"When the sun rests, and the world is dark, and the great fires are lit, and the ale is poured into flagons, then it is time to sing sagas as the Dwarfs do. And the greatest saga is the saga of Sigmar, mightiest warrior. Harken now, hear these words, and live in hope."
- —The Legend of Sigmar
The Twin-Tailed Comet, a religious icon symbolizing the Cult of Sigmar
The Cult of Sigmar, sometimes known as the Church of Sigmar, Holy Temple of Sigmar, the Clergy of Sigmar or simply as the Sigmarite Cult, is a state-official religious organization that has dedicated their existence to administrating the worship and prayers of the Empire's patron god; Sigmar Heldenhammer. The Cult of Sigmar was founded by the wild-eyed friar Johann Helstrum in year of 73 IC, where he appeared before the masses to relate a vision that he experience Sigmar kneeling before Ulric, who then placed the crown of godhood upon his brow and took his place amongst the Old World Pantheons. Such was the popularity of this Cult that Johann became the first Grand Theogonist of the now state-official Cult of Sigmar. Ever since then, the Cult of Sigmar has steadily grown over the centuries until it has arguably become one of the most powerful religious force within the domains of the Empire, so strong that Sigmar has supplemented Lord Ulric as the Empire's new patron God of War.
As of today, the Cult of Sigmar has become an essential part in Imperial society. Nearly every city, town or village within the Empire has dedicated a portion of their wealth and land to the creation and maintenance of a Sigmarite Church, from which an official Priest of the Cult will attend to the spiritual well-beings of its citizenry, whether it be through holy words of prayer or through heroic actions and trials by combat. Due to their fanatical devotion to their Warrior God, the Cult of Sigmar demands that its followers fight all forms of evil in the world with the strength of their arms as well as their faith, with many of its priests accompanying the Empire's armies when they march off to war, following and honoring that creed. This sense of righteousness, self-determination, and holy attention from a caring but demanding God has ensured that the citizenry of the Empire is a people of strong faith, will, and unconquerable spirit.
Overview
Sigmar is the Empire, and the Empire is Sigmar. He was the founder of the Empire and its first ruler. With his ascension to godhood, he became a legendary forbear worshiped by the folk of the Empire as a stern, vengeful warrior god whose covenant with his people is to defend them as long as the principles upon which his Empire was founded upon continue to stand. This is why the people of the Empire refer to themselves as Sigmar's Folk or the Sons of Sigmar -- and why the Emperor is referred to as the Heir of Sigmar regardless of his or her ancestry or religious beliefs. Sigmar himself never claimed godhood nor immortality in his lifetime.
Indeed, he was in every sense a man of the people, fighting alongside his men on the front-line, eating their food and otherwise living much akin to them when on the march. Like many of the ancient tribesmen, Sigmar was a most devout Ulrican, and would often attribute his successes on the battlefield to the favour of the Wolf God. Ironically for a man who was Ulric's most pious servant, the Cult of Sigmar has long been in contention with the Cult of Ulric. The latter claiming the Sigmarite's heretical ways have driven the Empire from its true god, while the Sigmarites are quick to decry the Ulricans as nothing more then primitive barbarians who worships an uncaring deity. Nonetheless, this level of conflict only exists between the hardliners of each cult, and for the most part, the Cults of Sigmar and Ulric maintain a civil enough level of mutual, if unspoken, respect.
All gods are great, but it is Sigmar who is beloved above all by many in the Empire. For he walked as a man amongst them, and founded their great Empire. It is said by the citizenry of the Empire that it is Sigmar who perceived to watch over them with greater care than all the other, more distant deities. Such is this sense of vigil from a high being has ensured that the worship of Sigmar takes place throughout Imperial society, and often his faith is inseparable from daily life within the Empire.
While it is true that the other gods possess great worldly power and secular influence over the Empire, none are entwined more deeply into the very fabric of the Imperial identity than Sigmar, and it is not uncommon for his faith and followers to permeate Imperial politics and life. While other gods may possess mighty Warrior-Priests and devoted Knight Templar in their own right, the wars of the Empire are Sigmar's personal battles. And while it may be the Nobility and Emperor who declare war, it is the common man's faith in Sigmar that drives him to take up the sword and take his place amongst the battle line, and it is the word of the Warrior Priests of Sigmar that instills within him the courage to meet the horrors that seeks to overwhelm them.
