the Church

The Church of Hermes, usually called simply the Church, is the dominant religious and political power of the mainland, ruling from its Holy City in Hermes. It teaches that there is a single God and that witches are evil beings, the demons' 'messengers' lured into degeneracy, to be purified by fire.

To hunt witches it fields the God's Punishment Army and wields the God's Stone of Retaliation, which suppresses most witches' powers. Its persecution is the central threat hanging over every witch and the chief obstacle to Roland's plans.

Behind its public doctrine the Church guards ancient secrets about witches, the demons and the recurring Battle of Divine Will — history it has deliberately buried to keep its grip on the world.