Cultist

Cultist

Once, perhaps not too long ago, you served alongside your fellow neophytes. You worshiped a dark creature, or an eldritch god, performed sacraments, and adorned yourself with the suitable tattoos or ritual scars. You basked in this dark glory with your fellow cultists, feeling the clarity of purpose that comes with service to a higher power.
You may still serve your cult, or perhaps you left them behind in your search for other things. In either case, you have been marked by your connection to this profane worship.
Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Religion
Tool Proficiencies: Poisoner's Kit
Languages: One of your choice
Equipment: Lightly worn robes, a symbol of devotion, a blasphemous scripture or holy text, a ritual dagger, a poisoner's kit and a small pouch containing 5 gp.

Change of Heart

Many adventurers used to be cultists, leaving behind that life in a search of new or different things. Work with your DM to determine what caused you to break or separate from your cult, or roll on the table below.

d8	Change of Heart
1	I witnessed a particularly gruesome rite and ran for my life.
2	I botched a ritual which slaughtered other members of my circle. Only I survived.
3	I asked the wrong kind of questions. The others planned to sacrifice me, but I escaped.
4	Adventurers hunted down my brethren, and only I was able to escape.
5	The other cultists disappeared through a portal to a land of unspeakable horrors. Terrified, I stayed behind.
6	The others took their own lives to ascend. I could not.
7	I no longer believed in what we were doing. It seemed wrong, somehow.
8	A friend or family member rescued me, taking me away by force.

Features: Secret Signs You know the secret symbology of your cult, which is used by members to identify themselves to fellow adherents. Some influential persons or townsfolk may be members of your cult, and with subtle gesture or hand sign you can discern who follows the way of your dark patron. Covens of your cult may be hidden in different towns. These signs can identify such safe havens, and if they are still active the adherents may feel obligated to provide you and your companions with food and lodging, or other small assistances.

Suggested Characteristics

A cult washes away doubts and instills faith; this simple fact reverberates all throughout a cultist's life. Even if a cultist has forsworn their service, they are still deeply affected by their old life.

d8	Personality Trait
1	Everything is a sign of coming doom. Every. Single. Thing.
2	The world outside is so exciting! Now I can do everything the dark lord forbid, like drinking wine, or wearing shoes!
3	If I’m not stopped, I will openly reminisce about my old days in the cult all day long.
4	I can’t help but check my cult’s holy scriptures for advice about any given situation.
5	It’s no big deal, it’s not the end of the world. That’s not for another five years, three months, ten days, twelve hours…
6	I’ll happily inform those I meet of the many ways in which they are being heretical.
7	I hate my cult for what they made me do and what they made me become.
8	The dark lord used to order us to do everything, and it’s a little hard for me to live without that structure.

d6	Ideal
1	Loyalty. One must commit themselves to their beliefs unwaveringly. (Lawful)
2	Redemption. I believe that evil deeds can be repented. I must believe. (Good)
3	Independence. I’ll never be bound in servitude again. (Chaotic)
4	Power. My dark patron holds power, but I plan to be stronger than they’ll ever be. (Evil)
5	Secrets. The lore of my cult is historically important, and I must preserve it. (Neutral)
6	Revision. My cult’s holy book is wrong. I must learn about the outside world, and fix the book’s errors. (Chaotic)

d6	Bond
1	I must discover the truth behind the entity I worshipped, even if it kills me.
2	I yearn to reconnect with the people from my life before the cult.
3	I must free other people from unwitting service to dark masters.
4	A monstrous, immortal guardian of the cult is hunting me. I pray it never finds its prey.
5	I sold my soul in service to dark powers, and now I seek to reclaim it.
6	The day of reckoning is coming, and my knowledge is the key to stopping it.

d6	Flaw
1	If I ever had the chance, I’d definitely rejoin my cult.
2	I’m a little too into blood sacrifice.
3	Knowledge is more important than sanity.
4	I’m often more interested in than frightened of abominable eldritch monsters.
5	I’m too willing to follow orders without thinking.
6	Murder was significantly less frowned upon by the cult than it is in the outside world.