The Night Watch are publicly known as a militaristic splinter sect that worships
Napir. While most regard him as the god of the moon and the stars, the Night Watch regard him as the god of the dark of night itself. This alone would be enough to mark them as blasphemous in the eyes of many, but far worse are the rumours of what they truly are - rumours shared only in the light of day. There are whispers of horrible rituals and torturous rites initiating believers into the inner circle - even that their worship of Napir is merely a front. They are, however, welcomed in a number of smaller communities, where they patrol the streets at night for free, in lieu of a paid town watch.
These rumours are largely true. The Night Watch are dedicated to the worship of darkness and the mysteries that are hidden within it. They believe that the world is, by its nature, fundamentally a place of darkness, and that light in all of its forms is to be shunned. They seek to create in the world a place of utter darkness, where not even magically enhanced sight can pierce the darkness. They have already created dozens of such sanctuaries throughout the
Sleeping Lands through the use of enchanted
Black Sapphires.
Initiation
People who express an interest in joining the Night Watch typically do so through the night patrol groups that protect isolated locations from the nameless fears that stalk the night. Such volunteers are issued a bow and spear and taught enough to use them, then assigned to work with fully initiated members. Over the course of the next few weeks, they are taught the Night Watch's beliefs and are assessed, both for their willingness to accept the doctrine and their comfort in working at night. The Watch patrols carry no torches or other sources of light. Publicly, this is to prevent the light from torches from ruining their night vision, but this is really a part of the assessment; those who can't handle the lack of light are quickly encouraged to find another path. After several months, those patrolling with a new member give their recommendations as to their fate: initiation, dismissal, or being kept on patrol duty in a group made up of less dedicated members.
The process of initiating someone into the Night Watch is unsettling to say the least. An initiate is brought to a cave or catacomb - a place with no light and sealed within for 3 days, from midnight to midnight, with only a meagre supply of bread and water. They carry no weapons or tools with them, wear no armour. While these places are first thoroughly checked for threats, the initiate is never told this. Indeed, if they ask about such things, they are simply wished good luck.
After the 3 days come to a close, the barricade is removed. All who come out are disturbed by what they experienced. Many speak of terrors that haunted them, of the darkness reaching out to touch them. Some are so terrified of the dark that they quit the Night Watch for good; most of these tend not to go outside after nightfall, and keep their homes lit all night long. Some come out bearing cryptic tattoos on their arms or shoulders that were not there when they went in; these are marked for greatness among the Night Watch, their mysterious tattoos being considered a sign that they have been blessed by the darkness. And some just don't come out at all. Occasionally, when the barricade is removed, the initiate is simply missing, even when the whole cavern is carefully searched. Sometimes, black stains that might be blood spatter but for their colour are found, other times no trace at all.
All who survive the initiation and are still fascinated by the darkness are welcomed to the true Night Watch, given the support they need to accept their experience, and are invited to visit the Watch's sanctuaries, where they are taught the organization's many secrets.
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