New Wormwood Culture -- a detailed look at the Cathedral

[Steve Conan Trustrum]

I never got around to finishing this section, and there are things I'd like to go back and change, but there's still a lot here to work with.

The Cathedral and the Light
The last remaining great religion of Wormwood - that of the Cathedral - was the only creed to survive the era of purging which assailed humanity with the coming of the Host. Their [the Host's] arrival marked the beginning of The Great Tribulation, the apocalyptic final battle between good and evil.
The Cathedral began as one of the planet's largest religions and with the arrival of the Dark it was able to assert its control over human society. By providing the hope and moral center that the people needed to fight back, the Cathedral became the focal point for mankind’s resistance against the darkness. Adding this power to that which they already possessed, that of being the main constructors and molders of buildings and defenses, the Cathedral was soon granted increasingly greater power as the noble bodies and governments began to collapse.
Soon the military also came under the sway of the church; the Synod saw the Cathedral as the only way to retain what little power remained to it and so it too abdicated in order to survive. In this moment of transition the Cathedral’s traditional military power, that of the Knightly orders of the Temple and Hospital, flourished as the disintegrating and outmoded noble class spent the last of their wealth and called in all favors owed them to ensure their entrance into these final two vestiges of the old ways. In was only a matter of a few short decades before the feudal nobility had disappeared and the Cathedral was recognized throughout the entire human controlled territories as the supreme ruling order and the only salvation of mankind.
Thus has the Cathedral ruled for over a thousand years, struggling to keep mankind safe from evil. However, this eternal vigilance against the evil without has caused this once moral institution to become befouled. While such corruption has always existed (as it does in any such large organization), the Cathedral is filled, at both high and low levels of authority, with men and women who consider their own personal power base as more important than mankind’s well-being.
Hiding behind the cross and the name of the Light, these foul persons are nearly, if not equally, as bad as the Host with which some have even gone so far as to make alliances. These corrupt powermongers would rather let the innocent masses die than risk the precious resources upon which their power is built so long as such decisions cannot be traced back to them. This selfishness is reflected within the hierarchies of both the Cathedral and human society at large (as seen on page 52 of Wormwood™). In both cases, over a millennia of manipulation and oppression has created a system of social stratification and bureaucracy that has made clear to all parties who is on top and who is on the bottom.
This is not to say that the entire Cathedral is corrupt and evil, far from it in fact. Most priests of the Cathedral are true servants of Light who wish only to see what is best for their people. However, a good many of even these well intentioned (and good aligned) priests have fallen under the sway of the Cathedral's idea of social superiority, thinking that what is best for the people is that which the church wills. While still wanting and trying to help the commoners, the majority of these uncorrupted priests still feel that they are superior than the people they seek to aid and thus should be followed and respected ... for the betterment of the people, of course.
Of those few worldly priests that are humble and have seen the corruption eating at the heart of the once great Cathedral, almost all have realized that to speak out would more likely than not cause their own branding as heretics. Though surely not a solution, these priests have compromised by doing all that they can for the people while fighting the evils of the Host and the Cathedral alike whenever possible. Both this corruption and the constant assaults of the Host have taken its toll on the once-solid morality of the Cathedral, weakening it near to breaking though it remains strong in the eyes of the general populace.
It should be noted that although there are no records of the exact reason or time of the Cathedral's creation, many scholars believe that it (and the influence of Earth society upon Wormwood) are to be found within dimensional travel. A common but unproven theory is that a rift that affected both time and space must have brought humans from Earth to Wormwood at one point. These humans, displaced in time, arrived on Wormwood over a thousand years before the coinciding time of their departure from their own dimension. Somehow, the religions of these dimensional refugees became the varied theologies of Wormwood, adapted to a planet that had never known a Christ or a Garden of Eden. From that time onward these human transients were incorporated into the population and their religion spread, adjusting and evolving into the Cathedral and worship of Light that is known today.
Some supporting evidence to this theory (or one of its many variations) is the use of common symbols, terminology and methods between Earth and Wormwood. For example, the Cathedral uses the cross as its main symbol and yet it does not recognize anyone named "Jesus Christ" or his crucifixion. If there was no crucifixion, why then use the cross as a holy symbol? Further similarities can be found within the forms that the priests shape their homes and places of worship: they resemble the gothic and medieval architectures of Europe more than anything that could have developed on its own on Wormwood.
Though no truth can be found behind this or any other theory, it is one of the most commonly accepted amongst the historians and scholars best qualified to debate such things. Among the Cathedral itself, however, such theories are seen as heresy and blatant lies! The Cathedral denies that it is derivative of any other religion, alien or native, and has devoutly decreed that it has always been the one true word, hence the inevitable collapse of all the other faiths of Wormwood’s past. Regarding the similarities between the Cathedral and the Christian following of Earth, the Cathedral has only to say that yes, it is an amazing coincidence, but a coincidence none the less.

