Sacrosanct
The Church of Triumvirism maintains an militant branch in all major settlements with whom they have influence, the largest of which is stationed in Borne and rivals the city's secular garrison in size and strength.
Officially, the Sacrosanct are charged with the protection of the Church, both its people and its property. Unofficially, they have often acted as inquisitors and holy warriors who "keep the peace" and spread the "wisdom of Triumvirism" by any means necessary.
The Sacrosanct are divided into two broad categories: volunteer infantry and professional, specialized warriors. The latter receive dedicated training and are highly effective in their fields. They are broken into four main subsets:
- Inquisitors: specialized investigative agents who seek out heretical criminals and plots against the people. A secret police of sorts. Official uniforms consist of bleached leather armor over dark red robes, but more often than not, an on-the-job inquisitor is not in uniform.
- Guardians: as the name implies, warriors that watch over the Church's most sacred relics and sights, as well as watch for extraplanar influence. They are trained in being living bulwarks; completely unmovable. They are often champion fighters or paladins who take up an Oath of the Watch. Their uniforms are gleaming silver plate mail overtop soft yellow robes.
- Missionaries: trained diplomats as well as skilled skirmishers for when the need arises; these specialists are generally bards trained in the school of Eloquence or Clerics of Peace, and are called in when a diplomatic solution (or distraction) is required. Their standard uniform is a white and purple robe, but they have been known to don bleached leather armor or breastplates.
- Templars: the bulk of the Church's garrison. These men and women are trained specifically for combat in all environments, both defensive and offensive. Usually, a contingent of templars will accompany one of the other branches anytime numbers are required. Their uniforms are primarily greyish blue tunics and robes beneath any number of armor types.
Tenets of Faith
As an arm of the Church of Triumvirism, soldiers of the Sacrosanct endeavor to embody the spirit of each of the Trinity.
- Sigil. Strengthen your body so that no man could move you. Invigorate yourself so that you may endure anything life puts upon you.
- Cognance. Sharpen your mind so that no devil may outwit you or heretic dissuade you.
- Penance. Harden your resolve and your virtues so that nothing may tear down what makes you, you.
Ethics
The Sacrosanct are generally not the front-facing arm of the Church. They may make the occasional parade or celebratory appearance or man the walls of Borne to boost morale, but the bulk of their work is done in the shadows; especially their inquisitors.
They are the hand that is bloodied to protect the rest of the body. When it comes to protecting the Church and its interests, very little is off-limits. This pragmatism is tempered by a strong sense of virtue; the Sacrosanct will not bloody themselves without what they believe to be just-cause, though this is cold comfort for those that have been deemed their enemies.
Granted Divine Powers
Many of the Sacrosanct who specialize in the arts of spellcasting and commanding magic can draw power either from their fervent belief in the cause or oaths they swear to uphold it. Some insist that their power and strength is a gift granted directly from the Triumvirate, but there is little in the way of proof that this is anything beyond overly-enthusiastic fanaticism.
Political Influence & Intrigue
The Sacrosanct are not an official part of the secular government of Borne, but in truth, there is no truly secular government of Borne. As the city's origins was the direct result of religious turmoil, the Church has always had a hand in the growth of the city. In this way, the Sacrosanct often concerns itself with matters of State as much as the Church. If there is ever a problem of a delicate or high-profile nature, you can be certain to find an inquisitor or a missionary on the scene.
Founding Date
819 EP (in the aftermath of the 50 Year Siege)
Capital
Alternative Names
Army of the Faithful
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