Deepshields

The Deepshields are a religious organisation dedicated to worship of Istar, the Mother Goddess, primarily based in the Aurelian Empire.

The Deepshields are proud of the Mother’s perceived role as the guardian of the Deep and protector of the Material realm from the horrors of the Abyss. As such, they are devout demon-hunters, destroying those they see as corrupting the natural world. Both demons and those who seek to summon them are targets for the Deepshields’ wrath.

The organisation has historically also persecuted Tieflings, with many members seeing them as little more than demonspawn on the material plane.

The Deepshields are loosely organised, with no one single head or leader. Instead, they are split into numerous chapters spread through the Empire and beyond, many based at fortress monasteries, keeps or outposts set up by the organisation.

The organisation has a long-standing conflict with the Order of Kosmos, who they view as searching for and using dangerous knowledge with which they cannot be trusted. The Deepshields have been known to seek out and destroy evidence of demon summoning or tomes and knowledge of how it can be done, which sits at odds with the Order’s pursuit and hoarding of all forms of knowledge, particularly that which may benefit the Order.