The Saving Grace of the Light
The direction of the Cathedral's teachings and belief system is fairly simple. The Cathedral worships the "Light", an all-encompassing energy of good and prosperity. The Light is not seen as a conscious entity but instead as a universal constant that both radiates and seeks goodness throughout the megaverse.
In constant opposition to the Light are the forces of evil, symbolically represented by darkness. Just like real darkness, this evil is constantly trying to quench the Light and smother it within the folds of its own encompassing depths. In order to stop this, the Cathedral teaches that each man, woman and child must act with good will and kindness in their hearts, accepting the Light and acting as sources from which the Light can radiate and battle the darkness.
Unlike most other dogmatic and structured faiths, that of the Cathedral exists without any formal scripture that proclaims the boundaries of the belief system as being the voice of a power from on high. Instead there are texts written by various saints, prophets, priests and wise men from the centuries gone by. These texts try to interpret the nature of the Light and its role in the universe, as well as the relations of man’s spiritual and physical being to both. From these texts the priests teach the values and wisdom to be found within the Light and the benefits that can be derived from a life devoted to good. Referred to as the Tombs of Luminescence, this collection of tablets, scrolls and books are as close as the Cathedral gets to any official Sacred Writ.
One of the most famous and well read of these texts is the book entitled Ages Of Darkness which was written by a Knight of the Hospital, Sir Germaine Doerfath, over 1,500 years ago. Sir Doerfath, a much decorated knight and self-proclaimed prophet, declared that "An Age of Darkness ... the Great Tribulation" would come. During this time, wrote the knight, darkness and light would clash like never before, ravaging both the body and soul of Wormwood and its inhabitants. The prophecy continues to say that one of the two, Light or Dark, would be utterly destroyed in the inevitable, final conflict. Sir Doerfath was mysteriously killed in his sleep before he could complete this text but, upon the arrival of the Unholy, the truth of his previously cryptic words were revealed. Two hundred years after the Hosts' arrival on Wormwood, Sir Doerfath was sainted and his book of prophecy became one of the Cathedral's most cherished volumes.
Likewise, there are no strict codes or commandments of behavior and belief attached to this religion but there have been several "sins" which have been decrypted from the Tombs of Luminescence and are generally accepted by the priests and populace. These sins are as follows:

• Worldly pleasure, especially in excess, opens oneself to want which in turn leads to temptation and corruption by the Dark.
• To join the Forces of the Dark or to walk its paths is to betray humanity.
• To betray humanity is to betray the Light.
• To betray the Light is to kill your soul.
• To kill your soul is to leave your body an empty shell. The mercy of death should be granted to these lost souls if salvation is not possible.
• To lose self-control is to lose yourself in the dark.
• The priests of the Cathedral represent the face and mind of the Light and the High Priests represent its core and essence.

These sins have been twisted and used by the corrupt elements within the Cathedral on more than one occasion to brand anyone who opposes them as heretics.

Saints
Of the few individuals that have proven their great devotion to the cause of humanity and the Cathedral (though the former is often held secondary to the latter) time and again, the status of sainthood is bestowed. Those that are proposed for sainthood must have a Priest of Light, at least of Abbot ranking, petition the Cathedral. The current Primarch and the First Circle judge each petition and if the person is deemed worthy, sainthood is granted.
To be sainted means that the worthy's name will be entered into the Cathedral's book of saints, known as the "Canon of the Blessed", as well as gaining the recognition and fame that goes with this holy status. Icons are also often made of those that have been sainted, kept by those that feel a kinship to the saint's cause and canon. A saint can depend on being offered shelter by the people as well as discounts or free items from those who recognize him and his revered status as the people will see him as a living representation of the Light and all it embodies.
Sainthood is rarely conferred solely for reasons of political gains, not for lack of trying, but because the sainting of someone who is not worthy would rouse anger and suspicion in the people. A saint must be someone that has performed a deed(s) that is recognized both by the Cathedral and commoners as selfless and great for the cause of mankind and the Light.
This is not to say that those who confer sainthood upon the heroes of the people are not gaining political power, far from it in fact. By making a saint of a recognized hero the Cathedral is gaining favor and support from the masses and so the Patriarch and High Priests get the secondary benefit of more power. However, it is not uncommon for the Cathedral to be forced to recognize the sainthood of a hero that is loved and hailed by the people despite the saint having discovered the corruption in the Church and working against it in order to return that holy organization to purity. In such instances, the High Priests recognize that to deny sainthood to such a highly visible person, despite working against their ultimate goals of power, would be too harmful to their support with the commoners.

Priestly Duties
The roles and duties of the Priests of Light are as varied as they are important (for the most part). When most think of the priests of the Cathedral, they think of the men and women that sing the psalms or lead the holy ceremonies in church even though the majority of the priests in reality fill other roles. Most common among these roles is that of servant, either the in community by working prayers to help work the fields or maintain the buildings and water or within the Church itself by fulfilling bureaucratic duties. Some priests are also assigned to the houses of nobles or landowners that control the destiny of commoners are other resource of worth to the Cathedral.
These “house priests” as they are known, help to fulfill the noble's will so long as it does not contradict that of the Cathedral or the priests personal morals (whatever they may be). A house priests duties normally consist of casting prayers to alter the household to suit the noble families whims, healing the family members (and possibly the noble's commoners, if the priest is allowed or so inclined) and other such tasks. Only the most important of nobles and landowners have more than one house priest at a time, not counting any Acolytes that may be assigned for training.
Of further note are those many priests that serve with mankind's armies to wage war upon the Dark. Such priests cast their prayers against the enemy or upon their own troops as well as participating themselves in the combat and by boosting morale.

Church Hierarchy
An organization as large and branched as the Cathedral necessarily requires the use of ranks within its vast structure. There are two distinct command structures within the Cathedral: that which belongs to its militant arms, such as the Knightly Orders (which are detailed elsewhere), and that which belongs to its spiritual, or priestly, portion.

Primarch (High Priest): From upon a gilded throne within the palatial Cathedral of Golden Light, the Cathedral's most holy of churches, the Primarch extends his hand of power across the lands of humanity. The word of the Primarch is law within the lands of man and it is his will that determines the direction that both the Cathedral and humanity shall take. Many times in the past millennia this ultimate power has corrupted the Patriarch, causing him or her to lead for their own personal glory instead of for the benefit of mankind.

