by 
To understand the Rune Knights; it is necessary to get a gist of their ruling body - or, well, the leaders of Fiore : the Magic Council. The Council is the equivalent of any nation's government; an authoritative body that possesses almost utmost control over the country, acting as a leading government of sort. The Council rules all of the legal Guilds scattered throughout Fiore, overseeing them and keeping them in check, and they are responsible for the events caused by mages, also possessing the right to punish mages who break the law and to confiscate Magical artifacts which could potentially cause large-scale damage.
Among the things prohibited by the Magic Council is the use of Magic for assassination, something which, if perpetrated, could lead the Council to oust the offender's guild. The Council has the right to apprehend mages charged with crimes anytime, with their messengers being highly respected. It is fit to state that, "Even if something is white, once a Council member says it's black, then it becomes black", showing that the Council's authority is extremely large in the country of Fiore.
Now, the Council, just like any government, is a brain without a body. And the power of the body lies in the limbs - and the Rune Knights are the arms and legs of the Council : the army belonging to the government. Their job is to enforce the Council's ideals of justice and to investigate crimes related to magic in Fiore. They are also responsible for dealing with issues such as detaining criminals and passing judgement on to them. They patrol over a large span of land all across the country. They are known to possess several garrisons scattered throughout Fiore, with their numbers being consistent, and have battleships at their disposal for sea transportation. The entire set of Rune Knights is divided into three branches; The Combat Corps, The Special Operations Corps, and the The Engineering Corps. Each of them has a specialized set of duties apart from the usual law enforcing and they're all led by a General.
The Field Marshal is the most crucial member of the Rune Knights and any decision that impacts the welfare of the citizens of Fiore is taken by him/her. The Field Marshal has the duty of keeping in touch with the Council and making sure that the orders issued by the Councilmen are being carried out by the Rune Knights with efficiency.
When any mage joins the rank of Rune Knights, they get to choose between the three branches of the Knights, namely; The Combat Corps, The Special Operations Corps and The Engineering Corps. Each branch is led by one General who only answers to the Field Marshal. Their description and area of expertise is explained below :
This branch is responsible for dealing with matters of straight combat. They represent the best fighters of the Rune Knights though tend to have higher casualty rates than the other divisions. Dealing with threats small and large, they are the most frequently used branch of the Rune Knights.
This branch is called for when the brute approach of the combat division is not recommended. Their tasks range from breaking up criminal organizations and rebellions to infiltrating foreign nations.
This branch utilizes Fiore's military technology to its fullest. They are used mainly for maintaining Fiore's security by keeping a watchful eye on its borders, preparing military infrastructure, and aiding the other branches when necessary. This is the most versatile of the three branches.
Once a Knight chooses the branch they'd like to join, they're appointed as a mere Recruit from where they have to make their way up the ladder by proving their might to the Field Marshal and maybe one day become a Field Marshal themselves. On an OOC note, this is done by complete jobs, participating in events, welcoming new Knights in their introduction threads, etc. Each of these tasks will provide you with a set amount of points that will help you achieve the next rank - its similar to the EXP system of the site. However, note that this rank system is not a substitute for the magical rank system - you rank in the Rune Knights is a symbol of your authority in the group. The point system will be explained in detail here. The following are the available ranks within the Rune Knights :
◯ Recruit ◯
You're not officially a part of the Rune Knights, but rather you're in basic training to join.
◯ Private ◯
A private is the lowest of the Rune Knights and responsible for the most menial tasks. In times of conflict they are rarely used due to their general inexperience.
◯ Corporal ◯
A corporal represents the bulk of the Rune Knights and typically used for dealing with small conflicts across the country.
◯ Sergeant ◯
Sergeant is the first leadership role a Rune Knight will achieve. He or she can often be given command over a small group of corporals, whether that be in leading them in combat or training them for the next fight ahead.
◯ Lieutenant ◯
The lieutenant is the first true officer position attainable. He or she has the power to lead an entire platoon of Rune Knights (if needed) and usually stands out on the battlefield as a capable combatant. They are usually called to handle skirmishes within the country.
◯ Captain ◯
A captain is renowned for his or her combat capabilities and ability to lead. Only when a large internal threat presents itself does a captain make an appearance.
◯ Major ◯
A major is a leader with the ability to lead a large number of Rune Knights and shines even among captains. He or she usually deals with internal conflicts only when captains are unable to.
◯ Colonel ◯
A colonel is a capable fighter, usually for large-scale operations, and works directly under the general of his or her branch.
◯ General ◯
The generals are the chiefs of their branches and considered the best at what they do. They can, in times of war, command entire armies to resolve issues. Given the autonomy of the branches, the generals don't typically cooperate together, but rather coordinate with the field marshal if need be. Each branch can only have one general at a time.
◯ Field Marshal ◯
The Field Marshal has total and utter control over the Rune Knights and answers only to the Magic Council. He or she usually acts through the three generals to settle conflicts but can be seen on the battlefield when the fate of the nation is at stake. There can only be one Field Marshal at a time.
