Baal
Cult of the Demonologists
History
Before Time
Before the dawn of any recorded history, the Gods fought on the Earth, for the Earth, against a group of opposing beings themselves possessed of near deific powers. Of the races at present extant upon the earth, only the dragonewts remember this for all the other races had yet to be born. The Dragons are believed to have been in the forefront of the battles. However, some sages, who have become learned in these matters, claim that originally the Dragons were themselves demons and made a pact with the earliest of the Gods for a place on the Earth when it was won. They claim this is the reason why their are no demons attached to the Dragonewt Rune.
On one occasion, the Dragon Queen, Draconis Mentor Regina, voiced a reply to an upstart Humakti envoy that this was nonsense and drew attention to
the other runes unsullied by demonic influence - Harmony, Alchemy and Fate. She nformed him that the reason these four have remained unadulterated
lies
in the strength and quality of the runes themselves. Harmony could not be tolerated by any demonic being. Alchemy proved capable of even cleansing
itself by a process of sublimation. Fate faces the demons with the despair of their implacable destiny to eventually fade and be forgotten. And
finally, Dragonewt because no demon, no matter how powerful, would dare to face the wrath of all Dragonkin. The young Humakti is reported to have
asked why the pure Truth rune was not among these four, and the Queen replied that Truth can always be distorted by deceit and untruth.
Since Time
Early in the dawn of time, a sage came across a scroll in a far away temple. Who or what placed it there noone knows but it revealed the secrets of summoning and binding demons to the service of mortal man. The sage was honest and desired a weapon to turn on the Chaos that ever threatens to engulf some parts of civilization. But as ever, power corrupts, and he became suffused with evil, finally bowing in worship to the Demon-Lord Baal. Such atrocities were committed in the name of Law that for a short while Law allied with Chaos to destroy the unholy threat. Since that time, minor practioners of the arcane arts have arisen from time to time but none could conduct their researches for long enough before being overwhelmed by horrified neighbours or succumbing to the very real dangers of their proffession. Even so, it is rumoured that secret temples exist where certain brave, meticulous, and utterly unscrupulous men research into the dark mysteries with much care and consideration. Let us hope that they can be located and destroyed before the ultimate disaster of the return of Baal becomes a reality.
Life After Death
Cultist do not fear death, but they revile it for interrupting their researches, hence the cult's appreciation for Wraithe's association. Cultists gain access to no form of divine intervention. Baal cultists can be ressurrected and will try and secure this, though no healer of any cult will consider it if the truth is known about the demonologist. Those cultists having made the ultimate sacrifice of their souls to Baal cannot be ressurrected. For them, death is final, as Baal will never relinquish the spirit and will consume it at the earliest opportunity.
Runic Associations
The cult is wholly concerned with attaining Mastery over the Demon rune. This is related to the Spirit Rune. It is so rarely seen that almost nobody other than a handful of learned sages know its true nature. However, it has slid into occasional usage as a sign of great danger and/or hideous evil. The usage of Mastery is questionable as most cultists finally end by being mastered by that which they worship. Some philosophers say that this is the nature of the Mastery rune and cite the dwarves and Primal Chaos as other examples of the Master, Mastered.
Nature of the Cult
Like Wraithe, the cult had its origins in a search in dark places for an anti-chaos weapon. Most cultists are seekers after power and/or knowledge.
The most powerful cultists eventually wind-up worshipping the thing they study in return for a fraction of its powers. the cult gets its name from the
Arch-Demon also known as the Lord of Lies
. Most cultists refer to the cult as the Guild
for none will admit to worshipping a demon. No
cultist will ever speak the name of a demon out loud in cae the being is accidentally summonned, and will be fearful and angry should anyone else do
this. Note that the cult does not view itself as such but rather as a guild dedicated to research and will therefore allow members of other cults to
join its ranks. Other cults never willingly allow their members and initiates to join.
Particular Likes and Dislikes
Baal is neutral to most cults, being friendly only to Wraithe. All chaos cults are hated and many cultists will journey into the chaos wilderness
to test
their powers on a legitimately chaotic target. Rhadamanthus is feared for his persecution of cultists forced to execute some
unsavoury tasks in the course of their research. Mordrake is also feared, as the Dragonewts have the ability to utterly negate the demonologists
powers.
Organization
There are (hopefully) few actual temples of this cult. Those that do exist are run along lines like open-structured guilds. More usually however, a single Demon Master will have one or more protegés under him. True temples are formed only when a Demon Master has made the Ultimate Sacrifice.
