Witnesses, Pilgrims, and Chaplains

While there are many who devote their lives to the Sovereign, very few can claim to have seen him. Certainly, none remain alive who were around during his reign, however there are those who claim to have been visited by the Sovereign himself in visions. Always the story is the same, a figure cloaked in silver armour, emerges from a forest of dense green trees to deliver a message of unity. The Witness is then visited by other Witnesses, called to their location to welcome them into the fold and send them out to follow The Sovereign's Path (a metaphorical and literal journey for the Witness to travel the land giving aid wherever the Sovereign points).

It is believed that the first Witness appeared around ten years after the Sovereign's Silence. Since then, many have appeared (though today only about a thousand are known) and spread across the world. Witnesses created temples around the edges of the miasma as well as several other (usually remote) locations. There older Witnesses, and those resting from their travels, would train new generations as more were discovered.

While away from the temples Witnesses operate alone, or in groups of two or three. They often have the support of the Church but maintain a distance as allies, never taking orders from church officials. As such, it is rare but not uncommon for disagreements to occur between them and Priests of the Sovereign.

Witnesses train in various forms of melee combat, many choosing to emulate the Sovereign's own style using a large two handed blade. Witnesses pulled from a lifestyle that did not include a combative upbringing often have other Witnesses take them under their wing, or stay and train at a temple until such a time as they can competently defend themselves and others.

Aside from their martial skills, Witnesses are blessed with special power they call the Voice of the Sovereign. This can manifest in many ways, but most often gives Witnesses the ability to manipulate the world around them physically, as well as influence people and animals. There is many a story of a meek person, or even those unable to speak, suddenly gathering all attention with their speeches after becoming a Witness, or tales of children lifting objects simply by waving their hand.

People love to follow Witnesses. The most devoted of these, who follow the Witnesses everywhere they go, call themselves Pilgrims. Pilgrims are regular folk who have abandoned their lives to support one or more Witnesses while they travel The Sovereign's Path. Often this involves gathering supplies, aiding in religious ceremonies, connecting with various people in town to secure monetary assets or even simply just a place to sleep. In extreme cases, hundreds of Pilgrims can be found following a single Witness, though this is usually only found near the southern borders in war-torn territories.

Chaplains are the self appointed bodyguards of a Witness. Unlike the regular citizenry who follow as Pilgrims, Chaplains are competent warriors who defend the Witness with their lives and who's loyalty is matched only by their zealotry. Some Witnesses despise Chaplains, as they see their existence as directly antithetical to the Witnesses role as defender of the people, but Chaplains argue that a Witness cannot defend the people if they are dead, and usually follow these Witnesses anyway.