Coveus Maleficarum - The Witch Hunter's Handbook

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The Witch Hunter's Handbook

Detailing the organization, methodology, holy scriptures and structure of The Ancient Covian Templar Order of St. Celestine and its enemies

By Steiner Von Feuerad

Sosaria is a world fraught with danger. It is said that the very origins of our plane of existence are born from witchcraft, and corruption seeps from every pore of the planet. For centuries, there has been only one line of defence which has secured humanity's continued survival in this perilous world. That thin line has come to be known as the Templi, and their many associates. Thus when I was tasked with writing this guide some three summers ago, I knew it was both a great and terrible quest. Every word found within these pages has been sculpted as to give the reader the ultimate advantage over the Guardian's taint. Yet, even after eighty of the Lord's righteous years, as my eyes dim, I can say I have only seen a fraction of the evil that we face. It will require more than a mere book to drive back the evil hordes, yet it is my hope that this manuscript shall go someway in combating the taint.

Chapter I: Concerning the Order

The Order is a vast sprawling subject, and I am old now. I have not the time to write everything on the matter. Indeed, there are many things preventing me from writing as much as I would like. I cannot recall when I last slept, or rather I would rather not, as the dreams have become so foul it is better to stay awake. I am kept in a constant state of mind by the brews of the monks, but I believe they are plotting to poison me. They hide behind their guise of faith to commit their deeds of evil. It is transparent. I spied the apothecary's bald grinning head in the window this morning, it is clear he is in league with the Guardian. The sister-aids, too, are rife with witchery. The one which brought my morning sentience had filthy long hair. 'Twas clearly heresy of the highest order. If I was not confined to this bed, I would have them all on the pyre before dawn. Yet I digress. I shall begin with a little history.

History:

Cove has always housed a chapel to Avatar. The first brave souls to arrive in Cove were rightly Avatarian, and thus their temple reflected this. The leader of the group, Keldor, was a devout and pious man who did envisage Cove as a bastion which would stand against the sea of depravity that washed the land. Cove grew over time, as it attracted many people of all races. These races were bound by the principles of Avatar, and peace prevailed. Suddenly however, a new race appeared. They had black skin and white hair and called themselves "Drow". They sought sanctuary in Cove, and Keldor did allow them to exist there. Yet the heart of a drow is as black as its skin, and it did lust after the items of others. The drows proved to be lazy leeches, adding little to the work of Covians. They concerned themselves with fornication and thievery. Eventually, a prominent drow decided that they should have dominion over everything and killed Keldor, burning down the Covian chapel and almost obliterating the town.

Organization:

The Order has endured much. We have felt the betrayal of drows, the age of heresy, and the constant scheming of those who follow the false Gods. There have been constant reforms, reorganizations and eliminations that have turned the hierarchy of the Order into an almost incomprehensible mess. There are many offices and positions within the Order that are so secret, that even I myself am unaware of their existence. Therefore, I shall present a simplified overview of affairs:

Avatar
|
Bishop of Cove
|
Templar Preceptor/Witch Finder General
|
Templars/Witch hunters/Monks
|
Craftsmen, Servants, Disciples, Animal trainers, etc.
|
Flagellants, Zealots and other assorted followers

Templar principles:

Templars give their life to Avatar, and Avatar alone. They shall follow no other Gods and shall obey the orders of their superiors without question. They shall renounce their own free will and surrender all of their property to the Order. Lands, titles, inheritances and possessions will all be the Order's by right.

Templars shall suppress mercy, for it is a weakness which has been created by the Guardian to allow his minions to continue. Those who are deemed guilty are not worthy of such an emotion.

Templars shall always wear plain garments of a simple hue. Garish clothing should be shunned as an expression of personal wealth above the importance of Avatar. A Templar should always aim to be dressed in clean garments too, free of blood, mud, ash and other sullying substances.

Templars shall not accept challenges. They are always right, and have no need to prove themselves. This also means that they are correct in any argument by default. Additionally, they shall not give their word. They are unaware of Avatar's ultimate plans, and therefore cannot be sure of what tomorrow will bring. Avatar does not give his word, and nor do his servants.

Templars shall always strive to instill fear by using public execution and trials by ordeal. Fear is a tool with which you may keep the population faithful, and there is no clearer display of what will happen to those who follow the ruinous powers.

Templars will always fight for what is just and good. They will defend the poor and strive to commit good deeds. They shall also remain a Templar for the rest of their lives. None may simply 'leave' the Order.

Rites of Induction: Training, and conditions of membership

All those wishing to join the ancient Covian Templí Order must first endure a series of trials, designed to test both mind and body. The valour and mental resolve of a novice can be quickly assessed by these trials. They are undertaken in the great church of Cove. If the inductee survives the process, he may rise within the hierarchy. Yet it shall be a very different person who progresses, they will have undergone a profound spiritual and mental transformation.

Fanatic to Zealot: Trials of the mundane.

The trials of the mundane are menial tasks designed to clear the mind in preparation for the true work of spiritual transformation. Fanatics will be assigned a relentless series of pointless and futile endeavours to test their resolve. Upon completion of these petty acts, they shall be interrogated to ensure their mental state. If mental collapse has not occurred, then they shall continue with the rites of induction and progress to the next stage.

Zealot to Templar: Trials of steel.

The trials of steel are a series of faith tests and periods of martial training. The candidate must master many forms of defence in the fight against the Guardian. Strength of spirit alone will not be enough. A Templar of Avatar usually travels alone, without the large numbers of foot soldiers that accompany other "so-called" knights. Therefore he must be prepared to fight all manner of unimaginable tainted corruptions with merely his sword and his wits.

Equipment:

The lone nature of Templar's and church agents means that you shall require a large arsenal of weapons and tools to survive the onslaught of evil. You should succeed in your task by employing whatever means are necessary to overcome your foe. A Templar must not become overly proud in his struggle against blasphemy and heresy. Therefore standard equipment should include:

~ Warhounds (large, vicious hounds, bred specifically for the subjugation of heretics).
~ Poison
~ Rondel (a small, flat knife, useful for finding gaps in armour)
~ Poniard (a slender bladed knife)
~ Faith weapon (warhammer, longsword, etc)

A Templar may also harbour a number of devices and concealed weapon about his person. The artisans of the church constantly work on new works to confound the Guardian, but I list a few current pieces:

The leaded cloak: The distinctive black cloaks of Templars are feared throughout the length and breadth of Sosaria. Along with their chains,branding irons, and helms the long flowing cloaks of Avatarian Templars demand respect for those who are unfortunate enough to behold them at close quarters. Sewn into the lining is a number of lead balls, useful for lashing out at heretics when unarmed. Many a recalcitrant heretic has been thrashed to an inch of his life (or beyond) by a Templar wielding nothing more than his own clothes.

The spring-heeled boot knife: Within the genteel mansions and public buildings of Cove, Templars are sometimes called upon to use discreetion when dealing with suspected heretics and sorcerers (especially those whose public execution could cause political embarrassment). In these instances, they may decide to use tiny, spring-loaded blades concealed within their knee-length boots. The blade is barely larger than a darning needle and its prick would be barely noticed (or mistaken for an insect bite). But the lethal poison coating the blade is a slow and sure death sentence to the recipient.*

*I once spent several awkward minutes attached to Commander Shadwell after attempting to assassinate him in this manner at the freedom festival. My informants failed to warn me of his wooden leg.