Imakti Orders
This is a list of religious orders of the Imperial Church:
Black Friars
The Black Friars are a widespread order generally always on the move. It is well known that they serve as the eyes and ears of the Hierophant.
Bouncing Nuns of Quiet Contemplation
Some, on hearing of this order, make the error of assuming that the sisters engage in some kind of jumping or bouning exercise. In fact the nuns do not themselves bounce, rather they bounce others: these burly women (the order accepts nobody with STR and SIZ below 15) are responsible for ejecting troublemakers from Imakti holy places. The headquarters of the order is at the Cathedral of the Divine REvelation in Great Rooster, however most cathedrals and other important temples throughout the Empire will have at least one member of this order present.
Eclectic College
This is an Imakti religious order held in deep suspicion by the orthodox church. It was founded by a monk named Jesophat at the time Shramanado missionaries visited the Empire. While Jesophat remained true to his Imakti monotheistic faith he found much wisdom in the teachings of the Tathagata. His order practices Shramanado style meditation and trains in martial arts, qi manipulation and a freethinking approach to philosophy. As a result they have been periodically persecuted but also attract a certain mindset of Imakti youth. Should Shramanado practitioners visit the Empire they will always find a welcome at the college, whose monastery is in the city of Kirisho in the Wyrdmark.
Grey Friars
A wandering order devoted to poverty and simplicity members of this order are normally ordinary men of the cloth. However it is rumoured that the guise of Grey Friars is commonly taken by secret agents of the Emperor.
Holy Inquisition
The Inquisition is assigned the task of routing out heresy and black magic. They are particularly concerned with dealing with sorcerors and operate primarily in the Heartlands, however any magic other than simple prayer or divine miracle could bring down the wrath of the Inquisition, anywhere in the Empire.
Knights Inhospitable
Based in the Abbey of Holy Darkness in the Wyrdmark this order of 2000 knights is fanatically devoted to the service of the Hierophant, though they do also sere as part of the Imperial Army when required.
Knights Inquisitive
An order of about 500 men sworn to uphold the Holy Inquisition. Their base is the Abbey of Truth and Penitence in Pol Metra.
Knights of the Grail
At five cohorts the Grail Knights are a large order but they are only a lightly armed one preferring speed to strength. They are dedicated to the detection and eradication of undead things. Their base is the Monastery of Light in Pol Metra.
Knights of the Rose
An order of some three cohorts, they are devoted to good works and often travel in small groups looking for those in need. Their base is the Temple of the Rose in Gofston in the Alemark.
Knights of the Silver Dawn
This knightly order, numbering only about 500, are a shadow of their former self. Based in the city of Rilian they were in the heyday of that city the formost religious knights in Wyrdmark.
Order of the Sword of Imakt
This small order is based in Rilian and has the sworn task of protecting the sacred relic contained in the Sanctuary of the Sword. The order itself is a clerical not a martial order, however they are closely allied with the Knights of the Silver Dawn, whom they will call on for assistance if they feel the Sanctuary is at particular risk.
Rotating Brethren of Saint Belatuc
Based in the Basilica of the Mortal Coil in Callenden's Castle in the Wyrdmark, this is a religious order that engages in the unusual meditative technique of rotation: they spin around on the spot until they become disorientated, by which action they hope to obtain greater understanding of the divine. This is a very ancient order whose exact origins are long forgotten.
Sisters of Sweet Charity
Possibly the most numerous female religious order in the Empire, the sisterhood has many small convents found throughout the land. Most of their convents also function as hospices, the principal legal source of healing.
Temple to Belatuc
The Temple to Belatuc in the Wyrdmark is very ancient, predating the time of the prophet Midir, and it has its own unique priesthood that practises ancient and peculiar rites.
