The Cult of Arkat Kortagisoul

I. Mythos and History

In the First Age the creation of a god was decided upon by the Council of World Friends. It was to be named Kortagi, a great and powerful God of Darkness who would bring the bliss of Wonderhome with him and teach it to the world. However, the Evil Empire of Fire were corrupted by a chaos spirit called Gbaji who whispered lies and treachery to the Emperor of the Lands, convincing him to leave Kortagi unborn. Instead they decided to bring a deity named Ostentalka into the world, a god tainted by chaos and left unborn by the orders of the Sun Emperor himself - even he, blinded on most issues by his own light - had seen Ostentalka's evil. The trolls, seeing the corruption within, left the Council so that they might destroy it. The trolls seemingly vanished, and the Broken Council thought themselves safe. They gave birth to Ostentalka, who knew he might be discovered and so changed his name to Nysalor, and used great magics so that even the Gods would not know of him, or find him. Even today, his worshippers share this ability.

Yet the trolls did not remain quiet. They had their own ritual, to incarnate Kortagi in the body of a mortal. It was known by the humans as the Black Eater. However, every suitable troll host was assassinated by agents of Nysalor and the Uz had little way to summon their god. So they chose an unlikely host, a human baby called Arkat, and hid him in an unlikely place, with elves on Brithos. Nysalor and the Broken Council thought that Kortagi had been forced to remain in the Underworld, and the realisation that Kortagi and Arkat were one and the same came too late to save them. He slew Nyslaor and sent his pieces to the gods, and then he caught Gbaji who had sat atop Nysalor's shoulder whispering lies from the day he was born. Death was too good for Gbaji and so he cut him into twelve portions and gave his pieces to the mortals. Kortagi ruled an Empire untilthe year 500 ST when he returned to his home in Hell.

The sect of Arkat Kortagisoul believes that they are there to return Kortagi to the world when he is most needed. They believe Gbaji has returned and cite the return of Ralzakark as a sign of the coming apocalypse.

His runes are Darkness, Mastery and Harmony.

II. Cult Ecology

III. The Cult In The World

There is a sect of Arkatism that apparently has its origins and roots in the Hammers invasion of the Safelster. A group of Arkati (undetermined allegiance) were forced east from Tiskos, tracked by the Seshnelans until the fled into Halikiv. When the second generation of descendants emerged years later they came with new ideals and truths learned from the trolls. Their sect became quite powerful and influential, especially in the Arkati Civil Breakouts near the end of the 16th century.

The sect is quietly tolerated by the Duke of Naskorion, it does have connections with certain trolls in Halikiv that he'd prefer not to anger, although his companion Kurzum Argat has been trying to push a petition through to ban them. In Tortun they have a single temple and in Borin there are a few underground shrines - while the cult is not banned in Borin, the Illuminated Brotherhood of the Bright Night consider this sect to be one of their mortal enemeis, and known members quickly meet fatal accidents. They all report to a high temple on the borders of Hallikiv.

The cult holy days are the same as Kyger Litors.

IV. Followers of the Shadows

Those who join at this level may not be members of a cult with Fire/Sky rune and may not be Illuminated. Those who join must be human or troll, though trolls rarely join. They must devote 1 POW to Arkat Kortagisoul (see below).

Followers of the Shadows are the lowest of the sect. They must devote 10% of their income to the cult, and must attend at least one sermon a week unless given leave by the temple priest. Followers of the Shadows may not speak of their cu;t or anything that they may learn, only Followers of Night preach. All members are given a plain lead ring to denote membership.

Cult members receive free training in Troll lore, Speak Darktongue, Read/write Darktongue and Ceremony.

V. Followers of Night

To advance to the next level of the cult the character must have at least 30% in Ceremony, have spent at least a year in the cult, and have Arkat Kortagisoul as a patron Saint. As long as there is space, advancement is automatic.

They gain access to one-use rune magic and cult sorcery. They must devote 50% of their time and income to the cult - they run the temples and attend to its preachings. Followers of Night may not talk to Fire/Sky worshippers.

Cult Sorcery: Boost Elemental, Call Cold, Call Shadow, Create Wraith, Evoke Cold, Evoke Shadows, Mystic Vision, project Shadow, Resist Detection, See Rune magic, Snare.
Runes: Darkness 5, Mastery 3, Harmony 3.
Passions: Love (trolls) 3, Loyalty (cult) 5, Hate (Deceiver) 5, hate (chaos) 2.

Some sorcery spells are drawn from Stephen Martins Book of Drastic Resolutions #3. Passions and runes only apply if you are using my HeroQuest rules.

