Brotherhood

THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE LAMB

Every hero has a set of bad guys to contend with, and Casca has to deal with the ultimate religious fanatical sect known as the Brotherhood of the Lamb.

The Brotherhood of the Lamb was founded by Izram, a man who called himself the Thirteenth disciple, in the wake of Jesus' death at the hands of Casca's spear thrust. Purchasing the spear from comrades of Casca, he went into the wilderness for forty days before the revelation came to him: Jesus said to Casca "Soldier, you are content with what you are, so shall you be until we meet again". Therefore it stood to reason that when Jesus returned at the Second Coming he would meet Casca. The Brotherhood would keep Casca in their sights until that day; though they may hate Casca for his actions on Golgotha, they must not prevent him from meeting their Lord.

Izram left the Brotherhood their holiest relic, the Spear of Longinus, which the sect worship and forms the central focus at prayer times. At all times the sect is run by an Elder, who oversees the Sect's hierarchy, the Inner Circle. This is composed of the Elder and twelve other specially chosen brothers who run the militant religious organisation. They do not preach weakness and submission, but force and power.

MACABRE RE-ENACTMENT
On the most holy of days in the Brotherhood's calendar, the sect recreate the crucifixion, right down to killing one of their 'blessed' bretheren who has been selected to act the part of Jesus. Another, usually the Elder, plays the part of Casca, dressed in Roman uniform, who executes 'Jesus' with their holiest relic, the Spear of Longinus.

CLASHES WITH CASCA
The Brotherhood has earned Casca's emnity through the ages in their treatment of who they regard as the 'Spawn of Satan'. Ever since Elder Dacort severed Casca's hand for daring to touch the Spear at their monastery in the wilds of Asia, there have been many bloody meetings. In Casca #6: The Persian, Rasheed, a minor acolyte, arranged to have Casca burned at the stake, thinking it just punishment for spearing Jesus. In Casca #9: The Sentinel, Elder Gregory murdered Casca's adopted son, Demos, and his woman, Ireina. Casca has even been prisoner of the Brotherhood, in Casca #18: The Cursed and Casca #4: Panzer Soldier. In Casca 25: Halls of Montezuma, the Brotherhood try unsuccessfully to capture Casca for all eternity.

Never Resting
The Brotherhood will never rest in its vigilence. It knows the reviled Casca Rufio Longinus is their path back to Christ and they will stop at nothing in keeping their most hated enemy in their sights for all time. And, on occasions, they may inflict pain if they see fit.

ELDERS
The Brotherhood is always led by one they call 'Elder', and known Elders include:
Dacort (see #3:The Warlord)
Imhept (see #6:The Persian)
Gregory (see #9: The Sentinel)
Thassus (see #28: The Avenger
Janus (see #28: The Avenger)
Father Mulcahy (see #18: The Cursed)
Heinrich Himmler (see #4: Panzer Soldier)