"I was going to study the history of war, but when I discovered that Myrmidia's Book of War had twenty-seven different translations, each with key annotations by different, well-respected generals, I lost the taste for it."
- —Gebberd Pesche, student of Imperial literature, University of Nuln[1a]
The Cult of Myrmidia is the religious organisation dedicated to the worship of Myrmidia, the goddess of war, strategy, civilisation, revenge, honour, art and culture most popular in the southern lands of the Old World such as Estalia and Tilea.[6e][11a]
In the sun-kissed regions of Tilea and Estalia, a traveller cannot fail to notice evidence of the worship of the goddess of war and strategy, Myrmidia. With conflict always looming, it is natural that people seek spiritual guidance and blessings in the art of war.[6d]
Her statues are on nearly every street corner in the cities of Tilea and Estalia. Her name is invoked by the people of the southern realms of the Old World as a ward against everything from illness to death at the hands of Beastmen.[11a]
Myrmidia provides comfort to the soldier on the eve of battle, but also invokes strength in the townsperson who must traverse the dark alleyway, clutching their dagger nervously. She inspires courage in the peasant embattled by inhuman raiders from the wilderness. At some point in their lives, many Old Worlders will have invoked the aid of Myrmidia at a critical juncture, when a violent death seems certain, or when loved ones are called to war.[6d]
The Cult of Myrmidia is considered to be the largest organised religious cult in the Old World. The story written in the Myrmidian holy book of the Bellona Myrmidia ("The War Goddess Myrmidia") begins with the tale of the tragically flawed Tyleus, the legendary father of the Tilean peoples. Tyleus made a covenant with raven-haired Myrmidia, a goddess of civilisation, beauty, arts, revenge and honour, and with her help built a great city for his tribe, the city of Tylos.[1a]
However, this city was not enough for Tyleus, for he dreamed of surpassing the slender, white structures to the south. So, he ordered his people to build a tall tower, one to humble even the Elves. Myrmidia was appalled at this pointless toil, and, after many warnings, abandoned Tylos, claiming she would return when his people knew honour again. The fate of the city is unclear, but some scholars claim it fell to the Dark Gods, its corruption spreading outwards to form what is now known as the Blighted Marshes.[1a]
Centuries passed, and the shattered remnants of the people of Tylos spread through the other, southern tribes of Men in the Old World. After the great War of the Beard with the Dwarfs, the High Elves abandoned their colonies in the Old World, and Humanity cautiously replaced them, slowly building new civilisations around the Elder Race's ruins. For reasons still hotly debated by her modern cult, Myrmidia then returned to aid the descendants of Tylos; however, she came not as a god, but as a mortal.[1a]
It is said Myrmidia learned hard lessons in her early years, and was driven by her experiences to abandon her initial pacifist ways, and take up weapons of war to fight injustice. Over the years, and many battles, she gathered great heroes to her side, and within a decade had bound all Estalia and Tilea under her rule, staving off all manner of invasions and rebellions.[1a]
But, just as Myrmidia was to be crowned queen of her united realm, she was shot by a poisoned dart. As she lay dying, she ordered a great ship be built, and, it is said, sailed west upon it, there to return to her home amongst the gods, known now, and forever after, as a goddess of war.[1a]
In Estalia and Tilea, nearly everything is influenced by her, for beloved Myrmidia is not only appealed to in times of war and injustice, but in all matters, especially those concerning revenge, honour, and art, three aspects of her mortal life that have many legends attached to them. This almost universal adoration of Myrmidia in the southern realms of the Old World is something that northern folk in the Empire, Bretonnia and Kislev find very hard to understand.[1a]
"Myrmidia's Doleful Lads" is a very popular song in the Old World.[7a]
History[]
Foundations of the Cult[]
Myrmidia is an unusual deity. Most of the gods of the Old World Pantheon arose during the time before Sigmar heldenhammer, when records were unreliable and the deeds of the gods and formation of their cults a matter of much dispute. Even the most devout Ulrican might consider many stories associated with him to be parables or legends rather than historical realities. Then there is Sigmar himself, whose earthly deeds are considered fact and whose apotheosis to divinity is granted by most Old Worlders even outside the Empire of Man.[6d]
The foundation of Myrmidia's cult, on the other hand, has parallels with both that of Sigmar and those of the other gods, being a confusing mix of historical fact and legendary origins. To add to the confusion, each of the main holy texts of the Myrmidian cult -- The Book of War, Bellona Myrmidia, and Bellum Strategia -- all give different accounts of her origins and place varying emphasis on the importance of her story.[6d]
Furthermore, there is a fierce controversy within the cult as to whether Myrmidia is a Tilean goddess or an Estalian one in origin. This debate stokes great division between the Great Temple of the goddess in the Tilean city-state of Remas and the Archecclesiastium, high temple of Myrmidia in Estalia.[6d]
Tilean Tradition[]
Tilean folklore has it that all the people of the Old World's southern realms are descendants of those who fled the disaster that claimed the ancient Human city of Tylos. Indeed, the records of both the High Elves and Dwarfs give credence to the notion that a mighty city of Men once existed in the region now swathed by the Blighted Marshes. Rising waters, meteor strikes, and corruption from within are variously blamed for the destruction of Tylos. Most scholars at present agree that the city did exist but ceased to be around -1780 IC.[6d]
The Bellona Myrmidia, principal text of the Tilean arm of the Myrmidean cult, claims that the ruler of the city was also named Tylos, and that he made a covenant with a goddess of civilisation, beauty, and honour who helped him nurture his city to greatness. This goddess abandoned Tylos due to his pride and envy, and shortly afterwards the city was destroyed. According to the text, this goddess was an incarnation of Myrmidia, and that during this time she was a pacifist like her sister, Shallya.[6d]
According to legend, the twins Lucan and Luccina founded the Tilean city-state of Luccini among the ruins of an ancient High Elf city in 1 IC, and other Tilean cities were established in the centuries that followed. The Bellona Myrmidia has it that the first recorded site of Myrmidian worship is the city-state of Remas, where they claim she was born as a mortal. Remans stubbornly insist that the goddess' place of birth was their city, and for proof point to the sacred Omphalos on display above the high altar of the colossal Reman temple -- a huge egg-shaped stone, cleft in two, crystalline within its centre. It was from this stone that Reman legend purports the infant Myrmidia crawled, to be found and adopted by a pair of humble goat herders.[6d]
The Bellona Myrmidia teaches that Myrmidia learned hard lessons in her early years, forced to live with an uncaring aunt and uncle after the death of her adoptive parents.[6d]
This heartless couple worked Myrmidia hard, and then sold her into the service of a cruel local duca. This duca was an unkind master, and after suffering many indignities Myrmidia took down a ceremonial spear from his collection and ran him through.[6d]
Driven by her experiences, Myrmidia abandoned her pacifist ways and declared herself a champion in the cause of ridding the mortal world of injustice. Many great heroes joined her cause and forged a great southern empire of the Old World that stretched across Tilea, Estalia, and much of what is now the Border Princes and southern Bretonnia.[6d]
According to the Bellona Myrmidia, during this time Myrmidia was entranced by an Estalian nobleman named Ottokar, and that through her affection and favour he came to rule Magritta. While she was on campaign, he revealed himself a cruel tyrant and, fearing retribution upon her return, arranged for her assassination.[6d]
Myrmidia was laid low by a poisoned dart, but Ottokar suffered for his wickedness. It was said that he was cursed by Shallya, the goddess of mercy, Verena the goddess of knowledge and justice, and Morr, the god of the dead, to be stripped of his health and his wits, and never to receive the mercy of death.[6d]
Estalian Tradition[]
Magrittans and other Estalians fiercely differ with the Myrmidean theology and history taught in Remas. They decry the Reman account as mere fable -- are not the sly Tileans renowned for their trickery? Was not Myrmidia born of the union of Morr and Verena, daughter of death and justice? They attest to the primacy of the priests of the great Myrmidiean temple known as the Archecclesiastium in Magritta and teach that their authority is warranted by Bellum Strategia, a brittle, yellowed text kept under lock and key in their temple's library. These assert that it was in Magritta that Myrmidia first stepped from the heavens, alighting on the same rock upon which the Archecclesiastium is built. In the bowels of the temple an imprint of her footprint can be seen on that sacred rock.[6d]
The Remans mock the text as apocryphal. They claim that a simple explanation lies behind the indentations on the rock, that centuries of rainwater dripping from the leaky roof of the Archecclesiastium is their actual cause.[6d]
This schism is no mere clash of words between venerable archivists. Over the centuries, the argument over which city has primacy in the Myrmidean faith has escalated to the clash of arms. Duels have been fought between champions of each temple, and even armies have been raised to settle the matter. Some histories maintain that the collapse of the Reman Empire in the distant past was caused by the revolt of the Estalians against Tilean rule, fuelled by this theological rivalry.[6d]
Whether this is a matter of historical fact is best treated with healthy scepticism, but it is certain that relationships between followers of Myrmidia in Tilea and Estalia are tense and show no signs of waning.[6d]
The head of the Order of the Eagle and high priestess of the cult, La Aguila Ultima Isabella Giovanna Luccelli, despite being Tilean herself, has moved to Magritta and re-established the cult's high council at the Archecclesiastium. She has taken this course of action in the hope that it will help ease tensions between the different halves of the Myrmidean cult, but many Tileans regard the move as a humiliation and betrayal.[6d]
Tilean and Estalian Theological Differences[]
These are the most important differences between Myrmideans' belief systems in Tilea and Estalia.[6d]
| Issue | Tileans | Estalians |
|---|---|---|
| Centre of cult authority | L'Ultima Aquila Isabella Giovanna Luccelli is the head of the cult, and ought to move its centre to the High Temple in Remas | La Aguila Ultima Isabella Giovanna Luccelli is the high priestess of the Archecclesiastium, the chief temple in Magritta |
| Legitimacy of Bellona Myrmidia | Literal truth of Myrmidia's life and achievements | A collection of folklore and fairy tales, of spiritual importance but not historical fact |
| Legitimacy of Bellum Strategia | Apocryphal ramblings that may inspire the faithful but hold no true veracity | The holy revelation of Myrmidia’s manifestation as a goddess incarnate in Magritta |
| Legitimacy of The Book of War | An important work in understanding the precepts a good Myrmidian ought to abide by, and an account of twelve battles fought under the generalship of Myrmidia | An important work in understanding the precepts a good Myrmidian ought to abide by, and an account of twelve battles fought under the guidance of generals inspired by Myrmidian principles |
| Myrmidia was previously a goddess of Civilisation and companion to Tylos | Commonly understood to be fact, or at least a respected legend | Dismissed as a Tilean myth |
| Belief that a Myrmidian classical age… | began in Remas, led by Myrmidia herself, and conquered Estalia | began in Magritta, was either led by Myrmidia herself or those who were inspired by her, and conquered Tilea |
| Enjoy the favour of… | the Order of the Eagle | the Order of the Blazing Sun |
| Belief that Myrmidia spent time as a mortal… | is hugely important and proper to all true Myrmidians | is optional and of secondary importance to understanding what she represents |
An Outsider's Perspective[]
"Anyway, the thing I really wanted to ask Sienna about was her newfound worship of Myrmidia. Well, I say worship, but all told I think Sienna sees it as more of a meeting of equals -- you know, one incandescent ball of light to another. I'll be honest, Estalians always seem a bit that way: happier to walk beside the gods than to kneel before them.