Cardinal (High Priest, Choir Primus): The Cardinals are the most trusted advisors of the Primarch and it is upon their shoulders that the responsibility of maintaining the Cathedral's power within the cities of humankind falls. Only the largest of human cities have a member of the Choir Primus in them as only such communities warrant their influence and control. Most Cardinals come from families with a long history within the Cathedral and many are also of noble blood.
Several times a year, all of the Cardinals gather to discuss the most vital of issues. Such important issues include the overall war effort, events of great spiritual repercussion, and the Cathedral’s goals (at least those that may be spoken openly) for the next year. It is among the more common, smaller gatherings of a few Cardinals and their cliques of influence where corruption propagates and plots are hatched. While not all High Priests are corrupt, even those that work for the benefit of the masses must recognize the need for political machinations and dealing in order to get their will done within the vast and cumbersome bureaucracy of the Cathedral as a whole.
A Cardinal may be recognized by the golden amulet that hangs about his neck. Shaped like a burst of light sprouting from the jewelry's center, contained within two concentric gilded circles. Only the most ignorant person would not recognize the Choir Primus' seal and the power that it represents.
The highborn Matthew Pentecost is the unofficial head of the Choir Primus and is most likely to be named the next Primarch.

Bishop (High Priest, Choir Secundus): The Choir Secundus has been given the task of maintaining order and a Cathedral presence within communities that are of importance but do not warrant a the presence of a Cardinal. It is also with the Bishops that the priests of lower status have the most interaction. Most Choir Secundus members rise from minor noble or lower origin but possess such great ability and devotion - and sometimes they are just well connected - that they have risen above their birth. However, very few Bishops not of the higher ranks of nobility ever rise beyond the Choir Secundus, truly making their ambition limited within the power elite of the Cathedral.
Bishops may be recognized by their amulet that appears as a burst of light sprouting from the piece's center, much like that of the Choir Primus except that it is crafted from imported silver and lacks the two circles.
Reverend Brother of Light: Reverend Brothers must rise to the task of leading major Cathedral services within communities without a High Priest and/or also act as advisors on military matters, depending upon which area the Reverend’s particular talents and aptitudes falls. A further important duty of the Reverend Brothers of Light is the leading of smaller communities and the collecting of tithes to be passed on to his superior in the nearest city. Many Reverends have earned their high station through hard work and devotion, for good or for ill, but a frighteningly high number have come by their position through political maneuvering or by benefit of birth alone.
It is within this rank of the Cathedral's organization where corruption is most common as it is filled with priests that have either just attained power or who are aspiring to climb upwards into the High Priesthood. Usually more concerned with maintaining the power that they have just earned or with attaining yet more, it often takes a while for the newly promoted Reverend to learn the intricacies of politics and the skill of concealing any illicit goals that he may have.

Abbot: These priests often assist Reverends during major ceremonies while leading many of the daily rituals themselves. They also assist or even lead church forces in combat if they prove to be capable warriors. Comprised of priests that usually have a fairly even mix of ability and experience, Abbots are trained to weather the field of battle and the hardships of existence on the front line or on the frontier. Females are referred to as ‘Abbess’.
Of those truly devoted Abbots that catch the eye of their superiors and are offered promotion to that of a Reverend Brother of Light, many refuse, choosing instead to serve where they feel they are most needed. The few battle chaplains that attain this rank are usually placed in positions of command or are summoned to train new battle chaplains or common priests in the ways of war.

Canonicus: A Canonicus, or "Brother" as they are more commonly called (Canoness or “Sister” if female), are the most common of the Priests of Light. They serve in both the churches and the communities of man, making them visible and accessible to nobility and commoners alike. Priests of this rank often perform supplementary duties in combat, act as scribes and archivists or as house priests to the nobles. These are the men and women that keep the Cathedral organization operational for without them there would not be enough priests to maintain its bureaucracy and power monopoly.
The majority of these servants of Light serve in their chosen or assigned role for their entire life, rarely moving higher in the Cathedral’s hierarchy due to choice or circumstance. Few battle chaplains ever rise above this rank.

Acolyte: Raw and untested, Acolytes have not yet proven themselves worthy of joining the priesthood of Light as fully initiated members. Acolytes study under the tutelage of experienced Brothers and Abbots, serving the community in either a church, the field or as an assistant to a house priest. The latter role is almost always reserved for Acolytes that are themselves of noble blood and in such cases the privileged initiate’s training is usually just a formality rather than a necessity.

Inquisitor (special): Existing outside the formal bounds of the Cathedral’s chain of command, Inquisitors are a mysterious and feared lot. All Inquisitors are selected by the Inquisition’s leaders after a careful, secretive screening process that often involves keeping a close eye on the Inquisitor-to-be for a year or two as well as a thorough background check and examination of his or her associates.

