The Coiled

Cults have long been a part of Lithrydel's history- some serving as vehicles to the worship of the self, like the cult of pleasure, while others reserve their devotion for less fathomable powers, whether celestial, infernal, or eldritch.

The Origin

The Coiled are an offshoot of the murder cult known as The Nathali, which had established themselves in the nameless desert, taking refuge in the shrine to Vakmatharas to be closer to their patron deity. Thus, they existed in relative isolation within the wastes, doing their best to avoid travelers, whilst contemplating what grand design might best serve his interests. And yet, it was ultimately not his attention that they managed to garner. Their leader, Tegan Wrenfield, was a proficient magus in his own right- but he possessed a strong affinity for lunar magic, being able to pull more deeply from the font of power that is the Mage Moon. An affinity which also made him far more susceptible to the corruption that has been festering on Arh'Nuk. Night after night of communing with that power led to his already frayed mind corroding under the entities toxic influence- burrowing deep into his psyche and soul.

As time went on, he began spreading the toxic testaments which had etched themselves into his mind, advising his followers that he had received great insight due to their proximity to the shrine, and that they would undergo a great ritual so that they might better serve the designs of their master.

So fervent and eager were they to once more engage in sacred bloodletting, Tegan’s Nathali followers never really contemplated the new rites they were being taught. And the relative isolation they existed within had made it easy for Tegan to dispose of outside forces who became too curious, allowing him to continue his indoctrination in relative peace.

It was only when all the preparations were complete that Tegan ended his self imposed isolation, reaching out to the other Nathali Chapters he was aware of (and which had not either self-destructed, or been purged by occult hunters), so that their leaders might partake of the grand rite that was occurring. Whilst caution did play a part in the refusal of some, not all of local leaders and their lieutenants could resist the call- the promise of power, bequeathed onto them by a rite in Vakmatharas name so they might better do his work.

There are no witnesses to that night, beyond those who had danced in those dim lit halls, beneath a gibbous moon, but it’s not hard to imagine how events would have gone. Those who threw themselves into the rite found themselves energized, touched by something full of dark and murderous joy- while those who held suspicion in their heart found themselves growing confusion at the alienness of what was playing out before them. A confusion that soon twisted into outrage as they realized the subject of devotion in this elaborate ritual was not Vakmatharas, but some other Caliginous Entity. How long was it before outrage turned to fear, however? Was it when the room grew thick with those abysmal energies, or when those simply spectating discovered that they formed a barrier which kept them contained within the shrine. …Perhaps it was when the name of the creature was whispered, and the first signs that the participants humanity had been lost- as flesh began to shear away from those lost in rapturous devotion, sloughing off in blood covered swathes onto the floor. No doubt Horror touched at the minds of those present, as they stared at former companions and devotees- their bodies twisted into serpentine and reptilian shapes, sibilant tongues singing praise to ‘Gospel, Ouroboros Of Envy’- for the great gift it had bequeathed onto them…and the grand feast they would consecrate in it’s honor.

Since that time, the Coiled have done their best to stay quiet- seeking to quietly expand their numbers, especially when the blessing of the moon turns new devotees onto their path. Their goal is simple- to gather power and strength so that they may better serve their patron creature- feeding it their worship and praise so that one day they might herald it’s return to the continent as a whole, so it may wreak it’s terrible vengeance on the land, and then return to it’s home.

The Organisation

The coiled initially started as a cell of the Nathali that found itself influenced, and inevitably corrupted, by the Ouroboros, Gospel. This corruption has taken the form of utterly mutating those who have fallen under it’s influence- transforming them into ophidian creatures which bear some passing similarity to Naga, or Lizardmen. That said, where the latter may have humanoid characteristics, the Coiled are purely reptilian nature, completely adorned in Jet black scales which possess an uncanny durability. They frequently are adorned in bandages and hoods to pass themselves off as beggars or lepers in polite society, a practice that has allowed them to move relatively unnoticed, as they seek out the disillusioned or the insane to fill out their ranks. Some unfortunate few also find themselves drawn to places where the Coiled gather, most often due to either a particular affinity with lunar magic, or a penchant for bartering with eldritch forces- something which has steadily provided the cult with individuals capable of sorcery. The prominence of the cult, and the continued worship they have provided to Gospel has also begun to cause the appearance of Clerics amongst their rank. Though there are few in number, they directly serve as conduits of the Lunar Ophidians might.

Goals

The Coiled work towards two goals at all times, with the primary being the worship and empowerment of their sovereign, Gospel. This is done through the acquisition of new followers, who may in turn provide it with their master with the worship it desires, as well as seeking out arcane sources of power, in the hopes that the rituals might further strengthen the corruption it spreads through the Mage Moon, as well as spreading that taint to other sources of magic.

