Spoiler Alert: This article/section contains details about future plotlines of LOTM: Sword of Kings described. Do not proceed unless you want to be spoiled.
"And mark this, there is no purpose greater than ours. The world will founder without structure and discipline. It needs leadership to guide it to a new age of stability. It needs those with the will to stamp out the darkness that breeds in the cracks. We do this because we are compelled, by tradition, by loyalty, by laws. Without these, we are just animals. Evil reigns over animals, corrupting and compromising, toppling empires. So our empire must be incorruptible, must be uncompromising. Our conflict must be a righteous one. Your conviction will be tested. But among us, your faith will be unshaken."
— Witch Cult's motto
Yuni Melchior Fatima Aludra Aeele Gloon Gaius Phoenix Valnir Kruls
Type
Heroic Magic Group, Protectors of Mankind, Evil Exterminators, Inquisitors of Light, Darkness Destroyers, Heretics Killers, Well-Intentioned Extremists, Secret Magic Military Organization, Protectors of Shadows, Guardians of Human Race
Location
Mana World, London, Veronica, North Korea, Egypt, East Russia, South China, France and Iceland
The Cultus Pthonissam (Witch Cult in Latin) and also known as XIII Custodia Rebus (13 Court Guard Squads in Latin) are one of the three main factions fighting the Revelation of Qliphoth on Prime Earth, making themselves secret agents of magic while protecting mankind from the dark forces of Ara Astaroth for thousand years since the birth of the first humans. Unlike Ratatoskr and Iscariot Section XIII, the Witch Cult are the only ones who will actually concern them selves with doing good (albeit being delusional) and protecting the common-man from the creatures that go bump in the night, attacking humans. The Witch Cult is most related to fight against monsters from legends and myths that humans do know the existence of. They are suave and sophisticated, but are fiercely brutal and uncompromising in their crusade against darkness of Triggers Hell on Earth to protect humans from what they must-not-know. They are a major heroic faction in LOTM: Sword of Kings and due to their nature they have some interactions in LOTM: Witnesses of Sleepy Hollow much like Qliphoth itself.
Proudly tracing their royal lineage back to Babylon, the Witch Cult are the lions of the Magic World, being responsible for protect mankind from creatures coming from Hell and other demonic realities like Qliphoth and Purgatory. The Old Europe is theirs and the Witch Cult marble halls dominate the old London borough Ealdwic-historic capital of the magic world. Its not just a show of strength. Nothing is just a show with Witch Cult. At the forefront of the war against darkness, they decided for themselves what counts as darkness. Never backing down from a fight, never forgetting a grudge. They have tradition to uphold. For thousands of years they have been single-minded in their mission to obliterate evil in all its forms. Where angels fear to tread, the Witch Cult kick down the doors and killed thousands of vampires, monsters, zombies, ghouls, humanoid monsters, youkais and demonic forces coming from Hell to threat human lives.
The Witch Cult is an ally of the Mana World that is an afterlife of Mages of Light from Liz the Goddess of Light's faction. This is also where deceased mages from Witch Cult live and where most Souls who have the essence of Fruit of Life dwell until they are reincarnated into the Human World. The Mana World has 13 Divisions that are known as 13 Court Guard Companies of the Magic World. Each division represents a different function in society. They are primary military branch of Witch Cult and their dimension Mana World and the main military organization most magicians join after leaving the academy.
The Witch Cult is a secret society of mages made to fight demonic forces in secret of the world. They are a faction of individuals who see themselves as the first and last line of defense against the evils in the World of Magic, and will do whatever it takes to ensure that the world is rid of the evil that plagues it. The old guard; suave and sophisticated, but fiercely brutal and uncompromising in their crusade against darkness. They don't participate in the war on evil. They ARE the war on evil. They're good in the sense that in order to get to that one demon in the middle of the town they're willing to burn the whole thing down, so good is a relative term. And they believe they're protected, untouchable, holy, even, though not necessarily in a religious way. It goes deeper than that—to the very core of the mystery of the world, which is a central part of the story.
The headquarters of Witch Cult in London
The Witch Cult are crusaders, and the society operates like a private army. A giant private army made of mages and holy warriors. They pretty much have the resources of a small country. They could take countries like Novosic Kingdom in a second; maybe even Aldegyr Kingdom; definitely Godom Empire. And they don't hide their military power of the Revelation of Qliphoth. The Witch Cult also have countless facilities and buildings around the world serving as their secret bases and holy temples disguised of banks and old temples of history. As such they have a huge stone building in London, because they are the least secret of all secret societies, they're very much out in the open.
They are old-school. They have been fighting evil for thousands of years and they've been doing with extreme prejudice but above all they are traditionalist. They see magic—the occult—as their birthright; something they've inherited, something that's in their blood; the pure blue blood of their ancient order. Players may find themselves looked down on to begin with, but they'll soon fit right in and gain access to the powerful relics that this society has accrued through the centuries. Not to mention, the members of Witch Cult are quite arrogant, after dominating much of the secret world for most of the past millennium, this cockiness has hurt them in the past and they refused to give their assistance to other organizations like La Nueva Familia de Arzonia merely for not fighting their swore enemies (Arzonia Family is most focused in Fallen Roman Catholic Church, an organization they want to get involved). But there's pressure from within their own ranks to change with the times—to adapt to the new world order—and this dynamic plays a big part in the Witch Cult's mission. As an initiate of the order, they definitely see for the newbies how these guys operate, and they'll be able to use their methods to get the information they need. But, yes, they definitely use their massive might to get what they need, and newbies will get to experience that for themselves.
13 Court Guard Companies[]
An Ice Witch from the 13 Court Squads
The 13 Divisions does not normally operate as a cohesive unit. The command of the divisions are generally left to the discretion of its particular Old Belka Zauber-ritter, who commonly runs it whatever way he or she sees fit, allowing for the change of a division's traditional duties to an entirely new set and even the creation of a separate institution connected to the division. The 13 Divisions 's main duty is to defend the Mana World and support the Witch Cult in the Living World, but they are allocated districts in Rukongai to defend. In addition to these duties, Mages have to deal with the business of being assigned to the Human World.
The only general authority to call forth a combined front is an edict from the Central 46 Chambers, or more often the Belka Wizards. It is not uncommon for Zauber Magicians to not see each other as a whole group for long periods of time, except for cases involving a threat to all of Mana World and Witch Cult in the Living Wolrd, a Zauber's punishment, or, to a lesser degree, a Zauber's promotion. On a regular basis, the Zaubers are spread out all across Mana World doing their divisions' duties, whatever they may be. They are so far spread out, getting the Zaubers together as a group, or even getting their lieutenants together as a group, could normally take a day to accomplish.
Unless specifically ordered by the Belka Wizards, Zaubers can choose whether or not to attend meetings (at their own risk) or not even involve themselves in the daily situations of Mana World. Belka are not allowed, without permission, to carry out activities outside of their normal jurisdiction or their division. The Zauber of one division cannot punish the subordinates of another division. Officially, the Mages of the Witch Cult like Slayer Mages and Priests Mages are not part of the Corps, but since Katya is both the High-Priestess of the Witch Cult and the head of the Safe Corps (the squad in charge of protecting the gates to Mana World), the Witch Cult is effectively under the control of the Mana World. Additionally, the Zauber of Safe Corps has been known to obey summons and orders from the Belka Wizards of the Mana World.
Background[]
Witch Cult[]
The Tower of Babel, the predecessor organization of Witch Cult
According to Wáng, the Witch Cult was founded around 604,000 B.C. by one of the rulers of the Tower of Babel; Yuri Barnes, a young prince with a high-tone of arrogance and narcissism but a reliable and kind person who will never turn his back on the weak. The other ruler of the tower was his brother, Nimrod.
The Tower was once a temple to train new magicians and create a magic organization to fight Ara Astaroth and her minions that were appearing on Earth through Gates of Hell spread all across the globe. However, Yuri and Nimrod feuded over a woman and the tower ended up being destroyed and they went their own ways. Yuri Barnes went to Egypt and founded Witch Cult with the help of Latin people while Nimrod formed Iscariot Section XIII in Old Rome. When this happened is uncertain, but given the 2nd Age's love of ziggurats (tower of Babel) and the 3rd Age's "seafaring people"- it's possible their origins are during the 2nd Age (Although not confirmed by any means).
