The Bearers of Divine Sufferance

They are a petty rabble, overblowing the minor issues of the day to support the illusion of some ordained mission!

- Ascot Oakenhart, Duke of Virendra

Perhaps. But people are listening to them.

- Brandon Croft, Steward of Letters

The Bearers of Divine Sufferance were a cult localised mostly to the Duchy of Virendra that attempted to spread the influence of Skein - God of Suffering and The Hells.

The cult appeared seemingly spontaneously across Virendra, with surprising financial clout. Cells in cities and towns operated highly varied schemes, with the broad theme of fomenting dissatisfaction with the distribution of power and wealth. Their public methods included: spreading magically-enhanced diseases, encouraging civil unrest and outright violence against authority, and even vigilante piracy. These activities served as cover for two fronts that enhanced the Fiendish cause: Raised profile of the Aspects of Skein; and summoning of Devils to the Material Plane. The widespread attempts, and (relatively) frequent successes of summoning rituals indicated a sophisticated organisation, belied by the spontaneous appearance of the cult.
The Bearers met with varied success in the weeks following its appearance. The overall message - that the common folk are overburdened by toil and servitude - were evidently well recieved. While most of the methods deployed successfully raised the profile of the cult, their Fiendish affiliation seemed a deterrent to most upstanding people where it was revealed clearly. Cells that met with particular success include those of Port Erdovar, where adherents participated in piracy and redistributed some of the retrieved wealth among the poor; the town of Twelve Trees, where the cult managed to democratically install a new Mayor; and Suthmore, where the hospital of a temple of Palavor - God of Agriculture was used as a front to collect blood that enhanced summoning rituals.
Naturally spiritual leaders under their own divine guidance opposed the emergene of this fiendish cult. However, the cell-like structure of the cult meant that failures in one locale had a minimal impact on other operations. Here the near-synchronised emergence of the cult was also to its benefit, allowing each cell to operate ahead of the news from other settlements.
The cult's downfall is credited largely to an adventure-mercenary group known as The Valiant Prostasia. The group were on hand in Whitstow during an epidemic caused by necromantic contamination of the town's water supply, and survived the explosion of the cult's headquarters during an apparent failed summoning. Prostasia were later summoned to Suthmore by Ascot Oakenhart and tasked to uncover the local arm of the cult. This would turn out to be the progenitor unit, and amid growing civil unrest and a sort-lived mind-control dweomer, The Valiant Prostasia were able to isolate the cult leader in time to stop a public summoning, and dismantle the remaining figureheads in the midst of an assasination attempt against the Duke.
The cult leader has since been confirmed to be Wayne Harrison, slain in battle by members of The Valiant Prostasia. Harrison's position as Warden of Caravans at the Crown Mint allowed discrete reallocation of currency shipments to help set up the cells of the cult so rapidly. His motivation for establishing The Bearers has yet to be made public.

Demonym

Bearers

Leader

Wayne Harrison

Founders

• Wayne Harrison