The Feeders of Apollyon

We don't keep watch during the night because of the mountain hydras or the tentacle beasts. We keep watch because this is feeder territory. If you get caught by surprise, try not to let them take you alive.

— Caravan guards on watch in the Panndorsal

Among the mountains of the Panndorsal, The Archfjell towers above all other peaks. At its base a cult of fanatics have started calling the mountain Apollyon. They beleive the mountain is hungry and needs to be fed constantly. So they make it their mission to raid settlements and caravans, kidnapping and holding people, pets and animal stock in pens to ensure a constand flow of sacrifices.

Most victims are then tosed blindfolded and dazed into the tunnels beneath the Archfjell to die of exaustion, starvation or to simply be found and eaten by the many Thresher Maws within. A few are killed and used as food for the cult (animals are usually used for this, but the cult isn't opposed to cannibalism if they need to do it).

The members

The members of the cult mutate over time. Some gain bonegrowths over their skin or the color of their skin turns into a dark starry pattern like the night sky. Others gain more drastic mutations, growing tentacles or extra clawed arms, or gaining magical abilities.

Despite this, all members tend to lose their sanity over time. Innitially acting shaky and jittery and progressing to insomnia, complete sensorial halucinations, self harm and some eventually commit suicide by going into the tunnels willingly. This sometimes results in the occurence of "prophets" that write or dictate the voices they hear, see and feel as inevitable thruths about Apollyon. Due to this, the holy texts and stories of the cult are often nonsensical and contradictory.

Structure

The cult doesn't have an well settled hierarchy. Young feeders sometimes, inexplicably, feel the pull to travel to The Archfjell and go on a pilgrimage or they may be recruited from those kidnapped but the cult. The longer lived members are obeyed and respected due to their antiquity or simply the powerful mutations they've aquired.

Public Agenda

Their only objective is to feed their master.

Assets

The number of memebers of the cult may reach the low hundreds. Due to their way of life, they tend to have a great knowledge of the mountain area.

History

Noone knows exactly how and when they formed, but the cult has some idea of its origin. See mythology.

Mythology & Lore

Their holy texts talk of a giant man who climbed the mountain and came back with golden skin and a message of peace and bounty to be found within the tunnels. Whereupon he lead the first victims into the mountain and was never seen again. Among those that didn't follow him, rose a prophet who told claimed that the mountain god had done that to lure food into it, and thus the cult was started.

A latter account tells of how, during a season of scarcity, Apollyon shared his great power and his greater hunger with chosen men so that they could go forth and feed him.

There is also an holy text that says the human race arose from the tunnels with the sole objective of feeding the mountain. those that remained faithful to their task are rewarded with power and the task of hunting the the traitors that refused.

Several other accounts tell of several other origins for the feeders. According to the cult, all the accounts are true and unquestionable.

Cosmological Views

According to the cult's lore Apollyon flies beyond the stars and speaks through the mountain to his disciples.

He is also the mountain and slumbers under the ground aware only of his hunger and his followers.

He is the entity in the central chamber of the tunnels and the voices in the air around the mountains.

She is the night sky that covers the sun as he flies over to inspect the cult.

She is the shadows of rocks and the blood of men.

She is made of fire and nothingness and holds the sky with her hundred hands.

It is a giant worm poking its head over the ground.

It is the iron oblivion of death and made of the rock souls of his food.

All these things and more is Apollyon, and all these things and more are tue.

Granted Divine Powers

Mutations can range from the inocuous, like skin or hair colour change; to the destructive, like clawed tentacles and acid blood; to the more esoterical, like limited mind control and telekinetics.

The Great Lord hungers

Type

Religious, Cult

Demonym

Feeders

Deities

• Apollyon

Location

The Archfjell