Cultists

and with people who fancy similar pursuits.They are erratic in their behavior,often prone to quick fits ofrage or sudden changes ofheart.They place no value on family,friendship, romantic love,or even racial ties.Their fellow priests and cultists are never more than a means to an end.The psychology ofchaos encourages them not to covet wealth or even power for their own sakes,but only as a way to achieve their greater goals.

They adore bright,garish colors or—alternatively— cling to the color ofthe ultimate,endless void. Some chaos priests keep their identities secret with masks or hoods.Others hide their allegiance to chaos by avoiding open displays ofsymbols. Still others cover their bodies in ritual scarring and piercings in order to better exemplify the force they revere.These priests like very sharp knives,heavy hammers and maces,scythes and sickles,and other weapons that have a dramatic appearance as well as combat effectiveness.

Clerics ofchaos gain access to the following domains:chaos,destruction,and evil.

Chaos priests are often as different from one another as the ever-changing nature ofthe force they worship.Most are insane,at least to some degree.Megalomania,schizophrenia,extreme masochism or sadism,manic depression,and delusions are not uncommon.Some priests become terribly compulsive and irrational.Many are real gluttons,while others are addicted to drugs,alcohol,or other substances. Addiction seems to manifest itselffrequently as part oftheir makeup.

By their very nature,priests ofchaos are disorganized. Their temples usually remain in a state ofdisarray and confusion,although some churches possess a stark,bleak quality,as though everything in them has been scoured by fire. Chaos priests prefer to establish themselves in ruins,to symbolize the ultimate destruction ofall things,or in secret hideaways right under the noses ofothers,to demonstrate that those who do not understand chaos remain ignorant of even the most obvious facts.

Recruited from the slums and gutters as well as the upper echelons ofnobility,chaos cultists are everywhere.Some hide away in unseen temples,while others continue to walk the streets with everyone else,concealing their true nature and beliefs—for now.

Chaos cultists are drawn to the beliefs ofdeep chaos because they feel powerless and forgotten.They revel in the idea ofknowing the “truth” that others do not know.Some are contemptuous and spiteful ofothers and find comfort in a philosophy that embraces the hateful urges they feel.A few are already mad and find that the religion’s dogma fits their delusions.

It should come as no surprise that the followers ofchaos are a mass ofcontradictions.For example,they value secrecy, yet a captured cultist may eagerly boast ofhis group’s plans to annihilate all who oppose them.For this reason,cult leaders usually tell their followers only just enough to get by— general ideas but not specific plans— unless absolutely necessary. Symbology is important to followers oftrue chaos.Each cult usually has its own chaos symbol,plus there are more general symbols such as the many-pointed arrow,the green spiral, and the broken square.Even when it would be prudent to avoid use ofany kind ofsymbol,cultists feel they gain strength and power from them.Many say that even while in a crowd of“ignorants” (their term for noncultists),pretending to be one ofthem,they can concentrate on their secret tattoo,hidden signet,or other sign of their devotion to chaos and know they are superior to those they must tolerate—for the time being.

Even the wildest,most murderous cultist looks on her work with the pleasure ofa satisfied artist.She knows there is method to her madness.She sees a purpose behind what often look like senseless acts.In the chaos cultist’s mind,she is a misunderstood genius.Although they must work together,almost all chaos cultists are truly loners.

Cultists ofchaos rarely work well together in a group or make use ofbrilliant tactics unless they have an intelligent and forceful leader.Even then,few ofthe individual cultists actually think in terms ofworking together and instead simply “do their part.” A leader who understands that,however, can get the cultists to carry out elaborate schemes as a group, with each individual performing only a small but necessary part ofthe plan.

Chaos cultists enter battle with a blood frenzy but quickly lose their morale unless they are clearly winning.In a fight with cultists,about halfofthem flee after the initial engagement,and the other halffight like madmen with no regard for personal safety.Chaos cultists always prefer an unfair fight (in their favor) and never harbor such concepts as personal honor or dignity in battle.Many would rather poison their enemies when they were not expecting it than actually get into a melee.

Chaos cultists prefer smashing maces and flails over the elegance ofa bow and the painful cuts ofa razor-sharp knife over the quick thrust ofa rapier.In general,however,they use whatever weapon is at hand and is right for the job.

Cultists frequently take prisoners for torture,sacrifice,or experimentation.Chaos temples almost always have dungeons filled with captives—kidnap victims,bought slaves, captured foes,and incarcerated offending cultists.Few of these prisoners live very long.

