Cult of Ludovic
Structure
Ludovic's cult plays rather fast and loose with the typical divine cult structure, with little division between ordinary members of the cult, priests, and high priests. This is mainly due to their low population, and such having a high division of power is a disadvantage. All members of the cult are treated well by their patron god but with a high degree of aloofness from him, and so oftentimes, many members seek to gain his attention by giving much more powerful offerings, blurring the lines between who has his favor and who doesn't even further.
Demography and Population
Although not a numerous cult, with only a few hundred members, those dedicated to it are often much more dedicated and likely to call Ludovic their patron and give much more sought after offerings. Members of the cult are also likely to be members of Shia's Cult and the Cult of Life, bolstering all groups in number and strength.
The Laramidia sect has not fully been absorbed by the cult and often has extreme differences in culture to the rest of the cult, with different architecture to Ludovic's usual shrines and temples.
Due to recently allying with Soliairs Taeyang as well as their cult, more members have been joining the cult from other regions of the world, particularly from the Pacific region. Only time will tell if the cult will become a major player within the pantheon.
Territories
This cult is mainly centered around their patron god's home in Scotland where they are at their most powerful and with a large population around the British Isles and much of western Europe. Due to Ludovic taking over the duties of the fallen god of ferrets, they merged with the Cult of Ferrets as well, having a small but concentrated group in Laramidia as well.
Military
Although Ludovic is not a god well known for combat prowess, due to the cult being located in extremely harsh terrain and often with dangerous fauna, most members of the cult are trained in brutal self defense to ensure any conflict they enter they will win. Underhanded tactics such as ambushes and traps are common, as is encouraging members to think on their feet for any opportunity to break down their opponent's will to fight. The majority of the cult's priests are known for using fire mana and ice magics in tandem to take advantage of the natural environment.
Religion
Their religious duties are led by Ludovic's high priest, Rorschach, who has served the cult for nearly two centuries under the current god's predecessor.
Foreign Relations
Ludovic's cult does not have many conflicts, due to their god's nature as a much smaller and less powerful god. Typically, at most their negative interactions are restricted to low level harassment of other much more powerful gods that is easily brushed off. Their interactions with the gods and cults of gods who are viewed as prey to the polecats is positive, with a high respect for them and the necessity of a predator-prey relationship.
Due to their location, the cult is very closely affiliated with Scotland's own government, particularly in that the cult plays major roles in assistance and aid to the hungry during lean times in the government's stead. Ludovic's cult is also closely affiliated for times of plenty, oftentimes throwing grand feasts for the people at large during festivals, holidays, and major celebrations.
As they have recently allied with the Cult of Soliairs, and due to both cults having close ties to the governments of their patrons' home nations, the cult has strongly influenced relationships between the Kingdom of Scotland and the Republic of Shanai as a whole. Both nations have entered talks and negotiations for mutual aid, especially following the Pacific Eruption Disaster, with Scotland in particular making plans to send heavy disaster relief to Shanai and her allies.
Mythology & Lore
Due to his small following and often personal relationship with many of his followers, he is well known to respond personally to hymns and prayers dedicated to himself. Though not often doing so in person, he is fond of personally writing to those who have given him offerings as a way of thanks, and these letters and notes are often returned to the temple during feasts or with high value offerings and used to decorate its shrines.
Cosmological Views
Colors and superstitions are held in high regard by the cult as important factors into their worship and religious identity. Dark blues and navy are considered to be one of the most sacred, representing prosperity, resilience, and strength, oftentimes explained as the color of the night sky in the deepest winters. White, rich browns, and black are also highly significant colors ascribed to such concepts as winter itself, life, death, and the cycles of the world. One of the cult's most prominent symbols is the chainlink knot, an interwoven pattern where points it crosses over itself are to represent different cosmological concepts, and the spaces between them different deities.
Fae rings, rocks, and trees are a belief held among the cult that certain formations of mushrooms and rocks are dangerous and have the capability to steal or damage one's Essence directly, being sources of deeply powerful but not well understood magic. Fae rocks and trees are thought to be in a similar vein, though rather than wells of magic, they are the homes of 'spirits' from time immemorial, far before the gods, and that disturbing them will result in deadly curses.
