The Gods of Law

The following information will be known by almost any character with Academic Knowledge (Theology).

Note Volkmar proclaimed worship of the Law gods illegal in the Empire in 2524. The Law Pantheon is a separate Religion to the Old World Pantheon, so technically worshippers of Law do not pay obedience to the Old World Gods and vice versa. This is often not observed however.

The Cults of the Gods of Law
By Alexander John Bateman


The cults of Law are a collection of related religions that are most popular within the Border Princes, Estalia and Tilia. Consisting of a pantheon of related Gods named Solkan and his wife Arianka, their daughter Somorphia, and Solkan’s brothers, Alluminas and Obscuras.


Solkan – Law God of Vengeance and Retribution

The Angry Lord of Retribution and Vengeance, Solkan is the Chief Deity in the Law Pantheon. Depicted as a towering male human, with a face full of fury, he dresses in flame drenched armour hidden under a heavy black cloak and wide brimmed hat, with Flammendrung his flaming sword ever in his hand.
Symbol
A spiked circle of black iron with a single flame burning at the Centre.
Area of Worship
Of all the Law gods, Solkan is perhaps the most widely worshiped, having small but dedicated congregations in most of the Old World. One place that his worship is notably absent is the Empire, where Sigmar has essentially taken his role. In the Empire Solkan is commonly regarded as either as merely the Tilian name for Sigmar himself or as an Aspect of the Proscribed god Soldan, Lord of Tyranny. Solkan worshippers regard both these theories as vile heresy, and often find travelling within the Empire is best done in secret.
Temperament
Solkan takes an active interest in human affairs, but seldom shows any favour. Humans are weak creatures, ever likely to fall to temptation. Mercy, Compassion, Fellowship; all these are qualities alien to his nature.
Strictures
Followers of Solkan are his devout warriors in the war against Chaos, they are tasked with the following.
* Never allow a wrong to go immediately unanswered, unless it aids chaos
* Oppose and fight the Minions of Chaos at all opportunity
* Oppose all Laws that are Foolish and against the natural order
* Enforce all Laws to the letter, unless it contravenes another Stricture


Somorphia – Law Goddess of Beauty and Perfection

The daughter of Arinka and Solkan, Somorphia is the Goddess of natural and unchanging beauty. She appears as a classically beautiful woman, dressed in traditional robes of deep blue modestly set with jewellery containing many gemstones.
Symbol
A perfect ring of gold beset with a large sapphire in the centre
Area of Worship
Worship of Somorphia is widespread in many Old World cities, especially among ageing rich women, seeking her favour to retain their youthful looks. Worship is strongest in Tillia and Estalia, with the lavish temple in Magritta acting as the de facto head of her order. Somorphia is popular among artisans, especially those who specialise in luxury goods, such as works of art and jewellery.
Temperament
As a Goddess of Law, Somorphia shares their hatred for all the forces of chaos. Apart from this she seems content to gradually improve the world, by inspiring her worshipers to create ever more beautiful items. Somorphia is far less esoteric that the worship of Alluminas and far less martial than the worship of her parents, making her perhaps the most accessible of the Gods of Law.
Strictures
Somorphia tasks her faithful with two restrictions
* Never aid the forces of Chaos in any way
* Never destroy or deface a thing of Beauty, and protect them from others who would destroy or deface them. (This does not prevent improving an item of beauty, such as in the case of gem cutting.)

Alluminas – Law God of Light and Enlightenment

The least worshipped of all the Law Gods, Alluminas is thought to be a pure, unchanging source of light that grants not only divine understanding to those it strikes, but also unmovable and unchangeable order. To view Alluminas is to become an eternal statute that knows and comprehends all. The only way to know Alluminas is through study of a copy of the Alluminamus, his great book of truth. Those scholars who draw parallels between Human and Elf pantheons, often link Alluminas with the Elf god Asuryan,
Symbol
A wheel with four spokes, each supporting a candle
Area of Worship
Worshippers of Alluminas are typically Cenobites in small monastery communities, spread throughout the more inaccessible places of the Old World, typically high in mountain ranges to better seek the light. Some worshippers wander the Old World as poor pilgrim monks, battling the forces of chaos and spreading their holy world, although this is more common in the southern parts of the Old World, and virtually unknown in the Empire and Brettonnia.
Temperament
Alluminas knows all, understand all and thus seeks nothing. He is passionless, opposing Chaos calmly and unceasingly, never moved to anger or compassion. The one thing that is said to be a flaw in this is his opposition of Obscuras, his traitorous Half Brother.
Strictures
Those seeking the bathe in Alluminas’ light must adhere to the following path.
* Oppose all change wherever it is found, principally the forces of Chaos.
* Study the Alluminamus each day and then meditate upon its teachings for six hours.
* Keep your mind and body pure. Abstain from consumption of Alcohol and other Drugs, and refrain from all sexual activity.

Arianka - Goddess of Law and Discipline

The Goddess of Law and Discipline, Arianka is said to lie imprisoned under Praag in a Crystal Tomb formed by an agent of Chaos, (typically believed to be the God Tzeentch.) Her worshippers are therefore based in Praag, where they excavate the cursed city seeking her tomb. Typically she is depicted as a sleeping warrior maiden, clutching her great crystal sword, Laihtendrung to her breast.
Symbol
Arianka’s Crystal sword Laihtendrung serves as her symbol.
Area of Worship
Praag forms the centre of worship, although most followers are recruited in the South of the Old World, and travel to Praag as their first pilgrimage. Arianka has no Temples, and most worshipers are have been absorbed by the Church of Solkan, although some worshipers joined the Cult of Verena.
Temperament
Trapped in eternal Slumber, Arianka can do nothing but await the day of her awakening, where it is said she will join with her consort Solkan in finally ridding the word of Chaos by putting the Ruinous powers to the Sword.
Strictures
The followers of Arianka typically follow Solkan’s Strictures; In addition they must dedicate their lives to the goal of seeking a way of freeing Arianka from her prison.

Obscuras – Law God of Darkness and Shadows

The Half-Brother and Counterpart of Alluminas, Obscuras the shadow master is typically depicted as a tall black robed man, continually surrounded by bats. He is the god of dark places but also represents the forces of ignorance and repression. He opposes seeking knowledge and technological progress as it inevitable leads to chaos.
Symbol
Morrslieb eclipsed, often depicted with a bats flying before it.
Area of Worship
The brotherhood of the shadow is the main cult of Obscuras, and is illegal throughout the Old World. Its followers sabotage machinery and destroy libraries, kidnapping and then murdering educated folk in bizarre rituals held in the middle of the night or deep underground. Worship centres in the Border Princes, but rumours persist of cult buildings hidden under major cities, including one recently unearthed in Nuln.
Temperament
Obscuras seethes with cold hatred, opposed to the wave of technology and learning that sweeps the old world. He bids his followers extinguish this light of learning by whatever means they can, as long as it is done from the protection of darkness.
Strictures
* Hunt down and kill all followers of Alluminas, Tzeench and other agents of learning.
* Never kill a creature of darkness, such as a Bats.
* Extinguish all Fires and Lights whenever possible. (You are not required to extinguish lights that enable you to see.)