Alluvian_Est-Endrati
08-03-2007, 01:01 PM
Religious Orders within the Cult of Sigmar
Introduction
While faith in Sigmar is one of the manyfold factors that helps bind together and unify the people of the Empire, it is worth nothing that there are many possible roles that the priests of the Cult of Sigmar may serve within. While the full and exact nature of these orders and their mysteries are not likely to ever be known to the public at large, the existence and general nature of four of these religious orders is known. There are most certainly other, generally secret, orders within the greater church, however the existence of these secret cults is a matter for discussion another time.
The Order of the Silver Hammer: The Order of the Silver Hammer is one of the most well known in the Empire. Those priests who join this order receive extensive martial training. These Warrior Priests are some of the finest warriors in all of the Empire, relentless opponents of all that is evil and corrupt. They are generally clad in heavy armor, plates of hammered steel inscribed with holy symbols and adorned with bits of Scripture. While they are clad in armor, to a man they keep their heads uncovered by helm, though some have been known to wear circlets or little prayer books tied to their foreheads. The principle weapon utilizes, of course, is the Warhammer, of either the more normal variety or some of the greater two-handed hammers for which the order is well known.
The principle duties of the Order of the Silver Hammer are to seek out and defeat those forces and threats which face the Empire and its people. In the course of their duties they may encounter goblins, orcs, undead and even the minions of the ruinous powers. From time to time they must also raise their hammers to strike out against those within our own Empire who have turned to corruption as well. The only conflicts within the Empire that the Order of the Silver Hammer does not generally involve itself in are those disputes between the lords of the land. While every cult in the Empire has political objectives, it would go against the very nature of the Cult of Sigmar to become involved in anything that would threaten the unity of the Empire.
Weapons and training aside, the most potent force that has been seen wielded by those of this Order is that of their faith given form. Not all priests are blessed with the power to work miracles, the blessing to channel the power and strength of their faith into the world. It is certain that those who are chosen by Holy Sigmar to bear his might into the world are some of the greatest protectors we will ever have.
The Order of the Torch: This particular order within the greater cult is one of the largest. Those members of the Order of the Torch are the priests who tend to the shrines and temples, as well as to the people who come to them for prayer and guidance. The principle duties of the Order of the Torch are to spread and maintain the faith. Not only are the members of this particular order the ones who give the sermons, they are also the priests who manage the day to day affairs of the cult as a whole. Those members of the Order of the Torch serve as the administrative arm of the faith, keeping records, sending messages and ensuring that the temporal matters of the cult are handled properly.
The Order of the Cleansing Flame: Perhaps one of the most feared of the Orders of Sigmar are those priests of the Cleansing Flame. This Order is the one which is charged with finding, rooting out and dealing with the corruption that exists within the Empire itself. With the authority granted to them, these priests seek out rogue and corrupt wizards, chaos cultists and other threats that exist within the borders of our own nation. While the Order of the Silver Hammer generally can more readily identify their foes, those who take to the calling of the Cleansing Flame are faced with the constant knowledge that nearly anyone, high or low, could be an enemy of the Empire.
A great many methods are considered acceptable by the Order of the Cleansing Flame for rooting out corruption. Torture, intimidation and much worse has been carried out to find those heretics, cultists and other dangerous elements that lurk within our society. While all fear the tools and methods of their trade, there is no denying that their zealous efforts are what allow us to live in even relative peace.
The Order of the Anvil: Philosophers and Theologians find their calling within the Order of the Anvil. These priests go into seclusion so that they may better study the holy texts and scriptures without interruption or distraction from the world at large. They are the ones who painstakingly copy and illuminate the great holy texts, as well as those who spend their lives trying to properly interpret the meaning of the many elements of their faith. Scholars to a man, the Order of the Anvil is primarily concerned with ensuring that the faith remains holy and pure, laboring hard so that their fellow priests may all the better enact their righteous duties without doubt or hesitation.
It is also said that it is often those priests of the Order of the Anvil who are permitted to study the various forbidden and blasphemous tomes that have been collected over the years. Some books and words are dangerous to read and it requires a pure heart and a strong mind to not be swayed or corrupted by the foulness contained within certain texts. All that is really known is that these studies are conduced under the most careful of conditions, and only when the need is great enough to attempt to divine more about the enemies that face us to risk the corruption of one of their own.
