THE BROTHERHOOD AND KNIGHTS OF PURITY

"'The Brotherhood of Purity?  A grand organization.  Nothing like it in the Old World.  They work with the poor unfortunates of Marienburg to better their lot.  Even run soup kitchens and flop houses for those wretches.  Name me an organization of wealthy patrons in the Empire who would give much of themselves."

"Bloody dogs, those gets!  Youse think that we wouldn't know how to relieve ourselves without their bleedin' help!  If it wasn't fer their soup kitchens, me 'n me friends would think nothin' of shakin' down those snot-nose fools."

"You need to be careful.  There's  more to the Brotherhood of Purity than meets the eye.  On the outside, they're a charitable.  But there are rumours.  Seems that they have a secret group who root out and expose those who disagree with their view of right.  So, watch what you say." 

The Brotherhood of Purity is one of the influential social clubs of Marienburg.  It ranks are composed of like-minded well-to-do people who wish to devote time or donate money to help those less fortunate than themselves, mostly widows and orphans.  To this end, the Brotherhood operates a number of soup kitchens and flophouses for the poor, chiefly in the southern wards such as Suiddock and Kruiersmuur.  The organization has a good reputation in the city, amongst the rich and poor alike.  Indeed, fundraising social events are often held in its name.  PCs are likely to come across them when they visit the poorer areas of the city.  However, there are rumours that all is not as it seems with the Brotherhood.

Though secret, the membership of the Brotherhood includes some of the more important and respected individuals in Marienburg.  Albert Loodemans (M:SdtR, page 58), Guildmaster of the Brotherhood of Seamen and Pilots, is one such member as is Nadia van Onderzoeker, younger sister of Director Thijs “the Lesser” (M:SdtR, page 30).

The headquarters of the Brotherhood of Purity is located near the Prince’s Rest and Marquandt’s Escorts in the Goudberg district.  Aside from the coat of arms hanging above the main entrance, the slate grey, two-story building lacks decoration of any sort.  Inside the large oaken double doors, a guard sits in the foyer ensuring only members and their guests are admitted.  A double door on the opposite wall leads to the large meeting room where members gather once a month to drink Bretonnian cognac and discuss the organization's business.

Two other doors, one on each wall adjacent to the double doors exit the foyer.  The one on the right leads to the reception room, dining room, kitchen, and guest quarters for visiting dignitaries.  Only the upper echelon of the Brotherhood is permitted through the left door.  The stout door (T6, D12, CR50) is usually locked and only those permitted past this door carry keys to do so.  The foyer guard does not have keys to that private door.

The restricted door opens to a small room with another door and stairs.  Behind the door is a shrine dedicated to Solkan, the god of retribution, vengeance, law, and discipline.  The stairs lead to the upper floors where the seven leaders of the Brotherhood have their private quarters and meeting room.  The latter is where the real business of the organization is discussed and plans formalized.

The Brotherhood is, in reality, a front for the semi-secret vigilante group known as the Knights of Purity.  The Knights’ self-proclaimed mandate and long term objective is the eradication of all mutants and anyone with the slightest taint of Chaos.  Unfortunately, the Knights of Purity tend to see such taint in anybody who look different.

As a means to this end, the Knights conduct night-time raids upon locations believed to be harbouring mutants or other servants of Chaos (e.g., cultists).  These raids generally take place in the poorer sections of Marienburg.  Some of their victims may not have obvious mutations, but that doesn’t matter to the Knights as they are more than certain that these victims were tainted.

The Knights of Purity have a secret base in the Doodkanaal district from where they conduct their raids into the southern slums of Marienburg (the Doodkanaal, Kruiersmuur, and Suiddock districts).  The League of Gentlemen Entrepreneurs takes a particular interest in any Knights of Purity activity in the Suiddock, especially since rumours abound linking the Knights to the Marienburg Watch.

In conjunction with mutant raids, the Knights of Purity have taken steps to infiltrate both the Marienburg Watch and Judiciary.  While the membership of this body rarely exceeds 20-30 people, the influence of Knights is disproportionately higher than its numbers would indicate.  All members are united in their desire for law and order, not necessarily the justice embraced by the weak of heart.  They also use their influence to protect those members who run afoul of the less vigilant Watch.

Though few have heard of them, the Knights of Purity do have their enemies.  These include judges, magistrates, and the few uncorrupted Watchmen in the city who oppose the Knights' vigilante activities.  There is also opposition from the Merchants' Guild as vigilante acts are bad for business.  In addition, the hierarchies of the cults of Verena and Shallya oppose the Knights’ efforts.

Although not truly xenophobic (but very close), the Knights of Purity are very distrustful of outsiders who keep to themselves.  In particular, Arabians, Cathayans, Indics, Kislevites, Nipponese, and Sea Elves are viewed as potentially disruptive to the order the Knights of Purity hope to achieve.  Some critics even claim that the Knights seek to achieve racial purity in the cosmopolitan city.  Further, the Elves are resented for the clearly preferential treatment they have received in the Treaty of 2150 I.C., which allowed them a settlement outside the jurisdiction of Marienburg.