VI. Followers of Hell

Followers of Hell are those Followers of Night who have been Illuminated under the watchful eye of the cult. They must also have Speak Darktongue and Read/Write Darktgonue at 30% or more. They are the temple attendants and devote 90% of their time and income to the cult in return for board and succour. They usually lead worship rituals. They may not talk to any non-darkness worshippers. They receive free teachings in sorcery skills and Illumination.

All Followers of Hell receive an enchanted lead mace or maul, mainly for ceremonial purposes as most are not very good fighters. They all wear red robes, these are enchanted so that whilst on temple grounds they receive the equivalent of a shimmer spell equal to their POW.

VII. Followers of the Dark

These are the Chief Priests and Leaders of the cult community. They are rarely seen by other people, many spend all of their time in the temple in Halikiv. Those who have the ability to teach Illuminating Riddles, have 90% in at least three sorcerous Arts (Intensity, Range etc...), Read/Write Darktongue and speak Darktongue and have at least 50% in Ceremony, may join the ranks of the Followers of the Dark. They must devote 90% of their time and income to the cult.

They must wear Dark Robes, which give the priest protection equal to POW whilst on sanctified grounds. While on sanctified grounds they are also immune to esoteric attacks. They lead some of the more arcane cult sermons and lead secret ceremonies for the Followers of Hell. They must not enter daylight, if they do so all cult powers and benefits are lost, not even the ability to invoke Arkat Kortagisoul is retained. The light of a sunspear or a light spell does not count, but a Sunbright does. They gain access to reusable Rune Magic and the secrets of esoteric Arkatism.

These priests spend most time engaged in secret Arkati rites. They are rarely seen, manipulating the cult from afar and awaiting the day that Arkat returns.

Common Rune Magic: Sanctify, Summon Shade, Worship Arkat Kortagisoul.
Special Rune magic: Command Shade, Detection Blank, Enchant Robes, Impede Deceiver, Return Arkati, Slay Deceiver.

VIII. Arkat Kortagisoul

To get Arkat Kortagisoul works exactly the same as aquiring a Saint. It costs 6 POW to get Arkat Kortaigsoul and upon invoking his power the Arkati becomes closer to the powers of the Darkness Gods. Under my HeroQuest rules this increases Darkness rune by 15 and all Piety Passions of Darkness Gods by 15. This effect lasts only 24 hours. If you use a different HeroQuest system, then increase runic ties by a simlar amount and alter personality traits according to your own system.

IX. Special Arkat Kortagisoul Rune Magic

Detection Blank is described in Elder Secrets Book Two.

Enchant Robes
1 point
ritual(enchant), reusable
this spell can only be sacrificed for by Followers of Hell or Followers of the Dark. It allows them to create either Red Robes (with powers as described in the section on Followers of Hell) or Dark Robes (with powers as described in the section on Followers of the Dark). These robes only work for the appropriate priest caste, so Dark robes will work for no-one else than Followers of the Dark and Red robes will work for no-one other than Followers of Hell. The ritual takes one hour and costs 1 POW and creates a robe which gives no armour to locations except for those granted by its magic, and weighs the same as clothing.

Impede Deceiver
1 point
ranged, temporal, nonstackable, reusable
This spell is only effective on people in Arkati sects other than Arkat Kortagisoul. The target of the spell becomes harder to strike by worshippers of other Arkati sects, reducing all attacks made by 30%.

Return Arkati
2 points
Ritual (ceremony), one-use
This works exactly like ressurection, except that it is only effective on Arkati (of any sect).

Slay Deceiver
2 points
ranged, instant, nonstackable, reusable
This spell works exactly like a Sever Spirit, but can only be used on people who are members of an Arkati sect other than Arkat Kortagisoul.

X. Kortagisoul Illumination

As described in Dorastor:Land of Doom, not all Illuminates gain all of the powers listed. Those Illuminated by Arkat Kortagisoul gain the following powers:

• Understand the difference between Law and Chaos
  
• Sense Illumination
  
• Can ignore gift/geas pairs without summoning a spirit of reprisal
  
• Can have conflicting personality traits or passions. For instance, under my house rules you could have Hate (chaos) and Fear (chaos) both at the same time, or Hate (Storm Worshippers) and Piety (orlanth). The Illuminate can choose which Passion to use. If you use Traits like those found in Pendragon or Griffin Mountain you might have a character with Lust 80 and Chaste 50, or Brave 70 Cowardly 70 both at the same time.
  
• The ability Teach Riddles can be learnt from the Followers of the Dark.