Difference between revisions of "Dreadgod Cults"

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The Dreadgod cults first appear in action in book 4, [[Skysworn]], when [[The Bleeding Phoenix]] awakes and its cultists, Redmoon Hall emissaries, attack citizens in the southern [[Blackflame Empire]]. However, we hear mention of the cults before book 4, because  [[Yerin]] has a blood-shadow belt.  
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All of the [[dreadgods]] have a cult following, parasites that cause chaos and benefit from the destruction  leave in their wake. They collect the madra left behind, and practice [[Paths]] inspired by them. While some of the cultists are fanatics who genuinely revere and worship their [[Dreadgods|dreadgod]], many of the cultists are simply [[Sacred Arts|sacred artists]] who want to advance but don't have access to backing or resource, or who simply view their [[Dreadgods|dreadgod]] as a readily available source of power that they would bleed dry given the opportunity.  
  
==Simple Summary==
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The first cult we see is [[Redmoon Hall]], followers of [[The Bleeding Phoenix|the Bleeding Phoenix]], which appears in book 4, [[Skysworn]]. However, we hear mention of the cults before book 4, because [[Yerin]] has a Blood Shadow belt. In general, the cultists are [[Sacred Arts|sacred artists]] who practice [[paths]] based on the [[Dreadgod|Dreadgods]], using their [[madra]], collected from the [[Dreadgod]] itself and the [[dreadbeasts]] they leave when they awake and roam around. 
Cultists are key antagonists throughout the series. [[Yerin]] calls them all parasites; she particularly personally has reason to hate [[Redmoon Hall]], followers of the Bleeding Phoenix. [[Ziel]] hates The Stormcallers, who murdered his Dawnwing disciples on the Iceflower Continent. He especially wants vengeance on the Stormcaller Sage who splintered his spirit.
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The Cults and their members are key antagonists throughout the series. [[Yerin]] calls them all parasites; she particularly has reason to hate [[Redmoon Hall]], followers of the Bleeding Phoenix. [[Ziel]] hates The [[Stormcallers]], who murdered his [[Dawnwing Sect|Dawnwing]] disciples on the [[Iceflower Continent]]. He especially wants vengeance on the [[Sage of Calling Storms]], who splintered his spirit, but [[Calan Archer]] will do for now — he was in at the slaughter, too. In the epilogue of [[Underlord]], the lion-Monarch [[Reigan Shen]] recruits the four cults to his supposed cause, to represent him in the upcoming [[Uncrowned King Tournament]].
In the epilogue of book 6, [[Underlord]], Monarch [[Reigan Shen]] recruits the four cults to his supposed cause, to represent him in the upcoming [[Uncrowned King Tournament]]. In book 8, [[Wintersteel]], Shen persuades them to ambush the Akura group in Sky’s Edge, and to kill [[Akura Mercy]] and her brother Pride. His plan fails when [[Lindon]] comes to the rescue, advances to Sage, and attacks several of the high-ranking cultists. In book 10, [[Reaper]], the cultists wage a false war on the mountains around [[Sacred Valley]] simply to distract the other Monarchs from what Monarch Shen is up to, down in the [[Labyrinth]]. Unbeknownst to the cult leaders, the mighty Lion King has been lyin to every dreadgod dupe, to enact his plan for world domination.
 
  
 
==Four Dreadgod Cults==
 
==Four Dreadgod Cults==
Each known Dreadgod is followed by a cult, sacred artists who follow their chosen beast and benefit from the destruction it creates. The unique Path of each cult uses the same aspects as their Dreadgod, borrowing power from them to create Blood Shadows, Living Lightning, etc. They murder innocent citizens fleeing from the Dreadgod, just to attain greater power.
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Each known [[Dreadgod]] is followed by a cult, sacred artists who follow their chosen beast and benefit from the destruction it creates. The unique [[Paths|Path]] of each cult uses the same aspects as their [[Dreadgod]], borrowing power from them to create Blood Shadows, Living Lightning, etc. They murder innocent citizens fleeing from the Dreadgod, just to attain greater power.
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#[[Redmoon Hall]], with their Blood Shadows in a thousand different forms. Dreadgod — [[The Bleeding Phoenix]]
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#[[Abyssal Palace]], their faces concealed beneath hoods and stony masks. Dreadgod — [[Wandering Titan]]
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#[[Silent Servants]], whose mouths are bound. Dreadgod —- [[Silent King]]
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#[[Stormcallers]], who ring their arms in scripts that crackle with lightning. Dreadgod —- [[Weeping Dragon]]
  
#[[Redmoon Hall]], with their Blood Shadows in a thousand different forms. Dreadgod — Bleeding Phoenix
 
#[[Abyssal Palace]], their faces concealed beneath hoods and stony masks. Dreadgod — Wandering Titan
 
#[[Silent Servants]], whose mouths are bound. Dreadgod —- Silent King
 
#[[Stormcallers]], who ring their arms in scripts that crackle with lightning. Dreadgod —- Weeping Dragon
 
 
(-Underlord, epilogue)
 
(-Underlord, epilogue)
  
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==Cult Characters==
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Each cult is led by a Sage or Herald, or both. Redmoon Hall has both, because the [[Sage of Red Faith]] somehow misplaced his Blood Shadow. When it returned, it was a Herald, calling himself [[Redmoon]]. The Herald of [[Redmoon Hall]].
  