13 Court Guard Companies[]
The first Zaugers cleaning the World of Mana of Ara's minions
The organization was founded by the Goddess of Magic Wáng, who has stood at the head of the group since its inception. The first generation of the Corps consisted of Wáng and Liz the Goddess of Light and 11 other Zaubers. Kruls Valnir considers this generation to be the strongest version of the Mana World since its creation 769,000,000 years ago. Before the creation of the Corps, Wáng and Liz created the Mana World in order to preserve the little of Light Magic on the 0th Multi-Universe but at some point the forces of Triggers Hell invaded it and began to devour the magic to increase their power, this lead Wáng and Liz to summon brave warriors to deal with them while they faced the Hell Lords destroying their new Paradise.
In an intense war that lasted for 2 years, the forces of Triggers Hell were forced to retreat, destroying at least 3% of the Mana World and devouring its power source but it wasn't enough to lead it to destruction. After witnessing the invasion of Triggers Hell, Wáng and Liz vowed to create a military branch to protect the world from further attacks, this lead the mages and warriors who fought alongside the Goddess to become the first Zaugers of the organization.
According to Astaroth Queen, the original Corps were "defenders" in name only, comprising nothing less than a brutal mob of killers, but it was for this very reason they were a force to be feared, especially because Wáng was a ruthlessly pragmatic Goddess whom would hold even his subordinates as expendable (something that Yuri admired and fell in love with her). It is noted the 13 Corps underwent dramatic changes after the invasion of Ara Astaroth to Earth (the war of the Catholic Church against the heretics in Europe is an example), mellowing out in the ensuing peace, having now found a sense of justice upon discovering things to protect and treasure. Around 200,000 B.C., the Witch Cult contacted the Mana World and the two formed an alliance, but it was more like a "love-pact" since Yuri was so deeply in love with Wáng that he did everything to stay by her side.
Scale of Mages[]
Each mage is put into one of 11 power grades, designated with letters: F, E, D, C, B, A, AA, AAA, S, SS, SSS (from least powerful to most powerful). Like similar grading systems, the grade may have a plus or minus. Typically, the TSAB armed forces are ranked D to C, while B is an impassable wall for many Air/Ground mages at first, officers are ranked AA to S. No canon character currently has the SSS rank, although the Holy "Fathers" from Witch Cult and Priests may have achieved its equivalent in the Ancient Belkan era (the first generation of Mana World's mages).
In scale of ranking mages of Witch Cult, however, there are only 7 scale of mages in their ranks. The Mage Ranking of Witch Cult is a seven-rank system approved by the Mage Society which ranks mages on a scale from 1 to 7, with 1 being the lowest rank and 7 being the highest rank, as follows:
Rank Number
Rank Title
Magus
1
Unde
Katya, Yuri Barnes and Fatima
2
Duode
Magilou, Yuni, Melchior, Aludra, Aeele Gloon
3
Trede
Petraska, Kruls Valnir
4
Quatrede
Gaius Phoenix, Gimurei, Kalus (non-official member)
Aki Honda (non-official member), Scathach (non-official member), Mash
Types of Mages in Witch Cult[]
The ranks are further subdivided into three specializations:
Ground ranks are assigned to mages who are trained in ground combat and pass appropriate examinations.
Air ranks are assigned to aerial mages who are trained in aerial combat.
Synthetic ranks seem to be assigned to mages who specialize in supporting roles instead of combat and to those achieving high mage ranks due to their Rare Skills.
Seven Trumpets of the Apocalypse[]
The Seven Trumpets of the Apocalypse, also known as Seven Trumpets, Seven Servants of Calamity, or also self-called as Kaitlyn/Astaroth's Mobile-Fear-Crew, were the strongest and cruelest order of Holy Magicians in the world of Cultus Pythonissam, composed of the most powerful mages of its generation.
They were formed by seven brutal criminals, who had all been convicted for grievous crimes such as genocide, serial-killing, infanticide, sexual offenses and even warmongering, and all of them had carved the symbols of seven beasts onto their bodies by the Magic Council to show how wicked they were and how incredible their magic power were to the point it rivalized Katya's. After having been framed for murdering the former Great Holy Leader, or the former High-Priestess, they were indefinitely disbanded, as well as branded as traitors and evil-doers by the magic world in all Lynenta Omniverse.
Unlike the Cultus Phytonissam, their project was created back in 2016 and were set to appear in the beginning of theRevelation of Qliphoth's threat. They replace theRogues after their defeat in the first timeline by the Gamchicoth group during their assault to Fraxinus that consequently ended in the defeat of Ratatoskr as well. They are the main opposition of Powell Operation in United States but joined forces temporarily with the Witch Cult and Imperia Deamonne to stop the Eclipse of Hermes from feeing Kaitlyn Powell from the Impact Zone.
The Five Sages[]
The five strongest real-life mages of history taking participation on the cult.
Name
Biography
Images
Saint Cyprian
Cyprian was bishop of Carthage and a notable Early Christian writer of Berber descent, many of whose Latin works are extant. He was born around the beginning of the 3rd century in North Africa, perhaps at Carthage, where he received a classical education. Soon after converting to Christianity, he became a bishop in 249. A controversial figure during his lifetime, his strong pastoral skills, firm conduct during the Novatianist heresy and outbreak of the plague, and eventual martyrdom at Carthage vindicated his reputation and proved his sanctity in the eyes of the Church. His skillful Latin rhetoric led to his being considered the pre-eminent Latin writer of Western Christianity until Jerome and Augustine. The Plague of Cyprian is named after him, owing to his description of it.
Abe no Seimei
Abe no Seimei was the Japanese Merlin. However, unlike the European wizard, Seimei’s historical existence goes unchallenged. He served six different emperors as an omyodo, a yin-yang master. The court wizard oversaw matters of divination, protecting the Japanese emperor with rituals to banish evil spirits and illnesses. Legends and folktales ascribe to him all sorts of supernatural powers. The famous kabuki play Kuzunoha says he inherited his magical power from his mother, a white fox. He was said to possess second sight, which he used to identify demons. When the samurai Watanabe no Tsuna was said to cut off a demon’s arm, he brought the accursed item to Seimei to seal it away with a spell. The demon later tried to retrieve its limb but was unable to overcome Seimei’s magic. Legend says that Seimei met hosts of other demons in magical combat, defeating each of them with his vast repertoire of spells.
The Sorcerer of Trois-Freres
The Sorcerer of Trois-Freres, France is one of the earliest depictions of sorcery in human history. The figure presides over a series of Paleolithic cave paintings. It sits above the other cave paintings in an area only accessible by ascending a spiral corridor. He is a mix of man and animal, with human limbs, a pronounced penis, and an animal body with antlers. Though scholarly debate surrounds his identity, the Sorcerer is believed to be either a shaman or a god who held sway over the people inhabiting his area.Perhaps even more interesting than the Sorcerer himself are those who painted him. The cave is theorized to be a place of gathering, where rituals were performed to ensure a large bounty during hunts. The Sorcerer, if he was indeed a god, would have been a god of sorcery presiding over a coven of prehistoric wizards. If the Sorcerer represented an actual man, however, he could be likened to a prehistoric Merlin.
Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel
Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel was a scholar and mystic known as the Maharal of Prague. The respected figure, according to legend, was often sought out by the Holy Roman Emperor for both religious and secular knowledge. Though his relationship with the emperor was perhaps not as close as legends say, the two were on good terms. Emperor Rudolph II owned a bell the rabbi had created through cabalistic methods. Rabbi Loew was known for his large contributions to Jewish philosophy, but legend says that he also used his knowledge of the Kabbalah to create a golem.It was said that the Jewish community of Prague was being accused of blood libel—kidnapping Christian children and using their blood in religious rituals. According to stories, of which there are several versions, Rabbi Loew created a golem named Josef to protect his community from the persecution. Josef would patrol the street, making itself invisible and even conjuring up the dead to protect Prague’s Jewish community. It was said that the golem eventually malfunctioned and went on a murderous rampage through the streets. The rabbi put it down by changing the character written on its forehead. The character that had given it life was “emet,” the Hebrew word for “truth.” Rabbi Loew changed it to “met,” meaning “death.”The golem was laid to rest in the attic of the Old-New Synagogue, where it is said to remain to this day.
John Of Nottingham
In 1324, the citizens of Coventry, England were suffering under the oppressive rule of the local prior and two chamberlains of King Edward II, a father and son both named Hugh Despenser. In revenge, the citizens hired a local wizard to kill the prior, his accomplices, and the king they served. According to the story, the magician John of Nottingham and his assistant, Robert Marshall, brought wax and canvas to a ruined house. There, they made images of the men they were to kill, including an extra one of a man named Richard de Lowe to test the spell’s power. They wove spells for seven days and finally drove a leaden branch into the forehead of the image representing Lowe. The next morning, it was said that Lowe was found screaming and with total amnesia. He remained in the condition until the wizard removed the branch. Nottingham then inserted it into the image’s heart. Lowe soon died. The deed was brought to the attention of local officials by Marshall, who was upset with the fee his master paid him. John of Nottingham was taken to trial on suspicion of witchcraft. After several adjournments, however, they found Marshall’s tale without enough credibility for a conviction, and John was released.
