Cults of Gero
Secret Orders & Hidden Passions
Cults come in a wide variety of forms, ranging from
secretive masked groups to knightly orders. Sages have
categorized cults as follows:
Personality:
Personality cults revere a single individual, living or
dead, who usually has absolute authority in the eyes of the
cultists. If the focus is also the leader of the nation,
the result is similar to the God-kings of ancient Egypt.
If the focus is not a worldly leader, the entire cult may
be outlawed, as it preaches reverence to the focus over
obedience to the secular authorities. Camp Davidians are
a good example of this sort of cult.
If the focus of the cult is dead, then worship and faith
are usually centered on the teachings of the focus when he
was alive. The Survivors of Etaska, an apocolypse-cult, is
one such group.
The alignment of a personality cult is dictated by the
focus.
Mythic Beast:
These cults center around the reverence of a particular
type of supernatural animal. Dragons are common focii for
such groups, and the Cult of the Brass Dragon is possibly
the best-known mythic beast cult.
Mythic Beast cults are usually dedicated to the protection
and advancement of the species.
Alignments are almost always identical to the particular
beast.
Animal/elemental:
Animal cults differ from animal totems in that they
ascribe human traits to the animal that serves as the
focus. For instance, a "serpent cult" may espouse
treachery and ruthlessness, while a cult which worships
fire may use extensive Wizard magic relating to fire and
heat.
Knightly orders often take a particular creature or
element as their focus, so as to emphasize the particular
virtues or vices the order values. For instance, the Order
of the Falcon, located in the mountain city of Aerie,
values alertness, vigilence and courage. Another example
is the Cult of the Predator Wolf, a group of shapechangers
who are taught that they have a divine right to prey on the
"cattle" of humanity.
Alignments vary widely, but it is rare for a true neutral
cult to take this form.
Demon:
Demon cults (actually a misnomer) can be focused around
any extraplanar being. While not true gods, these entities
are frequently able to grant low-level Priest magic to
their Templars.
The "demon" frequently assumes a false guise when
dealing with the cult. Perhaps the best-known cult of this
type is the Order of the Unicorn, who are identical to
standard Rangers.
Concept:
Concept cults are focused around a particular idea or
value. Often, personality cults which have forgotten their
original founder will become concept cults. The
Shadowmasters, an Illuminati-type organization dedicated to
subtle manipulation, are one such group.
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