Myrmidia

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Myrmidia
A common symbol of Myrmidia

Myrmidia is the Goddess of Strategy and War in the Old World pantheon. She is the sister of Shallya, goddess of Mercy, and both of them are the daughters of Morr and Verena.[1][3a]

Symbols

Myrmidia is portrayed as a tall, well-proportioned, young woman armed and equipped in the style of the soldiers of Tilea and Estalia. She may also appear in the form of an eagle.[1][3a]

Her symbols include a spear behind a shield, suns and eagles.[3a]

Holy days

There are no fixed holy days, although it is common to honour the goddess with a sacrifice at the start and end of a campaign and before and after a battle.

Holy Books

Beliefs

Myrmidia is the patron goddess of soldiers and strategists, representing the art and science of war and is worshipped by both the upper and lower echelons of armies.

The strictures of Myrmidia emphasize and sanctify military professionalism, such as sparing enemies who have surrendered, and never questioning the orders of a military superior. Followers of Myrmidia may enter battle only when strategies and tactics have been developed for all conceivable eventualities to ensure victory with minimal casualties.

Strictures

  • Act with honor and dignity in all things. [3a]
  • Respect Prisoners of War, never kill an enemy who surrenders. [3a]
  • Show the enemies of humanity no mercy. [3a]
  • Obey all honoruable orders. [3a]
  • Only disobey a command if it forces you to break another stricture. [4b]

Cult

The head of the cult is La Aguila Ultima. [3a]

Her cult is friendly with those of her parents, Verena and Morr, and her sister Shallya. There is a rivalry between the worshippers of Ulric and those of Myrmidia. This rivalry generally remains competitive, as followers of the two gods usually try to outdo each other against the common enemy rather than fight among themselves. Many of her cult are openly hostile to followers of Ranald.

Very popular in Estalia and Tilea, in The Empire she is less popular than either Ulric or Sigmar, who better represent the Imperial ideals of strength of combat and the frenzy of battle.

Priests of the goddess favour white robes with red edging and blue cowls, her symbol worn as a cloak clasp or sewn over the left breast. [3a]

Orders

One of the cult's most prestigious templar orders in the Empire is the Order of the Blazing Sun [2], the oldest Myrmidian Order in the Empire. The Order of the Righteous Spear has a chapterhouse at each temple, whilst the Order of the Eagle is based in Nuln, led by the Eagle of the North. [3a]

All temples of Myrmidia are subordinate to the temple in Magritta where the Archecclesiastium (the governing council of the cult) is located. In addition, each temple is the diocesan seat of the cult of Myrmidia. Her temples are located in the citadels of most cities of any size throughout the Estalian kingdoms and the Tilean city-states. Some cities in southern Bretonnia and The Empire (Nuln and Talabheim) also have temples to Myrmidia. Smaller temples and shrines can be commonly found in areas where southern mercenaries are employed.

The architecture of the temples of Myrmidia traditionally follows the styles of Tilea and Estalia, where her religion is most established, with elaborately domed and spired roofs covering square or rectangular halls. Shallow reliefs of outsized weapons and shields seemingly hang on the exterior walls of the temple. In some temples the goddess is depicted clad only in scarves about her waist, to the horror of some followers of Sigmar.[3a]

Shrines often take the form of miniature temples with either statues of the goddess or free-standing sculptures of stacked weapons, shields, and armour. [3a]

The gods & goddesses of the Old World
Old Faith - Rhya - Taal - Ulric - Manann - Morr - Verena - Myrmidia - Shallya - Ranald - Handrich - Stromfels - Khaine - Sigmar - Lady of the Lake - Lucan & Luccina - Ursun - Dazh - Tor - Esmeralda

Sources