Johannes Rechtbinder, Judge, Cleric Level 3, ex-Student, ex-Lawyer, ex-Initiate

M	WS	BS	S	T	W	I	A	Dex	Ld	Int	Cl	WP	Fel	
4	38	37	4	4	10	50	1	52	64	76	66	67	53	

Alignment: Law (Solkan)

Magic Points: 36

Skills: Arcane Language-Magick, Cartography, Cast Spells-Clerical 1, Cast Spells-Clerical 2, Cast Spells-Clerical 3, Demon Lore, Etiquette, History, Identify Undead, Immunity to Disease, Law, Magic Sense. Magical Awareness, Manufacture Scrolls, Meditate, Numismatics, Public Speaking, Read/Write, Scroll Lore, Secret Language-Classical, Secret Signs-Lawyer, Speak Additional Language (Breton), Theology, Torture

Spells:
Level One: [Battle] Cure Light Injury, Detect Magic, Fireball, Steal Mind, [Demonic] Dispel Lesser Demons, Zone of Demonic Protection, [Elemental] Hand of Fire, Magic Light
Level Two: [Battle] Lightning Bolt, Smash, Zone of Sanctuary, [Demonic] Zone of Demonic Nullification, [Elemental] Resist Fire
Level Three: [Battle] Dispel Magic, Cause Instability

Trappings: Sword, Amulet of Protection (1AP all over), Judge's Wig and Gown, Lawyer's Wig and Gown, and Purse (4d10 Gu, 5d10 shillings).

Quote: "In the final analysis, it is the letter of the law that must prevail.  The intent of the individual is of little consequence."

"The only way to defeat Chaos is to root out the cancerous group of its followers, even if that means removing the innocent dupes who protect them."

"Harbouring miscreants such as mutants is an offence to all Divine Laws.  We, therefore, petition the Courts to fulfil their obligation to the good people of Marienburg.  Execute the mutant and sentence the defendant here to life of hard labour on Rijker's Isle."

Appearance: Johannes has been the Lord Protector of the Knights of Purity for over 20 years.  The 55 year old priest stands 6 ft., weighs 175 lbs. with short grey hair, clean shaven face, and piercing ice blue eyes.

Personality and motivations: Once a formidable prosecutor in the High Courts, Johannes has sat on the bench as judge during the last 10 years.  Many are the prisoners on Rijker's Isle who can thank this humourless, hard-hearted judge for their current lodgings and other accommodations.

Johann has come a long way since his lowly beginnings.  His father was a Suiddock stevedore, his mother dead before his second year.  Early on he learnt his father would spend some evenings attacking immigrants in the area, “those scum who take our work.”  He followed his father in the job at the age of twelve, but by then he had taught himself to read.  His intelligence and leadership qualities brought to the notice of one of the Guild Leaders and he was brought into work as a dock clerk, acting as a go between the guild and the men.

Moving slowly up the hierarchy, he married the daughter of one of the Guild leaders, and they had a son.  This young talent with forthright views brought him to the attraction of a Cleric of Solkan, a High Court Lawyer.  He made him an initiate of Solkan, and soon a clerk in his Law firm.  A year later his wife and son were dead, killed in a street robbery.  A pair of Tilean’s were caught and executed but Johann’s resolve was now set.

Convinced that society's morals were in decline and the surly criminal element increasing (some of whom, no doubt, were followers of Chaos), Johannes became more active in the cult of Solkan, and moving his way up the cult hierarchy.  Now as the highest ranked priest of Solkan in the city, Johannes can rely upon the followers of Solkan to wholeheartedly support the Knights of Purity in their holy causes.

As set forth in the charter, Johannes maintains that outward good works and charity must be coupled with a more active role in eliminating the influence of Chaos from Marienburg society.  Naturally, he is extremely active in planning the Knights' activities with an eye to both detail and overall strategy.  Johannes is also extremely concerned about security within the organization as several recent raids did not achieve the capture of mutants and arrest of their sympathizers he expected.  Clearly, Johannes suspects that there may be a spy in the organization and is formalizing plans to flush out the unfaithful.  Once uncovered, the fate of the individual will be determined by the will of Solkan.

Connections: Johannes is well-known among the pillars of power in Marienburg.  None – including his peers on the bench of the High Court - suspect that the solemn judge is anything more than a strict, unyielding, and incorruptible jurist.

The Lord Protector gets along well with Arhennius Vogt, High Warden of Rijker’s Isle, whom he sees as a disciplinarian much as himself.  In fact, Johannes believes that Mijnheer Vogt is better qualified to run the fortress-prison than the foppish Governor, Ludwig de Beq.  However, he is undecided about recruiting the High Warden into the Knights.

Waldemar Duisterjager is Johannes’ second in command and one of the more fanatical followers of Solkan and his principles.  Johannes has no doubts about the Witch Hunter’s loyalty and entrusts him to carry forth the most discreet and dirtiest assignments for the Knights of Purity.  In return, the Lord Protector uses his considerable influence to ensure Waldemar’s ability to operate freely.  This allows Waldemar to conduct the Knights’ business with little interference from misguided legal constraints.  Other Knights find it safer and saner to avoid Waldemar, if possible.  The Witch Hunter suspects everyone other than Johannes as possible Chaos dupes.  The scantiest of evidence may be enough for Waldemar to take action.

Johannes also recently elevated Maria van Reeveldt to the inner order of the Knights after she demonstrated her commitment to their cause and principles.  Since then, Maria has become one of Johannes’ most trusted aides.