The Sightless
| Allied with... | the Everwatcher |
| In Conflict with... | most everyone |
The Sightless are religious fanatics who believe that their leader, the Everwatcher, was a mortal being risen to godhood, and that he will return to Khurun to guide them to glory. They operate in secrecy, needing to hide their gruesome methods and dark magics to avoid persecution. Mutilation, mind control, and blood rituals - everything is permitted if it furthers the cult's goals.
The mission of the Sightless are twofold: foremost, to resurrect their leader back into the physical realm. Second, to gain enough power to master the natural world and bring mortal kind into another era of unity. All methods which further these goals are permitted, including the sacrifice of other members of the cult.
The only form of magic that is not permitted within the ranks of the Sightless, is that involving contracts with fiends, or other powerful entities. This is considered blasphemy against the Everwatcher, who is said to show his most loyal followers the path to true strength.
The Everwatcher - The Sightless follow a long-gone leader, the legendary Everwatcher. While he is not currently among them, he speaks to a chosen few, and they enact his will.
The Eyes of Three - In his stead, the Everwatcher's three Generals of old command the Sightless. It is said that they once rode side-by-side with the Everwatcher, but time has obscured their age and origins. Presently, only One Eye, the mad Archer, has been encountered outside of the cult's ranks. The other two Generals, greater in power, exist only in rumor.
The Sightless Seers - Shepherds of the flock, the Sightless Seers are above the rank and file initiates of the cult both in authority, and in magical prowess. All Seers have made the same sacrifice: they have given their eyes to the Everwatcher, in exchange for a fragment of his strength.
Acolyte - Those who believe, but who have yet to prove their loyalty to the Everwatcher.
The light. The golden red burn that licked up higher and higher and cast long, strange shadows out into the ember-lit night. It burned with a malignant menace. A red that turned purple and black. But only in flickers. Only in blinks and hisses.
Their voices. The voices of those gathered round. Were like so many little drops of rain. Pittering and pattering against the stone and bouncing out in a rush of rivers streamed from storms. A chatter that came close to chorus.
One voice rose above the rest.
"Hark, ye sightless! And rejoice!"
Their voices grew louder in exaltation. A sound that sounded near agony, so loud did they shriek.
"Tonight! On this night! Beneath the two moons that doth burn on high, we have one, most faithful! One most ready to show all their devotion!"
The crowds shuddered. "A Seer! A Sightless Seer!"
"Take them! Take the stars from them!"
"For the Stareater! For the Everwatcher!"
Something shifted in the air. A cold pulse that saw the fire's glow turn blue and green for but a blink and the crowd hushed and trickled to silence.
From their vantage points, the Knights of Anathaeum could but watch the procession, and hear the words of the Speaker address the crowd, tone like cold fire.
The mission of the Sightless are twofold: foremost, to resurrect their leader back into the physical realm. Second, to gain enough power to master the natural world and bring mortal kind into another era of unity. All methods which further these goals are permitted, including the sacrifice of other members of the cult.
The only form of magic that is not permitted within the ranks of the Sightless, is that involving contracts with fiends, or other powerful entities. This is considered blasphemy against the Everwatcher, who is said to show his most loyal followers the path to true strength.
Hierarchy
The Eyes of Three - In his stead, the Everwatcher's three Generals of old command the Sightless. It is said that they once rode side-by-side with the Everwatcher, but time has obscured their age and origins. Presently, only One Eye, the mad Archer, has been encountered outside of the cult's ranks. The other two Generals, greater in power, exist only in rumor.
The Sightless Seers - Shepherds of the flock, the Sightless Seers are above the rank and file initiates of the cult both in authority, and in magical prowess. All Seers have made the same sacrifice: they have given their eyes to the Everwatcher, in exchange for a fragment of his strength.
Acolyte - Those who believe, but who have yet to prove their loyalty to the Everwatcher.
Lore
They gathered beneath the cover of the stone pavilion en mass. Cloaked and hooded. Most of them clean. Robes made from fabrics that were near pristine. One by one and two by two. They trickled in to that space, marked by a strange seal wrought in bronze that hung at the peak of the archways. A seal that looked every bit an eye. Wide and open as the fire's light from within the pavilion danced along its polished surface and poured through the ringed bands.The light. The golden red burn that licked up higher and higher and cast long, strange shadows out into the ember-lit night. It burned with a malignant menace. A red that turned purple and black. But only in flickers. Only in blinks and hisses.
Their voices. The voices of those gathered round. Were like so many little drops of rain. Pittering and pattering against the stone and bouncing out in a rush of rivers streamed from storms. A chatter that came close to chorus.
One voice rose above the rest.
"Hark, ye sightless! And rejoice!"
Their voices grew louder in exaltation. A sound that sounded near agony, so loud did they shriek.
"Tonight! On this night! Beneath the two moons that doth burn on high, we have one, most faithful! One most ready to show all their devotion!"
The crowds shuddered. "A Seer! A Sightless Seer!"
"Take them! Take the stars from them!"
"For the Stareater! For the Everwatcher!"
Something shifted in the air. A cold pulse that saw the fire's glow turn blue and green for but a blink and the crowd hushed and trickled to silence.
From their vantage points, the Knights of Anathaeum could but watch the procession, and hear the words of the Speaker address the crowd, tone like cold fire.
-- An encounter with the Sightless, near the Holds of Baron Pinkrose
Contributors: Garuda, bees?