The Cult Of Nakala

I. Mythos and History

Nakala is the unknowable darkness, so horrifying that even the most powerful Lords of Darkness are scared to mention her name. Nakala was born of Glorantha, and from her, the first element, all others are descended, from water to air. Nakala is the Seven Underworlds which her daughter, Subere, rules and all other Darkness gods sprang, although her devolution into these other beings is unsure and unclear, only the Inner Deities of Darkness would truly know the truth and they do not quickly share their secrets. She is noted as being the source of the Darkness rune and being the mother of Zorak Zoran, Xiola Umbar, the Father of Demons and Mother of Space and most other Darkness deities known today.
Nakala did little during the history of the Cosmos, although she was worshipped by the other gods, and is sometimes credited as mysteriously being the goddess who allowed Aether to be born. Dame Darkness is said to be her pseudonymn in the Celestial Court, although certain documents state that she was her daughter instead.
Those who do worship Nakala see no need for life after death, as in their mysterious pattern, death is only another state of existence which a mortal being may be in and so the true belief of life after death is shrouded in myth and cult secrets. The bodies of worshippers are normally stored in tombs without ritual or rite.
She is connected with the rune of Darkness and Darkness again.

II. Cult Ecology

Nakala is the frightening infinity of pure Darkness who's laws are alien to humans and who's truths are kept guarded by the great Uzuz priestesses of the Darkness deities. Nakala is, in Subere legend, "the Darkness before existence". Her cult is mysterious and even the troll priestesses of Subere shudder at it's mentioning. It is known to exist deep in the underground chambers of the Castle of Lead, worshipped by the most Ancient Uzuz in existence, and certain advocates of the Celestial Court.
The cult members rarely publically show their membership in the cult, and keep it secret. The cult's foes are few, even the god Aether and Yelm are not attacked, but are usually shunned. The cult does harbour a particular dislike for chaos, and reserves all out hatred for members of Wakboth, Kajabor and Krarsht. The cult is known to call upon Arachne Solara in it's mystical rituals, unique amongst any other cult.
The cult holy days are posted at anytime suitable to the presiding priest.

III. The Cult in the World

Nakala's cult is little known and virtually non-existent. Nakala's name is mentioned at certain points during troll rituals, but few people who even toy with the idea of worshipping the Primal Darkness would ever admit to it. Nakala has a cult in the depths of the oceans, among the mermen, where she is worshipped as the ancestor of Zaramaka, a cult in Halikiv in the greatest mistress race strongholds, and in the depths of Dagori Inkarth, where even the bravest soul would not tread. There is no inter-temple connections and all temples are uniquely organzied.
Shrines teach Bleak.

IV. Initiates

The intiate must first face the daunting task of finding a priest to initiate them. Once this is done they are lead to the temple altar where part of the Primal Darkness is summoned utilizing an ancient Wonderhome artifiact known as the Crucible. The initiate must face the Darkness, the terrtifying truths it brings and all it entails. They must roll a POWx1, adding 10% if they are troll/illuminate/priest of a Darkness cult. They may add 5% if they are only an acolyte in a Darkness cult or Rune Lord. If they suceed they must sacrifice 1 POW to Nakala and are now initiated. If they fail they are proababley troubled, and must roll under POWx3 to avoid gaining a form of insanity, which may be cured given time. They may try again in one years time if they so wish. If they fumble they are driven irrevisibley, mind-numbingly insane.
They need devote no time or income to the cult, unless the priest states otherwise, and usually must only turn up to attend cult high holy days, and may be asked to do quests for the cult when the need arises. They gain one-use access to Nakala's divine magic, but do not gain divine intervention. Nakala has no spirit magic.

V. Priest

To become a priest the canidate must be an initiate of at least one other darkness cult. They must have 100% in ceremony, an INT of at least 14 and a POW of at least 19. They may not be members of a cult with an element rune other than darkness. They gain no allied spirit and still have no access to divine intervention. They are, however, gifted with the ability known as Friendship of Darkness. When in any pitch black darkness they gain one magic point every round on SR 1 and always defend in spirit combat and other such MP vs. MP reistances as if they were on full magic points. They gain re-usuable divine magic. If their POW ever drops below 19 they loose priest status. They may be priests, shamans and sorcerors of other cults, on the provisio that the cult allows them to join Nakala. Most worship to Nakala is subsumed into worship with other Darkness cults.

Common Divine Magic: Sanctify, Worship Nakala.
Special Divine Magic: Bleak, Wrath of Darkness.

VI. Special Cult Rune Magic

Bleak
1 point
Radius 15m, temporal, stackable, re-usuable
This spell causes everything within it's area to fall into a complete and utter darkness where only the senses of the Elder Races are effective, in addition to the magic of wizards. This spell allows Nakala priests to regenerate MP's, and other additional effects, as detailed above. This spell has a radius of 15m for every point used.

Wrath of Darkness
3 points
ranged, instant, non-stackable, one-use
This spell can only be cast in complete darkness. It calls upon the true power of Nakala. The priest must overcome the MP's of the opponent with their own. If successful the tendrils of Nakala reach out and consume the victim in a mere second. They are gone, Divine Intervention cannot bring them back and ressurection is ineffective. If the MP vs. MP fails then nothing occurs.

VII. Subcults

Spirit of Reprisal
The spirit of reprisal for this cult is very viscious, and appears from one minute after the apostate commits his crimes to several years. From the nearest source of Darkness comes 1d6 spirits of reprisal, each with POW 10+2d6. They attack in spirit combat, and if the victim is reduced to zero MP's then they are swept of into the Darkness, never to be seen again. Even Divine Intervention is ineffective.

The Crucible
This artifact comes from Wonderhome. It is, according to legend the crucible with which all of Nakala's children would be forced to test their powers against, to prove themselves worthy of existence. It was removed to the surface, where the cult of Nakala made use of it for initiation rituals. The crucible can be used to enter the Heroplane, although the exact details of this are unknown. Members of the subcult know various Rune Spells which can command the shard of the crucible that they own to open portals to the Heroplane.

VIII. Associated Cults

Styx
The Styx grants her own version of Oath.

Zorak Zoran
Her son grants Fear.

Xiola Umbar
Her daughter gives Healing Trance.

Father of Demons/Mother of Space
These mysterious entities can muster between themselves the spells of Command (Darkness spirit) and Binding Enchantment.