Cults of the Rivals

Send comments and/or criticism to Simon E. Phipp
Created On 28 March 1999
Last Updated On 28 March 1999
Copyright (c) Simon E. Phipp 1999

See Also:: Overview
Summoning the Rivals
Sacred Societies of the Rivals
Myths of the Rivals

Each Rival has its own cult. However, it is normally only worshipped Shamanically either as a Spirit Cult or by individual Shamanic contact. Where the Sacred Society of the Rival is strong a cult will have formed which bears some relationship to a standard RuneQuest cult. This is the write-up of each cult in the standard form, even though it is unlikely to be met.

The Mythos of the rivals is shared and described elsewhere. There may be instances where the rivals acted separately, but I can't think of any good myths. maybe somebody else can?

These are loosely based on the Cults from Different Worlds 3 and the write-up in Tales of the Reaching Moon 15 but are still quite different and have a different emphasis.

Cult of the Sun Hawk

Reason for Continued Existence

The Praxian Sun god, Sun Hawk is worshipped for those requiring Fire Powers but fearing Oakfed and by those wishing to see through illusions.

Holy Day: Fireday, Truth Week of each Season.

Life After Death

Worshippers of Sun Hawk will be taken to Sun Hawk's Nest in the Sky after Death.

Cult Ecology

Sun Hawk is normally only worshipped a s a Spirit cult or Shamanically. The closest it comes to a normal cult is when it is worshipped in the Sun Hawk Sacred Society.

Runes: Fire/Sky, Truth, Beast

Cult Structure

When the Sun hawk is worshipped as a cult it has Lay Members, initiates and Truth Tellers. When worshipped as a Spirit cult it only has initiates and Truth Tellers.

Lay Membership

Must be male and not belong to a darkness cult or worship a Darkness Deity. Must be honest and truthful.

Can learn the skills of Speak (language) and orate at half normal cost. The language taught depends on the local cult and the languages known but normally includes Praxian, Fire Speech, Pavic, maybe Lunar or Sartarite.

Lay Members may learn Lightwall at half price.

Initiates

As Lay member, but the initiate may never lie, doing so means expulsion from the cult.

Members of the Sun Hawk Society are automatically initiates of the cult, unless they are Shamans in which case they are Truth tellers.

They may learn the same spells and skills as Lay members but have access to Sun Hawk's Divine Spells on a one-use basis.

Truth Tellers

These are the Shamans of the cult. Any Shaman belonging to the cult is a Truth Teller.

If a Truth Teller ever lies then he is expelled from the cult.

Truth Tellers gain access to the Sun Hawk's Divine Magic.

Divine Magic

Common Divine: Worship Sun hawk, Spell Teaching, Sanctify, Divination, Spirit Block, Heal Area

Cult Special: Clear Sight, Summon Salamander, Command Salamander, Bind Salamander, Truth Speak, Sun Glance (one use), Clear Sight

Sun Glance is as Sun Spear but is one use.

Clear Sight (2 pt, temporal, non-stackable, reusable)

This first appeared in Tales of the Reaching Moon 15.

This spell permits the caster to see any illusion for what it is and to se through cloaking spells such as Conceal. The caster's visual Scan and Search skills are increased by 30% each. This spell only functions when the object looked at is in direct sunlight, so it is useless at night or when the sky is covered in clouds.

Shamanic Worship

Accessing Sun Hawk shamanically generally gives access to Clear Sight. The Shaman may never lie while he has this spell, if he does he will lose it.

Worshipping the Spirit Cult means that the cultists may never lie or they lose their spells. Only Shamans may use Sun Glance.

Spirit of Retribution

Those who lie while members of the cult lose all ability to see through trickery. Acting/Disguise always works against them, they have no INT roll to through off befuddle or to detect Illusions.

Cult of the Thunder Bird

Reason for Continued Existence

The Praxian Storm god, Thunder Bird is worshipped by those who wish Storm Powers but who mistrust Orlanth. He also provides warriors.

Holy Day: Stormday, Movement Week of each Season.

Runes: Storm, Movement, Beast

Life After Death

Faithful worshippers will be taken to the clouds where they can piss on their enemies from a great height.

Cult Ecology

Thunderbird is normally only worshipped a s a Spirit cult or Shamanically. The closest it comes to a normal cult is when it is worshipped in the Thunderbird Sacred Society.

Cult Structure

When the Thunder Bird is worshipped as a cult it has Lay Members, initiates and Storm Bringers. When worshipped as a Spirit cult it only has initiates and Storm Bringers.

Lay Membership

Anyone non-chaotic may be a lay member of the Thunder Bird cult.

Lay Members may learn the skills of Self Bow, Orate, Medium Shield Parry at half price.

The spell of mobility is also available at half price.