Organization[]
13 Court Guard Squads[]
Structure[]
The 13 Court is made up of thirteen divisions, with several divisions having certain specializations. The Court 13 is led by the Captain-Commander aka Wáng the Supreme Goddess, who has the statuary authority to conduct all the affairs of the Court 13 while deferring to the authority of the Central 46 Chambers in matters involving Mana World
As with any army, the Court 13 has ranks. There are 20 ranks for officers, but no ranks for non-officers. The lower the number is, the higher the rank. The ranks and their descriptions are below, from highest to lowest in terms of strength. The Court 13 is an organization with a merit-based hierarchy. It has disposed of the system of rank based on seniority. Abilities are the only thing used to determine one's rank.
Zauber's Council[]
A Zauber from Mana World
The Zauber congregate in the main hall of the First Division Headquarters to discuss important issues involving their specific divisions and matters which affect Mana World. This council is highly formal, with the Goddess leading its proceedings. All Zuber are considered equal (with the exception of the Goddess), and determine the course of their individual division unless dictated otherwise by the Goddess Wáng. Votes are carried out via a unanimous consensus.
The Supreme Goddess: The Supreme Goddess rank is the supreme leader of the all Mana World. The position requires the Goddess to oversee the overall operations of the Mana World and Witch Cult. The only power the Goddess answers to is the Central 46 Chambers, who elect the successor of the current Goddess in the event of their death. The former holder of this title is Wáng herself of the 1st Division, who had held this post for the last 700 million years.
A Zauber or Captain is the leader of one of the thirteen divisions (with the special case of the Supreme Goddess).
Wáng, the Goddess of Mana World
Captains are generally the most respected Mages within the Mana World and even in the Living World, with the leaders of the Corp Guards and Living World's Witch Cult possibly being on equal status. Initially with one exception, all captains are able to utilize the final stage of their transformations, and are far more powerful than even their lieutenants. Knowing the Tetrahedron of Urgrund (the strongest form that a mage can learn) gives captains an average of five-to-ten times the strength of mages who are unable to perform it. They have extensively trained, if not mastered, their Urgrund allowing them to use the enormous power effectively in battle. Most captains are skilled in the use of teleportation and control of mana, and generally have extensive knowledge of Mage history and battle tactics. All of these factors create a vast power gap between captains and lower-ranked officers. They function as Chief executive officers, and they determine the course, organization, tactics, and policy of their division.
The power a captain has over his/her division is absolute and cannot be questioned by subordinates or the captains of the other divisions. A captain can choose to change the division specialty. Due to captains having supreme authority in their respective division, the divisions are separate entities and not a cohesive military. In this way, they only have the right to punish the actions of their subordinates and not those of other divisions unless the division in question has no current captain or the subordinate's actions are against the laws or rules of Mana World. The true power of Mana World lies in the captains of the 13 Divisions, as they are the leaders of its military arm. With them at full strength, Mana World is safe and almost unbeatable, so impossible to defeat that not even Triggers Hell managed to break their defenses. If they are broken, their strength dwindles, making them highly vulnerable.
Ritter []
A Ritter, (also known as "Assistant Captain"; vice-unit commander, often translated as vice-captain) is the 2nd seated officer in a division.
Magilou during her time as a Vice-Captain of the Slayer mages in Witch Cult
Vice-captains function as executive officers for their division, taking care of or supervising day-to-day operations. Along with their captains, they are not assigned to one specific squad. They generally only know the weak version of the Urgrund called Cog of Mageddon, but they still second strongest in their division.
In the case of a division captain's death, departure, or other circumstances making them unable to perform their duties, the vice-captains acts as the "substitute captain" until another can be assigned. The authority to appoint or dismiss a lieutenant lies solely with the captain of the respective division, a privilege which was granted to them with the support of the Central 46 Chambers.
Captains reserve the right to appoint multiple lieutenants at a single time, though this is rarely done due to it being both considered highly unorthodox and heavily frowned upon by the Central 46 Chambers. Though rarely exercised, any potential candidate retains the right to decline the nomination.
Seated Officers[]
Seated officers are the remainder of the officers in the 13 Divisions which hold ranks at or below 3rd Seat. Captains and Ritter have the ranks of 1st and 2nd Seats, respectively. Next to that, there are 18 more seats (3rd-20th). In the 13 Divisions, only one person can hold a senior officer rank (such as 3rd or 5th seat), but there are several holders of junior officer ranks (e.g. 20th seat). This varies from division to division, for there are two 3rd Seats in the 13th Division. Seated officers often lead sub-units within each division.
Witch Cult[]
Structure[]
Mages Ranks[]
Divisions[]
Transference[]
Magician apprentices moving to another division
Officers do not necessarily serve in their assigned division for life. It is customary to be transferred to another division after gaining some experience, an event which often coincides with a promotion. However, each division has a specialty and to be transferred, this person needs to know what his or her next division do to enter and find a proper place in the division.
In Witch Cult, this happens very often since they are mages fighting in the front lines against the Black Army and quickly grow stronger while the mages of Mana World are less active and do nothing except for patrols, this is however, a fatal flaw that might cause troubles in a near future when demonic forces appear again since too much time relaxed much cause impact in their abilities and physical conditions.
Size and Recruitment[]
An apprentice magician "training"
Each Division is made up of over 805,000 mages, with the 13 Divisions' standing force being around 10, 466, 562 total enlisted troops. The mages are typically recruited through the Magician Academy, but it must be noted not all graduates make it into the Witch Cult or 13 Divisions. Graduates from the Academy are required to take an entrance exam for the two organizations, and only those who pass are allowed to join. This exam can be taken multiple times. The influence of the Noble Families can somewhat undermine this process, as Mey graduated early and was placed into the Division 13 from her brother, Gimerui's workings.
To be enlisted in Witch Cult directly, one must prove he can use magic and have knowledge of ancient arts like use of witchcraft and spell-crafting. While in the academy of Witch Cult in a village in North Korea, the apprentice will pass through violent and brutal training of physical fights and magic training sections. It's no uncommon to see at least 40 students dying during the process of training due to how extreme and difficulty is find their true will and spirit and convert it into magic mana of mortals. From 500 students in the academy, only 60 manage to reach the final of their "school life".
Insignia[]
The Witch Cult's logo
13 Court Guard Squads
Mana World logo
Witch Cult's Arms logo
Gospel[]
Witch Cult's gospel
"Gospel" is derived from the Middle English word "godspel," in which "god" means "good" and "spel" means "news." Thus "Gospel" literally means "good news," and some denominations like to use the phrase "good news" because they feel it conveys the nature of the Gospel clearly. It is a translation of the Greek word (euangelion), which is also the root of the word "evangelist;" an evangelist is someone who spreads the good news.
The "good news" here is, specifically, the news of Wáng's salvation. The four Gospels offer different, yet complementary, accounts of the story of Wáng's life and teachings, and lay the foundation for the doctrine of magic's redemption. Also, each member of Witch Cult, be they mages, demons or even apprentices, owns a book known as the Golden Gospel, which shows the members a route to a future they desire through vague details and will always show what the future is holding for them, this gospel is so powerful that mages can avoid their deaths in the future by reading the gospel and knowing their future. These books can only be read by the holder and appear to be incomprehensible to others as it teaches complex in 2 Sections and the last section show the user their future.
Notable Locations[]
Living World[]
Locations built by the Witch Cult and Mana World in Earth. Despite the two factions were focused on Earth, they also had much influence on other populated world of the universe. However, only places used and built by the organizations on Earth will be listed here.
Tower of Babel[]
Tower of Babel, by Lucas van Valckenborch, 1594, Louvre Museum
The Tower of Babel as told in Genesis 11:1-9 is an origin myth meant to explain why the world's peoples speak different languages. According to the story, a united humanity in the generations following the Great Flood, speaking a single language and migrating eastward, comes to the land of Shinar.
There they agree to build a city and a tower tall enough to reach heaven. God, observing their city and tower, confounds their speech so that they can no longer understand each other, and scatters them around the world. Some modern scholars have associated the Tower of Babel with known structures, notably the Etemenanki, a ziggurat dedicated to the Mesopotamian god Marduk by Nabopolassar, the king of Babylonia circa 610 BCE.
The Great Ziggurat of Babylon was 91 meters (300 ft) in height. Alexander the Great ordered it to be demolished circa 331 BCE in preparation for a reconstruction that his death forestalled. A Sumerian story with some similar elements is told in Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta.
