Cult of Darkened Sun

The cult of the Darkened Sun is a not so secretive organization that emerged some time ago, preaching the power of darkness and the destruction of the light. They believe that the Church and Unconquered Sol is a symbol of tyranny and oppression wielded by those in power to keep the masses ignorant, and that by extinguishing it, they could free humanity from its grasp. Members of the cult are rumored to wear dark robes and perform rituals in the dead of night, invoking the power of the dark forces they worship. They believe that only by embracing chaos and destroying the existing order can they achieve their ultimate goal of a world plunged into eternal darkness.
As the cult grows in size and influence, they have begun to carry out acts of violence and sabotage against the ruling powers, seeking to spread chaos and sow the seeds of their dark vision.

Mythology & Lore

According to their mythology, it believed that the sun is a symbol and embodiment of a great and terrible god who seeks to enslave humanity. The cult knows that this god has locked humanity in a never-ending cycle of light and dark, forcing them to toil and suffer under its unrelenting gaze. They believe that the only way to break free from this cycle is to plunge the world into eternal darkness, where the power of the god will be weakened to nonexistence. To do so, they must break the influence of the Church and then those in power will fall soon after. The cult members are said to possess incredible powers that allow them to control the darkness and wield it as a weapon. They can summon shadows to do their bidding, move unseen in the night, and cast curses that will cause their enemies to wither and die. Some even claimed that they can extinguish flames even those brought forward by True Alchemy.
Most commoners fear the cult and its members, believing them to be dangerous and unpredictable as the Church has warned. They whisper stories of the cult's dark deeds with demons and their ability to call upon the powers of the Chaos. Many believe that the cult is in league with Fae courts and that their actions will bring about the end of the world.
Some stories even claim that the cult has already achieved their ultimate goal, plunging entire villages and towns into darkness and causing the crops to wither and die. Though these stories are likely exaggerated, they serve to reinforce the fear and suspicion that surround the cult and its members.

Tenets of Faith

1. The Sun is a symbol of tyranny and oppression, and must be extinguished to free humanity from its grasp.
2. Darkness is the source of power and true freedom, and should be embraced and harnessed to achieve our goals.
3. Chaos is necessary to break free from the constraints of society and the existing order, and should be encouraged and fostered.
4. Our loyalty is to the cult and its leaders above all else, and we must be willing to make any sacrifice to advance our cause.
5. The ultimate goal of the cult is to bring about a world without light, where the power of the darkness can reign supreme and humanity can finally be free.

Ethics

The ethics of the Darkened Sun cult are deeply rooted in their belief in Chaos and the power of darkness. They reject traditional morality and social norms, seeing them as the tools of the ruling powers to keep humanity enslaved. Instead, they believe that their actions, no matter how violent or destructive, are justified in the pursuit of their ultimate goal of plunging the world into eternal darkness.
The cult believes in achieving their goals through any means necessary. They are known to carry out acts of violence, sabotage, and terror against the ruling powers, seeking to sow chaos and destruction wherever they go. They often target religious institutions and symbols of the sun, which they see as the greatest symbols of their oppression.
The cult's leaders preach that their followers must be willing to make any sacrifice to advance the cause of the Darkened Sun, including their own lives. Members of the cult are expected to show complete loyalty to the cult and its leaders, putting the interests of the cult above their own.
Despite their willingness to use violence and terror to achieve their goals, the Darkened Sun cult is also known for their secrecy and cunning. They operate in the shadows, avoiding detection by the ruling powers and using deception and misdirection to confuse and mislead their enemies. They are also said to possess deep knowledge of the natural world, using it to their advantage in their rituals and practices.

Worship

Worshipping Practices:

1. Midnight Rituals: The cult holds secretive midnight rituals in remote and desolate locations. These gatherings involve chanting, dark incantations, and the performance of forbidden rites.
2. Solar Sacrifices: During solar eclipses or significant celestial events, the cult performs sacrificial ceremonies, believing that the temporary absence of the sun enhances their dark powers.
3. Shadow Communion: Cult members engage in meditation and communion with shadows, seeking guidance and power from the darkness they venerate.
4. Cursed Artifacts: The cult creates cursed objects infused with dark magic, using them in rituals to channel their powers and spread malevolence.

Rumors of Demon Summoning and Human Sacrifice:

1. Demon Allegiance: Whispers abound that the cult has made pacts with demonic entities, gaining infernal allies that aid them in their nefarious activities.
2. Human Sacrifices: Unverified tales speak of the cult performing gruesome human sacrifices during their rituals, offering the lives of the innocent to further their dark goals.

Creation of Flesh Golems:
The creation of flesh golems is one of the cult's darkest practices, symbolizing their defiance against life and death.

1. Gathering Components: Cultists collect body parts from various humanoid races and monsters, including humans, elves, dwarves, and even monstrous creatures. The parts are harvested from deceased individuals, often victims of the cult's malevolent actions.
2. Dark Rituals: A high-ranking priest oversees a macabre ritual where the gathered body parts are stitched together with crude precision. Dark incantations are chanted to imbue the golem with the essence of the cult's dark deities.
3. Animation: Through a combination of forbidden necromantic spells and sacrificial offerings, the flesh golem is animated. Dark energy courses through the stitched-together form, bringing it to life as a grotesque mockery of humanity.
4. Guardians of Darkness: These flesh golems, now animated by dark magic, serve as both guardians during large cultist activities and symbols of the cult's defiance against those who oppose them. They are often adorned with symbols and trophies representing heroes who failed to thwart the cult's plans.

The existence of these flesh golems strikes terror into the hearts of those who encounter them, serving as a grim reminder of the cult's commitment to darkness and chaos.

Granted Divine Powers

The priests in the Darkened Sun cult are believed to wield a variety of divine powers related to darkness and chaos. Some of these powers include:

• The power to summon and control shadows: The priests are said to have the ability to summon and manipulate shadows, using them to conceal themselves or as weapons against their enemies.

• The power to create darkness: The priests can create darkness out of nothing, enveloping their surroundings in an impenetrable shroud that disorients and confuses their enemies.

• The power to curse their enemies: The priests can call upon the powers of darkness to cast curses on their enemies, causing them to wither and die or suffer terrible misfortunes.

• The power to see in the dark: The priests have the ability to see in complete darkness, allowing them to move and fight with ease in the dead of night.

• The power to extinguish flames: The priests can snuff out flames with a wave of their hand, making it difficult for their enemies to use fire as a weapon against them.

It is believed that these divine powers are granted to the priests by the dark forces they worship, and that they can only be wielded by those who have fully embraced the cult's teachings and rituals. The priests are highly respected and feared within the cult, and their abilities are often the subject of fear and speculation among the cult's enemies.

"Behold the darkness that surrounds us, the chaos that flows within us, and the power that we wield. The time has come to cast off the chains of the false light and embrace the true power of darkness. Let us bring about the eternal night, and usher in a new age of darkness and glory..."