Cult of Baartzabel
Baartzabel is worshipped as a deity of pestilence and rot, with a vast and devoted following among those seeking to spread disease and suffering.
Within the cults of Baartzabel, the Grand Necrotor is the highest ranking member, responsible for overseeing all aspects of the cult's activities and guiding its direction. The Grand Necrotor is often seen as the embodiment of Baartzabel's will, and is revered and feared by the other members of the cult.
Below the Grand Necrotor are the Plague Lords, powerful sorcerers and priests who serve as the main agents of Baartzabel's will. The Plague Lords are responsible for spreading disease and corruption throughout the mortal realm, using their dark powers to bring about suffering and death. They are often seen as the most devout followers of Baartzabel, and are respected and feared within the cult.
Other important titles within the cults of Baartzabel include the Pestilent Preachers, who are responsible for spreading the word of Baartzabel and recruiting new followers. The Pestilent Preachers are skilled orators and manipulators, using their charisma and persuasiveness to sway others to their cause.
There are also the Deathbringers, who are responsible for carrying out the will of Baartzabel through acts of violence and destruction. The Deathbringers are often seen as the most fanatical members of the cult, willing to do whatever it takes to bring about the end of all things.
Other titles within the cults of Baartzabel include the Rotpriests, who are responsible for conducting ceremonies and rituals in honor of Baartzabel, and the Plaguebearers, who are responsible for maintaining the cult's stockpiles of diseases and contagions.
Overall, the titles within the cults of Baartzabel are steeped in symbolism and power, with each rank carrying its own specific set of duties and responsibilities. From the Grand Necrotor, who leads the cult, to the Plaguebearers, who maintain its stockpiles of contagions, each member of the cult plays an important role in bringing about the
end of all things.
Other titles within the cults of Baartzabel include the Rotwardens, who are responsible for maintaining the purity of the cult's rituals and ceremonies, and the Blightbringers, who are responsible for spreading plague and disease in the mortal realm.
There are also the Foulspawn, who are the lowest ranking members of the cult, often made up of those who have been infected with disease and are considered too weak or unworthy to serve in any other capacity. Despite their low status, the Foulspawn are still highly valued within the cult, as they serve as a constant reminder of Baartzabel's power and influence.
Overall, the cults of Baartzabel are highly organized and hierarchical, with each member playing a specific and important role in the cult's activities. From the Grand Necrotor, who leads the cult, to the Foulspawn, who serve as a constant reminder of Baartzabel's power, each member is considered an integral part of the cult's mission to bring about the end of all things.
Ceremonies and rituals are an important part of the faith of Baartzabel, with followers gathering to offer sacrifice and pray for the deity's blessings. These ceremonies often involve the offering of diseased animals or the spreading of contagions, with the most devoted followers seeking to become infected in order to prove their devotion.
Baartzabel's followers believe that by bringing about the end of all things, they will be rewarded with a place in the deity's eternal kingdom of decay and suffering. They see themselves as agents of a greater purpose, working towards a final goal that will bring about the ultimate collapse of the mortal realm.
Despite the grim nature of their faith, the cults of Baartzabel are fiercely devoted, with followers willing to endure great suffering and hardships in order to spread the deity's influence. They are a force to be reckoned with, feared and reviled by those who stand in their way. To the followers of Baartzabel, death is the ultimate goal, and they will stop at nothing to see it realized.
Ceremonies and rituals are an integral part of the faith of Baartzabel, with followers gathering to offer sacrifice and pray for the deity's blessings. These ceremonies often take place in hidden temples or cult strongholds, with the most devout followers gathering to pay homage to their deity. During these ceremonies, followers will often offer sacrifices to Baartzabel, such as diseased animals or other offerings that represent decay and disease. These sacrifices are seen as a way of seeking the deity's favor and blessings, and are believed to bring about their desired outcomes.
One of the most extreme and dangerous ceremonies practiced by the cults of Baartzabel is the offering of contagions. During these ceremonies, the most devoted followers will intentionally become infected with diseases, such as the plague, in order to prove their devotion and seek the deity's favor. These ceremonies are highly risky and often result in the death of those who participate, but they are seen as a way of demonstrating one's faith and devotion to Baartzabel.
Overall, ceremonies and rituals are an important part of the faith of Baartzabel, with followers gathering to offer sacrifice and pray for the deity's blessings. These ceremonies often involve the offering of diseased animals or the spreading of contagions, with the most devoted followers seeking to become infected in order to prove their devotion.
Within the cult Baartzabel is commonly referred to as “The All-Father”.
On the southern continent Baartzabels influence is mainly around the Southern Swamplands and it’s presence in Acroshia is low.
