These small cults are limited to 2-12 believers, drawn to Pellod for its way-station status on the sea and (to a lesser extent) land trading-routes between Arantis and Allansia.
Cult of the Cobra (#15/28; #46/365)
The Cult of the Cobra revers Sithera, the Djaratian Goddess of Evil, and avatar of the Snake Demon Sith. They have small cells of followers across the southlands, dedicated to the resurrection of some of Sith's ancient high priests, such as the Mummy Lord Akharis. Cobra Cultists wear red robes that bear the emblem of a golden cobra, and are usually armed with scimitars and throwing daggers. They also have access to strange desert-based magic such as summoning swarms of desert hornets, creating Sand Golems, and controlled bandaged hordes of mummified denizens from many a lost Djaratian necropolis or tomb.
In Pellod, the Cult of the Cobra have a safe-house on a hilltop overlooking the city; from here they plot and scheme, keeping in contact with their brethren in Rimon and elsewhere by messenger-falcon. Their leader is Drenek Rabra (unkempt, violent), an apparently destitute vintner. The Cult of the Cobra are always on the lookout for adventurers and explorers bringing trinkets and artefacts back from the Desert of Skulls, in case these items will help them in their quest to restore their dead masters back to a semblance of 'undead' life.
The Dark Disciples (#16/28; #47/365)
This sect are based in the lost city of Vatos where they enjoy the patronage of the High Priestess Leesha. They are followers of the Dark One, an amalgamation of the first three Dark Lords; Death, Disease and Decay. Dark Disciples garb themselves in somber brown robes, and brandish iron-bladed sickles as weapons. Once a month the Dark Disciples kidnap a random citizen of Pellod to sacrifice to the Dark One on the last day of the month; the victim must wear a gold medallion inscribed with the shape of a heart to ensure their ritual acquiescence.
The chief priest is Gar-Gol of Halak (big nose, humble), ostensibly a dealer in Djaratian antiquities, who dwells in a marble villa on the hill-slopes leading up to the Baron's Tower. As a high-ranking member of Pellodian society, Gar-Gol uses their status to quash any investigations into the activities of the Dark Disciples, who meet in the cellars beneath their house. However, the guard captain Poldar Proudfist grows suspicious, and Gar-Gol has sent messengers to Vatos recently, seeking Leesha's magical aid...
The Phoenix Cult of New Vatos (#17/28; #48/365)
This is perhaps the dominant belief system in the community that dwells within the ruined city of Vatos, a debased combination worshiping both the Fire God Filash and the Wind God Pangara. Taking the semi-mythical Phoenix bird (see Beyond the Pit, pp. 102-103) as their symbol, these cultists wear white robes and a white head-dress, fastened with a golden clasp in the shape of a Phoenix, with the birds' wings flat against the cultists' foreheads. They are typically armed with scimitars; some cultists will also have powers or enchanted items to summon and invoke Fire, Air and Wind Elementals.
In Pellod, the cult is centered around the Street of Carpets, and, in particular, the rug-weaver Avakha the Large (fat, dishonest), whose wall-hangings and floor-coverings typically feature a Phoenix detailed somewhere within the textile threads. The followers of the Phoenix Cult are technically in conflict with both the Dark Disciples and the more mainstream Temple of Pangara; such a diverse group of enemies means they are very cautious and careful. All Phoenix Cultists carry 1-2 Yokka Eggs (see Encyclopedia Arcana: Volume 1, p. 121) upon their person, to be used only in times of extreme danger. The source of these eggs is unknown, but some cultists have been seen to make long dangerous pilgrimages into the north-western crags, possibly in search of Phoenix nests.
Wheelie Circle Cult (#18/28; #49/365)
The weird race of disc-shaped Wheelies (see Out of the Pit, p. 119) are known from these parts; they are more common in Dust Town but some also work in Pellod as labourers and carters around the Souq, or wherever transportation is required. While most Wheelies are followers of the Trickster God Logaan, some resent this slavish devotion to maintaining 'The Balance' and are instead acolytes of the Circle Rune (see Titan, p. 73), universal symbol of the Dark Lords and Chaos Gods.
These Wheelie Circle Cultists can be detected by the presence of an iron ring worn on one of their four hands; denoting their allegiance to the Circle Rune. They are usually armed with up to four throwing daggers, and some may also have a holstered blow-pipe and several darts, usually tipped with a fast-acting, sleep-inducing drug. Led by a heavily scarred Wheelie 'priest' Gor-Thax (hairy, greedy), who operates from a mud-brick hovel just outside the city walls, on the trail to Dust Town, their depredations consist of late-night muggings where the victim has a circle carved into their forehead with a sharp knife. Worse things will surely follow...
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