Cult of Sarketus

The Cult of Sarketus is one of the oldest of its kind still practiced on the Kóteran Peninsula and among the most prestigious. It's been around since late bronze age, and focuses on the worship of Sarketus, god of war and agriculture.
Only free men from Kóteran Peninsula or Nemirkía are allowed in the cult, but there are no restrictions based on status or occupation. The men gather at remote locations on the peninsula at certain times during summer to perform their ceremonies, which coincides with the traditional war season or sarketíon.
Each meeting lasts a few days, where members try to recreate the life of ancient nemirkían warriors. After pitching tents around a campfire and wooden statuette of Sarketus, the cultist don simple flax tunics and cloaks -similar to early paþarían clothing- and subsist only on barley cakes and wine. They spend much of their time performing archaic war dances, chants and especially training with special sickle-shaped swords (similar to real-life falx).
Traditionally, the emperor's bodyguards are all members of the cult of Sarketus, and only they are allowed to wield its signature weapon in public.