Cult of Raxenos

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1. Overview

The Cult of Raxenos is united by a single obsession: the pursuit of arcane power. Its disciples scour Staterum for ancient relics, forgotten grimoires, and scraps of forbidden knowledge, each dreaming of replicating Raxenos’ infamous ritual of ascension. Their ambition is as terrifying as it is selfish—every member sees themselves as a potential successor to their patron.

Though they cooperate when expedient, true loyalty is scarce within the cult. Beneath the façade of camaraderie lies only rivalry and paranoia. Each disciple secretly plots to betray the others when the moment comes, ensuring that they—and not their peers—achieve divinity.

• Type: Cult
• Base of Operations: Rumoured to maintain a hidden enclave in Nordholt (unconfirmed).
• Core Purpose/Focus: To replicate Raxenos’ ritual of ascension and rise to godhood.
• Reputation: Reviled across Siar’Morrin. Even the faintest rumour of their presence sparks panic, for none can forget the devastation Raxenos’ ritual once unleashed.
• Symbol: A pair of closed eyes, with a third open eye set above them.

2. History

In the wake of Raxenos’ catastrophic ritual, most mortals condemned him as a heretic who nearly destroyed the world. Yet a small number saw something different: not a villain, but a visionary. To them, Raxenos embodied mortal potential—the ability to reach beyond the boundaries imposed by gods and seize divinity for oneself.

This belief coalesced into the Cult of Raxenos. For centuries, its adherents have scoured ruins, archives, and battlefields, convinced that fragments of the ritual still linger. Their methods have grown more insidious with time: infiltration of guilds, councils, and noble houses, exploiting positions of power to further their quest for ascension.

3. Structure & Organization

Unlike other cults, the Cult of Raxenos lacks a clear hierarchy. Its members are bound more by shared obsession than by structure:

• The Aspirants: Self-styled leaders who claim fragments of forbidden knowledge. Each acts independently, but occasionally coordinates with others when mutual gain outweighs rivalry.
• Circles: Small, secretive cells that research, steal, or infiltrate. They rarely exceed five members, as trust is thin and betrayal common.
• Initiates: New recruits lured by promises of power. Many perish quickly, either in failed rituals or at the hands of fellow disciples.

The cult functions less as a unified order and more as a shifting alliance of rivals—its strength lies not in numbers, but in cunning and audacity.

4. Culture & Practices

The cult reveres ambition above all else. To them, betrayal is not weakness but inevitability; only those ruthless enough to seize power are deemed worthy of divinity.

Their rituals are shrouded in secrecy, often conducted in ruins or hidden chambers. They involve blood sacrifices, forbidden incantations, and the dismantling of protective wards that safeguard ancient relics. Failures are frequent, often catastrophic, but each attempt is seen as progress toward unlocking Raxenos’ secrets.

Members cloak themselves in scholarly airs, often posing as sages, priests, or consultants to powerful patrons. Their corruption seeps into the halls of academia, politics, and commerce—wherever knowledge or resources might serve their ends.

5. Key Figures

Though no confirmed members are known, persistent rumours suggest the cult’s influence reaches into the highest levels of power:

• Magister Orvain of the Elementum Arcanum: A respected archmage known for his research into lost spells. Whispered to have crossed the line between academic inquiry and obsession, some suspect he is an Aspirant seeking relics under the guise of scholarship.
• Duchess Lyra Thenos (House Thenos): A lower noblewoman clutching to ties of royalty in the Shadow Aisle Mountains. Rumours claim her vast libraries contain tomes on Raxenos’ rites, and that her family’s growing “eccentricities” stem from her hidden devotion.
• High Factor Neralis Farmus (House Farmus): Head of the continent’s most powerful overland transport monopoly, controlling much of the trade flowing between Eastern and Western Siar’Morrin. Though widely respected for his wealth and influence, persistent whispers accuse him of smuggling arcane relics under the cover of his caravans.

Whether these figures truly serve the cult or are victims of rumour and paranoia remains unclear—but the mere suspicion of involvement erodes trust, which suits the cult well.

6. Geographic Influence

• Areas of Operation: Believed to have cells across ass Staterum.
• Allies & Enemies:
  • Enemy: The Rift Watch, whose Ablutors actively hunt them.
  • Enemy: Nearly every political and religious faction, as their reputation makes them universally despised.

7. Resources & Capabilities

• Military Strength: Minimal as an organised force, but many individual members wield considerable magical power.
• Economic Power: Derived from infiltration and manipulation of wealthy patrons, guilds, and noble houses. Their access to resources often far outstrips their visible size.
• Special Assets: A clandestine network of scholars, mages, and infiltrators; deep knowledge of ruins and wards; and the terrifying willingness to risk catastrophe in pursuit of forbidden power.