What it all comes down to, apparently, is justice. Our Sienna's never been one to stand by and watch while inequity turns to insult. Half the items on that docket of charges Saltzpyre insists on keeping around relate to her taking a stand on behalf of the wronged. Myrmidia's a bit the same, at least in some stories -- never afraid to side with a valiant but doomed cause.
I mean, we've all heard the story of the Battle of Magritta, haven't we? You know, how a handful of Knights Panther were saved from certain defeat by a plunging statue of Myrmidia? Crushed the enemy warlord and his elite guard flat as a Stirland pancake, turning the tide of the battle. Now, you and I might think that was just a convenient tremor did the work, but those knights didn’t think so. Founded the Order of the Blazing Sun that very day, they did.
There are others, too. Captain Johan Brecke. He held the bridge at Brannicksdorf alone against three hundred roaring Orcs, until the wheatfields caught flame and roasted the Greenskins alive and set the rest to flight. Or how about Venassa, Countess of Talabheim, who escaped execution on false charges of treason when the sun burst from behind the clouds and blinded the headsman with the reflection from his own axe? And there are hundreds more.
Could be these are all embellishments or straight up delusions. Of course it could. But Sienna believes them, and I confess I'm tempted to myself. Got a bit of a mind to be a folk hero, does our Bright Wizard, turning back the unrighteous tide of an unhappy world. Can't argue with that -- I'm not made of stone -- but it has got me wondering what happens when it dawns on her that you can only hold back the tide so long.
I mean, drowning aside, obviously."
- —Franz Lohner talking about Bright Wizard Sienna Fuegonasus, a member of the Ubersreik Five[13a]
Myrmidia's role in the Old World Pantheon is subject to debate -- and passionate argument -- across the Old World. In the Empire, scholars believe she was originally a mortal hero who rose in either Tilea or Estalia and protected those people against invasion from the barbarians to their north (ironically the forefathers of the Empire), Arabyan invaders from across the sea, and Goblins pouring out of the mountains to their east.[11a]
Having saved her people, Myrmidia was to be crowned queen but was shot at her coronation with a poisoned dart from an unknown assailant. She was so strong that the poison could not kill her, though, and as she lay dying she commanded that a great ship be constructed. She was loaded onto the vessel and sailed west, where she ascended to godhood. In the Empire, she is believed to be a regional god only, and while people respect her, most Imperials do not especially worship her any more than they worship the regional gods of Kislev or Bretonnia.[11a]
Sacred statuettes of a female form with arms and armour, roughly hewn from stone, have been dug up by those foolish enough to delve into the ancient barrows that dot the Old World, braving the Wights that guard them. These rare items, which fetch a prestigious price among antiquarians, suggest that a warrior goddess was worshipped by the people who raised these mounds, though whether they represent Myrmidia is debatable.[6d]
Theologians of the Empire are careful not to incite the ire of the followers of a god, but many of them secretly dispute the notion of a southern empire and go so far as suggest that the legends of Myrmidia are simply poor imitations of the legend of Sigmar that contradict, rather than support, known facts about the history of the southern realms of Estalia and Tilea.[6d]
Myrmideans in the Empire[]
""Sailed into the sunset" or "Sailed west""
- —Proverb meaning "dead".[1c]
Warriors of Myrmidia
In the Empire of Man, the Cult of Myrmidia has very little political influence. Myrmidia has none of the visceral appeal of Ulric's furious ways, nor does she invoke the loyalty and solidity of Sigmar. To some Imperials, specifically soldiers, Myrmidia is considered "an officer's god." Her emphasis on learning and thought is not the way of most soldiers -- force and passion have carried the Empire through countless wars, not strategy or "strange foreign ways."[1a][6d]
In truth, the Cult of Myrmidia only secured a position on the Empire's Grand Conclave because the Knights of the Blazing Sun were the first order of templars to support Magnus the Pious during the Great War Against Chaos. Indeed, even the nature of Myrmidia's divinity is called into question within the Empire's borders. Many of its scholars claim she cannot be the daughter of Verena, the goddess of knowledge and justice and Morr, god of the dead, as is widely claimed in the southern realms like Estalia, but must instead be an ascended Human, much like Sigmar. However, these claims make many in the Cult of Sigmar uncomfortable, for many believe that Sigmar's rise to godhood as a former mortal was unique.[1a][6d]
The worship of Myrmidia arrived in the Empire relatively late, brought northwards by mercenaries returning from the employ of warring Tilean city-states, around the first millennium of the Imperial Calendar. Although nowhere near rivalling the native cults of Sigmar and Ulric, Myrmidia was a welcome addition to the spiritual arsenal an Imperial commander could call upon to win victory in battle. As the Empire descended into civil war, worship of the goddess in the Empire ebbed away. Her strictures on honourable combat fell from favour in those dark and desperate times. During the wars against the Ratmen that commenced in 1111 IC, prayers made to the goddess for deliverance from the Skaven menace went unanswered.[6d]
It was not until the Great Crusade Against Araby that began in 1448 IC that the Cult of Myrmidia again rose in prominence within the Empire. Hundreds of Imperial knights rallied to the call of King Louis the Righteous of Bretonnia to free Estalia from the clutches of the Arabyan sultan. With his defeat, a new Imperial Knightly Order marched homeward from the parched lands of the distant south, having been instrumental in the liberation of Estalia and the destruction of forts and palaces in Araby.[6d]
During the legendary Battle of Magritta, three-score knights of the Empire held their ground as wave after wave of Black Scimitar Guard crashed against them. Finding themselves on deadly ground, with their backs to the wall of a temple to Myrmidia, they prayed to the goddess for a valiant death in the face of the uncountable enemy. Such was their valour that Myrmidia smiled upon them, and the earth trembled.[6d]
A massive statue of the goddess tumbled from its perch, high on the temple roof, and came crashing down upon the leader of the foe and pulverising his minions right and left. The survivors turned and fled. The heroic knights thought nothing of their safety but used this respite from battle to rescue many Estalian civilians who were huddling within the temple and lead them from the killing grounds. The surviving knights converted en-masse to Myrmidia and honoured her name by fighting under the banner of the Blazing Sun. Returning to the Empire, they dedicated a shrine to the goddess at Talabheim, which today is their foremost Chapterhouse.[6d]
Inspired by the feats of the knights, worship of Myrmidia among the folk of the Empire has grown steadily. Nowadays shrines to the goddess are dotted throughout the nation, and most major cities have a temple dedicated to her teachings.[6d]
The cult is also growing popular with women in the Empire. She is not seen as a chauvinistic god, like Ulric, and teaches arts of war which favour clever and adaptable fighters over the merely strong. Women whose sons and husbands are at war also seek her blessing. They ask her to guide the officers into wise decisions that will see their loved ones return home again. The saying has it that ‘Sigmar takes you to war, but Myrmidia brings you back.’ Followers of Sigmar do not appreciate the sentiment.[6d]
There are a surprising number of especially fervent worshippers of Myrmidia within one section of Imperial society. The Myrmidons are a group of twelve drawn from noble families who once lived in the former province of Solland. The sun symbol of Solland resembles Myrmidian iconography, and the twelve Myrmidons are charged with the secret safekeeping of the crown of Solland. They look to Myrmidia for inspiration. It is common amongst these families and other nobles linked with Solland to encourage their sons to join the ranks of the Knights of the Blazing Sun. The group are also rumoured to have ties of obligation to the Lietdorf family of Averland, though the degree to whether the Lietdorfs owe their fortunes to the Myrmidons, or vice versa, is unclear.[6d]
Whatever individuals may believe, most cities within the Empire have a temple run by the Order of the Eagle. There, sharp-eyed priests run classes in strategy and warcraft, open to any who wish to attend. They also hold regular services for expatriate southerners (the specific day varies according to local customs, but is often every five days). These services—normally conducted in Classical, Estalian, or Tilean—are more interactive than most, with the priests actively encouraging others to get involved, asking questions of the congregation. This is too much for most Empire folk, who are used to being preached at, not asked questions, and rarely understand anything bar the Emperor’s Reikspiel; so, most avoid these deeply odd sermons. Therefore, to most people of the Empire, Myrmidia is nothing more than a Goddess of Strategy and War.[1a]
The Order of the Righteous Spear has several chapterhouses in the Empire, and although many chapters use different names (such as the Knights of the Verdant Field in Talabheim), they are all part of the Righteous Spear order. Each chapter is typically tasked to protect one of the Eagle’s temples, although they also respond to honourable causes as and when they see fit. Because of this, the templars of the order are rarely seen outside of the area they protect.[1a]
The Knights of the Order of the Blazing Sun are far more commonly encountered than the Righteous Spears, even though there are numerically less of them in the Empire. This is because of a unique custom the order practises. After an initiate has finished his training, he is sent to wander the Old World for at least a year, which is symbolically supposed to represent the time Myrmidia spent as a mortal, learning of the world. Because of this, Blazing Suns can be encountered in all corners of the Empire, lending their swords to honourable campaigns and explaining the finer points of strategy to those in need. It is said that a single Blazing Sun does more to spread the awareness of Myrmidia in the Empire than all of the Eagle temples combined. Further, the Blazing Suns, the only Myrmidian knightly order to have been founded by the people of the Empire, is responsible for the cult’s pilgrim routes from the Empire to Magritta. Working these important trade lanes has been extremely lucrative, and the order is rumoured to be one of the richest in the Old World, rivalled only by the crusading Knights Panther.[1a][1b]
Myrmidian scholars tell that the Empire is strongly bonded to her, the rampant eagle of Reikland and the blazing sun of Sudenland were inherited by her cult.[5b]
Beliefs[]
"Eagles and women."
