Myrmidia
Titles | Goddess of the Art and Science of War The Perfect General Queen of the Battlefield |
Status | Active |
Type | Old World God |
Domains | Warfare Strategy |
Relatives | Verena (mother)[1] Morr (father)[1] Shallya (sister) Khaine (uncle) |
Affiliation | Empire Estalia Tilea |
Followers | Cult of Myrmidia Order of the Blazing Sun Order of the Righteous Spear Order of the Eagle |
Symbols | Spear behind Shield Suns Eagles |
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]
Contents
Artefacts of Myrmidia
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. [1]
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. [1]
Cult of Myrmidia
The head of the cult is the La Aguila Ultima, [3a] as they are known in Estalia whilst in Tilea they are known as the L'ultima Aquila. [5a]
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. Memebers of her cult are often openly hostile to followers of Ranald. [1]
She is very popular in Estalia and Tilea but 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]
History
When Myrmidia chose to walk in world as a mortal she was, at first, a pacifist like her sister, Shallya. After her mortal parents died, she was taken in by her aunt and uncle who worked her from dawn to dusk. Her life did not improve when she came of age as she was given to a cruel local lord who subjected her to many indignites until finally took one of his ceremonial spears and stabbed him. From that day forward, she would never be without her weapon. [4a]
Fighting on campaign, she saved a woman, Nahmud who in turn warned her of a ambush. Myrmidia flanked the enemy and defeated them at the Massacre of the Three Gorges which would be the turning point in her war. [5b]
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. [1]
Holy Books
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]
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. [4c]
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]
Gallery
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (1st Edition), 1988, pg. 197
- 2: Sword of Vengeance (Novel) by Chris Wraight, Chapter Sixteen, pg. 626
- 3: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition) Rulebook
- 3a: The Cult of Myrmidia, pg. 207
- 4: Tome of Salvation
- 5: Tome of Salvation
- 6: White Dwarf 228 (UK), Dogs of War, Lorenzo Lupo, pg. 44