Temples of Humankind[]
The Temple
The Temples of Humankind are a collection of subterranean temples buried 30 meters (100 ft) underground built by the Federation of Damanhur. They are decorated in several motifs stressing peaceful human collaboration. The Temples are located in the foothills of the Alps in northern Italy, 50 kilometers (30 mi) from Turin, in the valley of Valchiusella.
The temples were created under the direction of Oberto Airaudi who, having claimed visions of ancient temples at age 10 from a previous life, began excavation and building in August 1978. By 1991 most of the chambers were reportedly complete when Italian police, acting on a tip from villagers, conducted a raid on the Temples. However, since the temples were so well hidden, police were unable to locate them until state prosecutor Bruno Tinti threatened "show us these temples or we will dynamite the entire hillside." Eventually the Italian government reportedly gave them retroactive excavation and erection privileges and the Temples are now open to visitors.
Hall of Water – dedicated to the feminine principle, it is in the shape of a chalice and invites receptivity
Blue Hall – for meditation on social matters and is used as a place of inspiration and reflection
Hall of Earth – dedicated to the masculine principle, to the earth as an element and planet and to past and future reincarnations
Hall of Metals – represents the different ages and developmental stages of humankind and the shadow elements of the human psyche
Labyrinth Hall – showing Interfaith worship through the centuries, uniting different cultures and peoples
Hall of Spheres – positioned where 3 synchronic lines merge, inviting planetary contact and transmission of messages, ideas and dreams to create harmony between nations
Hall of Mirrors – dedicated to the sky, air and light, solar energy, strength and life. There are 4 altars to earth, water, air and fire
Manor of the Templars[]
Manor of the Templars is a large Mansion serving as the organization's residence and the HQ of the Organization in London. Not much is known about the mansion except it is clean, large and beautiful place with more than 300 rooms and 600 hallways that lead to underground secret bases where the Witch Cult perform rituals of magic and basic training.
The manor is not open to visitors and only members of the organization have free access to the location.
Witch Cult's North Korea Village[]
The Witch Cult's village
The Village of Witch Cult in North Korea is the hometown of Kruls Valnir located in the north mountains of North Korea. It is a small city with an average-sized population, most of which is unaware of the ghosts and spiritual forces that exist there since the Witch Cult took the responsibility to keep these people safe from Revelation of Qliphoth. The village was built in 1800 and continued existing until 2036 when the Revelation of Qliphoth invaded it and killed and devoured 80% of the population in cold-blood just to send a slap in the Witch Cult's face.
The village is under the jurisdiction of 13th Division and is referred to as District 3600 by the Magicians and is situated on the current Important Spirit Ground - the point in the Human World that possesses the greatest concentration of spiritual beings. For this reason Ara sought to destroy it to destroy one of the many magic sources of the Witch Cult on Earth.
Mana World[]
Locations and fictional places built by Witch Cult and the Mana World's government in the parallel dimension of Mana World.
Shin Academy[]
Shin Academy
Shin Academy, sometimes called the Magic Academy, is an institution founded by Wáng. Located in the Secret Temple of the Mana World's capital, the academy trains Souls with spiritual powers for each of the three military arms of Mana World and Witch Cult.
The academy was founded some 2,100 years ago. It is not under the direct control of Central 46. The Academy was once called the Magic Academy. It was then changed to the Shin Academy when it developed into an institute for the next generation of the Spell Corps and the Guard Corps, as well as the magicians of the 13 Divisions. The Academy is a sprawling, multiple story building with architecture similar to that of Secret Temple. It has an open courtyard, many classrooms, dormitories and practice areas for physical combats, mana control, spell-crafting, and mock battles.
The Hill[]
The Hill
The Hill is an iconic, large, rocky mesa located at the center of Mana World, where it is overlooked by the Palace of Penitence.
The hill is visible from most of capital. It has sheer cliffs on all sides. There are two known access points to the Hill - a long bridge connecting to the Palace of Penitence, and a long, zigzagging stairway carved into one side of the hill. One end of the hill is heavily undercut, where the hill and the bridge are located. The opposite end is covered by a white forest.
Central 46 Compound[]
The Central 46 Hall Assembly
The Central 46 Chambers Compound which their building is a highly restricted area in the capital in Mana World that serves as the headquarters of the Central 46.
Most of the building is underground, with only a small portion visible from the surface. It houses the Central 46, the central government of Mana World. The Central 46 rules Soul Society on behalf of the Wáng. They make all of Mana World's laws and try those who are charged with breaking them, whether the crime was committed in Mana World or in the Human World. Following the massacre of the Central 46 at the hands of Mina Harker, Wáng subsequently taking over their normal duties, the compound has lost much of its former status as one of the most important places in Secret Temple.
Modern Day[]
Witch Cult's modern rituals
The Witch Cult currently operate out of in 7 countries. To the Global Pact Defense, they are some old old order from ages passed, just one that has managed to keep it's-self together.
The Witch Cult members wear their colors and roam the streets of London with impunity, supposedly just part of an old oligarchy. But the mages do more than just sit around in brightly lit halls and libraries talking about politics and legacy, they are still on the hunt, the hunt for monsters. The Witch Cult infrastructure may be a shell of it's former glory but they try to counter it by constantly bringing in new members. Whatever old corruptions may haunt the Witch Cult's legacy, the newest members are trained in the mind-set of the early Witch Cult, namely slaying evil.
Where the New World Order are motivated by power and Iscariot are motivated by philosophy, the Witch Cult now focus on keeping the world safe from evils that might harm it. It is the mages' supreme purpose to protect the world from vicious supernatural forces that normal people are ill-equipped to combat. The Witch Cult built up years of forbidden texts, ancient rites and priceless spells, only to find that anything their vast archives can give them, the common-man can get from a smart-phone and Wikipedia. The emphasis on tradition over modernization has left the Witch Cult's order struggling to adapt to a world that seems to be outgrowing them. What the Witch Cult have built-up, is a some-what contradictory position, esteemed in the public-eye yet stuck in the past in the eyes of their rival societies. Short comings of the Witch Cult aside though, it is said that the Witch Cult possess the man-power to take over and maintain control of a small country using just their own men and resources.
Mana World[]
Overview[]
Sacred Temple on the middle of Mana World
While Katya initially describes Mana World as something of a paradise, where nine out of ten times it is better than the living world and hunger is never a problem, Mana World is far from sublime. In fact, aside from the slowed aging and aforementioned lack of hunger, life there is much like that in the Living World.
Mana World consists of the Rashagai, where souls of mages and their families live when they arrive in Afterlife, and Sacred Temple which is at the center of Mana World. The mode of life here closely resembles that of feudal Japan and Zhou dynasty in Ancient China.
The Human World and Mana World are parallel to each other and are two sides of the same coin. Families of mages separated by death are rarely reunited in the Mana World unless they arrive in Mana World together. People live nestled together like a family of strangers. One never gets hungry (if she or he doesn't have spiritual powers) and aging is slowed to a great extent, with lifespans of 2000 or more years not being unheard of, though such ages are limited to Magicians or other Mana World dwellers with high spiritual power. Children can be born as they are in the Human World. People can also be killed as regular Humans are, though they are capable of surviving wounds that would normally be considered fatal. A soul that dies in Mana World is reincarnated on Earth and other worlds as a new mortal with no past memories.
Rashagai Town[]
A village in Rashagai Town's South district
Rashagai is the largest portion of Mana World and the most populated. Rashagai is divided into 320 districts (80 in North Rashagai, 80 in West Rashagao etc.), each numbered in descending order on how far they are from the center; this results in the higher-numbered (and farther) districts decaying into slums. Thus, while District 1 is peaceful and lawful, much like the antiseptic lifestyle of early-Edo Era Kyoto, District 80 is a hardscrabble, violent, crime-infested area that more depicts Heian era Kyoto. Despite only families of mages enter in the Mana World, Wáng can't prevent people from committing sin.
The duties of the 13 Divisions include defending allocated districts of Rashagai. However, which Division is responsible for which district has not been stated. The living standards in Rashagai decline sharply beyond the fiftieth district, with an increase in people wearing rags and no footwear. According to statistics from the last 550 years, no Rashagai resident wears sandals beyond District 59. Rashagai is full of families that are not related by blood. People die at different times and places, and it is rare for a person to find their real family in the vast Rashagai. When a soul arrives in Mana World, they are given a ticket according to the time they died and are sent off in different directions. Even if two people were to die together, if they do not receive tickets at the same time, they will not know where the other is.
