Cult of Nocticula - The Dreambringers
“Shhhh, keep quiet. I know why you have come. I can see the suffering in your eyes. This is what the world does to you: pain, fear disappointment. But there is a more beautiful world to be discovered. We can give you the rest you so rightfully deserve. Welcome to the Dream.” - Ledovis, Herald of Hope
Summary
For many people life is a difficult thing, filled with suffering and loss. Many cannot help but feel the pain of every waking moment, as the world crushes their desires to dust. Such people crave an escape from the suffering...and the Dreambringers provide. They are a group of skilled alchemists who have created several powerful drugs. Their greatest achievement is called “the Dream”, a narcotic so powerful that it draws people into their own world, gifting them with the illusion of nearly divine power. The Dream makes people lose their grip on reality and many can no longer distinguish between being inside and outside of the drug haze. The Dreambringers are earning a lot of money...but they have also learned to manipulate the addicts, using them for many different purposes.Symbols and Visuals
In general the Dreambringers and their agents feel little need for many unifying visual elements. Their main profession is an outlawed one, and thus they prefer to be ignored. Their garb is as diverse as the agents themselves and the social cycles they move around in. Some are dressed like nobles, others not far from the looks of a beggar. The one distinguishing mark they all bear is a single golden dot, symbolizing the Dream itself. Often it is worn as part of jewellery or on clothing, semi – secret and only used as a signal to other agents, but some members have it tattooed on their bodies, often on palm or wrist.Motivations and Goals
Despite all their talk about showing a more beautiful world to their customers, providing the Dream as a gift to ease the suffering, the Dreambringers themselves are mainly interested in profit and influence. They have realized the potential of their product and are willing to do whatever it takes to spread it far and wide. At first earning money for their research is all the “Heralds”, the four high members of the organization, cared about, but they have soon come to understand that there is a chance for real power waiting for them. With the Dream as their weapon they can achieve not only vast riches but also an incredible influence. Getting some of the wealthiest members of society “hooked” will be the first step to controlling them...and then dominating society itself.Origins and History
The Dreambringers are a relatively young organization. First they were only a group of ambitious young alchemists seeking to advance their skills and make some money on the side. After several months of nearly fruitless labour, with little money made, they became frustrated enough to enter the drug – producing business and gain their first criminal contacts. The alchemists were trying to produce new, exciting types of opiates for the local market, experimenting with many different substances...until they, more or less by accident, created a brown, sweet – tasting powder of incredible potency. Thus the Dream was born. The alchemists quickly realized the potential for wealth and tempted by it they found their ruthless side, deciding to fully focus their efforts on reproducing this drug. One of them, an ambitious man called Ledovis, came up with the “sales pitch” for the Dream, selling it as a nearly religious experience that would show their customers a more beautiful world. This was thirteen years ago and it was the birthing hour of the Dreambringers. The Dreambrings are centred in Endrigia but have tentacles in every large city in the Rhodanian continent of Eldarr. Their typical cult member (customer) tend to be the wealthy and powerful.Methods and Resources
Disguising themselves as gracious benefactors and selfless helpers is the number one method of the Dreambringers. They prey upon those in pain, offering them a way out. They seek all those who are disappointed by this world, offering them a better one. The agents of the Dreambringers are slick and charismatic, portraying themselves as a nearly religious organization that has vast empathy for their customers. They play the long game, often inviting people to places where they can all share their sorrows with each other. Slowly but surely they hook them in. There is little violence in the Dreambringers' approach. They have made a significant sum of money in the last number of years and could use it to hire thugs and similar agents, but that would be a measure of last resort. The organisation much prefers to have their enemies taken out politically, using one of their highranking customers and his or her influence, or ideally inviting them to the Dream itself. While they have not had cause to use this newfound power yet, the Dreambringers did recently realize that prolonged use of their product turns people into ruthless and willing agents. The addicts begin to lose their sense of what is real and are therefore capable of committing the most heinous crimes to secure their access to the Dream. Such people can be unleashed against the Dreambringers' enemies if necessary...and that will happen if someone threatens the organization too much.Structure and Members
