#2 The Society of the Sanguine Rose
The Society of the Sanguine Rose was briefly a popular religious cult in Glymmsforge. Its charismatic and much-admired leader called himself simply ‘The Apostle’, carefully veiling his origins and identity from his disciples. The Society grew spectacularly quickly into a significant sect, based at Barfunweltz Cathedral and incorporating numerous congregations, a missionary organisation and even a crusading army.
The practices of The Society varied greatly as individual disciples expressed their faith in different ways. Some carried out acts of kindness and healing, others gathered around cemeteries to offer solace to mourners. Many preached with great fervour and passion, and some were so zealous they attempted to induct people into The Society by forced baptism; or burned to death those they deemed heretics.
A few cruel and manipulative individuals notwithstanding, the members of The Society of the Sanguine Rose were mostly well-intentioned folk who believed they had a message of hope in the face of death. Their fervour in spreading the Way of the Rose was great, and their converts many for mortals seemed strangely susceptible to the teachings of 'The Apostle.'
All this activity soon aroused the interest of the notorious vampire hunters of Glymmsforge who were deeply suspicious of the rapid growth of the sect. The vampire hunter Liesel Sommer led a small taskforce of Glymmsmen to infiltrate The Society. By great ingenuity, cunning and bravery they eventually succeeded in discerning the nature of The Apostle: that he was in fact some kind of vampire. Tragically, this discovery cost them their lives – and for some their souls – but not before they had communicated their revelation to the Anvils of the Heldenhammer.
Without delay, the Gravewalkers chamber led by Lord-Celestant Thaddeon Ven Denst was sent to persecute The Society's adherents swiftly and without mercy, creating a great many martyrs and casting down The Apostle himself. With his demise, the Society crumbled and was (foolishly) no longer deemed a threat.
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