==The Four Dreadgods==
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At [[Sky’s Edge]], four [[Dreadgod cult]] leaders at Herald or Sage level battled one newborn Monarch, [[Akura Fury]] (Wintersteel ch 26) <blockquote> Chunks of the surrounding mountains hurled themselves at Fury, courtesy of the Abyssal Palace Herald. The Herald of Redmoon Hall struck with waves of bloody needles like crimson cloud banks, while the Herald of the Silent Servants cut at Fury with endless slashes of a white sword that lit up the sky. The Stormcallers had no Herald, but one Sage. It was hard for Lindon to follow the exact details of the fight, but the Sage of Calling Storms seemed to be wrestling against Fury’s authority, opposing whenever Fury made one of his echoing commands. Lindon could feel the will pressing down on Fury, constraining him. The newborn Monarch kept fighting. (Wintersteel ch 26) </blockquote>
{{Quote Box|title=Secret Keeper<br>|quote=<b>Elder Whisper sat on his haunches,<br>tails waving smoothly behind him.<br>“Wei Shi Lindon. Would you like to <br>know how to kill the Dreadgods?”</b>|source=-[[Bloodline]], epilogue|align=right}}
 
#The [[Weeping Dragon]] — A blue serpentine dragon that travels on thunderstorms, and sleeps on miles-long beds of clouds. Aspects: Storm. Techniques: Living Lightning. Cult: The Stormcallers
 
#The [[Silent King]] — White Tiger crowned in a halo. Dream aspects. Cult: Silent Servants
 
#The [[Wandering Titan]] — A stone warrior with the shell of a tortoise and the tail of a monkey. Aspects: Earth. Cult: Abyssal Palace
 
#The [[The Bleeding Phoenix|Bleeding Phoenix]] — Huge crimson phoenix with wings large enough to stretch across the horizon. Blood madra aspects. If it’s cut, it reforms itself from blood droplets. Cult: Redmoon Hall
 
 
 
 
 
Note — Subject One is also a Dreadgod, although few people know it. The first one. He stays in his prison beneath Sacred Valley. (Bloodline, ch 20)
 
  
<br />{{Books}}
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<b> See each separate cult page for members of the specific cult </b><br />{{Books}}
  
 
[[Category:Cradle]]
 
[[Category:Cradle]]
 
[[Category:Dreadgod]]
 
[[Category:Dreadgod]]
 
[[Category:Cradle Factions]]
 
[[Category:Cradle Factions]]

Latest revision as of 01:05, 12 November 2024

All of the dreadgods have a cult following, parasites that cause chaos and benefit from the destruction leave in their wake. They collect the madra left behind, and practice Paths inspired by them. While some of the cultists are fanatics who genuinely revere and worship their dreadgod, many of the cultists are simply sacred artists who want to advance but don't have access to backing or resource, or who simply view their dreadgod as a readily available source of power that they would bleed dry given the opportunity.

The first cult we see is Redmoon Hall, followers of the Bleeding Phoenix, which appears in book 4, Skysworn. However, we hear mention of the cults before book 4, because Yerin has a Blood Shadow belt. In general, the cultists are sacred artists who practice paths based on the Dreadgods, using their madra, collected from the Dreadgod itself and the dreadbeasts they leave when they awake and roam around.

The Cults and their members are key antagonists throughout the series. Yerin calls them all parasites; she particularly has reason to hate Redmoon Hall, followers of the Bleeding Phoenix. Ziel hates The Stormcallers, who murdered his Dawnwing disciples on the Iceflower Continent. He especially wants vengeance on the Sage of Calling Storms, who splintered his spirit, but Calan Archer will do for now — he was in at the slaughter, too. In the epilogue of Underlord, the lion-Monarch Reigan Shen recruits the four cults to his supposed cause, to represent him in the upcoming Uncrowned King Tournament.

Four Dreadgod Cults

Each known Dreadgod is followed by a cult, sacred artists who follow their chosen beast and benefit from the destruction it creates. The unique Path of each cult uses the same aspects as their Dreadgod, borrowing power from them to create Blood Shadows, Living Lightning, etc. They murder innocent citizens fleeing from the Dreadgod, just to attain greater power.

  1. Redmoon Hall, with their Blood Shadows in a thousand different forms. Dreadgod — The Bleeding Phoenix
  2. Abyssal Palace, their faces concealed beneath hoods and stony masks. Dreadgod — Wandering Titan
  3. Silent Servants, whose mouths are bound. Dreadgod —- Silent King
  4. Stormcallers, who ring their arms in scripts that crackle with lightning. Dreadgod —- Weeping Dragon

(-Underlord, epilogue)

Cult Characters

Each cult is led by a Sage or Herald, or both. Redmoon Hall has both, because the Sage of Red Faith somehow misplaced his Blood Shadow. When it returned, it was a Herald, calling himself Redmoon. The Herald of Redmoon Hall.

At Sky’s Edge, four Dreadgod cult leaders at Herald or Sage level battled one newborn Monarch, Akura Fury (Wintersteel ch 26)

Chunks of the surrounding mountains hurled themselves at Fury, courtesy of the Abyssal Palace Herald. The Herald of Redmoon Hall struck with waves of bloody needles like crimson cloud banks, while the Herald of the Silent Servants cut at Fury with endless slashes of a white sword that lit up the sky. The Stormcallers had no Herald, but one Sage. It was hard for Lindon to follow the exact details of the fight, but the Sage of Calling Storms seemed to be wrestling against Fury’s authority, opposing whenever Fury made one of his echoing commands. Lindon could feel the will pressing down on Fury, constraining him. The newborn Monarch kept fighting. (Wintersteel ch 26)

See each separate cult page for members of the specific cult