All, including the IHA, see mutants as a threat but want to use them for scientific experiments, and/or subjugate them. No anti-mutant group shared James believes that mutants are nothing but a plague on humanity and must be exterminated.

The last group that James was a member of was the IHA. He felt they would share his hatred due to their reputation among the anti-mutant community. Once he joined and became a trusted member he felt he was right due to varies weapons and agents that the group employed, alas James was wrong. While the IHA hunted mutants, they didn’t share James believe that all mutants must be killed. They saw uses for mutants as slaves and weapons to be used against enemies. They not only experimented on mutants to find better weapons to use against them, but to discover why they existed in the first place.

Another difference of opinion is how to deal with the humans who detect as mutants. About 2% of the human population will trigger a mutant detector. Though no one is sure why this happens, these individual are not actually mutants. The IHA, and most other organizations, have decide that this is a problem with mutant detecting devices and are working on the problem. James has decided that these individual are no different that mutants whose powers have yet to surface or even those who’s powers never will. A mutant is a mutant and ALL must be exterminated.

This key difference is philosophy lead to James leaving the IHA and forming The Church of Genetic Purity. Before he left however he found two other member of the IHA who felt as James does. The three of them hacked into the computer system of the IHA and copied their vast database. They also were able to transfer some of the funds that the IHA had accumulated to an off shore account that James had set up. He knew that he needed information and money if he wanted to solve the mutant problem. With the help of the computer tech he was able to get both before the left.

Church of Genetic Purity

After leaving the IHA James was smart enough to lay low and slowly form his plans. The IHA for some reason were not exactly happy with him and had sent numerous agents after him and the others, But luckily they were unable to find them. A few years after James left the IHA a new anti-mutant group appeared going by the name of The Church of Genetic Purity. This group preached how mutants existed to test the faith of humans. Though they never called or claimed that mutants were sent by the devil, they did claim that they would be the downfall of humanity.

Being a history major James knew the great influence religion can be and decided to use it to his advantage. Unfortunately for James people had grown wiser and weren’t quite as easily swayed by their fears as they were back then. For the first few years of the group’s existence they held rallies in parks, held sermons in various sympathetic churches. All this did little to sway the much of the public to the “church’s” way of thinking. In truth the Church of Genetic Purity was beginning to get laughed at more than any other Anti-mutant group.

Newspaper carried less than flattering stories about them. Various government agencies started paying more and more attention to them. Even the underworld & the super-villain community considered them crackpots. During this time many mutants turned up dead or missing. Numerous sighting of “knight” on flying shields were reported. Superheroes often report clashes with “knights” as well. All this changed with what has become known as the Hydro incident.

James had noticed the lack of acceptance for his group and believes. He decided to stage an attack at a large rally that was planed. The purchased a flame throwing suit from a weapons supplier and planed to use it at the rally. The plan was for a member of the church to wear the suit and in the middle of the rally reveal himself, attack some of the rally goers and then flee during the confusion.

After the attack all would say that some flame using mutant attack the church. James felt that sacrificing a few non-believes would be acceptable to turn the tide against mutants. James didn’t think about the fact that some heroes might be at the rally or near by should something happen. This was exactly the case as a mutant hero named Hydro was indeed nearby. Hydro figured that their might be some trouble at the rally due to the message of the Church and the believe of others. So he though he’d hang out in a nearby rooftop in case this proved to be the case.

During the rally a fire wielding “mutant” showed up and tried to attack James and then turned toward the crowd. Before he was able to fire on the crowd he was hit by a blast of water. Hydro slid through the crowd on his signature water slide and attack the “mutant”. As the mutant fell back his flame throw went off catching James on fire. Hydro used his water abilities to quickly put the flames engulfing James out. After this was done he set off after the “mutant” who had used the distraction to attempt to flee.

When Hydro caught up with the “mutant” he was able to quickly capture him, this is when he found out that the mutant was actually a man in a flamethrowing suit. Hydro took him to the police station and told the police everything that happened.

While this was going on James had scheduled a press conference where he appeared in his new bandages covering up his small first degree burns to one side of his face. He took the opportunity to go on a rant about mutants and how they attacked and burned him for having the courage to speak out against them. It was the fight between the unknown fire-using mutant and Hydro that caused all this to happen. It was at this point that the police showed up to arrest James and let the press know the truth about the attack.

The articles that were written and the charges filed against James destroyed any credibility that the Church of Genetic Purity might still of had. By the time James was able to make bail, this took just over 24 hrs, there was no hope of continuing the church and it’s mission. Their public funds had been siege, although not the hidden assets, and most of the group’s inner circle was in hiding or in jail. Thus ending the Church of Genetic Purity and earned Hydro the title of most hated mutant of James McBride and the soon to be formed Knights of Genetic Purity.

Knights of Genetic Purity

While James was fronting the Church of Genetic Purity he always had an attack arm in place as well. These were the flying knights that had been scene attack mutants and superheroes. When the Church was left in shambles he decided to forget about turning the public against mutants and just exterminate them himself, thus the knights were born.

