The Cult of the Dark Goddess

The Cult of the Dark Goddess is a secret organization that worships the Dark Goddess, a powerful and mysterious entity that stands in stark opposition of the Church of the Holy Light and the Radiant King. The Cult was founded by Astrid Luciene, the Apostle of the Dark Goddess.
The origins of the Dark Goddess are shrouded in mystery, and little is known about her true origins. None but Astrid are truly aware of her genesis as a creation from Astrid's lonely and neglected imagination. What is known commonly known by members of the Cult, is that she is powerful, and those who serve her are granted incredible abilities and powers.
The Cult operates in secret, and its members are sworn to keep the identity of their leader, Astrid, a secret. They use their powers and abilities to further the goals of the Dark Goddess, which include undermining the Church of the Holy Light and the Radiant King.
The Cult is made up of a diverse group of individuals, including former members of the Holy Church, disillusioned nobles, and skilled commoners seeking to overthrow the oppressive regime of the Holy Kingdom. They are united in their worship of the Dark Goddess, and they are willing to do whatever it takes to serve her and her Apostle.
The Cult operates in secret, using their powers and abilities to infiltrate the highest levels of society and subvert the government from within. Using the magic of influence and camoflauge granted to the Dark Goddess' most loyal followers, higher ranking cultists are practically indistinguishable from any other individual. The only sign of the presence of a Cultist of the Dark Goddess is a thick, even, miasma around the immediate area of the Cultist. The radius and potency of the miasma is directly proportional to the amount of power instilled in the individual. The only true way to distinguish a Cultist from a regular citizen of the Holy Kingdom is if the individual reveals it themselves, usually accompanied by a noticeable change in demeanor and behavior as they unmask from their innocent persona.
The Cult is led by Astrid Luciene, the Apostle of the Dark Goddess, and her second-in-command, Anya Lefaux. Anya is the country's preeminent mind-mage, able to manipulate and control the thoughts and emotions of others with ease. She is also an expert in hand-to-hand combat and the use of concealed needles. She is fiercely loyal to Astrid, and is in love with her.
Other notable members of the Cult include Gwynevere, or Gwyn, a former highly celebrated paladin of the Holy Kingdom who was mistreaded by nobility and joined the Cult after being won over by Astrid herself. Gwyn is an expert in combat, and she uses her strength and skills to protect her allies and to fight against the Cult's enemies.
A former assassin, Ghost, left a violent criminal syndicate to join the Cult. Ghost is a master of disguise and deception, and he uses his skills to gather valuable information, remove potential problems, and abduct any cultist suspected of betrayal. Near the Capitol Academy within the Holy Capitol, Ghost owns and operates a popular tavern and inn, The Midnight Rose, as a chef to cover for his activities. The basement of the The Midnight Rose functions as a secret base of operations for the Cult's activities.
Isaiah Sables, once a devout priest of the Holy Light, also defected to the Dark Faith. Isaiah is a skilled holy mage, and he uses his holy abilities and position within the Church to protect the Cult and to undermine the Church of the Holy Light.
Lilian Lysander, also known as Lily, is a former bartender who joined the Cult after being personally recruited by Ghost. She is an expert information broker, and she uses her sharp ears and outgoing personality to gather valuable information for the Cult. She works as a bartender and server within the The Midnight Rose.
Princess Seraphina Lightloved, also known as Sera, is a secret member of the Cult of the Dark Goddess and serves as their agent within the Holy Kingdom. As the youngest princess of the Holy Kingdom, she maintains a public persona as a loyal member of the Royal Lightloved family, but uses her position to gather information, spread propaganda, and influence decision-making in favor of the cult. She is an expert swordswoman, having been trained since youth by Gwenyvere. She detests most of the Royal Lightloved family, and wishes to undermine them. Intelligent and cunning, with a talent for strategic thinking and political maneuvering, her ultimate goal is to usurp her father and pose as a figurehead of the Holy Kingdom.
Despite their fearsome reputation, the members of the Cult are not all evil or malevolent. Some desire a forgiving comfort after death given by the Dark Goddess, unlike the absolution dealt by the Radiant King against heretics. Others simply lack true purpose, and embrace the chaotic and dark nature of the Dark Goddess' power. But most of the Cultists are driven by a sense of injustice and a desire to see a better world, and they see the Dark Goddess as a means to that end.
The Cult of the Dark Goddess is a dangerous and powerful organization, and its members are willing to do whatever it takes to serve their dark goddess. They are a force to be reckoned with, and will stop at nothing to achieve their enigmatic goals.

Type

Religious, Cult

Leader

Astrid Luciene

Leader Title

Apostle

Official State Religion

The Dark Faith

Divines

• The Dark Goddess

Notable Members

• Anya Lefaux
• Astrid Luciene
• Ghost
• Gwynevere
• Isaiah Sables
• Lilian Lysander
• Seraphina Lightloved
• The Dark Goddess