The Inquisition
Existing since almost 500 years before the Host's arrival, this secretive and much-feared organization was originally formed to root out an evil cult that had dug itself into human society. This foul group had flourished for centuries, slowly imbedding itself deep within the nobility, Cathedral and the other religions which still existed at that time. Not able to trust the Knights - many of whom were descended from nobility - or even their own priests, the few High Priests that truly remained loyal to the Light gathered together and pondered their situation.
Seeing no other solution, these High Priests developed several methods by which to test the loyalty of their underlings without betraying their true intentions or interests. After the initial testing, the High Priests were shocked to find that very few between the knights and priests were 100% trustworthy as defined by their lofty standards. This is not to say that the knights and priests were evil, just that the High Priests were unable to determine where the loyalty of those men and women was for the Cathedral alone.
Afraid to trust anyone whom they had so much as a niggling doubt about, the High Priests gathered into their confidence many of the priests and warriors who passed the tests. These men and women had such high devotion to the Light (and more importantly, to the Cathedral) that it could be considered zealotry. Making these zealots their spies, the High Priests sent these few worthies out to weed the “traitors” and “heretics” from the Cathedral’s ranks. Because it was highly likely that a church court could be as corrupted by this burrowing evil as were the defendants themselves, the loyal followers of the Light granted their secret agents the power and authority to interrogate, torture, judge and carry out sentences against heretics. Thus was the Inquisition born.
The servants of this terrible force for supposed holy righteousness spread their reach through all levels of human society, seeking out demonic and dark influence (real and imagined) within the hearts of their fellow man, purging any who were corrupted. As their quest for purity and redemption gained more steam, whether it is desired or even necessary or not, the inquisitors gained increasing levels of power until they were finally granted the authority to judge the very topmost levels of the Cathedral itself if such a need ever arose.
Unfortunately, the Cathedral, lost within the necessity to hold the creeping darkness at bay, had unknowingly planted the seeds of a far greater corruption. Heady with its sweeping authority, the Inquisition would come to be as feared by humanity as is the Host.

The Inquisition of Today
Having evolved beyond the intentions of its origins, the modern Inquisition still contains the most zealous and loyal of the Cathedral’s servants. These agents of purity are feared by commoner and priest alike because to even become suspect by the Inquisition is to be one step away from death. And, like the Cathedral itself, the Inquisition has not weathered the passage of time without becoming corrupted by the absolute authority that it wields.
The identities of most of the Inquisition’s operatives are public except for the covert agents seeded throughout the Cathedral and behind enemy lines. The activities of some inquisitors, such as Ezykiel Dominus, have reached such well-known proportions that merely mentioning their name will cause a shiver to crawl up the back of the most steadfast of the Light’s adherents, but most don’t make a habit of announcing their occupation so that they may retain some manner of anonymity, allowing them to act without being easily recognized on the streets. In fact, it is common practice for inquisitors who are “on the job” to wear concealing hoods or facial masks, further enhancing the atmosphere of suspicion and fear that they already radiate.
The Inquisition is separated into two separate orders: the redeemers and the magistrates. Redeemers are Priests of Light chosen for their extreme loyalty to the Cathedral - most are fanatic who will gratefully lay down their life for the Cathedral and the Inquisition’s secretive leaders. It is the duty of the redeemers to seek out heretics and spies of Darkness (or anyone who happens to get in the way of the Cathedral) using whatever means are deemed as necessary. Once a heretic worthy of the Inquisition's attention is suspected (proof need not necessarily be evident), the redeemer sends for a magistrate to capture the target so that his "testimony" may be heard. They accomplish this by carrying out painful inquests that attain a desired confession more often than they extract the truth.
Magistrates are the field agents, police and highly trained spies of the Inquisition. They come from all walks of life, though most are of a warrior bent, and are responsible for capturing suspected heretics and for carrying out any sentence ordered by a presiding Redeemer. A magistrate’s duties also include shadowy missions for the Inquisition and the High Priests who sit as its head. Such operations include spy hunts, assassinations, “roughing up” dissidents, and providing protection for secret Cathedral bases and projects. When not under direct orders from their superiors or a redeemer, magistrates are expected to seek out and report heretics and to act under their own initiative against enemies of the Cathedral.
Reporting directly to the controlling High Priests are the two Lords of the orders. The redeemers are headed by the Lord Justice and the magistrates by the Lord Executioner. Chosen by the Primarch and the illustrious members of the Choir Primus, these two Lords take all information gathered by their agents and report it to the Cardinals once a month. While there is the rare occasion where the Primarch or Cardinals summon and give orders directly to a valued agent, standard practice is to give the missions to the Lords and let them assign which agents they like. Additionally, the very nature of the Inquisition demands that they also have unknown agents in place to monitor the unwitting Primarch and Cardinals to ensure their loyalty as the do with the rest of the Cathedral. This leaves the Lords with an immensely impressive power base with which to pursue their own designs.
New members may be admitted into the Inquisition only with the support and patronage of a current member in respected standing. Proposed new additions are watched very carefully for at least a year, during which time the candidate’s worthiness is determined. Following this period of scrutiny and their acceptance of the offered position, each new Inquisitor is given a small resin badge bearing the mark of the Inquisition, representing the full, frightening authority of the agent’s position.
While the Inquisition once served a noble purpose (brutal though their methods may have been) and did indeed save the infected Cathedral, they have grown just as, if not more so, corrupt as the Cathedral itself. Few Inquisitors hold the Light in greater standing than the Cathedral anymore, most believing that the power of the church should be absolute before all else. Those who still naively believe they serve the Light's true will are manipulated by the Cardinals and Lords of the Inquisition so that their religious zealotry will serve the Inquisition's power-heady will.
Today, those High Priests possessing influence with the Inquisition use them as spies and assassins, not only upon the Forces of Darkness, but on their own people as well. For an organization which is only as pure as those who control it, the present Inquisition is a festering parasite that is eating its way into the heart of the Cathedral.
Any member of the Inquisition who seeks to leave its service, and there have been a number of them over the centuries, are instantly branded as traitors and charges of heresy are quickly leveled (fabricated) against them. These inquisitors-turned-heretics are hunted relentlessly and killed on sight without a hearing or chance to explain themselves.