The followers of Sigmar are singularly devoted to proving themselves worthy of their Lord's holy legacy and to protect his Empire from the adversaries of Men. Defence in the watchword of the Sigmarites: defence of the Empire, defence of its peoples, defence of their hearts, minds and souls. So watchful are they that the Sigmarites veer often into paranoia and superstition, always wary of Sigmar's disapproval or looking for any sign of the handiwork of those that seek to corrupt. Chaos never sleeps, so say the Men of Sigmar, and so never does the cult rest in its vigil. The favor of Sigmar allows his servants to scour his enemies from the earth.
Whether it be calling down holy fire to purge the Greenskins, scourging the undead from their dark sorcery or bringing his sanctified wrath against the terrors of the North, the powers of Sigmar has always been evident in providing a supernatural means to combat such horrific foes. Yet his true gifts to his people are those of healing and hope. His greatest mercy unto them was to unite them under the indisputable belief that they could be something more. Everyday he grants hope to his people, and pride in their noble heritage that they might summon the strength to overcome their foes, and ultimately cleanse their blood, body and soul from the dark influence of Chaos. Alongside Ulric, Sigmar watches over the Men of the Reik when they ride to war, and alongside Ulric does he bellow and roar for death and glory. And should those of the faithful die, he shall be ascended into the halls of Sigmar's realm, where he shall fight alongside him in the eternal struggle of safeguarding humanity against the ever growing threat of the Forces of Chaos
Symbols and religious Icons
- Ghal Maraz - The hammer of Sigmar, a creation of unparalleled skill and deadliness even amongst the forces of the Dwarfs who made it, is in itself as much a symbol of the God of the Empire and his cult as it is a supremely powerful weapon. A symbol of Imperial unity, and the defense of the Empire. Alongside the Twin Tailed Comet that heralded Sigmar's coming into the world, it is the most often utilized symbol of the Sigmarite cult. To this day, the hammer remains in the keep of the Emperors, brandished into battle by their very hands in the greatest conflicts the Empire has known, cleaving apart skulls and crushing bones as it did when Sigmar drove the darkness from the land millennia ago. The hammer is also a symbol of the friendship between the Empire and the Dwarf race.
- Twin Tailed Comet - The coming of Sigmar was heralded by a soaring comet that lit the night with twin tails of fire. Since then, it has become both a symbol of prophecy as well as one of the many icons of Sigmar's faith. The twin-tailed comet has appeared two other times in Imperial history, in IC 1999 over the capital of Ostermark, Mordheim, prior to its destruction when the comet crashed in the middle of the city, destroying most of the civic structures and killing a substantial portion of the population. That particular comet was given the name "Sigmar's Hammer", since it was looked on as a herald of Sigmar's will, and since it destroyed the city of Mordheim, considered the capital of sinners, gamblers, drinkers, whores, and criminals, the comet has also become an icon of imminent Sigmarite judgment. A twin-tailed comet also attended the appearance of Valten of Lachenbad in IC 2522, and he bore the image of the heavenly icon on his chest. These were looked on as largely irrefutable evidence of his status as the avatar of Sigmar.
- Imperial Cross - A long-standing symbol of Imperial unity, the top three arms stand for the northern, western, and eastern tribes of the ancient Empire, and the bottom refers to the Dwarfs, the Empire's oldest and staunchest allies. It has connotations of unity and oaths fulfilled.
- Griffon - Popular following the 24th century and the reign of Emperor Magnus I ('the Pious'). This was Magnus's personal heraldry, and has been adopted by many subsequent Emperors, most notably the 'Griffon Emperors' of Reikland. The griffon has also been adopted by the Church of Sigmar in general and by Grand Theogonist Volkmar in particular. The War Altar of Sigmar carries an ornate statue of a Griffon wielding Ghal Maraz, the emblem of Magnus's dynasty. On his chest, Volkmar wears the Jade Griffon, a protective amulet of great power fashioned in the likeness of Magnus's heraldry. In his sermons and private journals, Volkmar refers frequently to Magnus's deeds and words.
Sources
- The Life of Sigmar (Background Book) pg. 6 - 18, 19 - 22, 23 - 34, 35 - 39, 40 - 48, 49 - 56, 57 - 82, 83 - 86, 87 - 98
- Heldenhammer (Novel) by Graham McNeill
- Empire (Novel) by Graham McNeill
- God-King (Novel) by Graham MceNill
- Let the Great Axe Fall (Short Story) by Graham McNeill
- Birth of a Legend (Short Story) by Gav Thorpe
- The Empire At War (Background Book) pg. 81 - 102
- Tome of Blessings (WFRP3) pg 15
- Signs of Faith (WFRP3) pg. 4 - 6, 13
- Tome of Salvation (WFRP2) pg. 55
- Sigmar's Heirs (WFRP2) pg. 11 - 14