Asmoreans
This cult is tightly bound with the Syrican Brotherhood. It's members worship Lord Asmore, Master of Domination and Prince of Hell. Most high ranking members of the Syrican Brotherhood and many of its rank and file are members of this faith. Asmoreans believe it is their role to be the masters and enslavers of the weak. The sect's temples are typically small and well-concealed since the faith is illegal in most of the northern and mountain Kingdoms. The sect does operate overtly in Rowes where they enjoy official sponsorship and protection. It is rumored that the cult has also spread south of the Spine Mountains to the great trading city of Goutara.
The sect is known for it harsh rituals. Members typically have concealed tattoos of cabalistic symbols which are applied in special rituals and indicate their rank in the faith. Other rituals include and torture and blood sacrifice of captives. Asmoreans value discipline, willpower and endurance of pain. They believe their devotion to Lord Asmorean makes them superior to others and gives them the right to dominate others.
Structure
The faith if very hierarchical with unrelenting expectations of obedience and duty towards one's superiors. The sect's highest ranking priest has the title of the Mask of Asmore and will select individuals to serve as high priests at each temple of Asmore. These high priests will in turn recruit and train lower ranking priests and priestesses to serve the mission of the Asmoreans and recruit new followers to the faith. It is thought there are somewhere between 100 and 200 priests and priestesses in the religion's entire establishment. However, when new temples are established the priesthood must expand to led the new congregation. Each high priests had a group of 3-10 Guardians, with the Mask of Asmore having 20 such guardians. These individuals protect temples, serve as bodyguards to the priests and work with the priests to obtain victims for sacrifice.
Public Agenda
To serve and honor Lord Asmorean to create and orderly and disciplined society ruled superior men and women in which all others are bound to service.
Assets
The cult has perhaps a score of temples scattered across the north and the Spine. The Grand Temple of Asmore is located on Rowes and is by all accounts a large and impressive structure. The sect has considerable reserves of gold and silver. The sect is also said to possess several important artifacts related to the worship of Lord Asmore.
History
The origins of the of the sect are hazy, but written accounts of the group start appearing about 500 years ago. Since that time the sect has continued a slow and careful expansion of its influence with the objective of eventually creating Asmorean temples in every Kingdom on the Continent. Once this goal is achieved the sect plans to systematically expand to every city on the continent.
Ethics
1. The word of an Asmorean to another member of the sect is a sacred bond. Their word to all other is meaningless for they are inferiors.
2. Be obedient to the hierarchy because our lord and master values obedience above all other virtues.
3. Asmoreans are the valued servants of the god and should be valued above all others.
4. Shun the weak for they are vile in the sight of the Lord Asmore.
5. Those who have failed the faith may be redeemed through actions that correct their failure and demonstrate the depths of their devotion.
Worship
Worship is usually carried in sanctified temples of Asmore, but can be carried in any location that a priest of Asmore views as appropriate or expedient. Service usually begin with reading from the Book of Orders, one of Asmorean religious texts that deals with proper behavior and demonstrations of devotion by sect members. This is followed by recognitions of service and devotion in which the High Priests will single out individuals for praise and possibly for promotion within the sect. This is followed by denouncement and punishment of sect members of have been seen incompetent, ineffective or failing to display a proper level of devotion This is followed by punishments that are either self-inflicted by devotee or meted out by the priests or guardians. Finally, if the it is a high holy day of the sect an act of blood sacrifice will be conducted. The preferred target of this activity to a well known enemy of the faith, failing that any suitable victim will do. On occasion, members of the sect will offer themselves up as sacrifices to show their complete devotion to Lord Asmore or as a way to pay to make up for a great failure on the part of the devotee.
Priesthood
The Supreme priest of the sect is known as the Mask of Asmore. The Supreme priest is chosen by a conclave of high priests and is picked on both the basis of their power and demonstrated devotion. The Supreme Priest must be male. Each temple is managed by a high priest or priestess. Since most of these positions are covert in nature, the high priests usually have professions that allow them to travel and hold gatherings without drawing much attention. They are generally merchants of some sort, though those drawn from the nobility are seen as particularly valuable tools.. High Priests may be of either sex, although the majority are male and are known as the Hands of Lord Asmore. Each high priest is in turn served by 1-5 priests known fingers, the wives and mistresses of the Hands frequently serve in this group.
Political Influence & Intrigue
The cult in intertwined with the powerful Syrican Brotherhood, which dominates the overt and covert slave trade in the northern kingdoms and the mountain regions of the Spine. In recent years there have been strong indications that the faith has spread south of the Spine Mountains to the great trading city of Goutara. The Syrican Brotherhood's influence is so great on Rowes that the Asmoreans are able to operate overtly there. The great symbol of this power has been the construction the Grand Temple of Asmore in Rowes.
Sects
A group known as the Maskers is a branch of the main sect. This group is known for is particularly gruesome rituals which not only include human sacrifice, but cannibalism. The sects practitioners believe the actual consumption of their victims is the ultimate form of domination. The Maskers have taken control of Orliss Island in the Windy Sea.
We are the unyielding hands of the overlord.
Type
Religious, Cult
Leader
Leader Title
Deities
Divines
Location
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
Related Ethnicities
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