The Clock Tower » Hammerites

“A rod of iron, in the flame, is transfigured and is no more. Thou canst never return unchanged from the forge.”

The Order of the Hammer is a technocratic religious group also known as the Hammerites. They seek to appease the Builder, their architect god, and are the driving force of progress and order in the Thief series.

Hammerite Priest

Navigation
I. Overview
II. Origins
III. Modern History
IV. Hierarchy
V. Armaments
VI. Role within the City
VII. Places of Interest
VIII. Persons of Interest

Overview

Hammerites represent order and orthodox religion and zealously enforce the tenets of their faith. Part of this means a ceaseless strife against criminals and other law-breakers, but particularly against their long-time enemies the Pagans who they regard as blasphemers seeking to create chaos.

The Hammerites are a most industrious group, acting as construction contractors, working factories, and providing other sorts of technology for the City. However, they seem to have restrictions to technological progress and regard the inventions of the Mechanists as heretical.

Origins

The Order of the Hammer is one of the oldest groups in existence, second only to perhaps the Order of the Vine. Many writings within Hammerite scriptures suggest that they once lived as the Pagans do, wearing animal skins and using bone tools.

Thus they believe that it was only through the use of the hammer that they rose above the animals. It is unknown exactly when such an event occurred, but it was supposedly before Karath-Din and the rise of humanity.

Once mankind discovered the use of the hammer, however, he soon learned to build with it. Huts became shelters, shelters became houses, and houses eventually gave way to stone buildings.

The Hammerites attribute the Hammer and man’s subsequent ascendancy to the Builder – the god of industry and innovation. As such, they founded their order on his principles.

Modern History

The past hundred years alone have seen significant changes within the Order of the Hammer. It currently finds itself in a weakened position – a dilemma it has not known for nearly a thousand years.

The Order lost a great deal of influence due to the Baron withdrawing his support and the Mechanist schism that drastically reduced their numbers. As a result, the City Watch was formed and took over most of the Hammerite’s role in law enforcement.

Even after the fall of Karras, the Watch would maintain control of the law, though the Hammers still routinely patrol areas of their influence.

Hierarchy

The Order is led by a High Priest with supreme jurisdiction who astutely observes the implementation of the Builder’s will and has access to every Hammer facility. The Temple Priests and Master Forgers are one level below him and have more limited authority.

Next are the Hammer soldiers and craftsmen who form the main body of the order. They are all adept with their weapons and tools and are keen followers of the Builder’s code. Last in the chain of command are the novices who have very limited rights, can’t talk while on temple grounds, and must prove their dedication to the Order.

Hammerite Forge

Armaments

Hammerite equipment has changed very little within the past few hundred years. The Order possesses some of the City’s finest metalworkers and craftsmen, so it is only natural that they also possess some of the finest armor and weaponry.

Workers in a foundry can usually be seen wearing little or no armor, choosing instead to wear leather smocks which protect them from the heat.

Brothers on patrol or guard duty can often be seen wearing leather jerkins or light plate armor. Some have also been seen wearing chainmail.

Hammerite weaponry has also changed very little. As implied by the name, Hammerites prefer a simple sledge hammer as their weapon of choice.

Role Within the City

Hammerites impact the City in three ways – economically, religiously, and judicially. Beyond these, the Order usually remains autonomous within its various compounds and interacts little with outsiders.

The Order’s most obvious contribution to the City is bolstering its economy, as they are some of the City’s best metalworkers and engineers. The many tools needed by the City’s laborers are forged and sold by Hammer-affiliated shops and smithies.

In addition to this, many agree that the Order contains some of the best construction crews available. Most of the City’s landmarks were built by Hammerites and still stand to this day.

Despite its concentration on the practical, the Order of the Hammer is at its heart a religious organization. The Order bases both its work ethic and idealistic morals on the scriptures of its faith.

It preaches that mankind was lifted above the animals by the intervention of the Builder, and that he expects mankind to live in accordance with his tenets.

These tenets teach that one should live life without sin, that one should work without falter, and that order should be maintained. Of course, each of these are open to interpretation, and the Hammerite laws regarding them are typically harsh and lacking mercy.

As an extension of their views on sin and order, the Hammerites often take an interest in the judicial affairs of the City. In fact, many criminals fear Hammerite justice more than that of the City Watch.

Hammerites have even been known to strike down suspected criminals in the streets, and those that survive arrest often find themselves incarcerated at Cragscleft Prison, a compound located outside the City.

Places of Interest

The list below contains some of the most notable Hammerite structures located throughout the City. Almost all Hammerite facilities are constructed of wood and stone and typically serve a dual purpose – a testament to the practicality of the Order.