The Military
Existing outside of the priesthood of the Cathedral though largely under its control, the military is comprised of the knightly orders of the Temple and the Hospital as well as by the common soldiery. There are also forces of mankind and their allies that fight the Host but are not affiliated with the Cathedral in any way, but it is the militant arm of the Cathedral that is the largest such force for mankind and it is recognized by the masses as humanity’s best hope for salvation.
Leading the military is the Synod, a council that is headed by the Lord General who is in turn aided and advised by a circle of ten Deputy Generals, both Grand Knights, and one Cardinal who acts as the Primarch’s voice and representative. Ultimately, as the individual in command of the Cathedral, and thus in essence of the human civilization of Wormwood, the Primarch can countermand any order or decision of the Synod though such an extreme event is rare though growing in frequency. In every instance of the Primarch exercising his veto power through his Cardinal representative, the Synod’s bitterness over “backbench opinions” and “armchair generals” has grown, leading to a growing schism that may one day result in a careless mistake that could be strategically disastrous or, at worst, a bring about a military coupe.

The Common Soldier
Most warriors in the service of the Cathedral’s military have been drilled as soldiers, either by the Church itself or by some outside militant order. Soldiers in active service are given a basic outfitting, including simple weapons, armor, and any additional equipment required of their specialty, such as horses or motorcycles for qualified cavalry troops. However, beyond these rudimentary staples of a soldier it is up to the individual warrior to maintain and improve upon his equipment and weapons (in fact, those with resources of their own often prefer their own equipment initially to that which is provided). Each soldier is fed by the Cathedral while posted to duty and is either billeted in a barracks or tent city or allowed to stay within their own home if it is within a few miles of the post.
The weak are quickly weeded out from the strong as few units can be spared to be permanently stationed at “soft” posts, such as garrison duty deep in human controlled territory, thus ensuring that raw recruits rapidly become seasoned veterans. Still, even on a world as battle-wracked as Wormwood, there remain those soldiers who have relatives in positions of influence who manage to keep them from anything remotely resembling danger and sometimes enough of these spoiled aristocrats are gathered to form an entire unit of slackers who survive off of the work and bravery of true warriors. However, by and large the Cathedral’s army is one of fighting men and women who are willing to fight against the darkness until their dying breath.

The Chain of Command

Officers
There are essentially two ways to become an officer in the army of the Cathedral: earn it by means of valor and gallantry or buy it with influence and political power, typically out of a sense of family tradition rather than any desire to help their fellow man. The latter type of officer constitutes slightly more than half of the officers currently serving in the army and although many eventually do learn to be "real" soldiers after facing their fair share of combat face to face, far more will forever be pompous and useless peacocks who will only ever see the warriors serving them as expendable resources to be wasted on their ill-thought strategies.
An officer is expected to provide his own mount, equipment, armor and weaponry if they want anything beyond the standard fare afforded the common soldiery. Luckily, many of the officers that rise from the ranks rather than gaining their rank by virtue of who they know soon find other officers to sponsor them and give them aid, advice and resources.. Furthermore, officers who both sincerely care about their troops and possess the means will usually take it upon themselves to improve the weapons and gear of the soldiers serving him. It is by means of such concern for the welfare of the their soldiers on the part of their commanding officers that most of the Cathedral’s elite units have been forged.

Lord General: There is only one lord general at a time as he or she is the leader of the Synod which provides him with council. However, it is the word of the lord general that makes or breaks a command from this body of leaders unless doing so would go against an expressed order from the Primarch.

Grand Knight (special): Both the Orders of the Temple and Hospital are lead by a single grand knight that takes responsibility for all major decisions pertaining to his order. Existing outside of the official chain of command represented by the Synod because of their direct attachment to the Cathedral’s structure, the grand knights hold the official rank of senior generals and need only answer to the Primarch. Not even the lord general can command the grand knights to change the policies of their orders or to do something against its ideals and traditions. In such cases, the grand knights can use their divine authority as heads of holy orders of knights to veto the lord general's orders although such circumstances are rare and in most cases they will defer to the head of the Synod and the over all strategy and authority that he represents.
Note: The leaders of a secular orders of knights do not possess the same station or influence as do those of the Hospitallers or Templars as they have no formal association with the Cathedral. As such, these commanders only wield the authority granted them by their official rank and standing (if any) in the orthodox military.

Lord Knight (special): A lord knight is either a Templar or Hosptialler that officially holds the rank of senior general, general or commander but is answerable only to superior lord knights, grand knights or the Synod. Because of the divine power of their order they can sometimes even overrule the orders of non-knights of higher rank, though it is done only in the most unusual of circumstances.

Deputy General: Deputy generals act as advisors to the lord general and each commands several legions, commonly all of which have been stationed in the same region. A typical deputy general is more of a bureaucrat and politician than soldier and many consistently allow their personal greed and ambitions to overrule their better judgement and the needs of the men.

General: Every legions is lead by a general, some of whom have never seen combat from the front lines or have been away from actual battle so long that their decisions are no longer on the pulse of the war. Fortunately, there are enough generals who still know how to fight a proper war to stop humanity from being defeated by the incompetence of their fellows.

Commander: A commander holds the responsibility of leading a regiment or “special” company that has been detached from the standard order of battle, for whatever reason. It is at this level of the chain of command that most leaders begin to detach themselves from the needs of their men and the best interests of mankind; it is often only the traditional sense of honor and belonging associated with the regiments that keeps commanders from becoming like the bureaucratic officers to whom they answer..

