Karameikan Entropic Cults & the Eye of Traldar
by Giampaolo AgostaIn another thread, I mentioned some work I'm doing on a Karameikos-based campaign starting with Eye of Traldar.
I'm considering using the material developed by Håvard on Argos, the Witches of Dymrak and the Seer of the Lake of Lost Dreams.
To this end, I've considered what kind of Entropic cults would oppose the Seer (and therefore the Traladaran Three).
We know that there must be a number of goblinoid followers of Entropic Immortals -- Orcus, Leptar, Yagrai, Ranivorus and Jammudaru are the most likely, though Hel, Nyx, Alphaks and other Entropics might be considered.
I've listed some ideas on these tribes in this list of goblinoid tribes of Karameikos.
I'm also considering what type of Entropic cults could be found among humans.
I've collected some info on the topic on the Italian MMB, which I'm reposting here below:
- Elwyn the Ardent (B9), former priestess of Chardastes, now of Leptar. She's a C6 with some acolytes.
- The Monastery on the Hill (B5) was devoted to an obscure but most likely Entropic cult, now has a single surviving monk.
- Jolenta and Rucker (B10) are both Reavers of the Iron Ring and C4. From their names, Jolenta seems to have a Traladaran origin, while Rucker might be Hattian.
- Bailakask (B10) is a werewolf who is also a priestess, most likely of some Entropic power.
- Bernal (B12) is also a C4, and is a long-time follower of the "Queen" Ilyana Penhaligon.
- There's an evil priest, Petrides with necromantic powers hidden near Stallanford (B11). He's a C3.
- There's the Temple of Evil Chaos in B2, which has several priests.
- Paurillian (from Eye of Traldar) is another evil priest, C3. He works as an undead programmer for von Hendricks and/or the Iron Ring.
Except for Elwyn's case, we do not know what Immortals these clerics worship.
I have a couple guesses:
- It's likely that Fort Doom's Thyatian population follow the CoK. However, being generally Hattian (they came with von Hendricks) and not so nice, it's quite likely they have Storm Soldiers -- probably the priests of the CoK in Fort Doom are radical followers of Alfric Oderbry. So a cult of Thanatos could survive here. Occasional Thanatons might also be the result of delving too deep into Taymoran ruins.
- The Iron Ring must sell slaves somewhere. There are few nations in the Known World where outright slavery is accepted -- Thyatis and Ostland, mostly. It's likely that the Iron Ring trade with Jaibul, where Karameikan slaves could be easily sold with little or no questions asked on the legitimacy of their status. So, it's also possible that the Iron Ring picked up the cult of Hel (as Kala) and of related Immortals in their Sindhi personae. This Thyatianized Sindhi cult could be the primary Iron Ring cult, followed by the likes of Rucker, Jolenta and Paurillian.
- Finally, Orcus is involved in Karameikan affairs through the Witches of Dymrak and Argos, as well as being the patron of evil lycanthropes (such as Bailakask). He could also be the patron of Leptar (who looks definitely like a demon, though not one of the "greater" types -- he looks like a Bar-lgura), giving him a link to Elwyn. I suppose there could be an ancient Traladaran evil cult worshipping primarily Orcus, but also Leptar and Demogorgon.
Each of these cults might have its reasons for being at odd with the Seer, as well as for trying to put their hands on the Eye of Traldar.
Orcus' cult has obvious motives, while Thanatos' cult could be trying to use the powers of the Eye to locate and revive an ancient Taymoran Vampire King.
The Sindhi cult is directly linked to the Iron Ring, so it serves the interests of the greater Masters (and von Hendricks', to a certain extent).