CULTS
Cults are relatively small human organizations bound together by strange beliefs that strive to access terrible powers. What sets cults apart from other organizations in their fanaticism and the lengths they go to complete their goals.
CREATING YOUR OWN CULTS
To create a custom cult, begin with a few simple elements; a goal to unite them, a resource they leverage in pursuit of power, and their internal hierarchy. This serves as the foundation to build off of. To broaden their scope and give them greater characterization, consider whether they’re directly aligned with a Horror and if they have any special Rituals that set them apart from other organizations and cults.
CULTIST
STR: 11 DEX: 10 CTRL: 8
HP: 4
Dagger (d6) or Gun (d6)
- Rituals: There is a 1-in-6 chance that a cultist has access to Rituals granted by their specific communion.
- Devout: Something about the teaching of the cult has drawn the cultist in, and so they give of themselves completely.
- Safety in Numbers: Cultists are rarely alone, as power is derived in number, and it is hard to waver if always with another.
d8 CULTIST RITUALS
Some cultists gain access to Rituals through their sacraments and rites.
- Curse: Alter the fate of another individual by reducing one of their Attributes by d6 for the duration.
- Channel Horror: Bind yourself to a creature beyond the veil, gaining some of its power. Add d6 to an Attribute while active.
- Mirror Step: You create a portal out of a mirror, allowing you to enter the Mirror Dimension.
- Staining Mark: You place a mark on an object or being. For the Ritual’s duration, you can see their location, across any distance or space.
- Edema: Fill a target’s lungs with fluid. The target takes d4 damage every round until they can pass a STR Save to expel the fluid.
- Blood Forge: You extract your blood and coalesce it into a weapon, making your next attack Enhanced. Take d4 damage.
- Apotropo: Creates a protective barrier against other Rituals for the duration.
- Static Shock: Energy cascades from your fingertips in multiple arcs. It is difficult to control and aim, dealing blast damage and hitting all individuals within the target area.
d10 RITES AND SACRAMENTS
- Create a Greater Horror to be their champion.
- Summon a Greater Horror to receive a blessing.
- Bind Lesser Horrors to their service.
- Scry the location of a Resonant Artifact.
- Fortify their body and souls in order to survive contact with their Dead God.
- Manifest prophetic visions.
- Open a gate or portal to another dimension or plane of existence.
- Bestow a boon upon the congregation.
- Bind a Resonant Artifact to their will.
- Transforming a human into the embodiment of a Dead God.
CULT GENERATOR
| d12 | Name A | Name B | Lead by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Order of | The Crimson Moon | An elderly man |
| 2 | Knights of | The Golden Coast | Identical twins |
| 3 | Brotherhood of | Ordo Aspecto | A false prophet |
| 4 | Society of | The Red Sand | A board of directors |
| 5 | Devotees of | The Double Leaf | An embalmed corpse |
| 6 | Confederation of | Divine Salvation | A former priest |
| 7 | College of | The Gilded Apostles | A politician |
| 8 | Union of | The Black Dragon | A famous celebrity |
| 9 | Defender of | The Azure Vault | A small child |
| 10 | Association of | Druidic Scholarship | A dog |
| 11 | Military Order of | The Reincarnated Divine | A grandmotherly woman |
| 12 | Fellowship of | Empyrean Apocalypse | Seemingly no one at all |
| d12 | Uniform | Resources | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hooded cloak | Resonant Artifacts | Summon |
| 2 | Shining armor | Human capital | Gain power |
| 3 | Business suit | Direct link to a horror | Transform themselves |
| 4 | Tracksuit | Business connections | Break their humanity |
| 5 | Coveralls | Prophecy | Acquire Resonant Artifacts |
| 6 | All pink everything | Strange powers | Create Resonant Artifacts |
| 7 | Elaborate face paint | Rituals | Maintain power |
| 8 | Holy symbols | Incredible wealth | Worship |
| 9 | Animal pelts | A large cache of weapons | Punish |
| 10 | Military gear | Friends in law enforcement | Grow their ranks |
| 11 | Elaborate mask | Legitimate fronts | Destroy the government |
| 12 | Yellow gaiter | Hypnotic conversion | Sacrifice victims |
EXAMPLE CULTS
Here are three Cults we’ve included with an open license (CC-BY 4.0). Our hope is that these Cults can serve as an exemplar template for your own custom Cults. Given the open license provided in this SRD, you can use them fully in your own publications.
KNOWN CULTS
- Knights of Amelioration
- Devotes of Bael
- The Barrons
KNIGHTS OF AMELIORATION
A secret order whose main goal is to help humans toward fulfilling their “Promise of Progress”. Centuries old, this group lacks the pomp and structural resources of other cults. Members often act alone or in small groups, seeking to influence events with the goal of “betterment through progress”.
NOTABLE MEMBERS:
- James David: Former mayor, he is currently running to be a state representative in the Oregon House. A true believer that humans alone will achieve the “Promise of Progress”.
- Clyde Jacobs: A truck driver, he comes from a long line of Knights. He has the uncanny ability to smell dimensional anomalies.
THE RITE OF THE BOUNTIFUL HARVEST
The Knights seek Resonant Artifacts and those touched by other planes for the express purpose of shattering their influence and reforming it in service of mankind.
ASSETS
- Many politicians and public servants are secretly Knights. Their level of dedication may vary, but they draw a lot of membership from these fields.
- Known Rituals: Some members have access to Divination.
- The Swords of Amelioration: An rusted short sword used by the Knights to shatter Resonant Artifacts. Unbeknownst to them it was forged in Living Flame.
DEVOTEES OF BAEL
A group who leverage their connection with their patron, Bael for wealth and prosperity. Bael is a major Devil whose material form was banished long ago. Maintaining that bond comes at a terrible price. Some members hope to bring Bael in the flesh.
NOTABLE MEMBERS:
- Cheryle Carter: A CEO who has launched two different successful MLM businesses, one is beauty and wellness while the other is lifestyle coaching.
- Henry Sanz: Serves on both the local and regional board of SW Homeowners Association.
THE RITE OF THE QUICKENING
The Devotees attempt to summon aspects of Bael and his subjects in order to gain material boons, including personal power, wealth, and influence.
ASSETS
- Membership requires substantial tithe from each cultist. This tithe is both financial, which leads to a considerable operations capability, as well as a tithe of flesh. The ritual to summon the boons of Bael is simple but requires human sacrifice.
- Some members know the ritual Evocation.
- A temple to Bael has been built and perpetually added to for the past 40 years. Each year new additions are added. No one resides in the complex.
THE BARRONS
A family of individuals not related by blood who take on the Barron surname. They have immense wealth and connection, exerting their influence to bring about “The Sundering”. Their investments entangle them with multiple other cults and organizations, often through hidden channels.
NOTABLE MEMBERS:
- Harold Barron: Runs an extensive shipping empire Barron Logistics, much of which is off the books.
- MacKenzie Barron: A dedicated philanthropist who uses wealth to provide grants for academic research and expeditions.
RITE OF THE SUNDERING
The Barrons manipulate both people and cosmic forces in order to create tears and fragments of the material plane, making otherworldly incursions more likely.
ASSETS
- Their businesses reside in a family trust. Success and growth over time has provided them immense wealth and connections with other organizations.
- Currently, Barron Logistics is heavily invested in Panopticon’s operations at Evenson Factory.
- Some members know the ritual Essence Transfer.
- The Barrons use the ritual of Essence Transfer to keep their souls alive in new bodies.
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