The Purging Flame
Description: The Purging Flame is a fanatical religious faction devoted to eradicating any remnants of the old gods, giants, and the dark magic that once ravaged the Buried Lands. They believe that the cataclysmic war was a divine punishment for the world’s sins and that the only path to redemption is through cleansing fire. The Purging Flame operates like an inquisition, rooting out heresy, corruption, and anything they deem a threat to their strict vision of purity.
Agenda: To purify the Buried Lands by eliminating all traces of forbidden magic, heretical beliefs, and those who harbor sympathies for the old gods or giants. They aim to establish a world where only their strict religious doctrine is followed, often through fear and violence.
Symbol: A flaming sword crossed with a holy book, representing their dual focus on divine judgment and the spread of their doctrine.
Beliefs and Practices
- Divine Retribution: The Purging Flame believes that the gods who perished in the cataclysm were corrupted, and their followers must be purged to prevent further divine wrath. They see themselves as the chosen instruments of a higher, purer god who survived the cataclysm, though this deity is never named and is worshipped as an abstract force of purity and judgment.
- Cleansing Fires: Members of the Purging Flame are known for their use of fire as a tool of purification. They burn books, relics, and people alike if they are deemed to be tainted. Public executions by fire are common, serving both as punishment and a warning to others.
- Inquisitorial Trials: The Purging Flame conducts rigorous trials, where those accused of heresy are often subjected to brutal interrogation and torture. Confession is extracted by any means necessary, and the guilty are almost always sentenced to death.
- Zealous Missionaries: They spread their doctrine aggressively, sending missionaries to convert or subdue distant lands. Those who resist are treated as enemies of the faith and are dealt with accordingly.
Hierarchy
- High Inquisitor: The supreme leader of the Purging Flame, who commands absolute authority and is seen as the embodiment of divine will. The High Inquisitor is a fearsome figure, often rumored to possess divine powers themselves.
- Flamebearers: Senior inquisitors who lead regional chapters of the Purging Flame. They are responsible for enforcing doctrine, leading purges, and conducting trials.
- Purifiers: The rank-and-file members who carry out the will of the Flamebearers. They are trained in combat and interrogation, often serving as both soldiers and executioners.
- Penitents: New initiates or those seeking redemption for their sins. Penitents undergo harsh trials and often serve as the front line in purges, proving their loyalty through acts of extreme devotion.
By fire, we cleanse the world; by faith, we restore its purity.
Type
Religious, Inquisitorial
Tense Neutrality
Overall, the relationship between the Crimson Blades and the Purging Flame is complex, characterized by a mixture of uneasy cooperation, rivalry, and deep-seated mistrust.
Cautious
The Forgotten Voices have a cautious and somewhat adversarial relationship with The Purging Flame. The Purging Flame’s desire to eradicate all traces of dark magic and cursed artifacts can lead to the destruction of valuable historical records and artifacts. The Forgotten Voices strive to preserve such knowledge, often finding themselves in opposition to the Purging Flame’s radical methods and their impact on historical preservation.
Hostile
The Emerald Veil views the Purging Flame with hostility, seeing them as zealots who not only destroy heretical threats but also damage the land and its creatures in their fiery purges.
Mortal Ennemies
The Flame seeks to destroy the Covenant and its practitioners of dark magic at every turn, viewing them as the epitome of heresy and corruption.