Sternritter

The are a specific group of powerful Quincy in the Wandenreich's army, who play a pivotal role in the invasion of Soul Society, being tasked with purging the Shinigami.

Organization
While the organizational structure of the Sternritter is not yet clear, each member is assigned a letter of the alphabet, based on a unique ability, by their monarch in order to designate them. The is Jugram Haschwalth. Over 1,000 years ago, Hubert was the Vice-Captain of the Sternritter. Five Sternritter are appointed as Yhwach's : Pernida Parnkgjas, Askin Nakk Le Vaar, Gerard Valkyrie, Lille Barro, and Uryū Ishida. According to Akon, the members of the Sternritter who participated in the first invasion of the Seireitei have power comparable to or greater than a Captain-level Shinigami. There is a law that forbids members of the Sternritter from fighting against one another. The punishment for violating this rule is death.

During the second attack on the Seireitei, when Yhwach took his Schutzstaffel, Haschwalth, and Nianzol Weizol to the Soul King Palace, the remaining members of the Sternritter have been labelled unnecessary, becoming sacrifices for the Auswählen.

Creation
The Sternritter were created when the members drink from Yhwach's blood. This enables Yhwach to carve a part of his soul into the Sternritter. This carving takes on the form of a letter, which is used as the designation of the Sternritter. The carving also grants the Sternritter their unique powers. Upon the Sternritter's death, the part of Yhwach's soul they received is returned to Yhwach, who gains strength because of it. They were originally created to invade and conquer Soul Society 1000 years ago. Lille Barro was the last Quincy to drink Yhwach's blood (prior to Uryū Ishida), and is considered to be the one closest to god.

Uniforms
All members of the Sternritter wear a distinctive white, ankle-length cloak that features the Wandenreich insignia emblazoned on its back and often, a hood attached to the cloak's collar, each with a button that resembles the Wandenreich insignia that fastens the cloak. Beneath this, the remainder of a personnel's attire usually consists of a heavily customized variant of the standard Wandenreich uniform — a white double-breasted trench coat tied with a black belt, worn together with white trousers and boots.

Sternritter who are appointed as Yhwach's Schutzstaffel wear a distinctive cloak known as the over their clothing; this white, ankle-length cloak is fastened at the front with three buttons that resemble the Wandenreich insignia, and features a large, black Hagal rune on the left side.

Equipment
Medallion: Like various others within the Wandenreich, all members of the Sternritter carry on their person a round device that is roughly the size of a person's palm and has the Wandenreich insignia etched into its surface. When activated, this device is capable of stealing a single currently released Bankai in the immediate vicinity. The medallion's owner can then proceed to use the stolen Bankai's power at will, even after the original owner of the Bankai has died. However, they are unable to exploit this power fully, as noted by Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, unless they train to control the Bankai which they stole. Yhwach has commanded that the Sternritter who took the Bankai of a captain is the one who will kill the said captain.

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Sternritter