Centres of Power and Holy Places
There are no centres of power of holy places. Cultists value only their libraries.
Holy Days and High Holy Days
There is no true worship, therefore there are no true holy days. Demons can only be summoned on days and weeks commensurate with their runes. No demons are ever summoned in Harmonyweek. The cult does conduct special ceremonies on Wildday, Truthweek, Darkseason. Coincidentally Baal's runes are Darkness and Truth.
Lay Membership
Finding a Demon Master is exceedingly difficult, contacting him even more so. Unless utterly convinced of the applicants veracity, a temple or Demon Master is liable to have the suspect killed, by demonic means or other more mundane methods.
Entry into the cult is usually through a form Old Boys
network with applicants being sponsored by Demon Masters and Initiates. To become a
lay member, an applicant must pass pass a test of (POW+CHA)×1%. If sponsored by an initiate, he can add the initiate's POW and CHA; if
sponsored by a Demon Master, the Demon Masters POW+CHA×2. Failure means that the applicant becomes a sacrifice of is used in a possession
experiment
, or perhaps is just killed out of hand.
Once entry is secured, the lay member is referred to as a Novitiate and becomes, in effect, an apprentice to a Demon Master. He must obey his tutor in all things and in return will receive room and board should he desire it. He must remain in full attendance on his masteruntil his basic training is complete, and thereafter at least four weeks in every eight must be spent in his master's service. His master may require him to go on missions, usually as an envoy or messenger. If required to spend more than his regulation four weeks serving his master, he does not have to compy, but he would be advides to.
The cult gives no weapon training. It teaches only the following to lay members for free: draw pentacle to 25% plus bonuses, identify demon to 25% plus bonuses, and speak demontongue to 5% plus oratory bonus. Subsequent training can be bought at full cost, as may hide item and spot hidden. No other skills are taught to lay members but there is nothing to prevent them from gaining training elsewhere, aside from the time limitations.
Baal allows any races to join save those steeped in chaos, e.g. broo or scorpion men, but non-humans do so at CHA−10. Once inside the cult,
however, this restriction is lifted. The Guild
does not mind its members being in cults to which Baal is neutral. However any applicant who
is already an initiate of a cult will be viewed with deep suspicion, especially if he is in Humakt, Rhadamanthus, etc. Permission is unlikely to be
granted for a Baal cultist to rise above lay member in any other cult, even Wraithe. But it is possible. One infamous Demon Master was simultaneously
a great Shaman-Chief of the Lizardrider Tribe in the 3rd century. He fought a great war with the Lightbringers until finally routed west of
Godsport in a great and terrible battle by a small force of dragonewts who joined the Lightbringers' side rather late. The Demon Master-Chief fled the
battle over the mountains, finally to vanish in the Baboon Jungles. It is probable that the baboons killed him but this is not known for certain as
the baboons keep no written records.
Lay members are never taught any battlemagic, but must glean what they can from other lay ties.
When the lay member has attained 75% in draw pentacle and has speak demonic at 25%, then he may initiate. Note that the costs of training and later summoning demons can be expensive. Most Demon Masters come from rich backgrounds, either noble houses or city burghers.
Initiate Membership
All initiates are inducted into the dark secrets of demonology in a solemn ceremony on the high holy day. The full title of this rank is
Initiate of the Outer Circle of the Secret Mysteries of the Dark Companions
. When the initiate summons his first demon, then he rises to the
rank of Initiate of the Inner Circle …
Initiates are less restricted than lay members amd may travel in search of knowledge wherever
they wish, returning to their mentors only fo rfurther instruction. Generally a Demon Master can exert considerable influence over his initiates
through fear.
Initiates gain all the benefits of lay members plus free speak demontongue and identify demon, and half price summon, dismiss and bind demon. Hide item and spot hidden are also taught at half cost. Map making, evaluate treasure, oratory and listen at full cost.
No battlemagic is taught to initiates by normal means. Cultists have automatic use of a Detect Demon spell (functions as Detect Life), upon attaining 90% in identify demon. It costs 2 points of power to use. Other battlemagic may only be learnt by using Summon Demon Tutor or by summoning a Demon Prince. The cost is dependant on the demon summoned as much as the expence of the spell. Skills other than those mentioned above may be learnt by the same method. Alternatively, cultists may get spell teaching and training from other cults by covert means.
Initiates are not expected to fight Chaos but to report outbreaks to their Runemasters who will deal with it. Initiates must never associate with dragonewts and are advised to avoid Humakt and Rhadamanthus initiates.
