Caelistis (3.5e Campaign Setting)/Organizations/Caim

Church of Caim
The Church of Caim is a very cruel religion. They believe that brutality and violence is the path to power over all peers and opposition. They channel the wrath of their god and ritualistically destroy large objects, such as statues or even houses. While there is some organization in the church, it is a barbaric hierarchy based on who fears who the most. The leaders usually rally their raiders and plan attacks on weaker churches, and those who don't participate usually wander Caelistis in small groups referred to as "breaks", attacking travelers and causing trouble.

=Those That Worship=

Faith: Might Makes Right
To a worshiper of Caim, there is nothing more to life than power. Specifically, power over others. If you can hurt someone else more than they can hurt you, and are willing to do so, then they should do what you tel them to. And it's a simple as that. The church functions on a barbarian hierarchy of prowess. If you are the strongest, then you become the leader of the church.

Beyond that, there is little structure. But there are things that make Caim worshipers different from any old barbarian group. They know that in the end, the strongest will always be Caim himself, wherever he may be, and that he retains his ultimate power over them. As such, there are many things considered "taboo" to them, even in their uncivilized state. All warriors must carry the sign of Caim, a black thrush, often depicted killing something.

The most significant taboo is the restriction that no warrior may use any type of bladed weapon, save for the High Priest, who has earned the right. Though many have their own theories as to why this rule was made, true historians know why. In the Age of Mortality, Caim let it be known that none but he and his apostles may use bladed weapons. This was to purposefully limit them, as he worried that one day one of his followers would actually succeed in trying to kill him.