Initiates

They must pass a test of Self bow, Orate, Shield Parry, Any weapon attack, First Aid.

Thunder bird Society members are automatically initiates.

Initiates may learn cult skills at half price and may sacrifice for all cult divine spells except for Thunder Breath.

Storm Bringers

These are the Shamans of the cult and also the priests. Any Shaman belonging to the cult is automatically a Storm Bringer.

Divine Magic

Common Divine: Worship Sun hawk, Spell Teaching, Sanctify, Divination, Spirit Block, Heal Area

Cult Special: Wind Warp, Cloud Call, Rain, Summon Sylph, Command Sylph, Bind Sylph, Thunder breath (one use)

Thunder Breath is as thunderbolt but one use.

Tales of the Reaching Moon gives Cloud Call a deafening noise in addition, but I don't agree.

Shamanic Worship

Shamans gain Cloud Call from individual contact, normally.

Spirit cult worship gives all spells but only Shamans may gain Thunder Breath.

Spirit of Retribution

Those turning away from Thunder Bird will experience bad weather wherever they go.

Cult of the Raven

Reason for Continued Existence

The Praxian Thief God, he is worshipped by those who need the skills of theft and concealment. He is also the entertainer god.

Holy Day: Wildday, Illusion Week of each Season, High Holy Day is Dark Season.

Runes: Darkness, Movement, Beast

Life After Death

Followers will go to Raven's Nest from where they steal little things from the people of Prax. Whenever things go missing without explanation is Raven's work.

Cult Ecology

Raven is normally only worshipped a s a Spirit cult or Shamanically. The closest it comes to a normal cult is when it is worshipped in the Raven Sacred Society.

Cult Structure

When Raven is worshipped as a cult it has Lay Members, initates and Gift Bringers. When worshipped as a Spirit cult it only has initiates and Gift Bringers.

Lay Membership

Anyone may join the Raven cult.

Raven lay members may learn the following skills at full price: Act, Sing, Sneak, Conceal, Hide, Play (Instrument) (Instrument depends on the culture and availability of masters).

Raven Lay Members may learn the Image Creation spell.

Initiates

These may learn the same skills and spells as Lay Members but at half price.

They may also sacrifice for raven divine magic on a one-use basis.

Gift Bringers

These are the Shaman/Priests of the cult. Any Shaman joining the cult automatically becomes a Gift Bringer.

Common Divine: Worship Sun hawk, Spell Teaching, Sanctify, Divination, Spirit Block, Heal Area

Cult Special: Conceal, Hide Wealth, Hallucinate, Avoid Glance, Summon Shade, Command Shade, Bind Shade.

Hallucinate (1 point, Ranged, Temporal, Stackable, Active)

Causes the target to experience a Hallucination as created by the caster on a successful POW vs POW roll. This can affect all senses. The target has an INTx1% chance to realise this is not real. This cannot cause harm to the target nor can it make him walk off a cliff, for instance, although it can be used to hide a trap etc. Each use affects a different target, all of whom experience the same illusion.

Avoid Glance (1 point, Stackable, Ranged, Temporal)

This causes the target not to look at the caster on a successful POW vs POW roll. He will choose to attack someone else for the duration of the spell and will not cast spells at the caster.

Shamanic Worship

Shamans gain Hide Wealth or Conceal from Raven.

Spirit of Retribution

Members who betray Raven find that their tricks turn against them.

Cult of Condor

Reason for Continued Existence

Condor is the god of the condors and is worshipped by those wishing to gain their powers. Scavengers always have a place in Prax.

Holy Day: Fireday, Truth Week of each Season, High Holy Day is Fire Season.

Runes: Fire/Sky, Movement, Beast

Life After Death

Condor worshippers are reborn as Condors.

Cult Ecology

Condor is normally only worshipped a s a Spirit cult or Shamanically. The closest it comes to a normal cult is when it is worshipped in the Condor Sacred Society.

Cult Structure

Condor is only worshipped as a Spirit Cult or by Shamans as it is a very small cult.

Initiates

These gain Track, Scan, Scout Plains, Animal Lore and may learn the spell of Farsee at half price.

Soarers

These are the shamans of the cult. Any shaman joining the cult automatically becomes a Soarer.

Common Divine: Worship Sun hawk, Spell Teaching, Sanctify, Divination, Spirit Block, Heal Area

Cult Special: Command Condor, Soar

Soar (1 point, temporal, non-stackable, reusable)

For the duration of the spell flying costs no fatigue but is 2/3 Movement Rate. This does not give the ability to fly but is normally cast on flying beasts.

Spirits of Retribution

Those who betray Condor will smell of carrion and will attract any scavengers in the area.

Associate Cults

Vrimak grants his son Speak to Birds

[End]