Order of the Eight Demons
The order of the Eight Demons is a female clerical order of the Church of Agrik sponsoring the all male fighting order, the Cohorts of Gashang.
Active in both the Kingdom of Rethem and the Thardic Republic it is headquartered in the City of Shiran with major temples at Coranan, Geshtei, Themeson and Golotha.
Lead by Merele Kantar, the Grandmistress of the Order and High priestess of the Shiran temple, is considered extremely cruel and ruthless even by other Agrikians.
Structure
Supreme head of the Order of Eight Demons
Senesharil (Grandmistress)
The political and inspirational leader of the Order of Eight Demons. She is also the High-Priestess of the Order’s headquarters temple in the City of Shiran.Temple Organisation
The Viriahan (High Priestess)
The High Priestess is the mistress of the temple appointed for life. All are formidable women who have absolute control over the temple and any local Chapter of the Cohorts of Gashang.The Aperani (Mistresses)
There are usually eight mistresses, each with different responsibilities in the temple. Competition for positions and power is ceaseless and often lethal. The High Priestess appoints Aperani.The Heruchai (Lieutenants)
These rank between acolyte and mistress and are assigned to assist one of the Aperani.The Agnichari (Acolytes)
Usually, enter the church between ages 13 and 18 then are trained in martial arts and ritual although most of their time is spent at menial tasks.Recruitment
Since the split with the Order of Hepra the Mace the order has been low in numbers. As a result it is actively recruiting, sometimes paying poor families for daughters or accepting any young woman rejected by the church of Halea for being not attractive enough.
Assets
Major Temples
Thardic Republic
Shiran - Lead by High priestess Merele Kantar who is also the Grandmistress of the Order. This is a large temple and the orders headquarters.
Coranan - The Bastion of Silent Screams. The High-Priestess is Albalny Sunis
Geshtei - This temple is popular with many of the warriors from the Gerium Legion.
Themeson - Lead by Deputy Grandmistress Karel Delvanau who oversees Gerdel Abbey, the spiritual home of the order, and the considerable income is derived from the Mines and lands in this region.
Kingdom of Rethem
Golotha - This is a new temple, built over the ruins of the temple of the Order of the Pillar of Fire after it "accidentally" burnt down and priests murdered (rumor has it at the order of the Agrikian Primate Sir Klyrdes Bisidri of the Order of Mamaka, Master of Steel.
History
714 TR - The Order of the Eight Demons and its fighting order, the Cohorts of Gashang are the youngest of all the Hârnic Agrikan orders. Both were created in 714 TR, a schism within the orders of Herpa the Mace and the Red Shadows of Herpa. The reasons for the schism were many, involving matters of theology, politics and differing views of gender roles within the clergy.
Military
The Order receives substantial military support from the Cohorts of Gashang. Their knights and warriors are never far from any of the priestess.
Mythology & Lore
The eight demon theology derives from the original interpretation of the creation myth of the eight demonic sons of Agrik, claiming that they were "given birth" from eight drops of blood, from Agrik's severed claw. Therefore Agrik's strongest, loyalest and most powerful followers were created from the blood and agony of their father. Childbirth is considered a virtue and demonstration of faith.
Agrikan theology many times predicts that a great warrior the Cune’kaparas will be born to a consecrated priestess, who will lead Agrik’s legions in the final confrontation with the goddess Larani. The Order of the Eight Demons believes that priestess will be one of its members. As a result a significant number of the Priestesses are pregnant.
Tenets of Faith
Women are guides and spiritual leaders of men.
Men are Argik's chosen warriors.
Infliction of pain and suffering gives birth to the desirable qualities of strength, anger, and loyalty.
Therefore physical pain plays an integral with the teachings of the order. The Order has developed rituals to get the best out of its worshipers though suffering. Ritual torture, disfigurement, and branding are routinely inflicted on its male worshipers or victims.
Giving birth is the greatest act of piety.
Priesthood
The order is open to females only.
Granted Divine Powers
It is said the Order has some skill in demon summoning and divination.
The order also uses the Demon Branding Rituals to infuse the power of Agrik's eight sons into members of its sponsored fighting Order, the Cohorts of Gashang.
Political Influence & Intrigue
The order is on reasonably "polite" terms with all other Agrikian orders, except the parent order, Herpa the Mace in which it is involved in a war of assassins.
The Grandmistress, Merele Kantar, in Shiran is a skilled intriguer and has considerable influence with the Thardic Republic Senate.
The order, and its sponsored fighting order the Cohorts of Gashang, are actively involved in Rethemi politics and are very supportive of the crown. They expect to be granted land in due course.
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