"Ah, Ulricans... they are little better than beasts when it comes to war. Lay a bear trap or two and they always get their feet trapped. Personally, I’d like more of my opponents to have such directed characters, it would make my life far simpler."
- —Lorenzo di Marco, the Eagle of the North[1b]
For most Myrmidians, the posting of Eagle of the North is seen as a banishment. Living amongst the brutish and superstitious northerners in their cold and depressing country is not something most Myrmidians would ask for.[1a]
The current Eagle of the North, Lorenzo di Marco is an insanely ambitious man. He plans an expansion of Myrmidian worship unlike anything seen before. He looks to the Empire and sees a troubled people who need new guidance. Sigmar has proven too weak to keep Chaos at bay, and his cult is rife with divisions. Ulric has proven to be too brutal, and is unacceptable to the increasingly urbane middle classes.[1a]
Of course, the Ulricans and Sigmarites are already moving against this threat.[1a]
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, 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 mother and father, also command great respect. Superiors not only listen to the counsel of their lessers, but they actively request it. 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 per Human Imperial 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.[1a]
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.[1a]
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 Lorenzo di Marco also known as the High Eagle of Miragliano (L’Alta Aquila di Miragliano), who also commands half the order’s Regiments in Tilea.[1a]
Each grand master of the Empire can be commanded by the Eagle of the North, although the Glorious Leader of the Order of the Righteous Spear can override these commands if he so wishes. He's 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.[1a]
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.[1a]