The Cearnlinthor

The Cearnlinthor are one of the Houses of St. Humakt, one of the larger, and more modern Houses. They were first formed in 1513 ST when a group of Swords attatched themselves to the Prelate of Valantia, a Galvosti at the time. The Prelate, seeing the Valantian Humakti an important ally for stability within the city, lent the hand of friendship. While the Humathi remained Humathi, they were allowed to deal freely with the Church of Nomia even though they were pagans. This small sect of death worshippers even fought in skirmishes against the northern Otkorioni, on behalf of the Valantian Galvosti.

While they remained a small group they did not have any problems with other Humathi. They were not shunned for their Galvosti connections, merely seen as other mercenary groups were - soldiers of fortune, warriors for hire, and acting as a good Humathi should. However, in 1541 ST there came an influential Sword, Ruavan Caerbhaill, who joined the cause (even going so far as to defect to the worship of the Invisible God through the Galvosti Church) for his wife, and many in her family, were of the Church of Nomia. He brought with him many followers who joined the Cearnlinthor and remained after Ruavan left.

In 1583 ST after about sixty years of vibrant activity with the Galvosti, the Chruch Prelate was forced to stop hiring the Death Cultists and declare them pagans. Unperturbed, and not particularly surprised, the Cearnlinthor continued on as a mercenary group. It eventually evolved into a House of St. Humakt.

The Cearnlinthor are more than merely a mercenary group. Like many Houses of St. Humakt, their leading council attempts to both gather members and garner political influence over Humakti cultists. There is a strong mercenary facet of the House, but it is generally a political construct using it's mercenary connections to earn money, friendships and resources.

Membership in the House is relatively easy to obtain, granting job opportunities as a merc and Cearnlinthor members often do favours for each other i.e. if your priest is a Cearnlinthor members, and you are, then you are more likely to be selected over other Humakti. Of course, if your priest is a member of the Ruam Clis house, or another House of St. Humakt, you are quite likely to be passed over in favour of someone else, so the sword is two edged. However, this does make the cult very popular in areas where a Humakti must join to have any hope of advancing within his cult. The house has been known to pressurise people into joining, to increase it's influence, and those who refuse often find themselves spending vast amounts of time polishing swords and equipment.

The House is centred in Darktaken, a village somewhat north of Valantia. Here there is a large, walled mansion, inside which live the rulers of the Cearnlinthor. Their main temple is in Valantia, however.<> The ruling council, the Linthora, is a well structured affair. There is a Head of House, currently Awal MacBale, who has two advisory Swords - one of which must be female. If these two advisors both agree they can over-rule any decision of the Head of House, but cannot formulate their own orders. Beneath the head of House is a council of five Swords. The Head of House very rarely makes any but the most important decisions, it is not for him to decide how many bastard swords to order, or which group to send on a particular mission. Instead the Head of House usually hires three (almost always non-Humakti) advisors to relay to him the details of the councils decisions, so that he is well informed at all times, but need not get involved in the difficult, tedious, day to day affairs of the House. Of course, the Head can personally attend council meetings if he wishes, but is normally busy with other matters. The council are almost continually busy with House activities - every detail is left to those five Swords to organise. As you can imagine, it is a very difficult position.

The council are responsible for selecting and voting for the advisors to the Head of House, the Head himself has no choice in the matter. In turn, the advisors must, when the time comes, select a new Head of House when the old one stands down. The new Head of House must be a Sword who has never been on the council nor been an advisor. All of these measures prevent, or are designed to prevent, corruption within the House.

Beneath the ruling body at Darktaken are the chapter houses and the House holdings (such as weaponsmiths that they own etc...).

Membership in the Cearnlintor requires basic demonstration of Humakti skills represented by testing the skills required for Swordhood and passing at least four of them. The House of St. Humakt is always looking for new members to help extend it's influence.

The bonuses of joining is, obviously, gaining the friendship of other Ceranlinthor members. In Valantia, where membership in one of the three major houses (Ruam Clis, Cearnlinthor or Wapensal) is a major boon, many southern Humakti are Cearnlinthor members. This is less true in the north. The House offers job opportunities, discounts on weaponary, armour etc... limited access to spirit magic and half price training.