02 - Iron Kingdoms W.. - Captain Spud Is Amazing

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the monks of the Fist revere his teachings and remain
fiercely loyal to him.
Garrick Voyle remains young and vigorous due
to his extensive training as a monk—and perhaps as
a holy benefit of his station. He is in perfect physical
condition and maintains his martial skills at their peak.
He suffered a series of assassination attempts when he
first attained the rank of Hierarch, but his ability to
dispatch the assassins unaided has left his enemies
convinced that he is invulnerable. Indeed, he shows no
concern for his succession and fully intends to outlive
his current subordinates. He still has enemies among
the Temple, but they have all but given up hope of
deposing him. He has a reputation for sniffing out
plots and conspiracies, aided by the exemplars and
monks who serve him.
Though the Hierarch is presently preoccupied with
his crusade against Cygnar, he anticipates the day when
all of western Immoren will be reclaimed by the faithful.
Cygnar is seen as the Protectorate’s great nemesis, but
the Hierarch intends to repay Khador for its betrayals.
He knows Queen Ayn used his theocracy to distract
Cygnaran military intelligence. Additionally, Voyle was
gravely insulted by the ruthlessness with which the
Khadorans stopped the practice of cortex smuggling.
It will all come in good time. The Harbinger has
appeared at the moment he was preparing to lead the
faithful against the Cygnaran infidels, and with the
guidance and divine insight of Menoth’s prophet, the
Hierarch’s troops will not fail. When they are finished
with Cygnar, they will carry on the crusade until
they have purged the heresy of the Twins from all of
western Immoren forever.
Temple Ranks
Power in the Protectorate of Menoth is
inextricably linked to ranks within the Temple,
and each station brings with it a certain measure of
authority over the populace.
Hierarch is a special title of absolute power only
bestowed with the unanimous—though not necessarily
willing—support of the visgoths.
The visgoths are the ranking leaders of the
Temple entrusted with overseeing large segments of
the populace and day-to-day rule. It is their duty to
fulfill the designs of the Hierarch; they ensure all of
his projects proceed as planned and that his people
are productive and loyal. They are the equivalent
of governors or high nobility in other kingdoms.
All visgoths are members of the Synod, a governing
council directly serving the Hierarch and sharing
his ideals. The Synod finds the tolerant mixing of
religions in other kingdoms abhorrent especially
since Morrowans are in control of most of the rest of
western Immoren. In times when a single priest does
not have absolute control, the theocracy is overseen
by the entire Synod. Historically, some visgoths have
attained supremacy without becoming Hierarch. The
most notable was Visgoth Leventine (549–568 AR).
Sovereigns report to the visgoths. They are the
highest rank of priests with whom most citizens will
ever directly interact. The majority of sovereigns reside
in the capital of Imer, but a number of them inhabit
Sul and other significant outlying communities.
Sovereigns are expected to supervise lesser priests and
citizens within their jurisdiction and to execute the
orders and directives of the visgoths.
grAnD scrutAtor severius
throughout the history of the ProtectorAte, the title
grAnD scrutAtor hAs trADitionAlly been bestoweD uPon the
highest-rAnKing scrutAtor visgoth of the synoD. however,
this title is lArgely honorific in the cAse of the current
grAnD scrutAtor. though officiAlly the highest rAnKing
scrutAtor beneAth the hierArch AnD hAnDPicKeD for his
Position by gArricK voyle himself, grAnD scrutAtor severius
hAs DeclineD A seAt on the synoD. insteAD, the wArcAster hAs
chosen to Answer the creAtor’s cAll on the bAttlefielD.
Following Protectorate politics requires
understanding the influence and power of the
scrutators. These ominous priests hold a regular clerical
rank, but they wield greater power and command
more respect than mere clerics of the Temple. For
example, while all visgoths are theoretically equal,
Hierarch Voyle holds scrutator visgoths in higher
esteem. Nonetheless, a priest of higher rank can expect
obedience from a priest scrutator of lower rank (i.e.,
a non-scrutator visgoth has authority over scrutator
sovereigns). In actual practice, they are reluctant to
give orders to scrutators lest they contradict secret
instructions from the Hierarch.
World Guide 269