Members ofthe various chaos cults love using beasts and creatures ofvarious types as guardians,helpers,soldiers,or allies.They regularly keep savage dire animals (usually mistreated to make them more vicious),oozes,and undead in their temples and strongholds.Gargoyles,ettins,and driders help fill their ranks as well.Such creatures as umber hulks, trolls,or frost giants are welcome in chaos temples,and ofcourse chaos beasts and demons make useful allies or even masters.

Two Sample Cultists

Although they are very different,the following two character examples show how you might use chaos cultists in a campaign.

Varah Namerei

Varah is the fourth child ofan ancient elvish family that has held power,both influential and political,over the last six centuries.Even at a young age,she grew bored ofcourtly functions and noble affairs.Her family had little time or patience with her,so she spent most ofher days with servants.She excelled at her studies but never took a real interest in any field except philosophy.In her research into various beliefs,she read about the chaos cult and became fascinated.She wanted to learn more,and so she started to disguise herselfto sneak out ofher palatial home.

Soon she managed to meet up with the Brothers of Venom,who have many members secreted away among the ranks ofnobility.They were only too happy to accept a young elf woman into their fold.Her first few years with the cult were unpleasant,to say the least.The cultists only abused her and used her,a subtle way ofestablishing long-term conditioning.Now Varah belongs to the cult,body and soul,and does whatever they ask.She has already begun carrying out murders ofhigh-ranking officials and nobles at various functions by use ofcarefully applied ingestive or contact poisons.

Varah enjoys her ghastly life.She likes to have secrets that no one knows—it helps her feel superior to the pretentious folk that surround her in daily life.She truly hates everyone, even her fellow cultists.She does what they say but also plans for the day when she can begin to murder them as well,even ifthat day comes only years from now.

Varah is attractive,although most would say she overuses cosmetics.The makeup,however,helps her cover scars and signs ofdrug abuse.She dresses as befits her station except when in disguise to join her fellow cultists.In this case,she dresses like a male servant,usually a footman,or even a young human boy.Although she is handy with a crossbow, she can rarely carry such a weapon without looking conspicuous.Instead,she carries a concealed dagger ofhigh quality with her wherever she goes.Except when overindulging in drugs or alcohol,she always manages to keep a wary eye out. Varah would not hesitate to kill someone ifshe had to in order to maintain a disguise.

Varah Namerei,female elfAri4: CR 3;Medium humanoid;

HD 4d8+4;(21 hp);Init +1 (+1 Dex);Speed 30 feet;AC 11 (+1 Dex;touch 11,flat-footed 10);Base Atk +3;Grapple +2;

Atk +3 melee (1d4–2,critical 19–20/×2, dagger) or +4 ranged (1d8,critical 19–20/×2, light crossbow);Full Atk +3 melee (1d4–2,critical 19–20/×2, dagger) or +4 ranged (1d8,critical 19–20/×2, light crossbow);SA —;SQ Lowlight vision,elftraits;SV Fort +2,Ref+2,Will +5;Str 8,

Dex 13,Con 12,Int 13,Wis 12,Cha 15

Skills and Feats: Appraise +5,Disguise +11,Hide +3,

Intimidate +9,Knowledge (arcana) +7,Knowledge (religion) +7,Listen +8,Move Silently +2,Spot +3;

Alertness,Run,Skill Focus (Disguise)

Possessions: Masterwork dagger,light crossbow,bolts (12), ring offeather falling, potion oflevitate, potion ofinvisibility

Tach

Tach’s background is a mystery that he’ll never reveal,but he likely grew up as a pauper on the streets ofthe city or a serfin the countryside.He has spent much ofhis adult life as a brigand and a thug and has gained a reputation for ruthless cruelty.

Tach claims the Lords ofChaos came to him while he was under the effects ofopium one night.They told him he was chosen to serve them and,in so doing,would be able to personally kill and destroy with impunity.This idea appealed to Tach greatly,and he immediately took what little money he had and spent it on books.When the money ran out,he broke into libraries and the homes oflearned folk.He learned all that he could about the religions ofthe world, focusing mainly on chaos.Along the way he learned a fair bit about magic and potions as well.His faith,his devotion,and his studies led him into the direct service ofthe Lords of Chaos as a cleric.

Tach used his underworld connections to find a local cell ofthe cult ofchaos,specifically,the Ebon Hand cult.For the first two years ofhis service with them he has had little opportunity to do much beyond the thuggery ofhis previous