Prefect: Companies fall under the command of a prefect who must take on the responsibility of juggling the resources and needs required for the diverse units under his command. Aside from leading his company, a prefects often find themselves placed in command of "special projects" (such as expeditions to other dimensions) or cells of resistance deep within enemy held territory.

Captain: Placed in command of platoons, captains must divide their attention and resources between the various cadres (usually four) under his command. Almost all captains have fought have personally bloodied their swords in combat as only the most influential families can purchase commissions as captains without first being a lieutenant to gain experience. Captains are also the officer type most likely to be placed in rear echelon type duties, such as commandants of training or supply camps and many of the "paper-pushing" jobs that require the authority of command. A further role for captains that have shown an especially quick and capable mind is that of independent intelligence operatives.

Lieutenant: Like far too many officers, a good number of lieutenants did not rise from the ranks but were granted their rank by virtue of their power and/or resources. Given control over a single cadres, a smart lieutenant will listen to his sergeant-at-arms who has almost certainly seen more combat than he. In those instances where there are more lieutenants than available cadres, these surplus officers are either given the title of "second lieutenant", taking the position of a sergeant-at-arms and given control of a squad, or they are sent to fill rear echelon, bureaucratic positions.
All Templars and Hospitallers are automatically granted the rank of lieutenant upon their knighting.

Enlisted Men

Sergeant-At-Arms: Commonly recognized by all as the first step to becoming an officer, almost all sergeants-at-arms have proven their valor time and again on the battlefield. Command of squads are given to these men and women and are used by lieutenants as advisors (especially as most inexperienced lieutenants have not had to be brought up through the ranks and were made officers due to their social station). For most lowborn soldiers, sergeant-at-arms is the highest they can hope to rise within the ranks of the Cathedral. Sergeants-at-arms, recognized as possibly the most experienced and hardened of the Cathedral's soldiers, are also often given the role of instructors.

Corporal: This rank is bestowed on those who have proven themselves worthy in battle, capable of keeping themselves alive (by skill or luck, time has not yet shown). Corporals are used by to keep the rookies and none too bright soldiers alive during combat and are granted command of a section if they have proven themselves capable.

Man-At-Arms: Most men and women of this rank have just joined the military branch of the Cathedral and are still fairly raw and unskilled. They are common soldiers that fill out the ranks of the army of Light. However, there are a significant amount of men-at-arms that are seasoned veterans that have been busted down in rank (whether deserving or not) and are more skilled than even some Captains. Men-at-arms are commonly just referred to as "soldier".

Squire (special): Squires are knights in training and are indentured to an existing knight who will train him. In return for this training and eventual knighthood (if the squire proves himself worthy) the squire maintains his knight's mount, weapons and equipment as well as other, similar duties.

Order of Battle (OB)
Every army lives and breathes by its structure and order. The military structure of the Cathedral and its militant branches will seem foreign and confusing, sometimes even backwards, to those who are familiar with the military terminology and OB of other worlds.

Legion: The legion is purely a bureaucratic extension of the military, existing only to stabilize the top levels of the OB. Each legion always has four regular companies within it with two additional supply platoons and a command cadre to act as the general's staff. These additional units bring the total number of men normally in a legion to eighteen hundred forty eight. Each legion is labeled numerically in order.
Cavalry, artillery and some other legion types are different from the norm in that each legion usually only eight hundred sixty four men plus the unofficial units mentioned above.
4,000 men

Regiment: Each company is always made of three regular regiments and is lead by a commander. These commanders are almost always insensitive to the needs of his individual regiments, some of which may not even be posted within a hundred miles of each other. For the most part, the company is for bureaucratic purposes more than anything else, as its regiments are not often stationed together. Each company is labeled in alphabetical sequence.
Aside from the official company regiments, an additional supply platoon, medical platoon and command squad are attached at the company level. These additional units bring the total number of men normally in a company to five hundred forty.
Cavalry, artillery and some other company types are different from the norm in that each regiment normally only has two hundred sixteen men plus the unofficial units mentioned above.
1,000 men

Company: Commanded by a prefect, the regiment is that unit within the OB where the most unit loyalty, honor and spirit are to be found. It is at the regimental level where flexibility of structure and unit type ends, with only uniformity existing in the larger units. It should be noted that within the Orders of the Hospital and Temple there are no units higher than those at the regimental level.
Each regiment contains at least three regular platoons, meaning that each regiment is normally comprised of one hundred forty four fighting men. Unlike units of smaller size, regiments are not labeled in numerical order, instead bearing a number up to three digits long that will not be held by any other regiments in the entire army, including those of different companies. Each regiment takes great pride in its unit history, tradition and honor, defending each with their lives. To represent this regimental history and pride, each regiment takes it upon themselves to take an unofficial name that speaks of their achievements as well as adopting some symbol that reflects their nature. This symbol, known as the regiment's "colors", are added to all regimental medals, patches and other means of identification such as tabards and flags mounted upon motorcycles or steeds and are also carried into battle on banners and flags. Because it is so common for regiments from different companies to be stationed at the same post friendly (and not so friendly) rivalries are common between regiments, even between those regiments of the same company.
Aside from the official regimental platoons, an additional supply squad as well as medical and command sections are attached to the regiment. These additional units bring the total number of men normally in a regiment to one hundred sixty-eight.
Cavalry, artillery and some other regiment types are different from the norm in that each regiment normally only has seventy-two men plus the unofficial units mentioned above.

