Cult of the Old Ones
The Cult of the Old Ones is a shadowy intergalactic organization dedicated to the worship of the ancient, incomprehensible beings known as the Old Ones. Its followers believe that the return of the Old Ones will usher in a new cosmic order, freeing the galaxy from its perceived stagnation and corruption. The cult operates in secrecy, sowing chaos and fear while working to gather Eldritch Artifacts and manipulate Abyssal Resonance to hasten the return of their masters.
The Cult of the Old Ones is intergalactic, with cells and enclaves scattered across countless star systems. Their presence is strongest near locations rich in Eldritch Energy, such as artifact dig sites, ruins of the Precursors, and regions with high Abyssal Resonance activity. Key strongholds include hidden bases on uncharted moons, derelict space stations, and the depths of industrial undercities like New Arkham.
The Cult of the Old Ones is a persistent and enigmatic threat in the Shrouded Galaxy, blending mysticism, science, and chaos. Their influence spreads like a virus, infecting the highest echelons of power while exploiting the fear and greed of the galaxy’s inhabitants. To confront them is to face the unknown—a perilous endeavor fraught with madness and mortality.
Structure
The cult is highly decentralized, ensuring survival even if one cell is eradicated. However, a loose hierarchy binds them through shared rituals, beliefs, and overarching goals:
- The High Heralds: Visionaries and leaders who claim to commune directly with the Old Ones, guiding the cult’s grand strategy.
- The Abyssal Priests: Religious leaders responsible for rituals and indoctrination, often wielding Abyssal Resonance through artifacts or Resonance Manipulation.
- The Seekers: Agents tasked with locating and recovering Eldritch Artifacts, often working as infiltrators within corporations and research groups.
- The Voidbound: Fanatical warriors who willingly undergo mutations through Abyssal Resonance, sacrificing their sanity and humanity to serve the cult as monstrous enforcers.
- Initiates: Rank-and-file members who carry out mundane tasks, spread propaganda, and recruit new followers.
Culture
The cult’s culture revolves around submission to the unknowable and the belief that the Old Ones represent ultimate truth. Members embrace:
- Fatalism: The belief that the Old Ones’ return is inevitable and any resistance is futile.
- Transcendence Through Chaos: They see disorder and suffering as sacred tools to prepare the galaxy for the Old Ones’ awakening.
- Secrecy and Sacrifice: Members are sworn to secrecy, often committing heinous acts of sabotage or murder to further the cult’s aims. Ritual sacrifices are common, meant to appease or summon the Old Ones.
- Abyssal Reverence: Eldritch Energy is sacred to the cult, considered both a gift and a test from the Old Ones.
Public Agenda
Officially, the cult has no public presence, shrouded in myth and dismissed as superstition or conspiracy. Through proxies, they manipulate:
- Governments and Corporations: Subverting entities like the Acheron Defense Force, Arcane Biotech, and independent research groups to access Alien Artifacts and fund their operations.
- Propaganda: Cultivating fear and confusion through rumors, staged “supernatural” events, and attacks, spreading belief in the Old Ones’ return.
Beneath its apocalyptic rhetoric, the cult’s true purpose is:
- Summoning the Old Ones: Using Eldritch Artifacts and Resonance Manipulation to tear open dimensional rifts and allow the Old Ones to enter our reality.
- Erasing Humanity’s Influence: The cult views humanity as a failed experiment, believing that only through obliteration can the galaxy be cleansed.
- Gaining Power: The cult’s leaders hope to secure a position of favor with the Old Ones, imagining themselves as rulers of the new cosmic order.
History
The origins of the cult are obscure, but fragments suggest it began in the era of the Precursors, possibly as an offshoot of their efforts to commune with the Old Ones.
- Rediscovery: After The Great Silence, renewed contact with Eldritch Artifacts rekindled interest in the cult.
- Modern Expansion: In the 29th and 30th centuries, the cult expanded its influence, embedding itself in corporate, criminal, and governmental spheres. Rumors persist of high-ranking officials and CEOs secretly funding cult activities.
- Key Events: The cult has been linked to catastrophic events, including artifact-triggered disasters, the destabilization of entire colonies, and the destruction of several Jump Gates.
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