 PCE
Dark Age[]
- 753-754 PCE
Kalindora au San, the Love Knight of the Society Remnant, dies from poisoning and her injuries on Mercury following the Long Night.
Light Bringer[]
- 754-755 PCE
Ajax au Grimmus, the Society Remnant's Storm Knight, is killed in the Battle of Phobos.
Aside from Diomedes, all but three of the Rim Olympic Knights are killed during Volsung Fá's invasion of Ilium.[4]
Olympic Knights[]
Morning Knight[]
- Armor - White with the helmet of a rising golden sun and a white cloak
- Known Society Holders
- Known Republic Holders
- Cassius au Bellona
Rage Knight[]
- Armor - Dark red; helmet in the shape of a laughing wolf's head
- Known Society Holders
- Lorn au Arcos (~676-741 PCE)
- Fitchner au Barca (741-742 PCE)
- Other Mentioned Holders
- Unnamed Rim Dominion Holder described as "toadish woman with huge eyes"
Protean Knight[]
- Armor - Gold and midnight blue. Emblazoned with blue sea serpents
- Known Society Holders
Storm Knight[]
- Armor - Dark gray cloak
- Known Society Holders
- Known Rim Dominion Holders
- Other Unnamed Holders
- Unnamed Society Holder killed by Darrow during the Solar War
Wind Knight[]
- Unnamed Holders
- Unnamed Society Holder killed by Ragnar during the Lion's Rain
Hearth Knight[]
- Armor - Shade of bright flames
- Unnamed Holders
- Unnamed Society Holder killed by Nero during an attempt to steal the moonBreaker
Truth Knight[]
- Armor - Stark white cloak
- Known Rim Dominion Holders
- Unnamed Holders
- Unnamed Society Holder killed by Cassius during The Fall.
Joy Knight[]
- Armor - Sky-blue
- Known Society Holders
Death Knight[]
- Armor - Pure black
- Known Society Holders
- Unnamed Society Holder killed by Ragnar during Quicksilver's kidnapping
- Unnamed Society Holder killed by Darrow during Orion's rescue
Cloud Knight[]
- No information
Fear Knight[]
- Known Society Holders
Love Knight[]
- Armor - Winged swan shoulders with a flaming heart in the center of the breastplate
- Known Society Holders
The Shadow Knight[]
In Chapter 16 of Iron Gold, a thirteenth Olympic Knight was mentioned, The Shadow Knight. Pierce Brown has not announced the Shadow Knight as canon or just a discrepancy, but Pierce was asked about this during the Dark Age Tour.