Demonic cults
Demonic cults are made up of mortals swayed by the dark power of Demons.
Universally they wish to corrupt mortals and bring them under the influence of their master, as well as making sacrifices for power. Through dedication cultists can obtain the ability to use magic and summon the demonic servants of their master as fighters and tools.
It is worthwhile to remember that while there are trends for the behavior of these cults, they are by no means limited to only their preferred methods. A cult of Lilith will abandon subtlety and summon a major demon to run rampant if they deem it necessary.
Cults of all sorts are relatively rare. By no means does every city or even barony have one, though most do. Demonic cults often work together, but just as often sabotage each-other out of a sense of rivalry between their masters.
Strategies: A cult of behemoth often spreads often among warriors and mercenaries, offering gifts of strength and bravery to those at risk of losing an upcoming engagement. Once a bargain is struck, many will be willing to go further either out of lust for power or not seeing another option.
Strategies: Cultists of Dagon are slippery and treacherous. They spread among outcasts, thieves and murderers, the lowest of all scum. The cults of Dagon are disorganized and hide in the shadows, feeding off of existing crime and making it worse. They find community and safety in ever smaller sub-groupings, slowly breaking apart a functional society into a distrusting ghetto where everybody has to watch their back at all times.
Strategies: Cultists of Baphomet often cloak themselves as worshipers of nature and try to attach themselves to rural communities. They often force unwilling victims into the cult at fear of death and then force loyalty by making sure the demonic 'blessings' given to them mutate their bodies, assuring that the cult is their only option.
Cults of Baphomet often work together with wildling warbands.
Strategies: A cult of Beelzebub often preys on victims of disease or deformity.
They approach those whom medicine or clerical healing is unlikely to help, such as those with deadly diseases or physical deformities, and offer them an out. The cultists of Beelzebub will be healing the sickly and infirm and thus become very popular and swell their numbers.
The cultists also gain great ability of acquiring knowledge through the power of their master; seeing and hearing through the vermin that is ever-present in cities. They use this to ingratiate themselves into the good graces of high-ranking officials whenever possible, or use their acquired knowledge to further their own ends.
The cultists also know how to start plague outbreaks, if they need new recruits.
Strategies: A cult of Lucifer spreads amongst the political class and ambitious nobles. The gifts of Lucifer grant the cultists an uncanny edge in negotiations, public speaking and the like. Once started, such a cult is hard to root out, as they are exceptional liars and usually very influential.
Lucifer's demons understand that humans need no encouragement or coersion to engage in evil. Grant them an advantage against their fellows and they will do evil of their own volition and thank you for giving them the opportunity.
Strategies: Abaddon is the master of destruction, but he is also ruler of the hell-forges. His cults are thus never lacking in funding as they can literally summon gold during their rituals.
Their preferred method of gaining influence is to spread demonic weapons and armor, either openly as powerful weapons or disguising them as other kinds of weapons. The items serve to manipulate mortals into aiding the cult or weakening/corrupting them with cursed items. Abbaddon's cults are usually very wealthy and while their members are small in number they are individually very powerful.
Strategies: Cults of Lilith worm their way into all layers of society, disguising themselves as places of leisure and fun such as theaters, restaurants, brothels and the like. They usually begin by introducing exotic foods, theater plays or beautiful dancers. Once they are established and accepted, they go further. They offer more 'exclusive' services in exchange for the occasional favor or steep prices. Once they judge a client sufficiently far gone, they will tempt them with the most forbidden excesses in return for induction into the inner circle.
Strategies: Cults of Mephistopheles usually form around mages, especially sorcerers. Those struggling in their studies or craving more power than they have trade with the envoys of Mephistopheles for magical lore. Forbidden spells, the secrets of immortality, the location of ancient treasures, you name it. The cultists use this knowledge to both get more powerful and influential but also to trade it to others for favors. A cult can be disguised as a mage's guilds that operates openly and proudly as an integral prt of a city, its sinister aspect hidden from the wider populace.
Strategies: Cults of Asmodeus are cults dedicated to evil itself. They do evil not to sate their own lusts and desires but because it harms good people and that is enough. They wage war and commit murders because happy lives should be destroyed and dragged down to misery. Often cultists of Asmodeus are initially motivated purely by spite, but most eventually come to worship evil itself.
Cults of asmodeus form everywhere, for all people desire to have power over others. Cults of Asmodeus exist in the end to build a dark realm dedicated to the dark lord of tyranny. They will use any and all means in order to achieve this goal, including deception, bribery, blackmail, assasination and more.
His cults are usually only present in very young civilizations. In more developed species they are very short-lived.
Mammon: Mammon is the demon of gold and wealth. He has no cults, instead he contracts individuals that desire money and gives them the ability to acquire it. He also demands gold as payment and is vengeful if his prize is denied to him.
Universally they wish to corrupt mortals and bring them under the influence of their master, as well as making sacrifices for power. Through dedication cultists can obtain the ability to use magic and summon the demonic servants of their master as fighters and tools.
It is worthwhile to remember that while there are trends for the behavior of these cults, they are by no means limited to only their preferred methods. A cult of Lilith will abandon subtlety and summon a major demon to run rampant if they deem it necessary.
