Witch Hunter
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Witch Hunters defend the Empire (and other lands) against malign magic users.
It is the common name for members of the Templars of Sigmar, the Order of the Silver Hammer.
Contents
Hierarchy
In Liebstein's Handbook, the hierarchy of the Order is detailed, or at least so much as a Witch Hunter would be permitted to know of his own secretive Order[1d]:
- Lord Protector and/or Grand Master(s)
- Supreme Council - 12 Knights of the Inner Circle
- Chamberlain
- Witch Hunter Captains
- Witch Hunters
- Priests
- Chief Librarian and literary staff
- Sister-aids, laborers and artisans
- Cellarers and animal trainers
- Retinue - made up of an individual's followers including flagellants, zealots and the like.
History
According to Hieronymys Black, Wolfgart Krieger founded the Order of the Silver Hammer in -30 IC, having been appointed by Sigmar to defend his realm against all kinds of Magic. He formed a cabal of warriors, knowing that his task was beyond the ability of one man. [1a]
In 73 IC the new High Priest of Sigmar, Johann Helstrum becomes head of the Order. [1a]
For much of its existence the Order remained hidden. [1a]
In 1682 IC, the Order was renamed as The Holy Order of the Templars of Sigmar, when the Grand Theogonist Siebold II publicly tasked the order with defending the Empire from Chaos, daemons, heresy and magic. This was the first time citizens of the Empire were made aware of the Order's existence. [1a]
After the city is destroyed in 1999 IC, Witch Hunters descended on the ruined city of Mordheim [1a] when the Grand Theogonist commanded the Witch Hunters to go and recover the wyrdstone for Sigmar’s temple, and to kill anyone that stood in their way, including the Sisters of Sigmar - a warrior convent who could predict the future (like witches). The Captains of each Witch Hunter warband possessed an edict from the Grand Theogonist giving them divine right to proclaim heresy and snuff out the lives of anyone who might stand in their way. A Captain would often be accompanied by other Witch Hunters, a Sigmarite Warrior Priest and trained warhounds as well as an unruly mob of fanatics which may include crazed and deadly flagellants.[2]
Brother Johann Bernhardt of the Order executed the Elector Count Konrad Blutheim for Daemonology and heresy in 2011 IC. [1a]
In 2111 IC, the Grand Duke of Middenheim, a member of the Order, hanged the entire population of the town of Rotebach for heresy. [1a]
After the Great War Against Chaos in 2304 IC, Emperor Magnus the Pious decided that the Order would be more effective if the public were actually aware of its existence. Work began on the Great Temple of the Order; the Colleges of Magic are founded at the same time. [1a]
Several infamous purges were carried out in 2306 IC, known as the Year of Purges, where around 600 people were killed including a Arch Lector which also resulted in the first censor of the Order. The then Lord Protector, Otto Sprenger, was arrested, tried and executed for profane language, treason and "profound lunacy". [1a]
Induction and Training
Those who wish to enter the Order undergo various trials and tests performed beneath the Great Temple before they are granted the silver hammer and chain that marks them as a Templar of Sigmar. These tests include verification of the adepts physical hardiness, piety and spiritual purity. Should they manage to complete the initial First Mystery, they then undergo martial training. [1a]
Key Texts
The Witch Hunters thrive on old tomes of law and lore. Many are listed below:
- The Witch Hunters Handbook: a small black book that provides a concise portable summary and report on the order. [1]
- Adelman and Swydiger's Brazier and Furnace Maintenance
- Bernhardt's Treatise on the Temptations of Power by Johann Bernhardt: Since the author executed the Elector Count of Wissenland (Konrad von Bluthiem), a member of the Order must now obtain permission from the Emperor to read said book.
- Elixirs, Potions and Poultices
- Peace for the Damned by Burkhard: exhaustively details the subjugation of the undead.[1c]
- Rules and Statutes by Heironymous Black: details its namesake as well as the history of the Order. It includes the Six Holy Principles of the order.
- The Doom of King Morgrim Blackbeard: a single book in the library of the Great Temple. It is a Dwarf tome older than Sigmar and is considered a good insight into that race.
- The Liber Chaotica by Richter Kleiss: described as a well-intentioned book, special dispensation must be obtained from within the Order to read it.
