Witchfinders

Structure

The initial rank within the Witchfinder is the title of Layman. These are the basic foot soldiers and grunts of the organization, and are equipped with basic training, weapons, and armor provided by the church. Standard equipment includes a set of brigandine with a brimmed iron cap, pike, crossbow, and an iron-banded club. Higher ranking commanding officers are called Witchhammers, and they typically wear heavier armor with wooden slabs painted with holy verses and symbols. They also wear broad mustard-yellow capes. The head of the Witchfinders in the two sects, Old World and New World, are called Witchbreakers.

Culture

The Witchfinders arose from a time of societal unrest, mistrust, and religious fervor. Spawned shortly after Soloman's Witch Revolt in 1128, Gregorius the Hammer, an Inquisitorial Prelate of the Alvkirk, split off from his fellow Inquisitors so as to recruit religious fighters directly from the people, rather than through the church. The Witchfinders were the result. Two hundred and fifty years later, little has changed. Witchfinders use whatever means they deem necessary in the uprooting of evil from they homes. They are highly militaristic, and typically rely on brute force or threats of brute force to achieve their goals. They are also typically deeply religious and anti-magic, seeing as they mostly exist to hunt down and punish witches.

Public Agenda

The goal of Witchfinders is to hunt down any witches or practitioners of dark arts and mete out their punishment. Witchfinder posts serve not only as gathering places for Witchfinders, but for soapboxes for zealots to find recruits and strike fear of the enemy into the hearts of residents.

Type

Religious, Inquisitorial

Predecessor Organization