We are seeking people who will be interested in playing proactive, most likely highly aggressive characters. The characters will be living in Lower Sanctuary, embracing a religious cult devoted to darkness, sorrow and vengeance. The ultimate goals of the cult is FIOG, but those interested will find themselves being highly active in shaping the future of Lower Sanctuary.
Almost any character concept will fit, provided they are willing to accept the Hidden One as their patron deity. Ideally the character will be evil, and if he/she is not already evil he/she will eventually slide in that direction.
There will undoubtedly be PvP involved, although I should point out that this is a cult not a gang. They may kill people for seemingly little reason, but they won't engage in random violence simply for the sake of violence.
Fighter and Rogue characters work best currently, and anyone wishing to play a Cleric will need more background information. The ideal alignment is Lawful Evil, although Neutral Evil works equally well, with Chaotic Evil also working - provided they are able to conform to cult dogma and doctrine.
Character personalities and concepts could range from a fanatical devotee, to someone who is simply looking for a better alternative, to someone who has suffered a great deal and is looking to numb their pain, to almost anyone. You can be anything from a recently freed slave, to someone who has lived in Lower all their life - the latter would be ideal.
A character with a background of hardship and suffering would fit ideally with the cult. Race does not matter, either as the cult is willing to accept anyone who will pledge themselves to the Hidden One. However, at the moment it is not advisable to try and create a goblin or a kobold character as they will die quickly.
If you are interested please send a private message. You don't necessarily need a fleshed out character concept, though a general background will aid you greatly. Reading the information below will help you to consider what will draw your character to the cult.
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Here is a bit of brief information on the cult. The information provided here is to aid those who are interested in creating a character designed to join the cult. The information contained here is freely available information to anyone who asks either in letter or in game.
The Cult of the Hidden One (or Servants of the Hidden Lord as they call themselves) are led by an individual known only as the Cowled Darkness. This person is mysterious and is rarely seen publicly. Those that meet this person will come away with a variety of stories and accounts, as it is believed that the Cowled Darkness has transcended both race and gender. One person may meet the Cowled Darkness only to walk away telling all that it spoke with the voice of a female and was of average human height. Another might walk away with a completely different account; the Cowled Darkness spoke with the voice of a male and was tall with a broad muscular build. Some might believe that the Cowled Darkness can take on any form or any shape and speak with any voice it desires.
In all cases, however, the identity is hidden - like that of the Hidden One himself. The Cowled Darkness is always cloaked in black, with his or her face hidden by either helm or hood.
In the end, the Cowled Darkness stands only a step below the Hidden One itself and is believed to be in direct communion. He issues orders, proclamations and guides the cult in the direction it needs to be heading.
It is the ultimate goal of the faithful to have the true nature of the Hidden One revealed to them. This is achieved through rising through the ranks of the cult known as the ranks of Low and High Darkness. Those at the lowest end are the newly initiated and those at the highest end are those closest to having the true nature of the Hidden One revealed to them. Those who have only recently joined the faith, but have yet to prove themselves are known as Dark Petitioners.
The Low Darkness comprises the first three ranks of the cult, while the High Darkness comprises the fourth and fifth rank of the cult. Each rank is simply given a number with darkness added at the end. For example: First Darkness, Second Darkness, Third Darkness, etc. The Sixth Darkness rank is believed to be occupied by the Cowled Darkness himself and no others may hold this rank. All Clergy are by default Fifth Darkness, and have had the true nature revealed to them.
It is forbidden for one who has had the true nature of the Hidden One revealed to them to tell others what they saw or heard, and doing so is punishable by death and the death of any you told. However, speculation among those who have not experienced it is allowed and is even encouraged. Those who question will be instructed simply to, "Pray, be faithful and serve. When you are worthy he shall come to you."
The cult itself preaches that sorrow is a natural state of life, and that only through embracing the Hidden One can an individual truly become numb to it. All places that exist within darkness are his domain, and he is a deity that sees all that takes place within it. Vengeance is a tool to be used to empower oneself, but it is cautioned that it must be a tool used at the appropriate time, as to cause the most sorrow for the recipient. In so doing, they too will seek the comforting embrace of the Hidden One.
Bringing more followers into the faith is highly favored and encouraged. Dark Petitioners are often charged with bringing another into the faith, through whatever means necessary, before rising to First Darkness. In so doing, the faith grows rapidly seeking out those who suffer most first, which in Sanctuary is a large percentage of the population.
It is believed that hope is simply a false feeling, and all who join are encouraged to abandon their hope to return to the surface. Those who strive to hope bring more sorrow upon themselves, and those who encourage others to hope bring them only pain. Sorrow is the natural state of life, and only through service to the Hidden One can you become numb to the pain.
Some people might wonder why this cult has not been heard of before and is just appearing in Sanctuary now. The question is answered by explaining the Hidden One has always existed and it is only now, at this moment in time, that the people of Sanctuary have come to need him most. As such, he has sent to them the Cowled Darkness and some of his clergy with the ultimate goal of guiding the citizens of the city to salvation. Through him, the citizens of Sanctuary shall find the guidance that they need to survive in the dark and sorrow-filled world. All are encouraged to find comfort and safety within the darkness.
The dogma for the Hidden One states: "Everyone experiences sorrow and the Lord of Sorrow can numb the pain. Only when all hope is surrendered shall one become truly immune. Darkness and vengeance are to be embraced, and through them, one shall find comfort, safety and the strength to inflict their sorrow upon others, bringing them closer to the Vengeful Lord. Let it be known that I am the Hidden One, He Who Sees All within the darkness and know that where there is darkness, there I shall also be."
He is given the following titles: The Vengeful Lord, the Hidden One, the Hidden Lord, He Who Sees All, the Dark Lord and the Lord of Sorrow.
Their holy symbol is that of an eye surrounded in darkness, symbolizing the Hidden One's ability to see all that takes place within his domain.
***EDIT: It should be pointed out that this cult does not yet exist in Sanctuary. As stated above, if questioned in this regard they will simply respond that the Cowled Darkness and some of his clergy were sent to the city when the Hidden One heard their cries of vengeance and sorrow. This should be evident by the promotional posters found around Lower Sanctuary.