- —Myrmidians sometimes claim, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, that the source of all conflict is religion and women. This is thus a common response among Myrmidians (albeit mostly male Myrmidians!) to the question: "Why did the war break out?"[1d]
The precepts of the Cult of Myrmidia are largely derived from The Book of War which gives an account of twelve great battles fought in the Classical Age, together with an exhaustive commentary. Myrmidia is the goddess of the battlefield, inspirer of tactical brilliance, and progenitor of honourable warfare.[1b]
There are three main traits which those who dedicate themselves to Myrmidia consider worthy beyond all other things: honour, knowledge, and aesthetic flair. In life, the goddess followed a strict code that she called the "Rites of War," and she offered all her opponents the fair treatment that it afforded, even when they had proven to be treacherous in the past (which they often had). In kind, Myrmidians treat their opponents with respect, especially when they surrender, which is seen as one of the goals of a battle.[1b]
A devotee of Myrmidia must conduct themselves with honour. This is not honour in the sense that most warriors might recognise it. The honour Myrmidia respects is that the lives of soldiers are not needlessly wasted. An Ulrican may regard ruses and ambushes as dishonourable, a Myrmidian would not, provided those things were employed to win wars quickly and decisively.[6e]
If an enemy behaves with no honour, bullies the weak, oppresses the peaceful, then the follower of Myrmidia must give no quarter. A follower of Myrmidia might roam the lands hunting for worthy opponents, but they also seek to redress wrongs and injustices wherever they encounter them.[6e]
Their sense of honour extends also to the dead — friends who fall in battle must be retrieved and given worthy funerary rites, and a valiant enemy, too, must be so honoured if they succumb in combat.[6e]
According to Myrmidians it is a supreme act of dignity to submit one’s will to one’s master, be it lord, battle commander, or high priest. Disobedience is tantamount to disrespect for the goddess. However, an order that commands an act of wickedness must be disobeyed. Indeed, the conveyor of such an order must be punished. This belief ensures that power never corrupts those who wield it within the cult — as the master is ultimately judged by the servants.[6e]
The command structure is also central to her teachings, but there are several legends where the Goddess or her Shieldmaidens chose to do what was right, not what they were ordered to. Because of this, although most Myrmidians stick rigidly to orders, they readily ignore them if it will result in a betrayal of their honour.[1b] Myrmidia also teaches her followers to master the art of war. As a woman, she was physically weaker than many of her opponents, so she learned how to best use her strengths, and cover her weaknesses. Unlike other war Gods, she focuses on avoiding unnecessary conflict through use of clever strategies. This is something that many soldiers favour, as few that have experienced the horror of war relish it. Ulricans and Sigmarites see this as cowardly. Myrmidians see it as prudent.[1c]
This said, Myrmidia is quite popular with women who have sons and husbands at war. They pray to the Goddess to guide the officers into making wise choices that will keep their loved ones alive. As they say, “Sigmar takes you to war, but Myrmidia brings you back.” There is also a feeling that Myrmidia, as a woman, is more likely to understand their fear and heartache for their men—a belief the Cult of Sigmar frowns upon.[1c]
A Myrmidian should also have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. A devotee believes it is their obligation to seek out texts from across the world that illuminate ancient or exotic modes of warfare, fighting techniques, and records of forgotten battles. A rare treatise on the art of war is considered a holy artefact. The original will be housed in one of the cavernous libraries of the Archecclesiastium or the Great Temple, whichever is the highest bidder.[6e]
The quest for knowledge not only encompasses physical relics. For the true Myrmidian, the search for inner knowledge is a spiritual duty that includes the improvement of fighting styles, and the honing of tactical finesse. Such expertise cannot solely be found within the pages of training manuals — and the goddess expects her devotees to seek out opponents from whom they can learn new techniques.[6e]
Finally, a follower of Myrmidia should care for the aesthetic qualities of their martial equipment. They spend hours polishing their armour and honing their blades. Master weaponsmiths and armourers are esteemed by the cult and are often employed at the temples of the goddess. A master-crafted sword or perfectly fashioned helm is treated with reverence and believed to be imbued with the essence of the goddess herself.[6e]
Myrmidia and the Old World Pantheon[]
"Our mother of battle, she who keeps our blades keen, who keeps our shields ready, and our armour strong, grant us the grace to know our enemies, and the honour to stand against them, and the strength to defeat them.This we pray in Myrmidia's name."
- —Myrmidian Battle Prayer[1n]
More than any other of the Old World's major deities, Myrmidia is understood in relation to her relationship to her divine family. Her domain is the science and strategy of warfare, but theologians, especially those of the Empire, point out that she shares important aspects with her relations among the Old World Pantheon.
Like her mother Verena, goddess of law and wisdom, she is obsessed with knowledge and the wisdom it can breed, for erudition contributes to the formulation of cunning ruses and fresh strategic vision. Insight, a domain of her father Morr, god of the dead, is also important to a general or tactician, and Myrmidia's domain is that of warfare, where death is always at hand. Yet the worship of Myrmidia is not associated with immoderate ferocity and bloodthirst, so like Shallya she is merciful.
A rare few bolder theologians point out that Ranald, owing his divinity to Shallya, has a relationship with Myrmidia, and that trickery is also an essential part of her makeup.
With the debateable exception of Taal and Rhya, no other major god shares so much of their own domain with others. In the Empire the more close-minded theologians argue that this makes Myrmidia a rather irrelevant deity, unworthy of worship. Myrmidians obviously disagree, saying that their goddess is both relatable and specific.
Symbols of Myrmidia[]
Eagles are sacred to Myrmidia and a common symbol of her cult. Initiates and priests of Myrmidia greet each other with crossed hands in the shape of an eagle. The goddess' other symbol consists of a spear and shield, Myrmidia's favoured armament.[10a]
Myrmidian colours are white or yellow; in the Empire, this is often combined with blue hoods with red edging. Expertise in a weapon is mandatory for Myrmidia's followers, and many carry their weapons at all times. Some also always wear armour. No Myrmidian meets the day without being ready for war, in however small a fashion.[10a]
Myrmidia has a salute with the fingers on the hand spread wide, representing the rays of the sun, a common symbol of the cult. The salute starts with the palms open in front of the chest, then splayed out to the side. Cultists in deep meditation often hold their open palms in this way upon their foreheads with the eyes closed, in hopes of attaining spiritual understanding. In Estalia, cultists of Myrmidia may slap their necks when they feel betrayed, while in Tilea, they bow to the west when they feel hopeless.[1g][1h]
Also, the militaristic Cult of Myrmidia utilises salutes found among the armies of the Empire. The most common involves holding a clenched fist over one's heart with the arm held parallel to the ground. As a way of showing great approval, cultists hold their arms straight along their belly, while making a clenched fist -- this sign is also seen among comrades-in-arms as a respectful, but casual, almost familiar way of showing respect. Among Myrmidians, placing the back of the hand on one's sword pommel is a private, subtle way of disapproving of a given situation.[1h]
Strictures[]
More than many deities, Myrmidia’s strictures come with caveats and exceptions. There are several apparent contradictions involved in the practice of Myrmidian faith. Trickery is part of Myrmidia’s domain, yet so is honour; mercy is part of her makeup, but so too is ruthlessness. To abide by her strictures without offending the goddess is to understand their subtleties.[6e][2a]
Act With Honour and Dignity in All Matters[]
To tell an Ulrican or Sigmarite that Myrmidians abide by strictures of honour is a good way to provoke either a fit of laughter or a fight. They will point out that many of the most beloved parables and lessons taught by her priests involve planned deceptions that lure whole armies to their deaths -- hardly their notion of honour and dignity.[6e][2a]
The stricture to act with honour and dignity is a personal one, expected of the individual follower. Should that follower invent a ruse on the battlefield that depends on their regiment, army, or affiliated institution behaving in an apparently underhanded way to bring it about, that would not violate the stricture; provided such means were justified by the anticipated ends. The goddess certainly does not withhold her favour from the architects of cunning ruses. Myrmidians consider a battle plan that spares their own side needless death and suffering an honourable one.[6e][2a]
Respect Prisoners of War and Never Kill an Enemy Who Surrenders[]
Myrmidia's cult developed in the crucible of war between the various petty kingdoms that would come to form the southern realms of Tilea and Estalia in the Old World. The stricture to respect and protect prisoners of war is broadly understood to extend to Men, Dwarfs, Elves and Halflings, the few species who can be relied on to reciprocate such mercy.
