Cult of Levistus
Levistus was still able to make his soul quotas despite his immobility, partially because he was left with little else to occupy his time. Whereas most archdevils targeted large populations in order to maximize corruption, Levistus's selection of shunned outcasts allowed him to steal from mortal numbers without the concern of their society or the competitive attention of his peers. The other archdevils were unsure of how many souls he had collected and ironically the sheer number of forgotten individuals was enough to let Levistus meet his quota despite their lack of cohesion, with the added benefit of their diversity.
Levistus was the patron of the traitorous and vengeful, those that committed acts so heinous in their quests of retribution that their misdeeds were recorded in bardic tales for generations. His followers, known as bladereavers, hardly matched the image of sinister cultists, solemn priests or zealous fanatics, instead wielding rapiers and wearing flamboyant outfits more commonly seen on daring swashbucklers. Even if not for their appearance, bladereavers were rarely ever actual cultists since they didn't belong to cults, finding comfort in solitude and hardly speaking. Because his base of worshipers was comprised of rogues and ruffians, his followers lacked cooperative skills and, as often as not, simply betrayed each other.
Mutual mistrust between them was why permanent shrines to Levistus were rare in favour of individual, portable shrines, allowing each to worship in their own way. Levistan cultists were often nomads and those that weren't lived on the fringes of society in order to obtain supplies. When possible, they dwelt as far from civilization as possible, spending months or years in isolation before returning. This was because Levistus's followers were obsessed, sometimes to the point of psychosis, with their revenge, spending that time stoking their rage and meticulously crafting the smallest details of their plans. By appealing to their bitterness and promising a chance to exact retribution he acquired the service of released of rebels, hated inmates and exiled political rivals. Subtlety and long-term plans for vengeance or to subsume authority were encouraged until the schemer, who might once have been of decent moral character, was slowly but surely made utterly wicked.
The most independent and least stable followers made their plans in abandoned ruins, sacrificing anyone that stumbled across them except possibly in the rare circumstance when they encountered a kindred spirit. It was when two or more loathesome loners bonded, fueling each others spite and hate, that the few cults of Levistus appeared. This could also occur when an organization, normally a thieves' guild or pirate crew but sometimes legal authorities like a merchant house or a city watch, had a previously persecuted member now devoted to Levistus take power and encourage others to join in his ways.
Levistus was also a patron of survival, since Asmodeus had decreed that as part of his punishment, he was required to offer those in danger, typically life-threatening, a chance to escape. Like ordinary bladereavers, such followers weren't actual cultists, simply individuals trapped in seemingly inescapable situations, such as drow pushed to their breaking point by their cruel society. Normally he granted would-be-escapees a singular chance to escape in exchange for their souls, although sometimes the nefarious followers in question would make a deal for a later getaway. Once the deal was made, the follower would be teleported somewhere within a mile of their previous location chosen by Levistus completely healed of their wounds, either by choosing to activate the boon or as a response to their eminent demise.
Vengeful scoundrels weren't the only servants of Levistus, for even as he offered mercy to those at death's door, some of Levistus's servants acted as bounty hunters, offering fugitives a choice between serving Levistus and facing the law. Only the promise of another soul in place of their own could prevent a Levistan bounty hunter from killing their quarry if they were wanted dead or alive. Those already in positions of power but disliked or secluded by the circumstances of their command, like prison wardens or strict sergeants, were also vulnerable to Levistus and his temptations of cold, lawful order.
