stern ritters

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.

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, to serve and protect the former as his royal guard.[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]