Introduction
While faith in Sigmar is one of the manyfold factors that helps bind together and unify the people of the Empire, it is worth nothing that there are many possible roles that the priests of the Cult of Sigmar may serve within. While the full and exact nature of these orders and their mysteries are not likely to ever be known to the public at large, the existence and general nature of four of these religious orders is known. There are most certainly other, generally secret, orders within the greater church, however the existence of these secret cults is a matter for discussion another time.
The Order of the Silver Hammer: The Order of the Silver Hammer is one of the most well known in the Empire. Those priests who join this order receive extensive martial training. These Warrior Priests are some of the finest warriors in all of the Empire, relentless opponents of all that is evil and corrupt. They are generally clad in heavy armor, plates of hammered steel inscribed with holy symbols and adorned with bits of Scripture. While they are clad in armor, to a man they keep their heads uncovered by helm, though some have been known to wear circlets or little prayer books tied to their foreheads. The principle weapon utilizes, of course, is the Warhammer, of either the more normal variety or some of the greater two-handed hammers for which the order is well known.
The principle duties of the Order of the Silver Hammer are to seek out and defeat those forces and threats which face the Empire and its people. In the course of their duties they may encounter goblins, orcs, undead and even the minions of the ruinous powers. From time to time they must also raise their hammers to strike out against those within our own Empire who have turned to corruption as well. The only conflicts within the Empire that the Order of the Silver Hammer does not generally involve itself in are those disputes between the lords of the land. While every cult in the Empire has political objectives, it would go against the very nature of the Cult of Sigmar to become involved in anything that would threaten the unity of the Empire.
Weapons and training aside, the most potent force that has been seen wielded by those of this Order is that of their faith given form. Not all priests are blessed with the power to work miracles, the blessing to channel the power and strength of their faith into the world. It is certain that those who are chosen by Holy Sigmar to bear his might into the world are some of the greatest protectors we will ever have.
The Order of the Torch: This particular order within the greater cult is one of the largest. Those members of the Order of the Torch are the priests who tend to the shrines and temples, as well as to the people who come to them for prayer and guidance. The principle duties of the Order of the Torch are to spread and maintain the faith. Not only are the members of this particular order the ones who give the sermons, they are also the priests who manage the day to day affairs of the cult as a whole. Those members of the Order of the Torch serve as the administrative arm of the faith, keeping records, sending messages and ensuring that the temporal matters of the cult are handled properly.
The Order of the Cleansing Flame: Perhaps one of the most feared of the Orders of Sigmar are those priests of the Cleansing Flame. This Order is the one which is charged with finding, rooting out and dealing with the corruption that exists within the Empire itself. With the authority granted to them, these priests seek out rogue and corrupt wizards, chaos cultists and other threats that exist within the borders of our own nation. While the Order of the Silver Hammer generally can more readily identify their foes, those who take to the calling of the Cleansing Flame are faced with the constant knowledge that nearly anyone, high or low, could be an enemy of the Empire.
A great many methods are considered acceptable by the Order of the Cleansing Flame for rooting out corruption. Torture, intimidation and much worse has been carried out to find those heretics, cultists and other dangerous elements that lurk within our society. While all fear the tools and methods of their trade, there is no denying that their zealous efforts are what allow us to live in even relative peace.
The Order of the Anvil: Philosophers and Theologians find their calling within the Order of the Anvil. These priests go into seclusion so that they may better study the holy texts and scriptures without interruption or distraction from the world at large. They are the ones who painstakingly copy and illuminate the great holy texts, as well as those who spend their lives trying to properly interpret the meaning of the many elements of their faith. Scholars to a man, the Order of the Anvil is primarily concerned with ensuring that the faith remains holy and pure, laboring hard so that their fellow priests may all the better enact their righteous duties without doubt or hesitation.
It is also said that it is often those priests of the Order of the Anvil who are permitted to study the various forbidden and blasphemous tomes that have been collected over the years. Some books and words are dangerous to read and it requires a pure heart and a strong mind to not be swayed or corrupted by the foulness contained within certain texts. All that is really known is that these studies are conduced under the most careful of conditions, and only when the need is great enough to attempt to divine more about the enemies that face us to risk the corruption of one of their own.