Spirit Gate[]
A secret Spirit Gate
The Spirit Gate is the dimensional gateway which mages use to enter and leave Mana World.
The Mana World and Living World are parallel worlds. The Spirit Gate is the gate used to travel between the two worlds, and is the only official and safe way to enter and leave Mana World. The Mana World has only one permanent gate, which takes the form of a giant gate situated within a large tree. Travel through the Spirit Gate is heavily regulated, and can only officially be opened by the members of the Witch Cult. Upon opening the gate doors, white light emanates from the door and extends upward into the sky of Mana World. A black winged insect, the Jigokuchō, which only Shinigami are permitted to carry, is needed to pass through it.
For high-level magician, such as Holy Fathers, Priests and Zauber, a seal is automatically placed onto them whenever they pass through the Spirit Gate from Mana World to the Human World, limiting their strength to 20% of their maximum output. This is done to prevent their mana from causing undesirable ripples in the Human World, but they can request for the seals to be removed if the situation calls for it. Under critical situations, such as the battle against the Leohart's Cult, the seal is not applied even when the mages pass through the gate.
Accessing Mana World[]
Black Demons invading the Mana World
Mages enter and leave Mana World by unlocking the Spirit Gate and using a Artifact of the Heavens. Pluses, on the other hand, enter Mana World through the ritual of Soul Burial. When people die, they are assigned a number to a part of Mana World according to when they died.
Spirits can be born in Mana World as much as in the living world, with the mages acting to balance the souls. Intruders can pass through the Spirit Gate in the same manner, but only in soul form. This allows spiritual beings, such as Katarina Couteau in her ExKrieg form t o enter without permission. Mortals can also use such a gate through the use of Spirit Exchangers, which convert solid matter into Astral objects like soul itself. Finally, Black Demons can also directly rip a hole to Mana World from Qliphoth, or in the case of Jikininki, using a Garganta.
Government[]
Goddess of Mana[]
World of Mana is maintained by the Goddess Wángd, whose existence is pivotal to the balance of the world as it regulates the flow of souls into and out of World of Mana, leaving administration to the Central 46 Chambers and Nobles. The Wáng lives in the Royal Palace in a separate dimension in the very core of Mana World, which is protected by the Royal Guard; as a separate dimension, this is not considered part of Mana World itself. The King does have a specific system of "specialty duties" which are actively carried out but the exact nature of these duties is unknown. The dimension can only be opened with a tri-pronged golden key fittingly named the Royal Key. The location of this Royal Key is passed down verbally from one Mana World's Elder members from the 24 Chambers to the next.
Nobility[]
Another part of the government are the Noble Houses, especially the four Great Noble Houses, which are considered to be the highest of them all. The lower noble houses all serve one of the four each.
Judiciary[]
The Central 46 serve the mage royalty. They are made up of 40 wise men and 6 judges, selected from all of Mana World. They are sealed into an enclave in Secret Temple called Seiriauku which no one else may enter, regardless of their military or civilian status. They act as a supreme judiciary organization whose authority puts it in direct control of the legal system. They handle all rulings on magicians and souls who have violated prohibitions. Their orders are absolute and no decision has been known to be overturned.
Laws[]
The ultimate law is to maintain balance.
It is against the law for a Mages to give their spiritual power to normal humans.
It is against the law for a Mage o use forbidden Black Arts.
It is against the law for any citizen of Mana World to create weapons of a dangerous nature not sanctioned by the feudal government. To do so is treason.
It is against the law to attack a captain. To do so is treason.
It is against the law to commit terrorist action(s) or attempt to overthrow the balance of Mana World To do so is treason.
It is against the law to commit murder. It is against the law to kill a Human that a Mage has not been ordered to kill.
It is forbidden for a Mage to acquire or attempt to gain Demon-like powers.
It is a crime for a Mage to remain in the Living World longer than a certain time limit.
It is against the law for the 13 Divisions to meddle in the affairs of the noble families unless the family in question breaks one of the laws of Mana World beyond a shadow of a doubt.
It is by ancient law that two Mages cannot hold the same Holy Artifact (a weapon). They must fight for the honor of bearing the spirit, with the spirit going to the winner, and the loser being executed.
It is forbidden for a Mage to intervene in anything that is related to Hell.
It is a crime to lose a sacred treasure.
It is against the law to alter the Exam of Magic records.
All Modified Souls must be scrapped.
Punishment[]
A mages falling on Earth after being banished from Mana World
Exile: Certain crimes allows for the punishment of exile, commonly stripping a mage of their powers and banishing them to the Human World.
Detention: A punishment not well known among the citizens of Mana World is the detention of a magician. It is commonly reserved for those who have either broken the law, quit the Cultus Pythonissam, or those who just seem dangerous and mentally unstable (as per the government's interpretation). This is carried out by the Corp Division.
Imprisonment: The Central 46 can sentence a magician to be held in the Central Great Underground Prison for a set amount of time. The prison has eight levels which prisoners are confined in based on the severity of their crimes. For the use of forbidden magic techniques, Gimerei from the Slayer Mages was sentenced to be confined in Gathering Group, the 3rd level of the underground prison. For the crime of treason, Gaius Phoenix was sentenced to be imprisoned for 20,000 years in Voided Space (since his father became a Dragon from Qliphoth and he tried to save him from Witch Cult) the 8th and final level of the underground prison underneath the First Division barracks.
Sealing: If a renegade mage is resisting arrest and proves to be too powerful to be restrained or executed, they would be opted to be sealed away to prevent further damage.
There are two known forms of execution in Witch Cult:
Spirit-Sealing Pit: The Spirit-Sealing Pit is an ancient form of execution in which mages criminals are thrown into a pit walled with sekki sekki rock – a type of stone that absorbs spiritual power, preventing those nearby from using their powers. Hollows are then thrown into the pit with the criminals as the means of execution. The practice was considered too barbaric and discontinued, and the Spirit-Sealing Pits were converted into garbage dumps.
Twinned Punishment: The "ultimate punishment", Twinned is a form of execution usually reserved for those with extremely strong spiritual powers, namely mages captains. The Twinned is a giant halberd that utterly destroys a soul on contact. When released, Twinned takes on the form of a phoenix, its true form, called Kiko The Kiko has the destructive power of a million magicians, and that power is multiplied by a factor of 10 at the moment it pierces its victim.
Outlook[]
Witch Cult from 300 B.C. burying a lost comrade
The Witch Cult proudly proclaim themselves lions, and when they roar the world listens, this is true to an extent however they are still the least influential of the 4 main societies (Cult of Scathach, Order of Terror and Revelation of Qliphoth). The Witch Cult training makes them not only consider themselves to be holy soldiers but gives them the marital skill and discipline to be a terrifying military force. Their strong military force and official ties to the British government may be a source of pride to them but in-truth the New World Order (Order of Terror) view this as small praise. At times, the New World Order buy and sell resources right out from under the Witch Cult so often that the infrastructure of the American society is seen as a big joke.
The Revelation of Qliphoth see the Witch Cult as far too rigid in practice to effectively counter the intricacies of the modern era and actually try playing them against them so as to give themselves some breathing room. The Witch Cult's fervor and conviction in their fight against evil is more than enough for them to ignore the resentment of their detractors. To the modern Witch Cult there are no ugly secrets, no shames of the past, no out-dated practices, there is only them, their blades and the monsters which shall soon occupy the ends of those blades. Due to their extremist conviction, the Revelation of Qliphoth's Black Army often engaged in war with them for centuries but always ended defeated... Until the day Ara Astaroth got full of them and sent a small squad of Black Demons to their village in North Korea to devour, kill and torture all innocent people they used to protect only to show a small fraction of her true power and give them a slap in their face for showing such arrogance.
Missions of the 13 Court Guard Squads[]
The 13 Corps serves as a military force with its primary responsibilities consisting of:
Vira, the number one target of the 13 Divisions
The defense of the Secret Temple, the center of Mana World.
The deployment of Division members into enemy territory for combat operations.
The deployment of Task Forces as defensive measures in the Human World.
The guiding of souls to Paradise who are stuck in Earth, something that will turn them into evil spirits of Black Demons.
Protect the Mana World from forces of the Astral World like demons, vampires, aliens plagues and among others.
Support the Witch Cul in the Living World and protect their leaders.
Defeat Ara Astaroth and the Revelation of Qliphoth on Prime Earth and in other worlds of 0th Multi-Universe.
Keep the generals of Qliphoth sealed inside of the moon.
Protect the human race from demonic threats coming from Qliphoth.
