Veruelt Vigil

The Veruelt Vigil is a zealous holy order dedicated to the capture and sentencing of the wicked and criminally condemned. Often thought of as benevolent bounty hunters, the Veruelt Vigil are a small order of Justicars who specialize in hunting, trying and/or execution wanted criminals and heretics. Given the nature of their targets, these warriors often specialize in law, survival skills, and single combat. While they Veruelt Vigil receive financial compensation for their efforts, its members are not motivated by personal gain. Becoming a member of the Vigil is a personal one, often after suffering the fate of justice denied. Its members are often fervent in their desire to see the wicked punished. As such, the Vigil traffic in reputation and honor as much, if not more, than coin.
Whilst the vigil is guided by a pursuit of justice for the condemned, they do not often recognize the laws of the initial sentencing. Instead, the Vigil keep an ear for trials or crimes that are extraordinary. Sometimes they assist at the behest of local authorities who lack the resources to enforce their verdicts - other times they will impose their own justice at the expense of the others.
To its supporters, the Vigil is cruel but necessary blade to fight against the evils of civilization, when all avenues for justice have failed. To its detractors, the vigil is a fanatic group of vigilantes who show no respect for the laws of the land, and act outside its authority. The sum total of its acts, to date, seem to bear out the truth of this orders infamy - that of a group that gain enough sympathy by common folk more often than not, if only just barely.

History

According to legend, the Veruelt Vigil had its origins during the second Sapakan Incursion [time of spurnment), when a large contingent of daemons had arisen in the turathi subcontinent, the Veruelt Vigil was formed from devout adherents in the north, and trained extensively to hunt and combat these fiends. While many of the daemons took advantage of the disorganized and easily corrupt legions of the empire, the Vigil was formed with no allegiances, and was able to operate without limits.
The Vigil earned a reputation for ruthlessness and efficiency during this time. As their foes were extraplanar, this trait earned them high praise and favor among the towns and villages they liberated. However, as the Sapakan retreated from direct confrontations to insurgent assaults, the Vigil’s tactics were forced to adapt. Eventually the daemon threat was quelled, and the Vigil was left adrift without a clear foe to oppose.
With a fraternity of brothers and sisters dedicated to the cause of hunting and rooting out evil, a schism briefly formed between those hoping to limit their activities to the extraplaner, and those willing to expand their jurisdiction to more mortal and mundane agents. After a brief period of infighting, the Veruelt Vigil reformed under a new, broader mandate to seek out evil and dispense justice. Hundreds of years later, the Vigil found itself more often involved in the affairs of mortal justice. While some members still yearn for the purity of hunting evil in its natural form, others have become accustomed to the role of acting as extra-national judges and executioners.
As an extra national organization, the Veruelt Vigil does not subscribe to the codes of law or conduct set by other kingdoms or religions. Instead, they have set forth their own, and enforce them wherever they are able. While the vigil don’t always acknowledge the authority of other kingdoms, they will respect their enforcement - as such they temper their operations in areas where they can expect a friendly reception, or little resistance.

Codes of Justice

The codes of the Veruelt Vigil are simple by any standard, and lack many of the more complex exceptions developed by larger nations. Since the Vigil oversees judgement of suspects however, there is little recourse for the accused to appeal to. On their face, none of the codes and taboos the Vigil seeks to stamp out are disagreeable - instead their perception and interpretation by the Vigil’s Justicars is usually the source of friction.

• Taboos
• Death
• Torture
• Lying
• Bondage
• Conspiracy

Titles & Ranks

The primary membership of the Veruelt Vigil is composed of Justicars, sorted into five ranks representing a members overall seniority and experience. All Justicars beyond the Vena (Squire) rank, may also have a secondary title, outlining their expertise in a given skillset.
A members rank recognizes their general experience and authority within the Vigil, whilst their official title honors their specialty, and role (relative to their rank). Through this, members are able to organize and perform complex tasks efficiently through a clear chain of command.

Vigil Ranks

• Vena [seedling] - inducted squire, provisional
• Sate [elderberry - protection] - Attendant
• Reda [peach - healing/watchfulness) - Seasoned Justicars, may hold a title, take an apprentice
• Fide [fig - truth/wisdom] - Veteran Justicars, can give commands to lesser troops (backup Ora)
• Ora [peace/glory] - Singular title, held by the head of the Veruelt Vigil.

Titles

• Venator (Huntsman/Investigator)
• Assator (Defender/Juror)
• Censor (Judge/Executioner)

Chapters The Vigil operate in several chapters of a few hundred personnel - enough to sustain themselves as they move from village to village throughout the subcontinent. They are trained to survived off the land where they need to, but are just as content to pay for services from local villages, often from coin. Each chapter is lead

Prominent Members

Censor, Selene Chapter

Evelyn Bühl

Venator, Selene Chapter

Founding Date

1647 A.E.

Type

Religious, Holy Order

Demonym

Justicar