The Eskatonic Order

An extremely mystical and occult order, its members seek to guard the light of the Holy Flame from the coming eschaton, or apocalypse. They are engaged in a personal and individual pursuit of the holy. Unlike the Orthodox Church, they believe that there is a spark of the Holy Flame in each person, and it is the duty of the enlightened (those fully conscious of the Holy Flame within them, made aware through a personal vision) to cultivate this flame and fan it into a fire. Their main means to this end is theurgy.

Their exclusive entry requirements ensure that they have the smallest membership of any of the main orders, and also the smallest support network - rather gloomily, they believe that only a few will recognize the light within; most are doomed to Final Darkness. They claim to have personal experience with certain vile demon sultans whom they say are to blame for the dimming stars, and believe that only the order's wisdom and magic can avert the final doom (they also claim knowledge of the "bodiless powers of the Empyrean", or angels).

Rank within the order is is built around the slow dissemination of secrets and occult techniques. The order's fathers created a carefully wrought system of study, whereby a student would only be exposed to lore he was capable of understanding. Rank is awarded only to those who have proven themselves mentally and spiritually worthy. The secrets of each rank are taught slowly, until the student is ready for the next level. Throughout, humility is of great importance, and a full confession is an absolute requirement for any advance in status. Self-flagellation and other forms of penance are common, in the belief that such practices prevent the growth of hubris.

Many students lose patience with the slow pace of learning, and set out on their own to seek knowledge where they can find it. The ending of the Emperor Wars has led to a boom in such wanderers, who are often viewed with approval by their superiors in the order - unlike most sects of the Church, the Eskatonics actively promote the Virtue of Questing.

Eskatonic Information

Eskatonic Daily Rituals | The Order of Adamantine Knights

Stereotypes: Wizard, philosopher, doom-sayer, occult
investigator, demon-hunter, artifact hound.