Find and kill Astaroth Queen
Witch Cult Members and Officers[]
Holy "Fathers"[]
Holy "Fathers" is the organization-group in charge of all operations of Witch Cult and Mana World. They are the main face of all mages from Prime Earth and Mana World and are the head of all magic from the light side being controlled on Earth. As such, they are the strongest mages to have ever lived; it's said each one have power enough to kill 5 Gods and 50,000,000 Black Demons. One of them, however, is a Goddess [Wáng] herself, but she represents the Goddess of Magic, taking a close step to a figure similar to a magician.
Despite the name "Fathers", only one of them is a man while the rest are women. They are composed by only 3 people.
The ancient leaders of Witch Cult from the past before the ascension of Katya to power. Formerly, Yuri Barnes and Wáng were already leaders of the organization until nowadays.
Mana World[]
Yaguro Kitsuragi
Hayoi Fuxi
William Destroyah
Living World[]
Merlin
Sebastiano De Costa
Twitch the Heartless
Elizabeth Priza
Priests Mages[]
Priests Mages are the highest-class of mages in Earth. They are composed by at least 800 mages with mana enough to take down 90,000 Black Demons and 602,000 Cyborgs from KnightWalker Family as they have a direct pact with Wang, the Goddess of Magic World from Realm of Gods (the only known God active on Earth).
Usually, it takes 900 years to a mere magician become a Priest on the level of Katya but it is said some people were born with Seed of Life of Power of the Tree of Life, also known as Fruit of Life (while normal humans are blessed with the power of the Fruit of Knowledge, explaining their intellect and how Scathach managed to turn humans of all races the dominant races of the planet). 50 in 90,000,000 humans are born with the Fruit of Life thanks to Wang's benevolent essence on Earth that works much like the blackness of Ara Astaroth but due to human's sins the Wang's Light cannot spread as long humans exist purely for being full of flaws and their cruelty helps the Blackness win over the light.
Mages born with this power take only a few decades to become Priests and they are usually the leaders of the council of the cult, operating the organization as a democratic cult.
Yuni
Melchior
Fatima
Aludra
Aeele Gloon
Slayer Mages[]
The Slayer Mages are direct-combat Division with a specialization in swords-only combat, forgoing the other Mage arts and thereby being one of the most specialized divisions in the Witch Cult. As such, it is common practice for members to be carrying their swords at all times. The division's doctrine of dominating in battle is what appeals to its members; they believe that fighting is what makes life worth living. Despite their look, the Slayer mages are the most responsible to carry out assassination and fighting missions, serving the Witch Cult as a killer squad composed of sadistic and cruel killers.
They are composed by 20,000 mages from all countries.
Petraska
Gimurei
Mey
Defector Demons[]
The Defector demons are a squad made of monsters and creatures that left the side of Triggers Hell. Obviously, due for being monsters that Witch Cult used to fight and kill, they are very feared and avoided by other humans members of the organization. They are composed of at least 50 demons like vampires, werewolves and even humanoid creatures. They are under constant watch of Katya's enforcers who keep them in check they will never turn against Witch Cult.
Shaltear Bloodfallen (vampire class)
Buchapi (werewolf class)
Black Silk (arachnide class)
Rare Mages[]
Rare Mages or Class SS+ Mages are the strongest mages' level that humans can achieve with normal magic born from men. Unlike superior mages who use magic from the gods, these mages are expert and specialists in mastering all kind of human magic that exist but normally they only use an element of nature to serve them.
Gaius Phoenix
Juni
Sonya
Kruls Valnir
Warrior Mages[]
Warrior Mages are the mages of front-lines serving the Witch Cult and Mana World, both organizations have their own warriors. Normally, they are the "soldiers" of the organizations while other mages serve more like backup or support to defend them. These mages are equipped with heavy armor and use physical magic to increase their stamina, resistance and strength rather than using elemental magic.
Fernando de La Cruz
Aquiles
Takumi
Airi
Alice
Isaiah
Apprentice Mages[]
The newbies and young people who started their training at the Witch Cult's academies or Mana World's facilities. The apprentices are the faction with most numbers, counting with 204,000,000 of rookies magicians of all ages, mostly are boys who seek adventure fighting the Revelation of Qliphoth while others join to fullfil their duties to serve Wáng with the best of their abilities. Due to their nature of being naive and innocent mages, they have to obey the rules coming from their teachers and NEVER leave the Mana World as their magic aura can attract evil creatures and demons with an immense hunger for meat and young souls.
Xiliah
Lute
Roy Leoxandro
Aqua
Mana Concept[]
Valaine, a demon born with the Fruit of Life, controlling a sphere of mana
All mages of Witch Cult and 13 Corps does not use merely "magic" created by humans but magic coming from the Realm of Gods. Mana aka Light of Mana, the ability to use magic by interfering with the physical phenomenon, will power, to move objects without touching them and to create a energy barrier that protects the user or other people and can also be used to trap someone. It is also possible that it possesses healing abilities. Those whom cannot use Mana, like the Humans born without the Fruit of Life and other demonic creatures like the ExKriegs and Black Demons are not considered "mages" and will never be able to use the magic of the gods. The only way for those races born without the Fruit of Life's miracle is learn the basic teaching methods of normal magic developed by mortals.
Despite the difference of power, even some demons can be born with the Fruit of Life's miracle if their parents were once good-hearted creatures rather than being savage monsters of their speech. Oriax Wheelahr for example, is a Hybrid Beast of the Underworld that was once a normal mortal but was born with the Fruit of Life in her soul for being able to feel compassion, something that almost all demons lack.
As such, any person with a dark heart and soul will never be able to control mana and have to use mortal magic to be able to use such element. Dark magic is an element that does not exist in magic mana since the light element is rejects the darkness.
Technology Level[]
A concept of one of the many towns in Mana World
One of the more unusual aspects of Mana World is its technology level. While the lifestyle and culture of Mana World is comparable to Zhou dynasty in Ancient China (since Wáng is a Goddess coming from the Chinese Pantheon and Liz coming from the Norse Pantheon), they possess technology of a level exceeding that time period. The Mage Research Institute has developed amazing technology to their credit, mixing technology with organic components. Allowing for the creation of creatures that do everything from detecting spiritual energy signatures to allowing Humans to see a spirit without the use of a mana. Unlike Witch Cult who still relies in ancient books and have little access to technology due to their tradicitions.
They possess touch-screens and databases which are in use for files and historical documentation storage found extensively in the Great Spirit Book Gallery, which contains all the knowledge and history of Mana World and Paradise. View screen technology that is capable of sending signals to the Human World and even Hell, allowing for face to face conferencing. All manner of portable hand-held devices for tracking and communication purposes. Blending old traditions and ideas with new innovation, the Mana World is an enigma in this comparison.
Magic and Holy Artifacts[]
The True Cross[]
Reliquary of the True Cross at Notre Dame de Paris
The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a Christian Church tradition, are said to be from the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.
According to post-Nicene historians such as Socrates of Constantinople, the Empress St. Helena, mother of St. Constantine, the first Christian Emperor of Rome, travelled to the Holy Land in 326–28, founding churches and establishing relief agencies for the poor. Historians Gelasius of Caesarea and Rufinus claimed that she discovered the hiding place of three crosses that were believed to be used at the crucifixion of Jesus and of two thieves, St. Dismas and Gestas, executed with him; to one cross was affixed the titulus bearing Jesus' name, but St. Helena was not sure until a miracle revealed that that cross was the True Cross.
Many churches possess fragmentary remains that are by tradition alleged to be those of the True Cross. Their authenticity is not accepted by all Christians, mainly Protestants; however the bulk of Roman Catholic and Orthodox believers recognize them as genuine pieces of the cross of Christ. The acceptance and belief of that part of the tradition that pertains to the early Christian Church is generally restricted to the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Church, and the Church of the East. The medieval legends that developed concerning its provenance differ between Catholic and Orthodox tradition. These churches honour Helena as a saint, as does also the Anglican Communion.
Shroud of Turin[]
The Shroud of Turin or Turin Shroud (Italian: Sindone di Torino, Sacra Sindon is a length of linen cloth bearing the image of a man who is alleged to be Jesus of Nazareth. The cloth itself is believed by some to be the burial shroud he was wrapped in when he was buried after crucifixion although three radiocarbon dating tests in 1988 dated a sample of the cloth to the Middle Ages. The shroud is kept in the royal chapel of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin, northern Italy. The Catholic Church has neither formally endorsed nor rejected the shroud, but in 1958 Pope Pius XII approved of the image in association with the devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus. Pope John Paul II called the Shroud "a mirror of the Gospel".