Not counting the customers themselves, the Dreambringers are a very small organization. At their core are the “Heralds”, four ambitious alchemists spending much of their time producing the Dream. Except for their de-facto leader Ledovis himself, who oversees and supports the activities of their sellers, the alchemists prefer to have as little direct contact with the operation as possible, fully focusing on the production side of things. Below the Heralds are the actual salespeople, who call themselves “the Bringers”. There are about twenty Bringers in the organization, charismatic individuals handpicked by Ledovis. They are the priests of the Dream, spreading its influence in society. The Bringers are seen by many of their customers as nearly holy figures and spend most of their time mingling with whatever layer of society they feel most comfortable in.Enemies and Weaknesses
As the Dreambringers are becoming more and more influential they are starting to gather their share of enemies. Endrigia's most prominent drug sellers before them were the Twin Roses, and that gang is not happy at all with the sudden loss of income. So far they have tried to come to an agreement with the Dreambringers, for their leader Miria prefers a non-violent solution, but this might change very soon...although by then it might be too late for the Twin Roses, who underestimate the ruthlessness of their rivals. The rising number of addicts in the city has also started to attract the attention of its law enforcement, headed by Magistrate Goldun. He does not know yet that his own wife Kara has become a user of the Dream, nor does he realize that some of his most high ranking officers have been bought by the Heralds, but it is only a matter of time before he decides to move against the Dreambringers. For now the organization is still vulnerable. They have a lot of money and are starting to gain influence, but most of their power is localized. They don't have enough hired muscle to protect them and anyone taking out the alchemists could bring the Dream to a sudden end.Centres of Power
Every Bringer has their own little meeting area, a place they can invite potential customers to and play their game of feigned empathy until they can hook them in. These places are semi-secret. Tavern back rooms, nicely furnished basement chambers, nondescript apartments. The exact nature of such a place depends heavily upon the social standings of its potential clientèle, but many of them have been decorated in a way to subtly resemble a temple. Since bouncers might scare away potential customers such places are usually not particularly well protected, but some of the Bringers have hired a discreet guard or two. The true centre of the organization however, is of course the laboratory, an alchemist's paradise filled with the finest equipment money can buy. It lies underneath a sturdy looking warehouse in a surprisingly decent part of town. The entrance to the chambers is a simple trapdoor, concealed underneath a stack of fake crates. Here, at the end of a meticulously clean stone staircase, the Dust is both created and stored. It is the only place in the city where larger quantities of the substance can be found and usually, no matter the time of the day – or night – there is at least one Herald at work here. They all prefer to work without assistants, so the laboratory is often otherwise empty, although Ledovis has recently hired a small group of well-paid thugs to watch the property around the clock. They do not usually enter the laboratory though, spending their time in the warehouse above.Public Opinion and Rumours
Word on the street about the Dreambringers is surprisingly positive, for the potential side-effects of the Dream and the plans of its masters have not yet become very well known.“Yes, of course I have heard of it. This “Dream” seems like the newest trend and everyone wants to try it. I personally doubt that it is as good as they say...nothing that cheap can be really good. Do you think they offer it to the plebs too?” “It's been so hard, after Selvin died, you know? Wasn't sure if I could keep going. But these people...they understand the pain! And they say that they have something to help me!” “You've got to try it for yourself! The dreams it gives you! Incredible! I've tried many things but nothing compares to it! Haven't felt that good in years!”
Recruitment
For now the Dreambringers are not recruiting, although with the speed the organization is becoming more influential a burst of recruitment might become necessary very soon. Ledovis would like to vet every potential candidate thoroughly before accepting them into the Bringers. He is more lax with guards and thugs, giving them very little information and trusting that being well paid will keep their mouths shut.
Type
Religious, Cult
Divines
Location
Notable Members
Comments