Cults of all sorts are relatively rare. By no means does every city or even barony have one, though most do. Demonic cults often work together, but just as often sabotage each-other out of a sense of rivalry between their masters.
Cult of Behemoth
Demonic gifts: Strength and vigorStrategies: A cult of behemoth often spreads often among warriors and mercenaries, offering gifts of strength and bravery to those at risk of losing an upcoming engagement. Once a bargain is struck, many will be willing to go further either out of lust for power or not seeing another option.
Cult of Dagon
Demonic gifts: Beneficial mutationsStrategies: Cultists of Dagon are slippery and treacherous. They spread among outcasts, thieves and murderers, the lowest of all scum. The cults of Dagon are disorganized and hide in the shadows, feeding off of existing crime and making it worse. They find community and safety in ever smaller sub-groupings, slowly breaking apart a functional society into a distrusting ghetto where everybody has to watch their back at all times.
Cult of Baphomet
Demonic gifts: Bestial aspectsStrategies: Cultists of Baphomet often cloak themselves as worshipers of nature and try to attach themselves to rural communities. They often force unwilling victims into the cult at fear of death and then force loyalty by making sure the demonic 'blessings' given to them mutate their bodies, assuring that the cult is their only option.
Cults of Baphomet often work together with wildling warbands.
Cult of Beelzebub
Demonic gifts: Knowledge and disease resistanceStrategies: A cult of Beelzebub often preys on victims of disease or deformity.
They approach those whom medicine or clerical healing is unlikely to help, such as those with deadly diseases or physical deformities, and offer them an out. The cultists of Beelzebub will be healing the sickly and infirm and thus become very popular and swell their numbers.
The cultists also gain great ability of acquiring knowledge through the power of their master; seeing and hearing through the vermin that is ever-present in cities. They use this to ingratiate themselves into the good graces of high-ranking officials whenever possible, or use their acquired knowledge to further their own ends.
The cultists also know how to start plague outbreaks, if they need new recruits.
Cult of Lucifer
Demonic gifts: Beauty and cunningStrategies: A cult of Lucifer spreads amongst the political class and ambitious nobles. The gifts of Lucifer grant the cultists an uncanny edge in negotiations, public speaking and the like. Once started, such a cult is hard to root out, as they are exceptional liars and usually very influential.
Lucifer's demons understand that humans need no encouragement or coersion to engage in evil. Grant them an advantage against their fellows and they will do evil of their own volition and thank you for giving them the opportunity.
Cult of Abaddon
Demonic gifts: WealthStrategies: Abaddon is the master of destruction, but he is also ruler of the hell-forges. His cults are thus never lacking in funding as they can literally summon gold during their rituals.
Their preferred method of gaining influence is to spread demonic weapons and armor, either openly as powerful weapons or disguising them as other kinds of weapons. The items serve to manipulate mortals into aiding the cult or weakening/corrupting them with cursed items. Abbaddon's cults are usually very wealthy and while their members are small in number they are individually very powerful.
Cult of Lilith
Demonic gifts: Beauty, otherworldly pleasures and debaucheryStrategies: Cults of Lilith worm their way into all layers of society, disguising themselves as places of leisure and fun such as theaters, restaurants, brothels and the like. They usually begin by introducing exotic foods, theater plays or beautiful dancers. Once they are established and accepted, they go further. They offer more 'exclusive' services in exchange for the occasional favor or steep prices. Once they judge a client sufficiently far gone, they will tempt them with the most forbidden excesses in return for induction into the inner circle.
Cult of Mephistopheles
Demonic gifts: Secrets and magical loreStrategies: Cults of Mephistopheles usually form around mages, especially sorcerers. Those struggling in their studies or craving more power than they have trade with the envoys of Mephistopheles for magical lore. Forbidden spells, the secrets of immortality, the location of ancient treasures, you name it. The cultists use this knowledge to both get more powerful and influential but also to trade it to others for favors. A cult can be disguised as a mage's guilds that operates openly and proudly as an integral prt of a city, its sinister aspect hidden from the wider populace.
Cult of Asmodeus
Demonic gifts: AuthorityStrategies: Cults of Asmodeus are cults dedicated to evil itself. They do evil not to sate their own lusts and desires but because it harms good people and that is enough. They wage war and commit murders because happy lives should be destroyed and dragged down to misery. Often cultists of Asmodeus are initially motivated purely by spite, but most eventually come to worship evil itself.
Cults of asmodeus form everywhere, for all people desire to have power over others. Cults of Asmodeus exist in the end to build a dark realm dedicated to the dark lord of tyranny. They will use any and all means in order to achieve this goal, including deception, bribery, blackmail, assasination and more.
Minor Demonic cults:
Moloch: Moloch is the demon of human sacrifice, especially child sacrifice. He appears to cities and kingdoms that have no divine protections of their own and demands sacrifices be made to him, sending plagues and natural disasters if he is refused.His cults are usually only present in very young civilizations. In more developed species they are very short-lived.
Mammon: Mammon is the demon of gold and wealth. He has no cults, instead he contracts individuals that desire money and gives them the ability to acquire it. He also demands gold as payment and is vengeful if his prize is denied to him.
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