Myrmidian theologians constantly argue as to whether Ogres or Lizardmen ought to be included, or whether the principle should be universal. The summary execution of vanquished Skaven, Orcs, or Goblins rarely offends the goddess, though within that framework the deliberate imposition of unnecessary suffering does incur her wrath.[6e][2a]
Show No Mercy to the Unrepentant Enemies of Humanity[]
This is another controversial stricture -- Myrmidians debate what constitutes an enemy of Humanity, what constitutes genuine contrition, and how ruthlessly opposition to such enemies can be pursued without violating other strictures. When dealing with followers of Chaos, Orcs, Goblins, Skaven, and other wicked species, Myrmidians do not suffer the displeasure of the Goddess provided they remain cool and efficient in their ruthlessness.[6e][2a]
Obey All Honourable Orders[]
There is plenty of debate within the cult as to what constitutes an honourable order and, more controversially, why an honourable but incompetent order ought to be obeyed. Generally, if a Myrmidian feels that an order is genuinely counterproductive and voices their own opinion as to why, they are no longer required to regard it as honourable.[6e][2a]
That said, there have been times when the goddess has withheld her favour from a Myrmidian who disobeyed what they felt to be a poor order. In these cases, it is because there has been a grander strategic vision served by an apparently stupid tactical decision, and the Myrmidian in question lacked the perspective to see it.[6e][2a]
Preserve the Weak From the Horrors of War[]
This is another stricture that provokes debate, as Myrmidians point out that many combatants are levied from unwilling demographics, are improperly trained, misled by propaganda, Halflings, or otherwise weak. The stricture is therefore understood to apply to noncombatants. A few hard-line Myrmidians try to design battle plans that minimise the involvement of hastily levied troops, though the goddess does not tend to punish those more practical Myrmidians who admit that such feats are beyond their ability.[6e][2a]
Penances[]
Myrmidia's penances usually are some sort of martial feat or service, be it defeating an enemy in one-on-one combat, leading a defence of a village, or protecting a pilgrimage route.[2a]
Pilgrimage[]
A Myrmidian is expected at least once in their life to travel to the lands trod by their goddess’ mortal feet in what is known as the Pilgrimage of the Soldier. Clad head to foot in white garments stained by their own blood. Pilgrimage routes from the Empire to the Archecclesiatium in Estalia or the Great Temple in Remas are popular among adherents to the cult, and these roads are protected by the Knights of the Blazing Sun, fulfilling their vows to protect the pilgrims. It is for this reason that the coffers of that Knightly Order overflow. Pilgrims returning from the southern lands, having been blessed by the high priests of the cult, and having kissed the relics of mortal Myrmidia, donate generously to the Order in thanks for their safekeeping.[6e]
Offerings[]
The most common offerings to Myrmidia by her devout worshippers include spears, shields, vows of duty, and trophies earned on the battlefield.[2b]
Cult Superstitions[]
As well as cult strictures, there are several superstitions common to the cult. These tend to be associated with the Tilean branch of the cult and are regarded as rather folksy and unnecessary by Myrmidians in Estalia.[6e]
- It is considered bad luck to kill an eagle, witness the death of an eagle, or come across an eagle’s corpse. The eagle is the symbol of Myrmidia and Tilean shepherds would even prefer to lose lambs than kill one of the great birds of prey.[6e]
- When a priest of Myrmidia wakes they often don their armour, taking painstaking time to check that each piece fits closely and is sound. Then, if they are not actually at war, they take it off again.[6e]
- All Myrmidians — Tilean, Estalian and otherwise — regard it as proper to always have a weapon at hand.[6e]
- Respecting clear chains of authority and plans of action, even in informal situations such as spending an evening trawling dockside taverns, is common to Myrmidians.[6e]
- Myrmidians regard it as bad luck to enter any space where they are placed at a tactical disadvantage, such as blind alleyways, or rooms with only one entrance.[6e]
Relations With Other Cults[]
The cult of Myrmidia has warm relations with the cults of Verena, Morr, and Shallya. Her dealings with the other cults of the Old World are largely uncomplicated. The cults of Taal and Rhya have little to do with that of Myrmidia but find little to object to with it either. The cult shares a bond of respect with the Bretonnian Lady of the Lake, but it has little influence in Bretonnia and avoids evangelising to Bretonnians. Her cult is vehemently opposed to the gods normally proscribed in the Old World — the Gods of Chaos, Khaine, and Stromfels.[6e]
Myrmidia and Ulric[]
Myrmidia is followed with fanatical devotion across the southern Old World, especially in Tilea and Estalia. In other parts of the Old World, warriors who find Ulric's ways of battle to be too brutal are turning to worship Myrmidia. This is particularly true of those who use blackpowder, which is proscribed by the Ulrican faith. These new Myrmidian adherents accept the belief that Myrmidia is the daughter of Verena and Morr and do not consider her a mere regional god like most of the people of the Empire.[11a]
Myrmidia is a god of the southern people of the Old World, hearing their prayers and protecting them from invasion. However, as her faith has spread to other regions, she is generally thought by other cultures to be a vengeful god. Unlike Ulric, who watches over battles and lets men live or die by their own skill, Myrmidia actually steels hearts and drives the righteous to destroy the wicked.[11a]
These fundamental differences in their respective approaches to warfare have caused friction between the Cult of Myrmidia and the Cult of Ulric. Myrmidians tend to regard Ulricans as brutal and barbaric, and in return Ulricans regard Myrmidians as tricksy and effete. This is not a deep and bitter disagreement, but it does cause a degree of confusion and division particularly among lay followers of the two war gods.[6e]
Both cults have a focus on warrior honour, but principles that Myrmidia might suggest are suitable for an individual soldier -- devotion to training, loyalty to their cause, fierce in the face of their enemy, honest and open in their personal dealings -- Ulricans tend to see as suitable for a military force in its totality. An Ulrican commander might regard a suitable battlefield as one which allows most of the opposing forces to fight all at once. The Myrmidian obsession for seeking ground that helps multiply their own force and deny the enemy the opportunity to properly deploy is seen as needless time-wasting, if not overtly cowardly. Quoting Allurian's aphorism "a Dwarf sees a battlefield as a good place to fight, an Elf sees a battlefield as a good place to win" does not help matters.[6e]
More thoughtful Ulricans see in Myrmidia a more relatable figure, as Ulric's twin domains of war and survival support rather than undermine an appreciation of strategy. Their problem with Myrmidia is not that she promotes a dishonourable or cowardly form of warfare, but that she is a foreign goddess whose domain competes with that of Ulric.[6e]
Myrmidia and Sigmar[]
As devout as the people of the Empire are in their love of Sigmar, it is almost subdued when compared to the wild and devoted love of the southern people of Tilea and Estalia for their goddess and champion Myrmidia.[11e]
Sigmarites tend to show an appreciation of Myrmidian strategy and often make quite public appearances at Myrmidian temples, leafing through copies of Lavaspear's The Dwarf Art of War in the temple library and reminding the Myrmidian priests of their shared historical victories.[6e]
In many cases this show of shared interests and historical alliance is performed in good faith. Many Sigmarite priests genuinely appreciate their Myrmidian counterparts and benefit from consideration of their strategic insights. Others are not so interested in the goddess or her cult but realise that it frustrates their real rivals, the Ulricans, to encourage the growth of the Cult of Myrmidia in the Empire..[6e]
There is a small but growing tendency within the Cult of Sigmar to regard Myrmidians as interlopers who are not fit to have their cult recognised in the Empire. They are inspired by the inflammatory publications of Professor Pfaff, a scholar of theology at the University of Altdorf. He feels that Sigmar is the only fitting god for Humanity, being the only god to have enjoyed life as a mortal. He disputes that Myrmidia stands as a similar example of such a deity, and his chauvinism is drawing increasing support from within the official Sigmarite cult. Whilst not large or influential enough to threaten the Cult of Myrmidia now, their movement is gaining momentum.[6e]
Still, Myrmidia is not really a god of the Empire, no matter how many soldiers may have taken to worshipping her. Most folk of the Empire find worshipping a foreign god very suspicious, especially one as strange as Myrmidia. After all, many of her temples have statues that are, quite frankly, indecent, and bound to attract the interest of the Ruinous Powers![1b]
This penalty is only suffered by those that are part of the cult, not those that wear Myrmidian symbols -- after all, respecting a deity, no matter how odd, is something that folk of the Empire understand, and view as sensible.[1b]
Nevertheless, Myrmidia's status is growing in the Empire. Her followers can be found most abundantly in the barracks of Reikland, Averland, and Wissenland.[2a]
Myrmidia and Handrich[]
Handrich, as he is known in the Empire, is a minor god whose cult is yet to be widely established. His domain is trade and business, and most of his followers are merchants. The cult is very friendly towards that of Myrmidia; merchants like to sponsor military endeavours as it is seen as civic of them, and merchants claim that many of the strategic techniques developed for the battlefield could also be applied in commerce.[6e]
