Congregation of Witnesses

Enslaved thralls of a Tyrant, the Congregation of Witnesses is a cult formed around the worship of the abominable Hateling.

Disturbingly, members of the cult have even been uncovered within the walls of the city-states, insinuating that the Tyrants allow their "adherents" to leave the Black Forest, presumably in search of new minds to dominate. The cult believes that everyone must witness the radiant glory of their master, so abductions to that end are not uncommon. These poor souls are taken into the Black Forest where they are claimed by the Tyrant and learn the truth, according to the members of the cult.

Cultists can be identified by a vacant stare in their eyes and their speech is often slurred or oddly paced, with inexplainable long pauses between words and phrases. It is uncommon for the physically altered cultists to leave the forest, but sometimes reports of people with unnatural deformities arise as well. Citizens of the city-states are encouraged to report any bizarre behavior and individuals to the nearest chapel or guard, as it is of utmost importance that these individuals are caught and the mental shackles imposed upon them are removed via a spiritual cleansing in the presence of the Eternal Hymn.

Leaflets about Tyrant cults such as the Congregation are used as cautionary material, spread among the populaces of the city-states and even Arachnithan burrow-homes, as the spider-people are not immune to the enthralling effects of a Tyrant's mind either.

The Unveiling

The most devastating blow the cult has managed to deal to the good people of Nascindor was an organized attempt to silence the Eternal Hymn, known now as the Unveiling. Working in the shadows and backstreets of the city states, insidious cultists spent months observing the people going in and out of the cathedrals and chapels of the Resounding Truth, eventually singling out the Orators.

Then, at the same time in each city-state, they struck, managing to kill most of their targets before the guards could intervene. This massacre left the church with less Orators than what was needed for constant performance of the hymn and it is only due to the endurance of the remaining Orators, who spent years singing the hymn for the better part of the day until new Orators were ready to perform, that the hymn remained constant.

After this calamitous plot, the church has taken extra steps to obscure the identities of the Orators and the Seeker fellowships have begun training men to exclusively act as guardians for the places of worship.

They will all see. They will be made to see.

–A Congregation member, babbling incoherently in captivity

by Midjourney

_{The Congregation gathers, its terrible master presiding over its thralls}