Cults are a few of D&D’s most memorable villains. Whether or not they’re attempting to finish the world or rule it, cults are all the time time.
In the case of the villains of D&D, one group can match nearly any journey, any degree. And that’s cults. In D&D cults are a ubiquitous drive of the world. They is likely to be following a demon lord. Or hoping for energy from an archdevil. Or possibly even attempting to destroy the world to make manner for the Far Realm.
However generally, you come throughout a D&D cult that makes you go, wait, what?
Dwelling Axe
Dwelling Axe is a dwarven group showing in 1990’s Dwarves Deep who dedicate their lives to the worship of sentient weapons. Essentially the most notable of those weapons was a double-bladed axe. The identical axe provides the cult its identify. Which resulted in followers carrying round a number of axes.
In actuality, lots of the weapons the Dwelling Axe took all of their orders from weren’t divine or holy as a lot as homes and prisons for malevolent spirits who immediately had a bit an excessive amount of authority. That’d be like discovering out you have been following the orders of a haunted toaster. Or the phantom zone from Superman II.
Order of Blue Flame
The Order of Blue Flame was a gaggle that believed the Spellplague catastrophe was factor. They thought that the wailing years and all of the horrible afflictions led to by altering magic have been an indication of the top occasions. They usually wished extra of it.
Nevertheless, they couldn’t agree on how one can make it occur. Consequently, many members would spearhead charity and mission initiatives aimed to assist these contaminated by Spellplague. The thought was that outward kindness would welcome them in lots of locations.
And it labored. Although it had the impact of serving to to stem the tide of the Spellplague, whilst they professed to be finding out it. Couple that with the truth that their most noteworthy gathering, the Pageant of Blue Fireplace, resulted within the deaths of a lot of their very own members, and also you’ve obtained a cult for the books.
Cult of Jathiman
This cult is a bit totally different than the others, not thinking about appeasing a particular god or persevering with any divine work. As a substitute, the Cult of Jathiman hated the very notion of gods and thought they might kill the gods themselves by way of the ability of magic, perception, and good outdated trend self-sacrifice. It didn’t work out the way in which they deliberate and Jergal, Lord of the Finish of Every thing destroyed all the group in a really horrible trend. However they get bonus factors in my guide for creativity and an actual dedication to nihilism.
Cult of the Dragon
Maybe the group on this record I might nearly get behind—but additionally in all probability not as a result of that will be insanity—the Cult of the Dragon was a gaggle that worshiped undead dragons and dragonliches. Believing that lifeless dragons shall rule the world,” they revered dragons and introduced them treasures and choices in hopes that they might finally be satisfied to turn into dragonliches.
This finally was an intelligence-gathering ring for the evil dragons of Faerun, and whereas some dragons opted to turn into undead, others in all probability noticed this as a possibility to have worshipers carry them wealth and knowledge. Win/Win.
She-Spider Cult
This cult turned felony group originated as a non secular Drow group devoted to evil goddesses Shar and Lolth. Sadly, the cult fell out of favor of the goddesses, and somewhat than try and win again their favor, disband, and even discover new deities, the group re-branded to turn into against the law ring. This sudden change makes me assume that maybe this cult was extra thinking about being a social group than a non secular one.
What’s your favourite cult in D&D lore? What have been their targets? Has a DM ever homebrewed one to your recreation? Tell us within the feedback!
Comfortable adventuring!
