"'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.
|
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.