Sternritter

Sternritter
Kanji	星十字騎士団 (シュテルンリッター)
Romaji	Shuterunrittā
Organization
Founder(s)	Yhwach
Headquarters	Silbern, Wandenreich City
Leader(s)	Jugram Haschwalth
Affiliation	Wandenreich
Purpose	Conquering Soul Society[1]

The Sternritter (星十字騎士団 (シュテルンリッター), Shuterunrittā; German for "Star Knights", Japanese for "Star Cross Knight Band/Order") 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.^[2]

Organization

While the organizational structure of the Sternritter is not clear, each member is assigned a letter of the alphabet, based on a unique ability, by their monarch in order to designate them.^[3] The Sternritter Grandmaster (星十字騎士団最高位 (シュテルンリッター・グランドマスター), Shuterunrittā Gurandomasutā; Japanese for "Highest-Ranked of the Band of Star-Cross Knights") is Jugram Haschwalth.^[4] Over 1,000 years ago, Hubert was the Vice-Captain (副団長, Fukudanchō) of the Sternritter.^[5] 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.^[6] There is a law that forbids members of the Sternritter from fighting against one another. The punishment for violating this rule is death.^[7]

Four Sternritter are appointed as Yhwach's Schutzstaffel (親衛隊 (シュッツシュタッフェル), Shuttsushutafferu; German for "Protective Echelon", Japanese for "Elite/Imperial Guards"): Pernida Parnkgjas, Askin Nakk Le Vaar, Gerard Valkyrie, Lille Barro.^[8] Askin was the only one of the four to be promoted from the lower ranks during the second invasion on the Seireitei.^[9] After Yhwach had absorbed the Soul King and remodeled the entire Soul King Palace, Uryū Ishida was assigned to the Schutzstaffel.^[10] Lille is the leader of the Schutzstaffel because he was the first Quincy to be ever granted a Schrift.^[11]

During the second invasion on the Seireitei, when Yhwach took his Schutzstaffel, Haschwalth, Uryū and Nianzol Weizol to the Soul King Palace, the remaining members of the Sternritter have been labelled unnecessary, becoming sacrifices for the Auswählen.^[12] Upon successfully draining Ichigo Kurosaki of his Quincy and Hollow powers, Yhwach proceeded to use Auswählen on the last two surviving Sternritter, Haschwalth and Gerard, declaring that he had no further use for any of them.^[13]

Creation

The Sternritter were created when the members drank 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.^[14]

They were originally created to invade and conquer Soul Society 1000 years ago.^[1] Lille Barro was the first Quincy to drink Yhwach's blood and be given a schrift, and is considered to be the one closest to god.^[15] Pernida Parnkgjas and Gerard Valkyrie each possess their own inherent power, while later on, they were granted a Schrift by Yhwach, which led to rumors of them being the Left Hand and Heart of the Soul King, respectively; they were bestowed a letter designation that compliments their natural abilities simply as a recognition of their statuses.^[11]

Members

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.^[39] 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-coloured trousers and boots.^[40]

Sternritter who are appointed as Yhwach's Schutzstaffel wear a distinctive cloak known as the Hooded Coat (フーデッドコート, Fūdeddo Kōto)^[41] 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, red Hagal rune on the left side.^[42]

Equipment

Medallion: During their invasions of Soul Society, like various others within the Wandenreich, all members of the Sternritter carry on their person a round device that is approximately 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 currently released Bankai in the immediate vicinity.^[43] 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.^[44][45] However, they are unable to exploit this power fully, as noted by Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto,^[46] unless they train to control the Bankai which they stole.^[47] Yhwach has commanded that the Sternritter who took the Bankai of a captain is the one who will kill the said captain.^[48]

Trivia

• According to Tite Kubo, the visual motifs of the Schutzstaffel - Pernida Parnkgjas, Gerard Valkyrie, Lille Barro, and Askin Nakk Le Vaar - are based on different eras of war: ancient, medieval, modern, and current.^[49]
• The rumor that Pernida and Gerard are pieces of the Soul King arose because they are the "only" Sternritters who did not receive their abilities from Yhwach.^[11] However, the twins Royd and Loyd Lloyd have had their ability to copy others since before they were even born.^[50]

References

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