The origins of the shroud and its images are the subject of intense debate among theologians, historians and other researchers. Diverse arguments have been made in scientific and popular publications claiming to prove that the cloth is the authentic burial shroud of Jesus, based on disciplines ranging from chemistry to biology and medical forensics to optical image analysis. In 1988, three radiocarbon dating tests dated a corner piece of the shroud from the Middle Ages, between the years 1260 and 1390, which is consistent with the shroud's first known exhibition in France in 1357.[5] Certain shroud researchers have challenged the dating, arguing the results were skewed by the introduction of material from the Middle Ages to the portion of the shroud used for radiocarbon dating. However, none of the hypotheses challenging the radiocarbon dating have been scientifically proven.
The image on the shroud is much clearer in black-and-white negative than in its natural sepia color, and this negative image was first observed in 1898 on the reverse photographic plate of amateur photographer Secondo Pia, who was allowed to photograph it while it was being exhibited. A variety of methods have been proposed for the formation of the image, but the actual method used has not yet been conclusively identified. Despite numerous investigations and tests, the status of the Shroud of Turin remains murky, and the nature of the image and how it was fixed on the cloth remain puzzling. The shroud continues to be both intensely studied and controversial.
Sudarium of Oviedo[]
The Sudarium of Oviedo, or Shroud of Oviedo, is a bloodstained piece of cloth measuring c. 84 x 53 cm (33 x 21 inches) kept in the Cámara Santa of the Cathedral of San Salvador, Oviedo, Spain.[1] The Sudarium (Latin for sweat cloth) is thought to be the cloth that was wrapped around the head of Jesus Christ after he died as described in John 20:6-7
The cloth has been dated to around 700 AD by radiocarbon dating. However, at the same conference at which this information was presented, it was noted that in actuality the cloth has a definite history extending back to approximately 570 AD. The laboratory noted that later oil contamination could have resulted in the late dating.
The small chapel housing it was built specifically for the cloth by King Alfonso II of Asturias in AD 840; the Arca Santa is an elaborate reliquary chest with a Romanesque metal frontal for the storage of the Sudarium and other relics. The Sudarium is displayed to the public three times a year: Good Friday, the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross on 14 September, and its octave on 21 September.
Veil of Veronica[]
The Veil of Veronica, or Sudarium (Latin for sweat-cloth), often called simply "The Veronica" and known in Italian as the Volto Santo or Holy Face (but not to be confused with the carved crucifix Volto Santo of Lucca), is a Christian relic of a piece of cloth which, according to tradition, bears the likeness of the face of Jesus not made by human hand (i.e. an acheiropoieton). Various existing images have been claimed to be the "original" relic, or early copies of it.
The final form of the Western tradition recounts that Saint Veronica from Jerusalem encountered Jesus along the Via Dolorosa on the way to Calvary. When she paused to wipe the blood and sweat (Latin sudor) off his face with her veil, his image was imprinted on the cloth. The event is commemorated by the Sixth Station of the Cross. According to some versions, St. Veronica later traveled to Rome to present the cloth to the Roman Emperor Tiberius and the veil possessing the Grace of God, was able to quench thirst, cure blindness, and even raise the dead.
The story is not recorded in its present form until the Middle Ages. During the fourteenth century it became a central icon in the Western Church; in the words of art historian Neil Macgregor: "From [the 14th Century] on, wherever the Roman Church went, the Veronica would go with it." The act of Saint Veronica wiping the face of Jesus with her veil is celebrated in the sixth Station of the Cross in many Anglican, Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist and Western Orthodox churches.
Image of Edessa[]
According to Christian tradition, the Image of Edessa was a holy relic consisting of a square or rectangle of cloth upon which a miraculous image of the face of Jesus had been imprinted—the first icon ("image"). In the Orthodox Churches, including English-speaking Orthodoxy, the image is generally known as the Mandylion.
By this account, King Abgar of Edessa wrote to Jesus, asking him to come cure him of an illness. Abgar received a reply letter from Jesus, declining the invitation, but promising a future visit by one of his disciples. Instead, one of the seventy disciples, Thaddeus of Edessa, is said to have come to Edessa, bearing the words of Jesus, by the virtues of which the king was miraculously healed.
This tradition was first recorded in the early 4th century by Eusebius of Caesarea, who said that he had transcribed and translated the actual letter in the Syriac chancery documents of the king of Edessa, but who makes no mention of an image. The report of an image, which accrued to the legendarium of Abgar, first appears in the Syriac work, the Doctrine of Addai: according to it, the messenger, here called Ananias, was also a painter, and he painted the portrait, which was brought back to Edessa and conserved in the royal palace.
The first record of the existence of a physical image in the ancient city of Edessa (now Urfa) was by Evagrius Scholasticus, writing about 593, who reports a portrait of Christ of divine origin, which effected the miraculous aid in the defence of Edessa against the Persians in 544. The image was moved to Constantinople in the 10th century. The cloth disappeared when Constantinople was sacked in 1204 during the Fourth Crusade, and is believed by some to have reappeared as a relic in King Louis IX of France's Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. This relic disappeared in the French Revolution.
Holy Chalice (Holy Grail)[]
Christ of the Eucharist by Juan Juanes. This 16th-century painting depicts the Valencia Chalice.
The Holy Chalice, also known as the Holy Grail, is the vessel which in Christian tradition Jesus used at the Last Supper to serve the wine. The vessel is referred to in the synoptic gospels as ποτήριον ("cup, drinking vessel"). The celebration of the Eucharist in Christian churches and communities retains the original elements of the Last Supper, the bread and the cup or chalice, with the celebrant using the words of Jesus, as recorded in the Gospels. The Holy Chalice in the form of the Holy Grail became a topos in Arthurian romance in the high medieval period. In Roman Catholic relic veneration of the later medieval period, two artifacts, one kept in Genoa and the other in Valencia, were identified as the Holy Chalice.
The iconic significance of the Chalice grew during the Early Middle Ages. Depictions of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, such as that in the fourteenth-century frescoes of the church at the Öja, Gotland (illustration, right), show a prefigured apparition of the Holy Chalice that stands at the top of the mountain, illustrating the words "Let this cup be taken from me". Together with the halo-enveloped Hand of God and the haloed figure of Jesus, the halo image atop the chalice, as if of a consecrated communion wafer, completes the Trinity by embodying the Holy Spirit.
Holy Grail[]
The Holy Grail
The Holy Grail is a vessel that serves as an important motif in Arthurian literature. Different traditions describe it as a cup, dish or stone with miraculous powers that provide happiness, eternal youth or sustenance in infinite abundance. The term "holy grail" is often used to denote an object or goal that is sought after for its great significance.
A "grail", wondrous but not explicitly holy, first appears in Perceval, le Conte du Graal, an unfinished romance written by Chrétien de Troyes around 1190. Here, it is a processional salver, a tray, used to serve at a feast. Chrétien's story attracted many continuators, translators and interpreters in the later 12th and early 13th centuries, including Wolfram von Eschenbach, who perceived the grail as a Stone. In the late 12th century, Robert de Boron wrote in Joseph d'Arimathie that the Grail was Jesus's vessel from the Last Supper, which Joseph of Arimathea used to catch Christ's blood at the Crucifixion. Thereafter, the Holy Grail became interwoven with the legend of the Holy Chalice, the Last Supper cup, a theme continued in works such as the Vulgate Cycle, the Post-Vulgate Cycle, and Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur.
Scholars have long speculated on the origins of the Holy Grail before Chrétien, suggesting that it may contain elements of the trope of magical cauldrons from Celtic mythology combined with Christian legend surrounding the Eucharist, the latter found in Eastern Christian sources, conceivably in that of the Byzantine Mass, or even Persian sources.
Crown of Thorns[]
Christ Carrying the Cross as portrayed by El Greco, 1580
According to three of the canonical Gospels a woven crown of thorns was placed on the head of Jesus during the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. It was one of the instruments of the Passion, employed by Jesus' captors both to cause him pain and to mock his claim of authority. It is mentioned in the gospels of Matthew ('And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee and mocked him, saying Hail, King of the Jews!' 27:29 KJV), Mark (15:17), and John (19:2, 5) and is often alluded to by the early Church Fathers, such as Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and others. In later centuries, relics believed by many to be all or part of the Crown of Thorns have been venerated.
