Circle of Ossus

The Circle of Ossus is a secret cult that is featured in Age of Empires III as the main enemy of the Black Family. They are in all three acts of the campaign. There are arguments over what they really are, some thinking that they are the most powerful men in Europe, others thinking that they are nothing more than scientists and alchemists. The latter is closer to reality, but what is certain is that they desire eternal life.

World Influence
The Circle of Ossus has enclaves in Prague, Alexandria and Spain. They also have a library made of stone in one of the caves of Malta. Their most important battles for the Lake of the Moon took place in the New World (America). The Circle also holds territory near Havana, Cuba, where their Ossuary is located.

Army
The Circle has a strong military, made of forces from the powerful countries of Europe. They have their own elite troops, called the Boneguard. They have also tamed white animals, which are featured in the library of stone.

Leaders
As Pierre Beaumont, an army leader was called Grand Inquisitor, others would presumably have the same title.

Alain Magnan - Alain led a double life, being a commander of the Circle and also the Knights of St. John. He tasked Morgan Black with defending a fort in the Siege of Malta, attacking an Ottoman fortress in the New World, and taking a Spanish treasure fleet. However, when he ordered Morgan to kill the Turkish general Sahin, Elisabet Ramsey- a pirate who Morgan seemed to have an affection for, and an Inca soldier, Black was persuaded to destroy the fabled fountain of youth. Alain was killed during the battle.

Warwick - the British lord was sent to control a colony, but at some point kidnapped Stuart Black. John Black hunted Warwick for his uncle Stuart, and on the way Warwick became a renegade for attacking a village without authorization and was pursued by the British military. His Boneguard troops led the way for a Russian army to attack the French and British colonies. The Russian army and Warwick were destroyed when John Black sacrificed himself by causing an avalanche in the mountains.

Sven Kuechler - Some believe that Kuechler was a leader of The Circle due to the fact that he mainly targeted Nathaniel Black. Kuechler was a Hessian Colonel who fought with the British General Cornwallis during the Battle of Morristown, who were both stopped by Nathaniel Black and George Washington.

Pierre Beaumont - he fooled Amelia Black into thinking that he was a prospector looking for workers whom he'd share the gold in his mines with, then tried to kill her. His plans were scuppered when the aging Kanyenke warned Amelia, who almost fell into the trap. The United States army destroyed several Circle bases, until finally, at the Ossuary in Havana, Amelia shot Beaumont in a last stand battle and soon the siege destroyed the Circle for good.