- The Liber Malefic: It is an act of stupidity to read the unabridged version of this book.[1]
- The Life of Sigmar
- Valten's Expositions of the Damned
Locations
The Great Temple
The headquarters of the Witch Hunter Order is the Great Temple of Sigmar in Altdorf (not to be confused with the Cathedral of Sigmar nearby). The Great Temple was built in 1220 IC and contains space to house many Witch Hunters, with areas to train the body soul and mind as well as go about the administrative and political running of the order.[1]
Notable Witch Hunters
- Hoschenfels was said to have burned a thousand proven witches and to have banished a hundred daemons. He wrote a book which can be a boost to a Witch Hunter's faith. [8]
- Johann van Hal The Witch Hunter General is a dark and grim man, whose only enthusiasm in life is for burning those who practice magic. He is possibly the most famous of the Witch Hunters of the current age, and slew the Vampire Lord Gunther von Bloodfel and purged the haunted castle of the Reikwald. He shares the name of the ancient Necromancer Frederick van Hal and his family seek to atone for there ancestors misdeeds in service to the Order of Sigmar as Witch Hunters. He wields the Stake of Sigmar and is accompanied by the Sigmarite Priest Wilhelm Hasburg who carries the ancient tome 'The Hammer of Witches' and a staff topped with the jawbone of an ox which Sigmar used to slay an army of Skaven.[3]
- Gunther Van Hel: a possible forebear to Johann, Gunther led an army of the empire against Walach Harkon and the vampiric Blood Dragon keep.[4]
- Matthias Thulmann has fought against enemies across the empire, a violent individual he has to balance his conscience with his unforgiving duty. The man is husband to a murdered wife and father to a murdered child. He is accompanied by his less-than-hygienic companion Streng and has also been accompanied by a member of the Black Guard of Morr. Of note, they pair hunted Herr Doktor Weisch, a mad scientist who claims naive individuals seeking medical aid as subjects for his warp-stone driven experiments and leaving a trail of allies, enemies and destruction in his wake. Whilst tracking the individual they have confronted zombie hordes, Necrarch Vampires, a Necromancer, a Greater Daemon of Nurgle, hordes of Skaven, including powerful the grey seers and a Vermin Lord.[5][6][7]
- Richt Karver developed a way of torturing devotees of Slaanesh. He would give them a potion which numbs all pain, and then the absence of feeling whilst he tortured his victims would cause the masochists to confess secrets.[9]
- Victor Saltzpyre of the Ubersreik Five. [13]
Other Nations
In The Wasteland, all Witch Hunters are required to be licensed and there are clear guidelines for the conduct of witch trials. Consequently many Witch Hunters operating in the city seek their prey covertly. [10a]
Weapons and Equipment
Members of the Order are trained initially with the Bastard Sword, Dagger, Cutlass, Foil, Long Sword, Rapier, Two-handed Sword. The flintlock pistols is also considered an invaluable weapon and long guns such as the blunderbuss are also used in specific situations. More unusual weapons used include the Gudendag, Maul, Poniard and Rondel. Warhounds are highly valued and bred to subjugate heretics. [1a]
- W:TOW: Hand Weapon, Light Armour. May have: Additional Hand Weapon, Great Weapon. May have Crossbow or Handgun. May have Brace of Pistols or Pistol. May be mounted [12a] on a Empire Warhorse or Pegasus. [12b] May have Magic Items. [12a]
Gallery
Kasper von Liebenstein
Witch Hunter
Witch Hunter burning a mutant
Witch Hunter Captain
Witch Hunter from Warhammer Quest
Miniatures
A Witch Hunter
A Witch Hunter
Witch Hunter warband from Mordheim
Witch Hunter from Mordheim
Witch Hunter from Mordheim
Witch Hunter from Mordheim
Quotes
| I will burn every inhabitant of the Empire if I have to!.
~ Witch Hunter General Bernhardt van Hal.[11] |
See Also
Notes
The Great Temple in Altdorf is noted as being founded in 2304 IC on pg.7 and in 1220 IC on 8.
Sources
- 1: The Witch Hunters Handbook
- 2: Mordheim Rulebook, Needs Citation
- 3: White Dwarf 258 (UK), Needs Citation
- 4: Warhammer Armies Vampire Counts (7th Edition), pg. 46
- 5: Witch Hunter (novel) by C.L. Werner
- 6: Witch Finder (novel) by C.L. Werner
- 7: Witch Killer (novel) by C.L. Werner
- 8: Warhammer Quest, Needs Citation
- 9: The Witch Hunter's Tale (Short Story) - Tales from the Ten Tailed Cat (Anthology), Volume 2
- 10: Marienburg: Sold Down the River
- 10a: Crime and Law, pg. 39
- 11: White Dwarf 225 (UK), Mordheim, City of the Damned, Witch Hunters pg. 31
- 12: Forces of Fantasy (TOW):
- 13: Vermintide 2