Myrmidians are generally happy enough to talk to members of the cult of Handrich, though there is debate among the higher echelons of the cult as to whether too much association with the world of business might offend Myrmidian notions of honour.[6e]
Myrmidia and Ranald[]
Officially the Myrmidian cult does not associate with followers of Ranald and regards his cult with a degree of umbrage. According to legend, Ranald achieved his divine status through tricking Shallya — and whilst Shallya might be a goddess of mercy, her sister is not. Ranald is seen as a dishonourable and disreputable god, and his worship offends Myrmidian sensibilities on a fundamental level as well as spiritual one. Myrmidians are wary of invoking a desire to benefit from good luck; this is seen as undermining the trust they place in a wellexecuted plan, as opposed to a careless throw of the dice.[6e]
There are Myrmidians who find some common cause with Ranaldan thought. Ranald is a god of trickery, and the well-executed ruse is a staple of much Myrmidian instruction. Some moderate Myrmidians also point out that, like their own deity, Ranald stands in opposition to injustice. However, Myrmidia is often considered an officer’s goddess, and her cult regards the resentment Ranaldans have for aristocracy as vulgar.[6e]
Myrmidia and Solkan[]
An obscure god, Solkan is a deity whose domain is concerned with vengeance. Oddly, perhaps, his cult shares certain similarities with that of Myrmidia, being represented by sun symbols and having its spiritual centre at Remas.[6e]
Theologians has expressed suspicion that the cults of Solkan and Myrmidia share common roots. Perhaps there was a primal form of the two deities who represented vengeance as practised through warfare, with Myrmidia coming to represent the moderate and considered aspect, and Solkan the harsher, unforgiving aspect. Solkanites deny this. Instead, they prefer to credit Solkan for inspiring Myrmidia in her development from a pacifistic goddess of civilisation into the rather more martial character she displays in the present day.[6e]
Worshippers[]
"This little general -- I forget his name, it sounded all foreign -- sent me a letter offering to fight by 'Myrmidia's Rites of War.' I accepted, just in case there was an advantage to be gained, although I had no idea what the man was wittering on about. Two hours into the battle, von Borndorf spotted these little, white-robed men scurrying about the battlefield. They could have been getting up to all sorts of mischief. So, I had the little buggers shot! Afterwards, the prisoners we captured and tortured explained that the mischief makers were there to count casualties and corral prisoners. Well, how was I to know that?"
- —Siggricht von Wallenstein, retired Empire General[1d]
The Cult of Myrmidia is quite widespread throughout the Empire. Many individuals whose livelihood depends on their proficiency with a blade — soldiers, bodyguards, adventurers and so on — might carry on their person a trinket fashioned in the image of the goddess, or in the shape of one of her symbols: a spear behind a shield, an eagle or lion sigil, or a talisman in the form of a sun with a face with a proud, angry, or jubilant expression. The family of a soldier enlisted to war, or of a conscript, might place a statuette of Myrmidia in a corner of their house, and burn candles before it in return for their loved one’s safe return from the battlefield. Craftsmen who specialise in forging battle equipment might hang her symbol above the forge, so that they might always strive to perfection.[6e]
However, the majority of those who become priests or join one of the knightly orders of the goddess come from the upper echelons of society. The cult prizes above all duty, honour, and learnedness, and these qualities are found most often among the noble class, who have the resources to be well-educated and the opportunity to practise moral integrity.[6e]
Membership of the cult is often sought for the sons and daughters of up-and-coming mercantile families eager for a seat at the table alongside those of the "old blood." The cult judges its members by their deeds, not their heritage, so if a would-be initiate is committed to improve their intellect, train hard in combat, and proves to be of high moral fibre, they are gladly admitted. Sometimes a family might try to push an unsuitable candidate into the Myrmidian clergy, but unlike many other cults, the high integrity demanded by Myrmidia means that those unworthy are routinely rejected, no matter how much gold is offered to ‘repair the temple roof’.[6e]
In the Empire, the cult has a much weaker following than in the southern nations of the Old World, where Myrmidia is held in great reverence by folk from all classes. It tends to attract Imperial tacticians of war — generals, captains, and other officers of noble birth, for whom battlefield manoeuvres and the movement of entire bodies of men are of vital interest.[6e]
They might send their most promising son to the shrine at Talabheim, to be inducted in the elite Order of the Blazing Sun, and their youngest offspring abroad to the Archecclesiatium of Myrmidia or the Great Temple of Myrmidia in Remas to become an initiate in the cult, so that their family might have some influence within the faith, and access to the precious battlefield lore contained within the sacred libraries. Once elevated as priests, priests from the Empire usually return home, entering the service of the Emperor’s armies as tacticians and military advisors.[6e]
In the "Book of Transformations" from the Bellona Myrmidia, the goddess takes the form of a sharp-eyed Golden Eagle to scout enemy positions. The Order of the Eagle thus identifies itself with this majestic bird, and commonly pictures it with wings spread high above its head. This symbol is worn on the left breast, or as a clasp to hold a priest’s white cloak in place. In the Empire, members of the order also wear blue cowls with red edging and white robes. Elsewhere in the Old World, cowls take different colours according to the regiment the priest belongs to. Rank in the Eagles is shown with small claw pins worn at the neck.[1c]
The Order of the Righteous Spear wears well-polished plate armour, with white tabards marked with the spear and shield of Myrmidia, her favoured weapons. However, the order has splintered into many scores of lesser orders spread across the Old World, with each sporting its own unique uniform, style of fighting and weapon preference. The only thing all these disparate orders have in common is the shield-and-spear symbol, which is always worn somewhere.[1c]
In comparison, all Knights of the Blazing Sun wear highly polished, ornate plate armour of black and gold, often sporting the order’s symbol—a stylised sun emitting sixteen rays of wavy light—as a head crest, or as part of their heraldry. The order’s inner circle—an enormously rich group of men—sport their wealth ostentatiously, wearing stupendously expensive armour, detailed in gold, jet, obsidian and diamond. Many templars of the order bear polished, mirrored shields, which they use to reflect sunlight into the eyes of their enemies, dazzling them.[1c]
Initiation[]
"You just don't understand. She isn't like the other gods. She understands us. She walked as one of us! She experienced pain for us. She died for us. She isn't like your uncaring gods. She's Myrmidia!"
A Myrmidian Priestess emulates the deeds of Fury, her patron deity
In the Empire, most believe the Cult of Myrmidia is only open to those from military careers or expatriate Estalians and Tileans. However, almost anyone, if they show the proper interest in the Myrmidian cult and the honourable lifestyle it demands, will be accepted if the local temple priest is sufficiently impressed.[1c]
Initiation into the Cult of Myrmidia almost never involves a rite of combat. This surprises some, but the reason is that aspirants are thoroughly vetted before initiation takes place.[6e] Once accepted, Initiates are given a white, hoodless robe, and are each attached to a priest, who may be training up to four other initiates at any one time. These initiates form a “Flight,” and they do everything together, including eating, sleeping, listening to lectures, and physical training. If a temple has enough initiates to have several Flights, they will be pitched against each other in various wargames and tasks. Honing the mind is as important as honing the body, so lessons in meditation whilst inhaling sacred smoke, or periods of contemplation during prolonged isolation, often accompany the extensive lectures in Myrmidia’s teachings. The best of any Flight will soon be elevated to become the “First Eagle,” a Flight’s leader. No initiate can be elevated to a priest until they have been a First Eagle and have done something to distinguish themselves. What this entails differs from temple to temple. It could be something seemingly simple, such as demonstrating insightful wisdom concerning a difficult trial, or showing strong leadership skills. Or, it could be something more challenging, such as bettering Myrmidia’s successes in a battle recreation using painted figurines to represent opposing armies.[1c][6e]
Whatever it takes, eventually an initiate proves himself worthy of consideration to become a priest, or he will be taken aside and told to leave. Those that are worthy are given a task to complete by the temple priests, which varies according to the temple. It may involve navigating a puzzle-filled maze beneath the temple, or ritualistically evading a powerful creature from the myths of Myrmidia, such as a bull or wild boar. It may require that the initiate survives abandonment in a hostile environment, or quests to uncover the secrets of a distant holy site. Whatever it may be, once the task is completed, the initiate becomes a priest, and can pass into the ranks of their preferred Order where a temple sergeant takes command of his training.[1c][6e]
Priests of Myrmidia[]
"Show me the eyes of the eagle that I may see my enemies,
- Show me the strength of the eagle that I may persevere,
- Show me the wings of the eagle that I may strike in good time,
- Show me the heart of the eagle that I may not fear.''"