Phalanx: A platoon is commanded by a captain who must look at the big picture of the actions his troops are involved in, relying upon his subordinate officers to help maintain order at the lower levels of command. Each platoon normally adds a bit of personal flavor to its regimental colors and may sometimes take on an additional name (or is assigned one by the other platoons in their regiment). These additions will be small so as not to detract from the honor and tradition of the regiment, but striking enough to show the cadre's individuality and personal pride.
Aside from the regular cadre, of which there are usually two, an additional command section is attached to the platoon to help the captain with the bureaucratic necessities of command and to act as guards during battle. This command section brings the total number of men normally in a platoon to fifty-four. Platoons are labeled numerically.
Cavalry, artillery and some other platoon types are different from the norm in that each platoon normally only has twenty-four men plus the unofficial command section.

Cadre: A cadre is under the command of a lieutenant and normally comprises two squads of twenty-four men each, though there are instances where a cadre will have three squads. Also, one of the members of each cadre is a priest of light whose job it is to help the soldiers in combat and act as healer to the assigned troops. Cavalry and some other special cadres are different from the norm in that each cadre is usually made of twelve men. Cadres are labeled in numerical order right through the platoons with those in the second (and greater) platoons picking up where the numbers left off in the first platoon.
Cavalry, artillery and some other platoon types are different from the norm in that each platoon normally only has twelve men plus the unofficial command section.

Squad: Lead by a sergeant-at-arms, each squad usually contains at least four sections, though sometimes a fifth or even a sixth may be added. Each squad has at least twenty-four men and is labeled in numerical order through the regiment's platoons, picking up where they left off in the previous cadre and platoon. Cavalry, artillery and some other special squads are different from the norm in that each squad is usually made of only six men split between two sections.

Section: A section is the smallest official unit of the Cathedral military and is made up of six men each. A corporal commands each section. Sections are labeled alphabetically with the section containing the squad's sergeant-at-arms always being "Section A".

"Unofficial Unit" Note: Those additional units that are attached to a larger force are labeled as per the type of unit at which level they exist, no matter their actual size. For instance, both supply platoons and the command cadre attached to each legion are still labeled as companies despite being of platoon and cadre size. Such units always take the last designations with the command being the very last. So, in the above example where there are four normal sized regiments ("A", "B", "C" and "D") in the company, the supply platoons would be known as "E Company" and "F Company", respectively, while the command cadre would be "G Company".

Unit Types

Riflemen: Is comprised of foot soldiers armed with muskets and the odd other-dimensional weapon such as laser or assault rifles. Riflemen are a fairly recent addition to the Cathedral's OB, having only been added as an official unit within the past two hundred years, so there is no danger of them phasing out archer units any time soon. The very best riflemen are known as “marksmen” and are often assigned together into small units (usually squads) where they act as snipers and elite troops.
Riflemen normally form themselves into multiple ranks with the front rank kneeling so that the second can fire over their heads while they reload. Of course, when suitable cover can be found the riflemen are smart enough to disregard this formation in favor of using the concealment and protection available unless otherwise ordered by commanders who subscribe to the old school of battle..

Infantry: The mainstay of the Cathedral's forces, the infantry are foot soldiers armed with a variety of melee and missile weapons. Light infantry wear a minimum of armor and keep their weaponry and equipment to a minimum, choosing flexibility, agility and speed over brute firepower. Contrariwise, heavy infantry wield bulky armor and weapons and prefer to use the weight of their force to crush an enemy.
Besides comprising the majority of most Cathedral units, infantry is used to anchor and reinforce cavalry charges and other such tactical maneuvers such as shielding artillery units from enemy engagement.

Cavalry: A catchall term used to describe any troops other than Templars and Hospitallers who ride a mount into battle, cavalry are the bane of the infantry. Light cavalry wield their speed and mobility like a scythe and are lightly armored and armed, usually including long range missile weapons. Heavy cavalry is the sledgehammer that is thrown against an enemy to intimidate and overwhelm an enemy position through the sheer power of their charge. Their weapons usually consist of heavy weapons such as power lances and shotguns while their heavy armor is intended to protect them against missile fire as they charge the enemy.
Cavalry units have roughly half the amount of troops that an infantry unit of the same type would have.

Blessed: At least one half of these units will be Priests of Light and/or Wormspeakers, battle chaplains, or monks, with several warriors such as holy terrors, Templars or Hospitallers added as bodyguards. Blessed units call upon their holy might and direct it against the enemy upon the field and will often be called upon to help tend to the wounded afterwards. Blessed units typically contain only half the number of troops as an infantry unit of the same type and rarely exist in units larger than a phalanx.

Artillery/Siege: An artillery unit consists of large missile throwers, such as ballista and catapults, cannons (as well as the wagons and carts to haul the weapons' equipment and ammunition), and the carpenters and smiths to keep them operational. As it is not wise to keep a valuable (and vulnerable) resource like an artillery unit by itself, these units almost always posts its smaller elements with other companies and regiments of the same legion.
Artillery units have half the amount of troops that a regular unit of the same type has.

Special: A very general term, "special units" are those that do not easily fit into any other category. For instance, a commander that has managed to get his hands on a robot suit or M.D.C. tank would not easily find a place within the standard OB and so it would be considered a special unit. Due to their odd nature, special units must be the most flexible and are often (perhaps rightly so) seen as the odd man out by other units. As a result, many soldiers assigned to special units tend to be pranksters and jokers, feeling that they must live up to the image of their unit type.
These units rarely exist at higher than cadre level and the number of troops in these units varies drastically.