He already had a couple hidden bases to work out of and many loyal soldiers to use. He broke the inner circle members, who were important to the cause, out of jail and started building the new organization. With the database he had stolen for IHA he had various weapons to build and use, several names and location of various mutants, he even had plans to the minuteman robot at his disposal.

He had taken to dressing the agents as knights due to his love of the middle ages. So it was only logical to call the new group the Knights of Genetic Purity. He didn’t care if the whole world knew that he was behind the group, the similarity in names made sure of this, the only thing that mattered was the extermination of mutants.

James had a powered suit built for himself and took on the name the Inquisitor. Several of the other inner circle members also took on different names all based on the Middle Ages.

The group recruited new members from all walks of life and started making new contacts. Over the last few years their ranks have grown and the list of contacts in the government and other organization has grown as well. They have gained a horrible reputation as mutant killers in the short time and a feared more than any other anti-mutant group.

Philosophy:

It is the philosophy of the Knights that make them such a feared enemy. The knights believe all mutants must be wiped from the face of the earth. They don’t feel any should remain alive, not for slaves, not as test subjects and certainly not free.

To this end the Knights take very few mutants as test subjects. They do take a few, but only to test and construct new weapons. A few test a done to try and figure out why there is such a variety in powers and power levels. Even these tests are more aimed a better was of extermination than truly finding out any other type of answer.

The Knights view mutants with little or no power to be just as big a threat as a mutant that can destroy a mountain with his eye beams. The fact that the mutant gene can be past on to offspring make these mutants a threat.

Perhaps the two most controversial philosophies of the Knights is their view of humans that detect as mutants and those who associate with mutants. The Knights treat humans that detect as mutants in the same manner as they do mutants. They see no difference in a mutant whose powers haven’t emerged and a human who detects as a mutant. Both are a future threat and must be dealt with harshly.

To the Knights anyone who associates willingly with mutants is a traitor to the human race. The Knights truly believe in guilt by association, and in this the Knights are alone in the world.

While some other anti-mutant group denounce the government for working with mutants or others will attack superheroes as well as mutants. There is no other organization that will attack, either in press or physically, or kill an individual for working or being in a relationship with a mutant. The Knights have done all in their short history.

The Knights have a dim view on anyone with natural, man-made super abilities or aliens as well, though gadgetteers seem to be ignored. They see anyone that is not “pure” human a threat, although mutants are always the biggest threat.

Tactics:

The Knights always send at least 1 squad anytime they attempt to capture or kill a target. A squad consists of 2 strikers, 1 containment and 2 heavy strikers. This combination of agents may be changed due to the powers of the target.

If they are going after multiple mutants or if there will be other heroes around then the Knights will send multiple squads or inner circle members. The Knights do believe in overkill as a base philosophy so they tend to send extra agents to insure that the target is eliminated or captured on the rare occasion that they want them for testing. However, one flaw the Knights have shown is sending a standard squad against a previously unknown mutant. This has caused the Knights to lose several agents to prison or medical treatment then prison.

The Knights have three operational Rook robots; see Minuteman Robots in existing and future Hero Games products, at this time. All are dressed the same as agents just much bigger. The Knights are working on Rooks with newer armaments as well as smaller versions. Rumor has it they are trying to perfect a shrinking ray for easier containment of test subjects.

The Knights are working on better detection device currently as well. They are trying to perfect device that will not only detect mutants but analysis the mutant as well. Their goal is to create a device that not only detects mutants but also will describe their powers and power levels.

Campaign Use:

The Knights of Genetic Purity can be used in place of or in addition to the IHA. The Knights are far more active and deadlier than the IHA. The Knights are out to eliminate all mutants, where the IHA are more about controlling the threat.

If you don’t want two active anti-mutants organization then you could either eliminate the use of the IHA, or, use the Knights as the attack arm of the IHA. This would allow the IHA to continue being used as an anti-mutant lobby and “outing” organization. The Knights would be seen as a separate organization and would spare the IHA from any backlash.

If you decide to use both one thing to keep in mind is that the IHA hasn’t forgot about the actions of McBride. So characters could get stuck in the middle of the IHA extracting a little revenge against the Knights and James McBride.

In my campaign the difference between the IHA and the Knights are easily noticed. The IHA lobby and release statements against mutants on a regular basis. At the same time, behind the scenes they attack and try to capture and enslave mutants for purposes ranging from experimentation to use as weapons against their enemies and other mutants.

The IHA are always working on new technologies to not only make capturing mutants easier and safer but force them into servitude as well. They have several prototype mutant restraining devices design to stop or restrict mutant powers.

The Knights on the other hand have one simple goal, exterminate all mutants and mutant sympathizers. If they capture a mutant, his/her days are numbered. If a mutant character is captured they have a very small window for escape or rescue. This fact has become a campaign tool on several occasions.

Appearance:

The Knight all tend to dress in medieval garb complete with surcoat. The agents’ surcoat is red with a large white cross on it. Even the Rook robot has this appearance. There are a few members of the Knights with powered armor or weapons. These individuals dress differently than the agents do.

Members:

Inquisitor - Co-Leader
Empress OF PAin
Executioner
Griffon
Man At Arms

Full th Edition Write-up For Knights Of Gnetic Purity can be found HERE