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

The Sternritter is composed of extremely powerful Quincy. According to Akon, the members that participated in the first invasion of the Seireitei have powers comparable to or greater than that of a Captain-level Shinigami.^[3] Each member is assigned a Schrift by Yhwach, who bestows them abilities.^[4][5] The Schrifts are based off of English words and letters.

Jugram Haschwalth is 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").^[6] Over 1,000 years ago, Hubert was the Vice-Captain (副団長, Fukudanchō) of the Sternritter.^[7] There is a law that forbids members of the Sternritter from fighting against one another and the punishment for violation is death.^[8]

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"): Lille Barro, Pernida Parnkgjas, Gerard Valkyrie, and Askin Nakk Le Vaar.^[9] Lille is their leader because he was the first Quincy to be ever granted a Schrift.^[10] Pernida and Gerard are the left arm and the heart of the Soul King, respectively.^[10] Askin is the only one of the four to be promoted from the lower ranks during the second invasion on the Seireitei.^[11] They are strong enough to challenge and defeat members of the Zero Division.^[12] Later, Uryū Ishida is also assigned to the Schutzstaffel.^[13]

Yhwach considers the Sternritter to be expendable. 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.^[14] 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.^[15]

Creation

The Sternritter were created to invade and conquer Soul Society 1000 years ago.^[1] Each member participated in an engraving ritual by drinking 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, and 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.^[16]

Unlike other Sternritter, Pernida Parnkgjas and Gerard Valkyrie did not receive powers from Yhwach, and they were assigned letters based on abilities they already have.^[10]

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.^[40] 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.^[41]

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)^[42] 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.^[43]

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.^[44] 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.^[45][46] However, they are unable to exploit this power fully, as noted by Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto,^[47] unless they train to control the Bankai which they stole.^[48] Yhwach has commanded that the Sternritter who took the Bankai of a captain is the one who will kill the said captain.^[49]

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.^[50]
• Pernida and Gerard are said to be the "only" Sternritters who did not receive their abilities from Yhwach,^[10] but a flashback reveals that the twins Royd and Loyd Lloyd have had their ability to copy others since before they were even born.^[51]
• Guenael Lee is introduced as a Sternritter with the designation "V - Vanishing Point".^[52] He is later revealed to be a creation of Gremmy Thoumeaux.^[53]

References

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