Supply: Though not as glamorous or dangerous as combat units, supply units are just as essential for an army's operation. Comprised of pack animals, carts, wagons and vehicles capable of carrying heavy loads, supply units ensure that all combat personnel have the equipment, ammunition and other resources that they require to fight. Also attached to the supply units are smiths and carpenters that are required to maintain the armies. Though not meant to be used in combat, supply units are lightly armed and armored so that, should a dire situation arise, they can be used as light infantry, though their performance is usually more akin to that of an irregular unit.

Knights: Most knightly orders prefer to serve with their own and so they are almost always the majority within any unit they serve. Though there are infantry units among the knights, most prefer to fight from a mount such as a horse or motorcycle though it is not uncommon for them to leave their mount elsewhere if they believe it would be lost in a battle that would seem to be extremely thick and heavy. In such instances a mount would not almost assuredly be killed or destroyed, but could also prove a hindrance within the press of combat. Templars tend to favor heavy cavalry and infantry while the Hospitallers have view such units, instead making best use of the rapid striking capabilities of both light infantry and cavalry.
The knights view themselves as the most dangerous warriors on the field (which they often are) and usually allow this to let their egos run amok. Because of this, the rivalry between regiments becomes especially intense, and often bitter, when a unit of knights is involved.

Militia/Irregulars: Usually the weak link in any formation, militia and irregular units are made of levied citizens without any formal soldier training. Though some units are lucky enough to get some actual warriors, retired soldiers, spell caster or monks, most are just peasants that have been called upon by the Cathedral to serve a term of service. Almost all irregulars are footmen as few of them can afford a mount worthy of battle.
Most commanders use these units to soak up damage to free up "real soldiers" for more valuable positions where they can be used to their fullest. Seen as expendable amateurs, irregular and militia units are often shunned by the soldiery and are very rarely expected to successfully carry out an objective given to them.

Flyers: The rarest unit of the Cathedral's forces, a flyer unit is made entirely of soldiers capable of flight. Whether gained by natural or mystical means, the ability to fly grants any force with such a unit in its OB a distinct advantage when it comes to repelling enemy sky riders and for assaulting the enemy line from above.
These units rarely exist at higher than platoon level within the OB.

Archers: Though the title "archers" denotes the use of a bow and arrow, the archers of the Cathedral actually fill a broader spectrum as the term is used for any unit, other than riflemen, that mainly uses missile weapons. Though commonly such units do indeed use bows and resin arrows for long range, they also carry a variety of more modern weaponry such as lasers, missiles, rockets, grenade launchers and the like. However, as the latter must be brought from another dimension, most archers choose to stick to the native weapons such as TW flintlock guns and bows that are given to them by the Cathedral.
As one would expect, archers are used to rain down their missiles from a distance and then retreat when the enemy draws near. In order to do so with the best mobility and speed possible, archers tend to be lightly armored and carry as little equipment as possible. Commanders often use infantry as a screen for archers in order to give them more time to fire as well as to retreat to safety.

Medical: As may be guessed, a medical unit is made of non-combatants that stay back from the field of combat, waiting until the battle is over so that the wounded by be healed. Though there are some within these units that have the means and knowledge of bio and holistic medicine, most members of a medical unit rely upon mysticism and prayer to perform their duties or act as assistants rather than healers.
These units rarely exist at higher than platoon level within the OB.

Arcane: A valuable asset in any army, arcane units are made of supernatural beings and spell casters, as well as the rare psychic, essentially acting as magical artillery units. Such units are carefully positioned where they will do the most good to counter the dark magic of the Host and are never squandered as fodder.
These units rarely exist at higher than cadre level within the OB and usually have half the regular amount of troops.

Medals and Awards
Badge of the Holy Order: Granted to those who have proven their exceptional and unwavering courage and devotion to both humanity and the Cathedral (not necessarily in that order) under the most extreme and dangerous of circumstances. This coveted medal is bestowed by the Patriarch and usually grants the recipient his or her choice of posting as well as a promotion.
Battle Cross: A simple patch that is sown into the soldier's uniform or tabard, the Battle Cross is given to those warriors that have been wounded in combat. Many continue to add to the patch after it has been bestowed by sowing small skulls around its border.
Heart of Luminescence: "The Heart" is awarded posthumously to those Templars or Hospitallers that died in battle serving the Cathedral.
Star of Honor: This medal, though not as prestigious as the Badge of the Holy Order, is granted to those who have performed some great deed of heroism or dedication to the Cathedral. This medal is also awarded to civilians who have performed such a service but are not members of the military.
Service Patches and Medals: Some commanding officers, for purposes of morale or tradition, also give out medals or patches that are unique to their particular unit.
Kill Markers: Many of the Cathedral's warriors place markings, such as tiny skull drawings, upon their saddles or shields to denote how many of the enemy they have killed. While not officially recognized as any form of award or medal, kill markers are a good way of realizing how deadly some soldiers actually are. However, kill markers are usually only kept by the young "hotshots" so thinking that someone is not dangerous merely for lack of any kill markers could be a serious err in judgement.

[Steve Conan Trustrum]

I think there's enough demand for Wormwood material to start another book.

It DEFINATELY won't be coming from me.

[Steve Conan Trustrum]

Why?!?!

I don't want to work with them, they don't want to work with me.

Because I love Wormwood so, however, I one day hope to put out a setting that emulates the atmosphere of the game, but will have its obvious differences. I want to write a setting that captures what I like about it, but does away with all the "square peg, round hole" problems (and, of course, is different enough to avoid any issues of copyright and trademarks.)

I'm thinking of the Unisystem.