- —Priest of Myrmidia
Myrmidian priests are skilled warriors. For them the very act of battle is a prayer to their god. They practice and perfect techniques and skills. They study and learn tactics and strategies. They master the art of battle for its own sake and to glorify Myrmidia. To them, armed conflict is an inevitability, and therefore mastery upon the field of battle is simply mastery of one’s own fate.[4a]
The followers of Myrmidia are obsessively dedicated to the physical and mental skills that underlie all combat. They also realise that their skills are a privilege and an honour to their god, and they feel a moral obligation to lend their skills to just causes. Myrmidia’s followers defeat their own fears by ensuring that they are as well prepared for battle as it is possible to be. Therefore death, should it occur, is not failure; it is simply their final tithe to their god.[4a]
Priests of Myrmidia seek the discipline to keep their emotions in check during combat. To fight with anger or passion is to fight with an exploitable weakness. Anger is counterproductive to Myrmidian training, whereas the other martial cults of the Empire seem to embrace anger and emotion as a means to the same end. For this reason, priests of Myrmidia also have a reputation for being aloof, dispassionate, or even cold-blooded.[4a]
The symbol of the cult is the shield and the spear, which are Myrmidia’s favourite weapons, but many Myrmidians are equally skilled with a sword, seeing a well-forged blade as a noble weapon worthy of their dedication and mastery. The eagle epitomises many of the qualities that Myrmidians most admire: ambition, alertness, and decisiveness.[4a]
Myrmidian Priests from the Order of the Righteous Spear and Order of Fury help organise cult meetings, spread its teachings, and lead its ceremonies. They are often sought as advisors by generals and mercenary commanders, particularly in Tilea and Estalia.[6b]
Practice Makes Perfect[]
Followers of Myrmidia are fanatical about martial skills. They concentrate not just on physical excellence, but also scrupulously study strategy and tactics. A Myrmidian temple contains books and maps of some of the most famous and instructive battles from throughout history, and Myrmidians are especially fond of studying first-hand accounts of battles.[4a]
These temples are run just like military academies, and although Myrmidia is revered in traditional ways, training, sparring, and studying are also regarded as important ways of worship. The routine in an academy is strictly regimented and extremely hard. This sets the tone for a cultist’s life, and many followers of Myrmidia seem to be mechanical in their observations of routine and their predilection for the austere.[4a]
One of the most important things to a Myrmidian is the study and adherence of the rules of battle. Devout followers impeccably observe the established conventions of warfare, such as accepting surrender from an honourable foe, or humanely treating prisoners of war in a civil conflict. Abusing these strictures is a grave offence that could lead to dismissal from the order.[4a]
Advising the Military[]
"No Plan Survives Contact With The Enemy."
- —Litany of Battle.[5a]
"Understand Allurian, and no enemy will ever survive contact with your plans."
- —Priests of Myrmidia way of saying[6a]
As it is not just physical prowess that the Cult of Myrmidia venerates, Myrmidians are often in demand as military advisors. They would say that intellectual rigour and the study of tactics and strategy is as much a part of the soldier’s code as the physical aspects. Priests of Myrmidia will be familiar with all the great battles of history, even with the mythical conflicts that Myrmidia is said to have taken part in, and many priests, especially the older ones, are devout students of military history from all eras.[4a]
These strategists and tacticians offer themselves to the Old World’s armies as advisors. Many of the continent’s armies are wise enough to take up the opportunity. Myrmidians also act as experts on matters as mundane as equipment and logistics, an aspect of warfare often underestimated by the Imperial generals.[4a]
Because of the increasing popularity of Myrmidian doctrine and practice in the armies of the Empire and its contrast with the attitudes of the other martial cults, there is often a clear rift among the officers of Imperial armies who follow different traditions. This can lead to problems, but a good general knows how to turn such conflict into healthy rivalry.[4a]
Though Myrmidia’s priests expect a few Crowns for their mediation services, they recognize that not all in need can afford their price. If a supplicant cannot afford gold, they will accept barter — a few sheep or cattle, a share of the crops, or a pledge of service. Even a few copper coins, as long as the cause seems worthy. Myrmidians also trade in insight and information, so if a petitioner comes to them with credible accounts of fresh tactical or strategic technique, this serves well in place of funds.[6c]
Blood Money[]
"It is impossible to know with any great certainty where aspects of the Old Gods end and aspects of the Chaos Gods begin. In earlier investigations I explored how the God of Murder, Khaine, and the Bull God of the few Dwarfs that are known to have fallen to Chaos, could both be reflections of the entity that is Khorne. If this is true, who can say where Ulric, the Middenheimers' god of battle and winter, or Myrmidia, the Tilean goddess of war end, and where Khorne begins?"
- —Imperial scholar[8a]
As excellent soldiers, Myrmidians also make excellent mercenaries, and there are a good number of Myrmidian mercenary companies across the Old World. Whereas they have a generally poor reputation, the role of a mercenary is just as honourable to a Myrmidian as any other sort of soldier. Thus Myrmidian mercenary companies do their business openly in the good name of Myrmidia. This works as a sort of mark of quality and gives employers a general confidence that they are getting the right sort of mercenary for their coin. In return, a good proportion of a company's bounty is offered up to the cult’s coffers.[4a]
Because of the cult's excellent reputation, the nobility of the Empire are catching on to the well-tried southern tradition of having their sons trained by Myrmidians. Even if the nobles don’t put much stock in the goddess herself, they are keenly aware of the martial skills that the Myrmidian priests possess and pay well to retain them in their household for months at a time. The cultists also make a prestige bodyguard for pilgrimages and other hazardous journeys made by the wealthy.[4a]
All the above factors mean that the cult is extremely rich, and high-ranking members of the cult are often keen to show off such riches by purchasing extremely fine and intricate arms and armour, and riding the best horses. All this impressive pomp only serves to raise the Myrmidians' martial reputation even further.[4a]
Structure[]
In Estalia and Tilea, the massive Cult of Myrmidia has seemingly countless positions of power spread through its myriad orders. However, in the Empire of Man, where the cult has little representation, it is somewhat simpler. Although the Order of the Eagle is organised like a vast army, where those below take orders from those above, wisdom and insight, the gifts of Myrmidia's divine mother and father, also command great respect. Superiors not only listen to the counsel of their lessers, but they actively request it.[1c][1d]
The highest position in the Empire is the Eagle of the North, who is currently based in Nuln, and commands the Northern Regiment of the Order of the Eagle. This regiment is split into ten units -- one for each Human Imperial Grand Province and one for Kislev -- each of which is commanded by a high priest. A High Priest’s Unit is split according to how many temples he controls, with each temple commanded by a temple priest. A temple priest is aided by one or more temple sergeants, who each order up to ten priests each. Lastly, each priest can direct up to five initiates.[1c][1d]
In the Empire, progress within the order is mostly dictated by the whim of an individual's superiors, and the availability of appropriate ranks, although most ranking priests meditate long upon their options to make sure they are making the best choices. However, to the south, appointments of most ranking positions require the support of the Order of True Insight, which is believed to have a greater understanding of Myrmidia’s strategy for the cult. The impartiality of the oracles is never openly questioned, but it is whispered that money and favours have more influence than any revelation of Myrmidia during a smoke-fuelled prophetic trance. Indeed, it is not uncommon to find different oracles supporting different candidates, with each claiming Myrmidia is guiding their choice.[1d]
The structure of the Order of the Eagle goes though minor changes almost every other year, as it believes in adapting to changing circumstances. Currently, the Eagle of the North is an equivalent position to the head of a province in Tilea or Estalia. He is commanded by the High Eagle of Miragliano (L'Alta Aquila di Miragliano), who also commands half the order's regiments in Tilea.[1d]
The Order of the Righteous Spear is one of the largest orders of templars in the Old World. Most of their number is spread through Estalia and Tilea, but chapterhouses can be found in the Empire, Bretonnia, the Border Princes and even Araby. In the Empire, they have not spread any further than the temples that they protect and support, but the order is slowly gaining in popularity. The order is split into many minor orders, each of which has its own grand master and unique name, but they are all still answerable to the Glorious Leader (El Lider Glorioso), who leads the order from Magritta. Each grand master of the Empire can be commanded by the Eagle of the North, although the Glorious Leader can override these commands if he so wishes. Each Righteous Spear chapterhouse is led by a templar captain, who is always a knight of the inner circle.[1d]