Cult of Asmodan
Asmodan is a demonic deity of blood, bloodshed, and sacrifice, worshipped by those who seek power and chaos through the spilling of blood. The faith of Asmodan is one of violence and domination, with its followers seeking to bring about the end of all things through acts of war and destruction.¨
The cults of Asmodan are organized into hierarchies of rank, with the highest positions reserved for those who have proven themselves the most effective in spreading death and chaos. The titles within the cults of Asmodan are steeped in symbolism and power, with each rank carrying its own specific set of duties and responsibilities.
At the top of the hierarchy is the Bloodlord, who serves as the leader of the cult and is responsible for guiding its direction and overseeing its activities. Below the Bloodlord are the Bloodpriests, powerful sorcerers and priests who serve as the main agents of Asmodan's will.
Ceremonies and rituals are an important part of the faith of Asmodan, with followers gathering to offer sacrifice and pray for the deity's blessings. These ceremonies often involve the offering of blood, with the most devoted followers seeking to prove their devotion through acts of sacrifice. Asmodan takes great pleasure in seeing what his followers are willing to give up in order to achieve their goals, and will often reward those who are willing to make the greatest sacrifices.
Other important titles within the cults of Asmodan include the Bloodreavers, who are responsible for carrying out the will of Asmodan through acts of violence and destruction. The Bloodreavers are often seen as the most fanatical members of the cult, willing to do whatever it takes to bring about the end of all things.
There are also the Bloodscryers, who are responsible for divining the will of Asmodan through the reading of omens and portents. The Bloodscryers are highly respected within the cult, as their prophecies are seen as a way of guiding the cult's actions and bringing about the deity's desires.
Other lower titles within the cults of Asmodan include the Bloodletters, who are responsible for maintaining the cult's weapons and armor, and the Bloodbound, who are responsible for carrying out the more mundane tasks and duties within the cult.
Despite their lower status, the Bloodletters and Bloodbound are still highly valued within the cult, as they play important roles in ensuring the smooth operation of the cult's activities. The Bloodletters are responsible for maintaining the cult's weapons and armor, ensuring that they are in top condition for use in battle. The Bloodbound, on the other hand, are responsible for carrying out the more mundane tasks and duties within the cult, such as preparing sacrifices and tending to the needs of the higher ranking members.
Asmodans presence is strong all through-out Shar and on the southern continent especially so in and around Kalava. The cult’s presence in Acroshia is medium but slowly rising as the war progresses.
Cult of Mishrah
Mishrah is a demonic deity of chaos, destruction, and entropy, worshipped by those who seek to bring about the end of all things through acts of turmoil and disruption. The cults of Mishrah are not highly organized, with power and status often being fluid and changing. However, there are certain members who hold more influence and authority than others, known as "Arch-demons." These Arch-demons act as generals, leading hordes of smaller demons of varying power in their quest to spread chaos and destruction.
The faith of Mishrah is one of anarchy and discord, with its followers seeking to bring about the end of civilization and the mortals on this realm. The cultists of Mishrah believe that by bringing about the end of all things, they will be rewarded with a place in the deity's eternal kingdom of chaos and destruction. They see themselves as agents of a greater purpose, working towards a final goal that will bring about the ultimate collapse of the mortal realm.
To this end, the cultists of Mishrah are highly incentivized to do whatever it takes to bring about the end of civilization. They are willing to make great sacrifices and endure great suffering in order to achieve their goals, knowing that they will be rewarded with a place in Mishrah's new kingdom once everything has been laid to ruin.
The cultists of Mishrah are often recruited through acts of violence and intimidation, with the most devoted members rising through the ranks through acts of brutality and chaos. The cults of Mishrah are always seeking new members, and will stop at nothing to bring in those who are willing to serve their deity and bring about the end of all things.
Mishra's influence is strongest in the Deadlands and diminishes as one gets farther from its center. In Acroshia, Mishra is viewed as a savior by about 30% of the Mhirrin, while the majority of the remaining Mhirrin view the Five Kings as their potential savior for overthrowing Acroshia.
Cult of Morak
The Cult of Morak is unique among the Greater Nine because Morak was not a powerful or controlling deity, but rather a maintainer of the plane. It is rumored that Morak originated from the plane of Mechanus and that the cult's focus is on maintaining planar stability rather than expanding the cult's influence. The cult is composed of a mix of humanoids, aberrations, and constructs that use giant flying cubes to create or repair obelisks, known as anchors, throughout Shar. These anchors are made of black obsidian and have a purple glow.
Because the Cult of Morak is not focused on expansion, it is one of the more secretive Greater Nine cults and is believed to have fewer members than the other cults. There are no known formal ceremonies associated with the cult. The Cult of Morak has a fairly even distribution of influence throughout Shar.