This was all in service of their second goal, which was to inevitably unleash Gospel upon the world, as it lacked the means to depart from the Mage Moon.

Unfortunately, they have since succeeded in this endeavor with the aid of the Naga Queen Reginae, paving the way for it to further spread it's influence across the continent. At this juncture, it's followers now wait with baited breath, to see if it's designs might lead it to fully shed it's moorings to mortality and fully ascend, or if it will instead turn it's destructive appetites towards the land at large, and grant them dominion over the continent at large.

It's only a select handful that are aware it once harbored thoughts not of domination- but decimation. That Perderes depths called out to it- beckoning it to wreak a grand cataclysm, and force open a fresh pathway home- with both it’s followers and victims in tow.

Cult Methodology

Sermonizing and providing ‘aid’ to bits of the populace that might serve to replenish the ranks of the Coiled is amongst their favored tactics- though candidates who prove ineligible for conversion still find their use in the groups Larder. That said, their actions that may prove more notable is their hunt for any relic or means of either garnering dark power, or tainting large scale sources. Considering that their transformation has resulted in far more hardier physiques, this has allowed them to explore regions that might prove more hostile for most, and stay below the radar. That said, they have begun to grow more active locally, as whispers of a new source of Dark power emerging has piqued their curiosity and what it could mean for their master.

Cultist Traits

For general RP notes- The Coiled are -extremely- resilient against most sources of physical damage. Magically imbued weaponry can help overcome this resistance, but due to Gospels connection to Kasyr, the Coiled have effectively developed an inherent resistance to lightning and Darkness damage, to the point of being able to outright ignore it. That said, they are -incredibly- vulnerable to sources of holy energy, and consecrated weaponry is able to make short work of any defense their scales might normally provide. Likewise, Ice magic also plays havoc with members of the coiled who have no way of counteracting it, as extremely low temperatures can cause them functionally shut down, due to their coldblooded nature.

Still, whilst their defensive capabilities are their strongest suit, the Coiled are a varied bunch- their background as transformed individuals means they carry the skills they did prior to their ..’ascension’, allowing for varied opponents. What’s more, their change means that whilst they carry their old skills, they might also have unpleasant tricks like venomous bites, Toxic blood, or other ‘blessings.

By and large, most casters that will be found in their ranks, who weren’t originally a madman, or disillusioned, are apt to be lunar mages, which makes them at their most dangerous at the night, and during the points where the moon is fuller. This also means that operationally they are most active at night, both for forays, but also for their own rituals.

Amongst the coiled, there are individuals who have certainly made a name for themselves as especially dangerous or devout members of the Coiled - with the foremost amongst these being their erstwhile leader, Tegan Wrenfield.

Tegan Wrenfield

Also known as The Serpents Maw- Amongst the Coiled, Tegan holds a considerable amount of clout- as he was the first amongst the Nathali to hearken to Gospel's promises- in part due to his nature as an accomplished Lunar Mage. Whilst he is certainly as monstrous in appearance as the other members of the Coiled- through applications of magic, he’s able to restore his original human guise on all evenings save those of a new moon, a fact which has granted him a great deal of leeway in mingling with polite society at large, and ingratiating himself in communities as a traveling alchemist, and vendor of remedies. A great deal of which happen to use snake scale and other such odds and ends as ingredients.

Whilst the members of the coiled have been thoroughly broken and warped by Gospel, Tegan represents a unique case, as during his initial communion with the creature - he had felt sympathy for it, even before it had twisted him fully to it’s cause. He is amongst the few who is wholly aware that Gospels designs on the country side are temporary at best, and it’s ultimate desire is to either return home, or ascend higher than the mortal plane- something he is wholly looking forward to seeing through, even if it must be from within the belly of that ravenous beast.

The Serpents Fang

At one point, Ahkall had served as destructive tool within the arsenal of the great Ouroboros- and yet, it's erratic nature and all consuming hunger eventually saw the ancient sand wyrm fall out of favor. Something which had drastic consequences, given that Ahkall's physical existence was maintained solely through Gospel's favor.

In it's ire, it reduced the ravenous creature to a mass of Primordial Goo, which was then contained within an Urn held by the coiled- only to be administered when they had need of an avenging blade. Unfortunately, those who were chosen to be recipients of these dangerous concoction were not the coiled's finest warriors- but rather, some of those children who had been stolen by the cult, their small forms doomed to be consumed by the endless hunger carried within that vile essence.

Still, until that inevitable fate caught up to them, they served as deadly tools within the cults arsenal.

Until that power was retrieved by Gevurah, Kasyr, and Daath- in a bid to see the Kensai restored to his state as a Revenant.

A fact that has since left the cult scrabbling to locate a new weapon to add to their arsenal.