The Order of the Blazing Sun is tiny when compared to the Righteous Spears. During the Crusades Against Araby, sixty cornered Imperial knights swore to the service of Myrmidia after a violent tremor toppled a massive statue of the goddess onto hundreds of charging Arabyans, saving the knights from certain destruction. When they returned to the Empire, they built a chapterhouse and temple to the foreign Goddess near Ravenstein in western Talabecland. With help from other crusading knightly orders, such as the Knights Panther and Knights of the Golden Lion, they worked hard to open trade and pilgrimage routes to Estalia and beyond. Today, the order, rich from its foreign dealings, now has most of its influence in Middenland, where the grand master orders his templars from the Carroburg chapterhouse. The order is only answerable to La Aguila Ultima in Estalia, to whom the original Empire Knights swore fealty, which is a source of great annoyance to the Eagle of the North, who covets their seemingly endless coffers of gold.[1d]
Sects[]
Members of the Cult of Myrmidia pride themselves on being warriors, but warriors who exercise rationality and wisdom. They do not easily associate with zealots and make efforts to discourage fanatics from claiming that they act in the name of the goddess. Nevertheless, there are two groups who have become associated with extremist approaches to the worship of Myrmidia, one in Tilea and the other in Estalia.[6e]
The Cult of Myrmidia has many divisions of belief. Fortunately, most of these manifest in the southern realms of the Old World, and never reach as far as the Empire. However, one division is so fundamental, that every corner of the cult is affected by it, which is the theological cleft between the Remans of Tilea and the Magrittans of Estalia.[1d]
It's not unheard of for blessed monasteries of Mirmidia to be built in unusual lands; they often appear as old and yet well-kept monasteries perched on a mountainside. They are used to spread the teachings of Myrmidia and charge a fair amount to do so.[14a]
Sometimes, as in the case of the Hermitic Order of Nahmud's Peace,[1p][2a] these temples conceal mysterious scrolls that are difficult to decipher. When demolishing an old Myrmidian monastery, workers could discover a small cavity in the building’s foundations. Buried deep within, locked chests containing a bundle of dusty old scrolls. The language inscribed on them is often far too complex to be immediately deciphered, leaving their purpose unknown.[14b]
However, scholars will persevere in uncovering their meaning. In the meantime, they theorize that those who went to such great lengths to conceal these writings may now be lost to time, along with their secrets. It may take many lifetimes to fully understand the texts. Yet, anyone willing to try would surely gain much simply from the attempt.[14b]
Another sect is known as the Children of the Setting Sun, who believe the truest way to serve their goddess is to follow her example, when Myrmidia left her people and sailed into the west. They interpret this as her command that they discover, conquer, and convert the entire population of Lustria (and Naggaroth as well). They till the soil around their small, hidden monastery -- a Myrmidian mission found in the Isthmus of Lustria -- trying to grow Old World crops and welcoming the lost who stumble their way. Occasionally they go into the nearby Norscan town of Skeggi to trade for supplies and seek more adherents.[12a]
Old Imperial legends speak of sects of colorfully tattooed women devoted to Myrmidia among the ancient Imperial tribes who fought in battle with screaming fury, even in times when Sigmar was still a mortal man.[9a]
Myrmidia Perfecta[]
According to Tilean folklore, Myrmidia was not always the goddess of strategy. Before her experiences as a mortal, her divine domain was only civilisation, art, and culture.[6e]
The fanatics of Myrmidia Perfecta believe that the goddess is best understood according to her original and best incarnation, so much so that they regard the official cult as enemies of Myrmidia to be destroyed. La Aquila Ultima has condemned the extremist sect and commanded that they be hunted down as heretics, but there are enough zealots in Tilea who support the sect to ensure that it remains a minor but persistent threat.[6e]
Remans and Magrittans[]
The Remans believe that when Myrmidia set out to form her empire, she was actively opposed by the inhabitants of Estalia and invaded their lands to bring the heretics to heel. As a consequence, they say, Estalia ought to be a vassal of Tilea, paying a hefty tithe in service and treasure. In order to see the Estalian influence in the cult reduced, members of this sect work to ensure that important cult positions are occupied only by Tileans, and they use politics, bribery, slander, treachery, and even murder to achieve their aims.[1d][6e]
The Magrittans, for their part, hold almost the same views, though they think it was the Tileans that resisted Myrmidia, and Estalia that should benefit from their subjugation. They work to ensure that Estalians are placed in important cult positions.[6e]
Both nations have their own versions of Myrmidia's holy texts to support their beliefs, and both are convinced they are correct. This fundamental difference has been the cause of, or the excuse for, much of the hostility between the Estalian kingdoms and the Tilean city-states down through the centuries. Indeed, the cult has almost broken in two over the issue on more than one occasion.[1e]
In Tilea and Estalia the two groups are small, unloved, and effectively counter one another most of the time. However, an opportunity presents itself in the fertile ground of the Empire. The two sects have recently transferred much of their efforts northwards, seeking to win the priests in the Empire to their respective causes and to disgrace members of the opposing faction.[6e]
Currently, Magritta is considered to be the heart of the Myrmidian religion, although the high temple in Remas undermines this at every turn. La Aguila Ultima (or, as Tileans prefer, L’ultima Aquila), the Order of the Eagle’s leader, is a Tilean woman; thus, the Tileans expected her to support Remas as the future centre of the cult. However, she controversially swore to accept the Estalian version of Myrmidia, and has moved to Magritta, where she is working hard to put this old division to rest.[1e]
This causes problems for the Empire branch of the Cult. The Order of the Eagle is sworn to obey a High Eagle from Tilea, thus they use the Tilean texts. However the templars receive their orders from Magritta, and, by default, accept the Estalian texts. To make matters a little more complex, the Eagle of the North has authority over the Order of the Righteous Spear in the Empire, and has been ordered to ensure the templars follow the Tilean texts, which, of course, they resist.[1e]
It is a massive divide, and one that, it seems, will inevitably tear the cult in two, which could plunge almost half of the Old World into an acrimonious and bitter war.[1e]
Holy Orders[]
"And Blessed Myrmidia observed: When confronted by a vastly superior foe, the Good General must use her guile, and her enemy's hubris. The general of a vastly superior force expects to win, and through that expectation, victory can be plucked.
And Lagario exclaimed: But, general, they outnumber us by too much, we will be enveloped. I will not allow the slaughter of my people.
And Blessed Myrmidia said: Fortunate for us that we outnumber their southern force.
And Lagario goggled: They have a southern force?
And Blessed Myrmidia smiled: Not yet, but we can resolve that."
- —The Book of War, ‘The Battle for Four Tears Bridge.’[1m]
There are countless lesser orders of Myrmidia in Estalia and Tilea, where almost every isolated hill has a monastery or temple dedicated to a particular deed, battle, or proclamation of Myrmidia. Few of these orders have reached the Empire, but those that have are expanding their influence quickly.[1e]
- Order of the Eagle - In the Bellona Myrmidia, the goddess is said to adopt the form of an eagle in order to scout enemy positions, and it is from this legend that the Order of the Eagle take their name. Their main responsibility is the everyday running of the cult’s temples.[6e]
- Order of the Righteous Spear - Priests of this Order are the guardians of the cult’s temples, and their sacred garments typically consist of plate armour polished to a brilliant sheen, over which they wear white tabards emblazoned with the spear and shield device of Myrmidia. Their task is to defend the temple to which they are assigned — a task to which most dedicate themselves until their death.[6e]
Minor Orders of Myrmidia[]
Over the centuries, the cult has splintered into various minor orders, most of which can only be found within the confines of Tilea and Estalia. Two such orders have spread to the Empire.
- The Blessed Order of True Insight - An ageing devotee of Myrmidia might be called, in a blinding vision of their goddess, to join this elect order. As the enclaves of this small and scattered order exist in secluded temples, the elderly priest must first survive the journey through perilous wilderness, alone. They are led to the enclave by visions and signs, and if they make it there, they are welcomed as a long-lost sibling.[6e]
- Order of Fury - This order was little known within the Empire until a Myrmidian priest, the Stirlander Janos Enescu, brought its teachings to Delberz. Inspired by his charismatic and fiery sermons, four temples sprang up in the Reikland. Unlike other Orders of Myrmidia, its priests channel the energy of rage and violence into their fighting techniques. They are inspired by the legend of the shieldmaiden Fury, whose tale is told in the Bellona Myrmidia.[6e]
- Order of the Blazing Sun - These warriors are among the most distinctive of the Empire’s Knightly Orders. Clad head to foot in gleaming, ornate plate armour of black and gold, they wear as their head crest the symbol of their Order — a stylised sun, which also marks the heraldry of their polished shields. The Knights of the Blazing Sun ride wherever the Empire is at most peril, eager to charge into the thick of the fighting.[6e]
Holy Sites[]
A statue of Myrmidia, depicted with modern Imperial clothes and armour.