Cult of Mephisto
The Cult of Mephisto is known for its secrecy. Mephisto is believed to be all-knowing, as his title suggests, and is known as the keeper of secrets. The cult slowly and cautiously inducts new members, and often these members only know one reference point for their service to the deity. Mephisto is said to view the plane as a giant chessboard that is played out over a long period of time, and while the cult is intelligent, its power is relatively weak compared to some of the other Greater Nine. Mephisto is known to choose his battles carefully in order to achieve the results he desires.
There are whispers within Legio Arcanis that suggest that the Five Kings may be avatars of Mephisto, but this theory has yet to be proven true. If it were true, this would suggest that Mephisto has significant influence in Acroshia through the presence of the Five Kings. However, due to Mephisto's secretive nature, it is difficult to determine where the deity has and has not exercised influence.
What is known for certain is that Mephisto seeks unlimited knowledge and power, and will do anything in his power to achieve these goals.
Cult of Lilith
The Cult of Lilith is a matriarchal cult that follows a former follower of Lilith, who attributed all of her suffering to the actions of men. The cult believes that men are impulsive and aggressive creatures that need to be tamed and used correctly. To this end, the cult uses men as breeding stock, warriors, and slaves, with the last category often being castrated.
The cult has a hierarchy with specific initiation ceremonies and ranks. It is also divided into three sub-cults, each named after one of Lilith's daughters: Trigras, Zherna, and Sakarath. Trigras is a half-snake demon, Zherna is a half-spider demon, and Sakarath is a half-scorpion demon. Zherna has already emerged and taken over the drow city of Illara-vel, while the other two daughters are expected to return. The cult believes that the return of all three daughters signifies the return of Lilith.
Each of the three sub-cults also has slightly different beliefs and practices. For example, the sub-cult of Trigras may place a greater emphasis on the use of men as breeding stock, while the sub-cult of Sakarath may place more emphasis on the use of men as warriors. However, all three sub-cults share the overall belief that men must be controlled and used for the benefit of the cult and the return of Lilith.
Females are divided into the roles of sister, priestess, matron and matron queen in ascending order of power and responsibility. Males are divided into roles of slaves, soldiers and cattle in ascending order of power.
Female in the cult automatically earn the sister role and earn expected to study the suffering of Lilith ( a gruesome story of a woman who was raped and pregnant with the rapist than had her children taken away and killed ) and follow the matrons guide and learn how to fight.
Once ready sisters are turned into priestesses who may venture out and recruit members, spread the faith etc. Each cult is led by a matron that controls the cult.
Occasionally however, a matron is named matron queen by direct imposed will of the Daughters or Lilith herself. This usually happens for special missions, in times of need or with the formation of large cult strongholds. A matron queen is then during a ritual infused with demonic power that turn the matron into a very powerful demonic entity.
Males are divided into the three ranks of slave, soldier and cattle. The slave is a castrated grunt-worker and servant usually kept within the strongholds or used for carrying things during expeditions. The warrior is not castrated as their aggression might be seen as positive if handled under control. Disobedient or aggressive soldiers will quickly be punished and relegated to the slave rank. A good male, who shows both brawn, brain and capacity to controlled aggression can during faithful service be promoted to cattle. A cattle male is usually kept by the side of a matron for reproductive purposes and unlike a slave it is common that these relationships over time turn informal. A cattle worker works more like a bodyguard of a matron and is not expected to serve, nor fight in conflicts unless specifically ordered to.
Cult of Garandor
The Cult of Garandor is the most beastial of the Greater Nine cults and usually values brawns over brains. The cultists believe that through training, self-enhancement and mutation it’s members will reach their final form which is the most revered. The cults are often disorganized and follow one kind of “survival-of-the-fittest” approach. It is common for indoctrination to consist of combinations of prolonged wilderness survival in combination with lethal combats against wild animals. The cults are often called packs and live outside of humanoid settlements in the wild. They praise their own adaptation and it’s common for members to mutate and increase in size as they raise the ranks. By devouring their enemies the members of the cult gain their strength through Garandors consumption. One can therefore quickly gage the seniority and power of a cultist by the sheer size of it’s body and the number of mutations it has.
The doctrine of Garandor differs quite a lot from the vast majority of other Greater Nine faiths that emphasize collaboration to achieve the goals of the demon lord. In the Cult of Garandor it is all about the individual and its journey, all though like stray dogs the cults are pulled together for the benefit of all. The goal of Garandor is to find a worthy challenger, an entity on Shar that is strong enough to challenge and kill him. Garandor is said to be a shape-shifting, gargantuan entity that roams the northern continent of Shar. It is said within the cults that whoever slays Garandor will take his place as the prime beast on top of the food-chain and the cult therefore strive endless towards those goals.