Rituals:
During rituals to Levistus, ice would be melted inside iron cauldrons filled with boiling water to symbolize Levistus's desired release. His disciples were commanded to search for items and information that would be valuable to devils in the service of other lords so that Levistus could bring them into his spy network. Powerful Levistan cultists had access to a spell called Bind to Hell allowing them to send the souls of mortals and bodies of outsider to Hell, specifically in a Stygian museum known as the Hall of the Vanquished. Heroes, archons and demons alike were trapped in dramatic poses on the pedestals of ice with descriptions of their deeds and abilities, alongside tactics for facing similar threats. The cultists who sent them were required to utter a trigger word allowing the victim to be freed in case a visiting devil or other cultists wanted to face them as practice, the forms including the word often swiftly arriving. However, before that could happen, a certain stipulation had to be fulfilled. At first, Levistan worshipers were told to sacrifice the souls of others without giving up their own and presented with items that both symbolized their loyalty to Levistus and bound the souls of those they killed to itself. Obtaining their ultimate reward required both the object and souls to be taken on a perilous quest to Stygia, all while Levistus attempted to break their spirit until they gave in and pledged their own souls as well. Other cultists were forced to assist in trying to chip the ice around Levistus's tomb. Levistus rewarded worshipers with powers allowing them to draw upon the Stygian cold to freeze their enemies, with some folktales claiming that those pledged to Levistus were never warmed and had icy handshakes. Levistan warlocks had special abilities allowing them to seal themselves within ice temporarily to avoid harm. Warlocks and other infernal scholars hoping Levistus's condition would make him more easily convinced into giving up lore would meet a self-pitying and seemingly desperate persona, as Levistus sent his pawns on more and more dangerous duties meant to risk their lives and corrupt their souls. Once they were no longer of use, they would be killed like all others. Negotiation:
Levistus was occasionally willing to meet with those seeking a personal audience with him after they were judged as worthy by his highest ranked devils. Suitable gifts had to be brought before him, including vast amounts of wealth, valuable secrets about his rivals, a mass of insignificant individual souls or a soul of singular importance, and rarely were one of those considered enough. They were forced to formally and respectfully present themselves before him and could be kept waiting for years before Levistus would finally converse with them, despite Levistus being able to telepathically communicate even from outside his iceberg, a clear indicator that he valued only their offers and not the presenters. He openly exploited his invulnerability in negotiations, laughing at threats and sending devils to kill or imprison anyone who insulted him, but was otherwise willing to hear out, if not accept offers from anyone. He was able to provide information about other layers of Hell, exiled dukes and archdukes or aid in plots to liberate other souls from Hell, provided that the individuals he was bargaining with seemed powerful enough to cause disruptions in Hell. However, he was just as likely to provide misinformation to turn his co-conspirators into distractions and would attempt to corrupt them every step of the way.
During rituals to Levistus, ice would be melted inside iron cauldrons filled with boiling water to symbolize Levistus's desired release. His disciples were commanded to search for items and information that would be valuable to devils in the service of other lords so that Levistus could bring them into his spy network. Powerful Levistan cultists had access to a spell called Bind to Hell allowing them to send the souls of mortals and bodies of outsider to Hell, specifically in a Stygian museum known as the Hall of the Vanquished. Heroes, archons and demons alike were trapped in dramatic poses on the pedestals of ice with descriptions of their deeds and abilities, alongside tactics for facing similar threats. The cultists who sent them were required to utter a trigger word allowing the victim to be freed in case a visiting devil or other cultists wanted to face them as practice, the forms including the word often swiftly arriving. However, before that could happen, a certain stipulation had to be fulfilled. At first, Levistan worshipers were told to sacrifice the souls of others without giving up their own and presented with items that both symbolized their loyalty to Levistus and bound the souls of those they killed to itself. Obtaining their ultimate reward required both the object and souls to be taken on a perilous quest to Stygia, all while Levistus attempted to break their spirit until they gave in and pledged their own souls as well. Other cultists were forced to assist in trying to chip the ice around Levistus's tomb. Levistus rewarded worshipers with powers allowing them to draw upon the Stygian cold to freeze their enemies, with some folktales claiming that those pledged to Levistus were never warmed and had icy handshakes. Levistan warlocks had special abilities allowing them to seal themselves within ice temporarily to avoid harm. Warlocks and other infernal scholars hoping Levistus's condition would make him more easily convinced into giving up lore would meet a self-pitying and seemingly desperate persona, as Levistus sent his pawns on more and more dangerous duties meant to risk their lives and corrupt their souls. Once they were no longer of use, they would be killed like all others. Negotiation:
Levistus was occasionally willing to meet with those seeking a personal audience with him after they were judged as worthy by his highest ranked devils. Suitable gifts had to be brought before him, including vast amounts of wealth, valuable secrets about his rivals, a mass of insignificant individual souls or a soul of singular importance, and rarely were one of those considered enough. They were forced to formally and respectfully present themselves before him and could be kept waiting for years before Levistus would finally converse with them, despite Levistus being able to telepathically communicate even from outside his iceberg, a clear indicator that he valued only their offers and not the presenters. He openly exploited his invulnerability in negotiations, laughing at threats and sending devils to kill or imprison anyone who insulted him, but was otherwise willing to hear out, if not accept offers from anyone. He was able to provide information about other layers of Hell, exiled dukes and archdukes or aid in plots to liberate other souls from Hell, provided that the individuals he was bargaining with seemed powerful enough to cause disruptions in Hell. However, he was just as likely to provide misinformation to turn his co-conspirators into distractions and would attempt to corrupt them every step of the way.
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