The chief temples of Myrmidia are in the Estalian city of Magritta and the Tilean city of Remas. Estalians believe Myrmidia was raised in Magritta, just like Tileans believe Remas was her original home. The Magrittan temple, which was in the forefront of the Crusades Against Araby, is in ascendance and is widely considered the spiritual centre of the cult. At this time, all of Myrmidia's temples in the Old World are subject to Magritta, but the last time it used its prerogative was when it sent out a rallying call at the beginning of the wars with Araby.[11b]
The smaller shrines answer to the temple in Margritta where the Archecclesiastium is held. This council of high priests governs and administers the cult, seeing its tenets are upheld. While the Archecclesiatium is technically the governing council of Myrmidia's cult, it has become the main temple's name by association[3b] Myrmidia's temples are some of the grandest structures in the southern nations, reflecting how liked the goddess is.[3a]
Most holy places of Myrmidia are located in Tilea and Estalia, associated with one of her acts when she walked as a mortal. Since the Great War Against Chaos, the worship of Myrmidia has spread throughout the Empire, to the extent that all Imperial cities and many towns have a temple to the goddess, particularly in the south. Smaller settlements may have shrines dedicated to her, often stone pillars painted gold and festooned with polished emblems that gleam in the sun. These are particularly common in border regions, where battles fought against marauders were won on account of the intervention of Myrmidian warrior-priests or Knights of the Blazing Sun.[6e]
The fortified Myrmidian temples are normally built according to the architectural principles of Estalia and Tilea, both of which are strongly influenced by the extensive High Elven ruins in those nations. Thus, spired roofs atop slender, tapering towers are common, as are central rectangular halls with domed roofs. Crenelations ring the perimeter. The entrance is guarded by a barbican with hefty gates and a portcullis. White marble is preferred, but local building materials, especially whitewashed timber or granite that are more common in the Empire are also used. Most Myrmidean temples are decorated with large bas-reliefs of weapons and shields, which often form a backdrop to the training grounds that surround Myrmidian holy sites. Members of the Order of the Righteous Spear patrol the parapets, sworn to defend the temple to the death.[1f][6e][11b]
The centre of worship of Myrmidia in one of her temples is the training court, where adherents to the cult demonstrate their faith with exhibitions of martial prowess. To Myrmidia training is as pleasing as prayer, and the clash of arms and bark of orders is as sweet to her ears as choirs and sacred music.[6e]
The more circumspect aspects of the goddess are also embodied in her temples. Within their walls are compact but well-kept libraries and circular lecture halls within which the priests hold symposiums on warcraft. The lessons are open to anyone and, unlike the sermons in Sigmarite temples, they focus more on asking questions of the congregation than preaching. These halls are often decorated with friezes depicting the goddess and her associated heroes and shieldmaidens. These images frequently depict them bearing archaic arms and dressed in little more than scarves tied about their waists -- a styling that folk in the Empire find rather scandalous. Above the central hall, many temples also maintain small, isolated shrines to the goddess, where her devout can retreat to ponder difficult questions and pray to Myrmidia for inspiration.[1f][6e]
There is great variety in Myrmidia's shrines, from stacks of weaponry to miniature temples.[2a] Shrines to the goddess of war and strategy are well-tended places, usually set near a fountain. In Tilea and Estalia the fountain and the likeness of Myrmidia - a beautiful young woman in warrior's garb - are one and the same; the fountain spouts from the top of the head, with water following the contours of her cape as an metaphor for shaping the fortunes of war with good strategy.[3a]
Most Eagle temples also have a chapterhouse for the Order of the Righteous Spear (under whatever local name it has chosen) within its walls, making assaults upon Myrmidia's holy sites a daunting task indeed.[1f]
Notable Temples[]
- Archecclesiatium of Myrmidia - The Archecclesiastium of Myrmidia is the chief temple to the goddess in the city of Magritta in Estalia.[6d]
- Great Temple of Myrmidia - The Great Temple of Myrmidia is the chief temple of the goddess in the city-state of Remas in Tilea. It is not recognised by the current head of the cult, Isabella Giovanna Luccelli.[6d]
Sacred Relics[]
The veneration of holy weapons, armour, or standards once carried by the Myrmidian champions of yore is an important aspect of religious worship of the cult. Many temples feature at least one such magical item, preserved under lock and key in an ornate glass cabinet near the altar, before which supplicants kneel in prayer for Myrmidia’s favour. The larger temples in the Empire house several such heirlooms, within treasuries below the temple. On occasion, the memory of the heroes associated with these artefacts is honoured by the act of lending the item as a boon to an honoured individual within the cult, to wield in war. Seeing such a precious relic used in battle excites great passion in the hearts of Myrmidians, and they fight all the harder to protect it from the enemy.[6e]
The Imperial custom of utilising the skulls of saintly men and women as relics is unpopular among Myrmidians. Their sense of respect for the dead finds this habit distasteful, typical of the savage ways of the folk of the North. The bones of heroes should be laid to rest, according to Myrmidian strictures, otherwise the souls of the faithful might not be admitted within the ranks of Myrmidia’s heavenly host.[6e]
More formal worship is carried out in the central hall, where at certain times of day Myrmidian canticles echo among the statues of Myrmidia, her shieldmaidens, and revered heroes. Sermons are preached in the vernacular, though regular services are held in the Classical, Tilean, and Estalian tongue for southern expatriates. In the larger temples, annexes and smaller shrines lead off from the main hall, where individual supplicants can pray in peace.[6e]
As learning is of great importance, most temples house a small library of sacred texts, and the largest include a lecture hall, open to all, where priests give talks on ancient battles, Myrmidian mythology, and tactical battle-lore.[6e]
The other buildings are given over to the quarters of the priests and the barrack-rooms of the temple’s defenders.[6e]
Divine Lore of Myrmidia[]
Myrmidian Petty Blessings[]
These blessings are only known and taught by the priests of the Cult of Myrmidia.[1i]
- Blessing of Fury - Your passionate prayers fill a single person with righteous fury.[1i]
- Blessing of Myrmidia - You bless a character to have the keen combat insight of Myrmidia Herself.[1i]
Notable Miracles[]
In Tilea and Estalia, the many orders of the Myrmidian Cult practise an array of different prayers, rituals, and rites that reflect the many aspects of the goddess. In the Empire, where the cult has less influence, prayers tied to Myrmidia's association with the art of war are most common.[1j]
The Order of the Eagle practises an assortment of prayers, with two primary camps found in the Empire. Some warrior priests perform tactical roles, leading units of men according to the dictates of their leaders, and learn prayers that aid them to do this (Myrmidia the Captain). Others prefer to support the generals directly, and memorise rites more appropriate for this role (Myrmidia the Commander). In the Empire, only the Order of Fury goes beyond these prayers, preferring rites that demonstrate their unique view of the world (Myrmidia the Wrathful).[1j]
- Blazing Sun - Myrmidia answers your prayers with blinding flames of retribution.[1j]
- Command the Legion - You pray to Myrmidia to lend her strength to your words, and shout out your orders, making them audible to far greater a distance in battle.[1j][1k]
- Dismay Foe - You take on the wrathful aspect of Myrmidia to instill fear in a foe.[1k]
- Eagle's Vision - Answering your prayers, Myrmidia sends you visions of a nearby battle as if you were an eagle flying high above it.[1k]
- Fury's Call - Your passionate prayers instil your allies with a fervent hatred of their enemies.[1k]
- In Good Order - Knowing that the situation is hopeless you pray that your forces do not suffer from a disastrous rout.[6b]
- Inspired Leadership - You take on an aura of authority, your prayers inspiring allies with faith in your abilities.[1k]
- Know Your Enemy - You call on Myrmidia to inform you of a nearby enemy’s strengths and weaknesses.[6b]
- On Deadly Ground - Knowing that victory cannot be secured unless your forces stand firm you call on Myrmidia to banish all thoughts of retreat from the minds of your allies.[6b]
- Quick Strike - Infused with Myrmidia's power, you can make a quick attack.[1k]
- Shield of Myrmidia - You bless your allies with Myrmidia’s protection.[1l]
- Shieldmaiden's Devotion - Your chanted prayers fill Myrmidia’s children (including Tileans and Estalians) with the devotion of her bravest Shieldmaidens.[1l]
- Skill of Combat - You instil your allies with the skill of Myrmidia.[1l]
- Spear of Myrmidia - Your weapon, which must be a spear, becomes imbued with Myrmidia’s power.[1l]
- Vengeful Wrath - Your prayers fill you with unbridled fury and hatred.[1l]
Notable Myrmidians[]
- Isabella Giovanna Luccelli - Luccelli is the Chief Priest of the Cult of Myrmidia and the head of the Order of the Eagle.
- Lorenzo di Marco - Di Marco is the current Eagle of the North of the Order of the Eagle.
- Periphata - Periphata is an entity that is a considered a divine servant of Myrmidia and is of especial importance in the Cult of Myrmidia. Periphata's connection to the goddess is similar to that which Triton shares with the sea god Manann. Periphata can be summoned to the mortal world to aid the priests of the Cult of Myrmidia with the use of a ritual known as Call Divine Servant.[1o]
Trivia[]
The Onphalos of the High Temple of Myrmidia in Remas is a reference of the Omphalos of Delphi.
An omphalos is a stone artefact considered to be sacred in ancient polytheistic religions. In Ancient Greek, the word ὀμφᾰλός (omphalós) means "navel". Among the ancient Greeks, it was a widespread belief that Delphi was the center of the world.
According to the myths regarding the founding of the famed Oracle at Delphi, Zeus, the king of the Olympian pantheon of gods, in his attempt to locate the centre of the Earth, launched two eagles from the two ends of the world, and the eagles, starting simultaneously and flying at equal speed, crossed their paths above the area of Delphi, and so that was the place where Zeus placed the sacred stone.
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Fantasy Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Tome of Salvation (RPG)
- 2: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Core Rulebook (RPG)
- 3: Total War: Warhammer (PC Game)
- 4: Warhammer Fantasy Fantasy Roleplay 3rd Edition: Signs of Faith (RPG)
- 4a: pp. 40-41
- 5: Knight of the Blazing Sun (Novel) by Joshua Reynolds
- 6: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Up in Arms (RPG)
- 7: Drachenfels (Novel) by Jack Yeovil
- 7a: Prologue
- 8: Liber Chaotica (Background Book)
- 8a: pg. 111
- 9: The Legend of Sigmar - God King (Novel) by Graham McNeill
- 9a: Ch. 7
- 10: Warhammer Fantasy Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Game Master's Guide (RPG)
- 10a: pg. 74
- 11: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Core Rulebook (RPG)
- 12: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Lustria (RPG)
- 12a: pp. 52
- 13: Vermintide II (PC Game)
- 14: Total War: Warhammer II (PC Game)
- 14a: Blessed Monastery Landmark Buildings
- 14b: Hidden Scroll (Game Event)