Initiates have access to the reusable cult special Runemagics on a non-reusable basis. They gain these spells by virtue of their skills and familiarity with demonkind. Unlike normal runemagic, they do not have to be sacrificed for until needed, the power used being sacrificed to the demon summoned.
Demon Master
When an Initiate of the Inner Circle attains 90% in speak demontongue, identify demon, summon demon, dismiss demon, and bind demon, then he may
qualify for Demon Master status. There is no POW requirement but he would do well to maintain a high POW when dealing with demons. He must pass a test
of POW×3%+CHA×2%. If he fails then he must try again next year. If successful, he is raised to the rank of Master of the Ways and
Mysteries of the Dark Companions
in a ceremony on the next High Holy Day. He must pledge himself to fight Chaos through the use of mastery of the
Demon rune, and to advance the interests of the Guild
. He must swear to never divulge the secrets of the cult to non-members or members
unqualified for higher knowledge, for the cult's secrets have the potential to be incredibly dangerous if abused or used by the unwary or unqualified.
One of the darkest secrets that the new Demon Master is introduced to is the means by which he may ally a demon. This he must do in private. First, he
summons a specific demon of his choice, the demon must be at least neutral to him in its reaction to him. The Demon Master then offers the demon one
point of permanent POW per ten points of POW possessed by the demon. He must then attempt to ally it normally using his POW before the sacrifice. If
successful then the demon will be his servant. Note that this is not a binding but an agreement and the demon may leave at any time that it feels it
is being mistreated. Therefore constant gifts of POW and victims to do with what he will are essential. In return, the demon will perform services
suited to demonic nature. They enjoy combat because it is so difficult to harm them permanently and they can frequently draw life from their victims
by so doing. However, against opponents capable of really hurting them, e.g. dragonewts, they are cowardly and will not face them at any cost. The
alliance may be broken at any time by the demonist, but he must dismiss the demon, else it will continue to dwell upon the World. The demon will
resist this and attempt to kill his ex-master if possible. The demonist is then free to ally another demon should he so wish.
Another benefits of the Demon Master status is that the cult special runemagics become reusable due to the skill of the demonist. His demonology skills may rise beyond 100%, but no other skills will and he may not use Runemetals, for as yet he does not have a close link with a deity. Similarly divine intervention is impossible. Through the nature if his studies, the Demon Master can gain an improved POW raise by subtracting his curent POW from 22 rather than 21. He is limited to DEX×5% in all non-demonology DEX-based skills, including weapons. However this does not apply when his body is possessed by a demon for combat purposes, as the demon supports the extra skill level.
Sooner or later, a Demon Master feels that he has reached the limits of his powers at the preent level. Such men, envious of other mortals' powers gained from their deities at similar rank with less time spent in training often turn to the great Demon Lord in worship. Baal may be summoned on a cult holy day and after suitable sacrifice of innocents may accept supplication from the Demon Master. The supplicant must pass a test of POW+CHA×4%. If he fails then Baal will take him. If he succeeds, Baal will take a random amount of POW from him in sacrifice (as a Runelord divint), and then extend such powers to him as are normally held by persons of his status. Now, his DEX-based skills may incease above DEX×5%, but not above 100%, (or 105% if DEX is 21). He is allowed iron armour and weapons and free characteristic training, done by rapid teaching by Baal on high holy days. In return, the worshipper must offer up one point of POW each Freezeday of Truthweek, and must dedicate his soul to Baal. No form of ressurrection will now work, the Baal cultist is utterly doomed forever. He has a Runepriests full power raise and may sacrifice for Runemagic whenever Baal is summoned. As Baal requires a powerful, the Demon Master must never allow his POW to fall below 15. Should this happen Baal will immediately claim his soul, unless it is reduced at the moment of Dedication, in which case the Lord of Lies will graciously allow him to build his POW back up again. Like a Runelord the worshipper's POW is maintained for defensive purposes by Baal.
Every high holy day, Baal will demand sacrifice from his worshipper. Failure to do this is somewhat final. The Baal worshipper will also be able to sacrifice for Runemagic specific to Baal. It is rumoured that there are other Demonic Princes and that cultists can choose to dedicate themselves to these instead. Baal, though, is the most widely known and most worshipped.
Cult Runespells
Cult runemagic derives from the skills and abilities of cultists rather than truly divine sources. It does not have to be sacrificed for until the moment of casting, nor do cultists have to ask their High Priest's permission to do so. However, they would be advised to clear the summoning with him, particularly if the rites are to be conducted within the temple.