A few writers of the first six centuries AD speak of a relic known to be still in existence and venerated by the faithful. St. Paulinus of Nola, writing after 409, refers to "the thorns with which Our Saviour was crowned" as relics held in honour along with the Cross to which he was nailed and the pillar at which he was scourged. Cassiodoru, when commenting on Psalm lxxxvi, speaks of the crown of thorns among the other relics which are the glory of the earthly Jerusalem. "There", he says, "we may behold the thorny crown, which was only set upon the head of Our Redeemer in order that all the thorns of the world might be gathered together and broken". When Gregory of Tours in De gloria martyri avers that the thorns in the crown still looked green, a freshness which was miraculously renewed each day, he does not much strengthen the historical authenticity of a relic he had not seen, but the Breviarius, and the itinerary of Antoninus of Piacenza (6th century) clearly state that the crown of thorns was currently shown in the church on Mount Zion. From these fragments of evidence and others of later date (the "Pilgrimage" of the monk Bernard shows that the relic was still at Mount Zion in 870), it is likely that a purported crown of thorns was venerated at Jerusalem from the fifth century for several hundred years.
Mottos and Prayers[]
"Darkness beyond blackest pitch Deeper than the deepest night Lord as vast as the largest ocean Colder than the coldest ice Queen of Ice who shines like gold upon the Sea of Chaos I call upon thee and swear myself to thee. I stand ready to bear the strength you give me. Let the fools who stand before me be destroyed By the power you and I possess!"
"Lord of the Dreams that Terrify, Sword of Cold and Darkness, free yourself from the heaven´s bonds, Become one with my power, one with my body And let us walk the path of destruction together! Power that can smash even the souls of Gods, RAGNA BLADE!!"
"Anál nathrach, orth’ bháis’s bethad, do chél dénmha." (Serpent's breath, charm of death and life, thy omen of making.)
"I, who stand in the full light of the heavens, command thee, who opens the gates of hell. Come forth, divine lightning! This ends now! INDIGNATION!"
"Blind your eyes, mystic serpent. Blind your eyes to the moonlight and open them on darker gulfs! What do you see, oh serpent of Set? Whom do you call from the gulfs of the Night? Whose shadow falls on the waning Light? Call him to me, oh serpent of Set!"
"Dolibix kalipar kiranann alan liz!" (By the power of the light, I shall wipe you out with the power of Liz!)
"Tagolann ast norn pakliol nal!" (Destroy those fools, light of justice!)
"Tagolann boli idish!" (Destroy the darkness, Core!)
"Vigis jistrathar gadurm xaquin!" (May your path be blessed by the gods!)
"Dolibix tagolann boli!" (Burn in the flames of Lazarus!)
"Alan igira xaquin!" (May Wáng crush you!)
"Dolibix qaziem kini ya!" (Peace and harmony for this planet!)
"Korilath miopiar a!" (Return to Limbo, Beast!)
"Igira a gadurm khetsaram!" (Save the power of light!)
"Sula jistrathar sinur jalaran ast!" (May the light of the our hearts shine in the heavens!)
"Suh khetsaram vimi!" (Gaze into the mirror!)
"Korilath xaquin a!" (The sun has set on you!)
"Tsaran boli qaziem!" (My warriors will rise above the rest!)
"Tagolann tsaran vigis!" (Destroy these heretics!)
"Sobek, grant the power... that it may mold this wretched creature... that it may be reborn... that it may serve... ARGH! Dark incantations! Always overwritten."
"Heed me now, thou who is darker than dusk, Heed that which is more red than blood, In the name of that which has been buried in the bottomless abyss of time eternal, I summon thee, Master of the ultimate darkness, Have no pity on the fools who stand in our way, Infuse me with power; let your strength become mine to wipe them from the face of this earth to deliver unto them the ultimate doom! DRAGON SLAVE!"
"For the glory of Liz, Daylight is mine to command!"
"Ye must desire respite from thy empty existence.. Thou shalt have it! Celestial Star!"
Shingeki no Bahamut - Rage of Bahamut (Quality Extended)
Witch Cult Vs. Triggers Hell[]
Hiroyuki Sawano - 「Human After All」 "Suite" - Epic Battle Music
Witch Cult Vs. New World Order[]
Hiroyuki Sawano -「dEvilGOD」- Epic Battle Music
Witch Cult Vs. United Kingdom of America[]
Hiroyuki Sawano -「MARKS Of The DRAGON」"Suite" - Epic Battle Music
Witch Cult Vs. Moloch[]
Hiroyuki Sawano - Born of Fire "Epic Battle Music"
Witch Cult Vs. Heis[]
Shingeki no Kyojin - Attack on Titan Fight Theme
Witch Cult Vs. Black Army[]
Hiroyuki Sawano -「Undead Will Rise」 “Suite” - Epic Battle Music
Witch Cult Vs. Gigalomaniacs[]
Attack on Titans OST - Eren's Berserk Theme
Witch Cult Vs. Leohart's Cult[]
GLADIATOR BATTLE THEME Barbarian Horde cut version
Witch Cult Vs. KnightWalker's Fleet[]
Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End OST "I Don't Think Now Is the Best Time"
Mana World Vs. Hell and Qliphoth[]
Harry Potter Soundtrack - Battle Of Hogwarts Theme
Witch Cult Vs. Vira[]
Hiroyuki Sawano - Final→BOSS "Epic Battle Music"
Witch Cult Vs. Unit-CM 130[]
Hiroyuki Sawano - B attleborn ～ Epic Battle Music
Witch Cult Vs. Red Moon Tyrant[]
Hiroyuki Sawano - 「Freedom Fighters」 "Suite" - Epic Battle Music
Witch Cult Vs. Diabla the Qliphoth Tyrant[]
300 Rise Of An Empire - Fog Battle - Soundtrack Score
Witch Cult Vs. Ara Astaroth[]
Two Steps From Hell - To Glory (Invincible)
Witch Cult Vs. Sequined Sadist[]
Attack on Titan Season 2 OST 03 - YouSeeBIGGIRL T T (Reiner Berthold Transformation Theme)
Cultus Pythonissam Vs. Idea of Evil - Final Battle[]
Evangelion 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone - Angel of Doom
Gallery[]
An mage apprentice of Witch Cult
Slayer mages of the organization
One of Witch Cult's methods to free possessed people is exactly cutting off their heads
A Priestess of Witch Cult
A Master Mage in action
Blade Dancer witch
A young priest in patrol
The Holy Army of Witch Cult after defeating the Black Army
Trivia[]
Despite the naming and symbolism which heavily references the Knights Templar, the CIS Productions has stressed that this faction is purely fictional and the background of the faction begins during the time of Babylon, long before Christianity and all concept of civilization even existed. The Witch Cult In-Universe won't be restricted to any religion or race.
Each mage's rank name is derived from Latin, corresponding to the Latin numerical prefixes unde (11), duode (12), tredec (13), quatuordec (14), quinde (15), sede (16), and septende (17). By extension, even the names and military ranks are in Latin.
Virgin Maria
Curious enough, all female mages of both Witch Cult and 13 Corps have a rule to stay in both organizations. All of the female mages and magic-users have to be "virgin" and keep their chastity until the end of their lives. The reason behind this is because for women to use magic they need to keep their bodies, minds and souls pure and away from sexual relationships. Usually, when a witch from both organizations break their pact and loses her virginity, she loses her magic mana and is banished from the organizations under the threat of being killed since she knows too much of their organization. The men, however, don't seem to have this trouble.
The concept of the females mages and witch being virgin was taken from the New Testment of the Hebrew Bibly. The gospels of Matthew and Luke in the New Testament and the Quran describe Mary as a virgin and Christians believe that she conceived her son while a virgin by the Holy Spirit. The miraculous conception took place when she was already betrothed to Joseph and was awaiting the concluding rite of marriage, the formal home-taking ceremony. The Catholic Church holds distinctive Marian dogmas, namely her status as the Mother of God, her Immaculate Conception, her perpetual virginity, and her Assumption into heaven. Many Protestants minimize Mary's role within Christianity, based on the argued brevity of biblical references. Mary also has a revered position in Islam, where one of the longer chapters of the Quran is devoted to her.
Magilou, for example is a heretic of their organization for leaving the Witch Cult and falling in love with a young human boy called Karma Maxwell, however, at some point Karma was killed by Vira when the Revelation of Qliphoth invaded the small island where he was living in Philippines. Years later, she discovered he was alive as a Cyborg from KnightWalker Family and married him after she helped him to break out of Eckidina KnightWalker's brainwash. As a consequence, Magilou got pregnant and lost half of her magic mana over the course of only 4 months. This caused Magilou to be killed by Ara Astaroth during their battle in Argentina.
Despite their history mean each organization was founded in their respective years (Witch Cult: 602,000 B.C. years ago. Mana World: 700,000,000 B.C. years ago), the exact year of their foundation is largely unknown as some characters mention different years to each introduction of their groups.
To advance from one magic rank to the next in Mana World, one has to pass a Mage Rank Examination. A mage's rank can be reduced either because of severe injuries or temporarily by placing a limiter upon him or her.
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