Falánian Knife Cults

Much of the inspiration and details are derived from both Colombia Games and Keléstia Productions Ltd.

The Falânian Federation, a mixture of city-states, clans, tribes, principalities, and petty kingdoms occupying the southern coast of the Hepekerian subcontinent. The Faláni believe the world and every aspect of life is dominated by a conflict between the forces of Order represented by the god Azahi and Chaos's forces represented by the goddess Kelanai. To keep these forces balance, the dozens of small sects have grown. The feared Falánian Knife Cults are the most dominant. These Assassins and Demon-binders are offshoots of the Navehan Priest-Assassins worshipping murder in their unique ways.

The Faláni employ the knife Cults to keep order. Any member of Falânian society, from the lowest freeman to the highest Elder, can use them to right wrongs, gain revenge, or effect change. They are a legal assassin organization. The Faláni are skilled diplomats; however, when diplomacy or justice fails, assassination or targeted killings are the preferred methods for resolving conflict. Many a civil war has been avoided by using these killers.

Dezenáka Tablets

Assassination contracts are requested using the Dezenáka Tablets. These clay tablets have a Skull symbol on one side, and on the other, the petitioner writes the name(s) of the target and the reason for the assassination. The tablet is placed in a skull-shaped Dezenáka Pot located on the steps of the Cults temple. On the night of the new moon, a Priestess/Demon-Binder draws one or more of these Tablets. Presumably, the fates have decided that this death will restore balance to the world. In practice, the tablets of the rich and powerful seem to be drawn more often than those of the poor.

The Cult has a year and a day to perform the assassination, and if successful, the petitioner must pay the Temple one-fifteenth of their true wealth. This is not negotiable, and failure to comply or conceal assets will have dire consequences. The Temple takes no reprisals if any cultist dies in an assassination attempt; however, they may send more assassins to complete the contract.

Temple Structure

The Knife Cults have a loose organizational structure. They are lead by a coalition of the Father, the eldest or most senior Male Assassin, and the Mother, the eldest Female Priestess or Demon-Binders. Recruitments are either offspring of the Demon-Binders or unwanted children and orphans left on the temple's steps. Rumors that the Cults kidnaps infant children are emphatically denied.

The Temples are wealthy, with income received from donations, particularly from the rich and powerful. The Temple's Priestess manages the Temple finances. The Cults claim that they use much of this wealth is used for charity or to better society, although this is hard to prove.

Assassins

The male assassins train in the martial arts, exclusively wielding vicious war knives, which can also be thrown. They can kill with stealth or by personal challenge, painting their faces in a skull pattern, reminiscent of the Navehan Skull masks, when on a mission. They occasionally poison their weapons.

Priestess/Demon-Binders

These are the spiritual hearts of the Cult. Priestess or Demon-binders are skilled in blood magic, calling spirits and demons to do their will. They are rarely involved with assassinations beyond planning and support; however, they can use any of their dark arts to kill the target.

Type

Religious, Cult

Alternative Names

The enforcers of balance.

Deities

• Naveh

by Columbia Games