The Priests of Mogis
As many of the minotaurs of Skophos believe they are the divine creations of Mogis, they worship him with everything they have. The Cult of Mogis in Skophos centers its worship in Mogis's Chalice the Temple to Mogis in the labyrinthian city.
There the Cult shows their devotion to the God of Fury, Violence, and Slaughter through equally grotesque and horrific acts and sacrifices in his name. The Temple, similar to the challenges and bouts that the worshippers of his twin brother Iroas perform, the followers of Mogis fight in challenges in the Temple's ring, but for these minotaurs in Skophos, the fights in the ring are to the death. The loser is a sacrifice to Mogis and when defeated is torn limb from limb in the ring and the winner eats the loser's heart.
They hold numerous rituals to honor the god of slaughter and most of them involve sacrificing animals and humanoids in the circle pit that has been set up. Many of the minotaurs who worship at the Temple believe that they can absorb the power of their defeated foe by eating their hearts and allowing themselves to be bathed in their blood as they die in the ring and Mogis couldn't be happier for the show of dedication to him.
Mogis’s Favor
Mogis’s favor isn’t difficult to earn for someone who lacks a moral compass. Mogis demands that blood be spilled in his service, preferably the blood of Iroas’s followers. Would-be champions should realize, though, that the god of slaughter invests in his followers with the expectation of receiving great returns. Those who disappoint, proving themselves incapable of sufficient cruelty or bloodshed, might find themselves on the wrong end of his blade. The Cult upholds this ideal and those who fail to kill and fight in the pit as a trial of entry to their organization are killed on the spot. Regularly the members of the Cult, the priests and cultists, must perform acts of violence and victory in the pit against a captured champion of Iroas to continue to prove their worth. To Mogis and thus to the Cult, the ideal follower is one who sheds all moral compunctions in the course of bringing suffering to the world. Mogis has conferred to the Cult to seek out those who have been betrayed, those disgusted with life, and the disfavored because they are very likely to turn to murderous service, and they are discarded just as easily if they don’t satisfy him.Worshiping Mogis
Mogis and the Cult want the followers to channel their hatred and rage into ever greater acts of cruelty and violence. From the spurned lover thirsting for revenge to the blood-drenched warrior on the battlefield, shedding of blood in anger is the way to truly pay homage to Mogis and worship him fully. Warchanters, the minotaur clergy of Mogis who work within the Cult, whip their marauders into near-mindless frenzies before battle- the ensuing slaughter gives glory to Mogis’s name. These Warchanters are the paladins of the Cult and act as the hammers of the religious organization. The Wareaters are the cultists who go out into battle as fighters and barbarians, working beneath the Warchanters. The priests of the Cult are called Warbringers, or War Priests. The holiest appearance that is celebrated in the Temple for the faithful of Mogis is the night of a full blood moon. It represents his hateful crimson eye. At such times, cultists prepare and consume a feast of meat, either raw or barely cooked and from a variety of sources including fallen comrades and enemies, along with copious amounts of intoxicants. These feats are followed by ritual self-mutilation—scarring themselves to demonstrate their devotion to Mogis. The more scars of this particular, obvious type one has the more of the celebrations the person has been permitted to join in and the higher in station they are.Structure
- Warbringers
- Warchanters
- Wareaters
Public Agenda
To be the personification of cruelty and slaughter in Mogis's name.
Tenets of Faith
- Cruelty and Death is an act of honor
- Mercy is the worst sin
- Strength and power are for those who can seize it
Priesthood
War Priests guide the flock in the rituals and can be pinpointed by the robes they wear- long cloaks pieced together from their vanquished foes and dyed deep red with their blood. They are the most devout of Mogis's followers. They have been through numerous trials and proven themselves to be masters of rage, cruelty, and violence. The are each chosen by Modran, who himself was chosen by Mogis himself.
Granted Divine Powers
Earning and Losing Piety
You increase your piety score to Mogis when you expand the god’s influence in the world in a concrete way through acts such as these:
- Defeating a champion of Iroas
- Taking vengeance against a powerful foe
- Burning a polis or a settlement to the ground
- Desecrating a temple to Iroas as an offering to Mogis
- Failing to carry out a sworn vendetta
- Publicly displaying weakness or compassion
- Rejecting a duel or a challenge out of fear
Mogis’s Devotee
Piety 3+ Mogis trait As a devotee of Mogis, you have shown yourself to be a brutal combatant. You can call on Mogis’s favor and cast wrathful smite with this trait. Mogis’s blessing manifests as a blood-red glow around your weapon, causing it to shed dim light in a 5-foot radius until the spell ends. You can cast the spell in this way a number of times equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of once). You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for this spell.Mogis’s Votary
Piety 10+ Mogis trait You can cast blinding smite with this trait. Once you cast the spell in this way, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for this spell.Mogis’s Disciple
Piety 25+ Mogis trait Countless battles and vicious visions have given you focus. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened.Champion of Slaughter
Piety 50+ Mogis trait You can increase your Strength or Constitution score by 2 and also increase your maximum for that score by 2.In Blood & Destruction He Reigns.
Type
Religious, Cult
Alternative Names
War Cult of Mogis
Leader
Deities
Divines
Location
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
Comments