Cult of Kharn
The Cult of Kharn is a powerful and secretive organization of liches, necromancers, and undead who believe that death is not the final destination and that undead bodies can be used as glorious servants for eternity. The cult's ultimate goal is to turn the entire world undead, and its members are dedicated to achieving this through any means necessary.
The Cult of Kharn has a hierarchical structure with different ranks and titles for its members. The highest rank is the Grand Necromancer, who serves as the leader and chief advisor to the rest of the membership. The Grand Necromancer is responsible for setting the overall direction of the cult and guiding its members towards the goal of universal undeath.
Below the Grand Necromancer are several other ranks, each with its own responsibilities and duties. The Lich Lords are the highest ranked members below the Grand Necromancer, and they serve as advisors and strategists to the rest of the cult. The Necromancers are responsible for recruiting new members and inducting them into the cult through a series of initiation ceremonies, which may involve taking an oath of loyalty to the cult and Kharn, undergoing a rite of passage or test of devotion, or receiving special teachings or training from higher-ranked members.
The Cultists are lower-ranked members who are responsible for tending to the cult's undead servants, maintaining the cult's strongholds and bases of operation, and serving as spies and infiltrators within other organizations. The Skeletal Champions are undead warriors who serve as the cult's primary military force, carrying out the orders of the Grand Necromancer and the Lich Lords. The Cultists and Skeletal Champions are expected to obey the orders of their superiors and work towards the goal of universal undeath.
It is rumored that there is an entire kingdom in the eastern region of the northern continent that is faithful to Kharn, and that this kingdom serves as a major base of operation for the cult. It is not clear if this kingdom has its own hierarchy or ranks within the cult, or if it is directly governed by the Grand Necromancer and the Lich Lords.
Regardless of their specific roles, all members of the Cult of Kharn are expected to be highly skilled and knowledgeable in the practices of necromancy and undeath. The cult is known for its strict discipline and harsh punishments for those who fail to meet its expectations.
Despite its secrecy and dedication to its cause, the Cult of Kharn is not well-liked or trusted by the general population of Shar. Many view the cult as a threat to the natural order of life and death, and fear the consequences of its efforts to turn the world undead. As a result, the cult operates in the shadows, often taking great pains to hide its true nature and goals from outsiders.
The Cult of Cimoera
The Cult of Cimoera is a secretive organization of worshippers dedicated to the demon lord Cimoera. It is comprised of individuals who are drawn to Cimoera's desire to corrupt and bring down orderly and hierarchical societies or institutions, especially those with a sense of righteousness or a unified belief in their mission.
The Cult of Cimoera believes that everything must experience decline, and that the more important, proud, or sophisticated the person or thing, the more painful and drawn out the process of decline and decay should be. This is a central tenet of the cult's doctrine, and its members are dedicated to bringing about the decline and decay of those they consider worthy targets.
To achieve this goal, the cult employs a variety of tactics, including corruption, torture, and other methods of causing suffering and misery. The cult's members believe that the more important and influential the person or thing they are targeting, the more satisfying it is to bring about their decline and watch them suffer.
The Cult of Cimoera is a shadowy and secretive organization, and it is not known how many members it has or how it is structured. However, it is clear that the cult is dedicated to its doctrine of decline and decay, and that it will stop at nothing to bring about the suffering and downfall of those it considers worthy targets.
The Cult of Cimoera has a hierarchical structure with different ranks and titles for its members. The highest rank is the Grand Corruptor, who serves as the leader and chief advisor to the rest of the membership. The Grand Corruptor is responsible for setting the overall direction of the cult and guiding its members towards the goal of corruption and downfall.
Below the Grand Corruptor are several other ranks, each with its own responsibilities and duties. The High Corruptors are the highest ranked members below the Grand Corruptor, and they serve as advisors and strategists to the rest of the cult. The Corruptors are responsible for recruiting new members and inducting them into the cult through a series of initiation ceremonies, which involve taking an oath of loyalty to the cult and Cimoera, undergoing a rite of passage or test of devotion, and receiving special teachings or training from higher-ranked members.
The Cultists are lower-ranked members who are responsible for carrying out the orders of their superiors and working towards the cult's objectives. They may be tasked with corrupting high to mid-level officials in target organizations and allowing the corruption to spread, causing civil war and leading to the slow decline of the organization.
It is not known if the Cult of Cimoera has any additional ranks or titles beyond those mentioned here. However, it is clear that the cult places a great emphasis on the power of corruption and the importance of bringing down orderly and hierarchical societies or institutions. All members of the cult are expected to be highly skilled and knowledgeable in the practices of corruption, and to obey the orders of their superiors without question. The cult is known for its strict discipline and harsh punishments for those who fail to meet its expectations.
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