Chapter VIII: Religion & Belief
r anald God of Tricksters
barbarians to their north (the forefathers of the Empire), Arabian invaders from across the sea, and Goblins pouring out of the mountains to their east. Having saved her people, Myrmidia was to be crowned queen but was shot at her coronation with a poisoned dart from an unknown assailant. She was so strong that the poison could not kill her, though, and as she lay dying she commanded that a great ship be constructed. She was loaded onto the vessel and sailed West, where she ascended to Godhood. In the Empire she is believed to be a regional God only, and while people respect her, most do not especially worship her—no more than they worship the regional Gods of Kislev or Bretonnia. This vision of Myrmidia as the maiden warrior who rose up and saved her people persists to this day in every legend, but in Tilea and Estalia, the rest of the story is very different. They claim that Myrmidia was the daughter of Verena and Morr who was given to mortal parents to raise. In Tilea, they insist Tileans raised her. In Estalia, her parents were of course Estalian. In either case, the baby grew to be a powerful maiden warrior who rallied the people of both lands against all enemies. To this day she is loved and revered as the patron of both nations, but also as a Goddess born of two great Gods. Apart from being a regional God, the people of the southlands believe Myrmidia has an essential role as one of the Gods of civilization. She is, they say, the patron Goddess of Soldiers and Strategists. Where Ulric stands for strength of combat and the fury of battle, Myrmidia stands for the art and science of war. Myrmidia is commonly portrayed as a tall, well-proportioned, young woman armed and equipped in the style of the soldiers of the southern Old World. She can also take the form of an eagle. Symbol The symbol of Myrmidia is a spear behind a shield. This design is worn as a pendant by the majority of her followers, who believe it will bring them luck in battle. Her Priests wear blue cowls over white robes with red edging, with her symbol either sewn onto the left breast or worn as a cloak-clasp. Area of Worship Myrmidia is followed with fanatical devotion across the southern Old World, especially Tilea and Estalia. In other parts of the Old World, warriors who find Ulric’s ways of battle to be too brutal are turning to the worship Myrmidia. This is particularly true of those who use black powder, which is proscribed by the Ulrican faith. These new adherents accept the belief that Myrmidia is the daughter of Verena and Morr and do not consider her a regional God. Temperament Myrmidia is a God of the southern people of the Old World, hearing their prayers and protecting them from invasion. However, as her faith has spread to other regions, she is generally thought by other cultures to be a vengeful God. Unlike Ulric, who watches over battles and lets men live or die by their own skill, Myrmidia actually steels hearts and drives the righteous to destroy the wicked. Strictures Devout worshippers of Myrmidia must abide by the following strictures, though there are only likely consequences for breaking them among templars, Initiates and Priests of Myrmidia: • Act with honour and dignity at all times. • Respect prisoners of war. • Show no mercy to the enemies of humanity. • Honour your master’s commands, breaking them only when absolutely necessary (for example, when you are ordered to break one of the other strictures).
Ranald is rarely worshipped in temples. His followers invoke his name in whispers or by praying at private shrines. Beloved by merchants, gamblers, thieves, and all those whose daily tasks revolve around money, Ranald is a far more popular God than one could determine by counting temples in the street. Indeed, anyone who seeks wealth, feels they have been cheated or downtrodden, desires to break a string of bad luck, or simply wishes to hold on to what riches they have already accumulated, prays to Ranald.
He is spoken of by the orthodox leaders of other cults as the wicked trickster God, a patron of rogues and gamblers and other “base personages.” The authorities of the Empire think little of the cult of Ranald and do not embrace its clergy as they do the clergy of other cults. Whilst authority figures loathe the worship of Ranald, to the masses he is a hero. Revered across the Old World, common folk pray to Ranald whenever they need something. Unlike most other Gods, it is believed that if you pray enough to Ranald, he will hear you and you will receive. He is the God of the weak, the forgotten, those who need a change in fortune. Ranald is portrayed as a Human male, usually a charming rogue with a wicked smile. He can also take the form of a crow, magpie or black cat. He is a roguish trickster, happy to pull down the lofty and raise the low. Rather than being evil or malicious, he is ruled largely by his irrepressible sense of humour. Because he so loves to see the mighty fall, powerful merchants who got where they are by prayer to Ranald are sure to donate a great deal of their wealth to his cult. Ranald abhors violence of all kinds, and would never condone violent crime, murder or torture. Symbol Ranald is represented by the sign of the crossed index and second finger. Making the sign is a sort of silent invocation or prayer, and is supposed to bring luck. In his shrines and temples, he is represented with the crow and the cat. For obvious reasons, in many parts of the Old World Priests of Ranald do not wear any distinctive forms of clothing or holy symbols. Some followers may have a cleverly hidden, repeating “X” design worked into their clothes. A metal pendant with an ornate “X” design is a common good luck charm in the Old World. So many people wear one that it is a clear sign of Ranald’s popularity as a folk God. However, it is so common that it does not invite suspicion except where official suppression of Ranald’s worship has assumed the proportions of a witch-hunt. In any case, these charms are seldom worn openly; it is generally believed that the effect of the charm is lessened if it is openly displayed. Area of Worship Ranald is worshipped throughout the Old World, generally in larger towns and cities. His worshippers are normally struggling merchants, rogues, gamblers and the lower classes. Temperament Devout worshippers of Ranald believe if they really need something and pray to him enough, he will give it to them. Those who point out
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