The Cults of the Dragon Below are various cults that worship the dark forces of Khyber and beings from the underground realm.
In modern times, cultists seek to release beings (e.g. daelkyr, rakshasa rajahs, or demons) or gain power from those same beings through sacrifice or devotion.
Most cultists practice in secret as society at large shuns such worship. The cults are illegal in all of the Five Nations.
Clerical Domains
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- Dragon Below
- Madness
History of the Cults
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The cults have existed since the beginning of time in one form or another. There have always been those who chose to worship Khyber, the Dragon Below in order to gain power or in hopes of some dark promise fulfilled.[1][2]
Worship of the Cults of the Dragon Below are strongest in the western regions of Khorvaire, especially The Shadow Marches. These regions suffered most during the Daelkyr War, and bear the greatest scars from that ancient conflict, physically and psychologically.
Various Cults
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Cults of the Dragon Below are not a unified religious doctrine. The large majority of these cultists are mad and dangerous, and they turn towards forces society shuns for personal power.[1]
Many followers of the Dragon Below are insane, holding strange beliefs as aberrations being beautiful creatures that will reward them for their devotion.[3]
Cults may worship aberrations, daelkyr, or other fiends of Khyber and their masters from the First Age.
There are no fewer than three sects of the Cults of the Dragon Below active in Sharn.[4]
The Aashta
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The Aashta clan is one of three half-orc clans native to the Shadow Marches to have developed the Mark of Finding. These three clans (the Aashta, Torrn, and Velderan) form the basis for House Tharashk. The Aashta and lesser clans in service to them are rumored to be bound to the Dragon Below.[5]
The Aashta clan contains cultists of the daelkyr Kyrzin, the Prince of Slime.[6]
Khundar'aashta is one of the three triumvirs of House Tharashk, and represents the interests of the clan to the house in Zarash'ak.[5] Karr'Aashta, House Tharashk inquisitve of Deathsgate in Sharn is a member of the Aashta clan, and a folllower of the Dragon Below.[4] Sul'aashta Steelbane is a hunter of the Aashta clan, who hunts warforged and ventures into the Mournland, driven to defeat the warrior of steel and stone that haunt her dreams.[5]
The Arrna [6]
The Closed Circle
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The Closed Circle is a defunct wizarding guild of Sharn. They were destroyed by the other magic guilds of Sharn, The Esoteric Order of Aureon and The Guild of Starlight and Shadows, for delving too deep into the occult following their research into the daelkyr.
A mind flayer named Chyrassk, along with a small force of lesser aberrations from Khyber, have established a presence in the former Citadel of the Closed Circle in the undercity district of Khyber's Gate. The aberration has been sharing the secrets of symbionts, grafts, and unique discoveries made by The Closed Circle with its followers.[4]
The Cults of Slime (Gibbering Cults)
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The ir'Edar Brood
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The Family Finch
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Overlord Cults
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The Cults of the Dragon Below can be used as witting or unwitting pawns for the whims of the Lords of Dust or their Overlord masters.
In the Webs of Zarash'ak, the mad goblin Jhugaar delivers sermons about the rise of The Voice in the Darkness.[6]
In Stormreach, the Overlord known as The Scar that Abides stirs strife and resentment among heirs of the dragonmarked houses.[8]
References
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- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Eberron Campaign Setting. Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, and James Wyatt (2004). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- ↑ Eberron Campaign Guide. James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
- ↑ Lords of Madness - The Book of Aberrations, p. 6. Richard Baker, James Jacobs, and Steve Winter (2005). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-3657-1.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Sharn: City of Towers. Keith Baker and James Wyatt (2004). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-3434-4.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Dragonmarked. Keith Baker, Ari Marmell, Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Eye on Eberron: The City of Zarash’ak" (June 2011) by Keith Baker. Dungeon Magazine issue 191.
- ↑ Eberron Campaign Guide. James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
- ↑ City of Stormreach. Keith Baker, Nicolas Logue, James "Grim" Desborough, C.A. Suleiman (2008). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-4803-5.
Faiths of Eberron |
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The Silver Flame | The Sovereign Host | The Dark Six | The Blood of Vol | The Cults of the Dragon Below | The Path of Light | Path of Inspiration | Undying Court | The Lord of Blades | The Becoming God | The Keepers of the Past | Thir | Druidic sects |
References
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Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, and James Wyatt (2004). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.