Ludovic's cult also believes in the power of true names holding sway over a person and will rarely use their own true names with those they are not extraordinarily close to, using nicknames often derived from their appearance instead. Many couples within the cult are stated to not even know one another's true names. In addition to the nicknames Ludovic's followers and priests give themselves, they are often given nicknames by their patron himself, such as the high priest Rorschach's coming from his appearance in his true form. Nicknames given by Ludovic himself are treated as a high honor to receive, and often used in place of legal or true names in the cult's inner workings. It has also become customary of members of the cult that are especially dedicated to reveal their true name to Ludovic, granting him power over them as a sign of their extreme dedication.
Priesthood
Priests within the cult are distinguished from other members and those simply living at the temple by their clothing- although it follows much the same scheme as civilian members, priests wear polecat coins as a part of their clothing, oftentimes bound together to form a type of scalemail. This is oftentimes done as necklaces, chokers, or belts that cause a jingling sound when in motion, the sound itself claimed to be a form of offering to Ludovic, especially when done for work within the cult.
Type
Religious, Cult
Capital
Alternative Names
Cult of Ferrets, The Polecat Cult
Leader
Currency
Like many other temples, Ludovic's cult will accept most of any currency, but favor those of their home region in Scotland as well as polecat coins. These coins are exclusively produced by their patron god himself for deeds and work within the cult, but may be used by outsiders should they fall in their hands. As dictated by Ludovic, the coins may be used to buy anything only once when invoked, but can be traded also without invoking them. Upon invoking the coin's magic, it is returned to Ludovic himself.
Different varieties of the coins exist, considered different 'standards'. Copper polecat coins are the most common, and paid out to priests, workers, and subjects of the temple on a weekly basis as part of their pay alongside rations, goods, and other currency. Iron coins are also given to priests as part of their weekly pay, and also upon the end of each recurring month of their employ as a bonus. Iron coins may also be given to members of the cult for higher levels of service committed, oftentimes by the priests themselves from coins held in reserve. The rarest coins are the bronze polecat coins, solely produced by Ludovic, and only ever held by himself or his high priest, Rorschach.
Due to the isolated nature of the temple, goods and services from outside are oftentimes hard to come by, especially in the winter months where bad weather and frozen pack ice can make trade difficult to impossible with other settlements, gods, or nations. During such times, there are often shortages of currency by which for members of the cult to exchange for goods and services, or money and tender is saved for springtime to purchase supplies with outsiders. Items produced within the cult itself are often used as currency themselves during this time, such as food, drink, services, and liquor on a barter system.
A non-alcoholic drink is considered to be the lowest tier within the cult's system of bartering, generally used to exchange small favors or as payment for borrowing other items. Meals are used similarly, but considered a higher value and more often in exchange for assistance with tasks or smaller value services. Services themselves are often used in exchange for one another, such as repairing a weapon or tool in exchange for mending clothing. Within the cult, liquor, especially wines and meads, are considered the highest value, and often paid out by the priests themselves to the cult during the long winter.
Official State Religion
Parent Organization
Permeated Organizations
Location
Official Languages
Related Traditions
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Allies
Like the Pack of Ferventi, Ludovic's cult has the majority of its members also being members of the cult of life and Shia's cult, without aggression between opposing members.
Allies
Like the Pack of Ferventi, Ludovic's cult has the majority of its members also being members of the cult of life and Shia's cult, without aggression between opposing members.
Allies
As repayment for saving the life of their patron god, Ludovic's cult has extended their god's life debt to apply to themselves as well, fiercely allying themselves to Soliairs and their cult in turn.
Friendly
Uneasy
Although there have been no outright conflicts or wars between Ludovic and Ferventi, God of Wolves, both gods having such conflicting personalities and a large difference in values often leads to their own followers adopting the same mentality, with frequent harassment between the two parties.
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