is a light ever lost

[commemeorate]

the demon summoning cult meme

• comment with your character


• actually write some preferences instead of leaving a blank comment


• respond to others


• use rng or pick from the scenarios if you need some ideas

YOUR CULT ROLE

1. Outsider ⮞ You are - or were - 100% uninvolved with this shit, but circumstances change.


2. New Initiate ⮞ For one reason or another, you recently joined the cult and were initiated into its mysteries...at least some of them.


3. Dedicated Cultist ⮞ You've been around for a while, you've learned the ropes, for better or for worse you're in it for the long haul.


4. Former Member ⮞ Your reasons for leaving are probably complicated, and your leaving might have been clean or it might have been messy, but you left.


5. Undercover Plant ⮞ You might be playing the role but you have other reasons for showing interest in this cult: you might be a cop busting them for illegal activities, an FBI member investigating incredibly illegal activities, a reporter seeking a new story, someone trying to recover a loved one from the clutches of this cult, or something else.


6. Cult Leader ⮞ Someone has to run the show.


7. The Demon ⮞ It's a demon summoning cult, after all.


8. Other ⮞ Something else?

WHAT TYPE OF CULT IS IT? BESIDES DEMON SUMMONING

1. LARPers ⮞ Once a month y'all basically get together to roleplay some demon summoning cult hijinks, and it's that time of the month again.


2. Financial Scam ⮞ Perhaps cultists tithe a certain amount to the cult to (eventually) summon Mammon/Amon/[insert demon here]. Perhaps cultists market products to unwitting victims in the hopes of spreading the good word. Or maybe it's something else, but the point of it is a financial scam.


3. A Suspicious Commune, Basically ⮞ You're probably off in the mountains, burning strange bonfires, eating strange herbs, doing dubious things away from the point of view of the rest of society.


4. Sex ⮞ Fuck your way into summoning Mammon/Amon/[insert demon here].


5. One That Does Some Highly Illegal Activities ⮞ Human sacrifice? Money laundering? Drugs? The front for some organized crime?


6. Actual Magic ⮞ Amazingly, you somehow found the urban supernatural cult that's very real, and is actually probably going to summon a demon soon.


7. Eldritch ⮞ You thought you signed up for demon summoning. It turns out that name you’ve all been invoking belongs to something much, much bigger.


8. Other ⮞ Pick your own cult poison.

CULT ACTIVITY

1. Initiation ⮞ Someone - yourself, maybe, someone else, possibly - has decided to join the cult and now it’s time to truly bring them into the cultist fold. Robes, wine, ritual activities, maybe a new cultist name, showing them the ropes, the sky’s the limit.


2. Prayer ⮞ As all good cults have a good round of prayer at some point! Community is important with a cult. Maybe you just sit around in a room and sway for a while, or maybe you go outside buck naked and howl at the stars.


3. Atonement ⮞ You've been a naughty follower. How does your shepherd deal with sheep who stray from the flock?


4. Expulsion ⮞ Or at least, that’s what they’ll tell everyone. The rest of the flock will be told that you simply up and left in the night. They won't be told that you were questioning their beliefs, ferreting information back to whatever arm of the law you work for, knitting their doom in the shadows. Whether any of that is true is another matter entirely. For now, let’s just hope you get out of this whole mess in one piece.


5. CHEESE IT, THE FUZZ ⮞ Uh oh. The heretics and the heathens of the unbelieving world have come to bust your doors down and to put a stop to your beautiful belief. Do you guys have guns?


6. Summoning (demon) ⮞ It worked! Against all odds (probably) you managed to summon something...other. A glimpse of another world, perhaps. Or perhaps you managed to summon a demon, bind a smaller creature by your rituals and make it your servant. Did you mean to do this? Are you surprised? Are you pleased with this proof that what you have been doing did, in fact, work?


7. Summoning (apocalypse) ⮞ Oh SHIT. It worked, but you accidentally summoned something larger. Maybe instead of a glimpse into another world you ended up with a rift, and the other realm is bleeding into Earth. Or perhaps instead of a smaller demon you ended up with a more powerful one who has asserted control over your cult, and, in turn, will corrupt the world. Did you mean to do this? Are you surprised? Will you accept that life will never be the same, or will you try to save the world before it is too late?


8. Other ⮞ After all, there's many things you can do in a cult.

Comments

Darth Traya | Knights of the Old Republic II | OTA

[apathy_is_death]

[Very much the demon. The sort to exhort you to overthrow the devil and God kind, too.]

[merging]

[Up for something with the Sith holocron or some other Sithy ritual thing summoning her? Since this kid doesn't have enough Sith in his life apparently]

[apathy_is_death]

[I'm up for that six ways from Sunday if you don't mind an unusually insightful Sith. :P Sith'd try to hide her, buuut if he found some obscure ritual ON the holocron talking about the 'forbidden one' or something...]

hope this works!

[merging]

[Ezra's never been great at figuring out the weird parts of the Force. Unfortunately it's a whole lot harder when you're not speaking to your Jedi master and you're also trying to use the dark side. But when he came across some ritual mentioning great power, he didn't need to look any further.

In between missions, and making sure not to garner any attention, he gathered the items needed, drew all the right symbols or at least an approximation, and began an attempt to... do whatever. He wasn't really sure what it meant beyond the power part, but it didn't matter, as long as he could defeat the Sith and save everyone.

Ezra meditated, reaching out with the Force and calling on his emotions to access the dark side, hopefully accessing its power as well.]

Works great! I've got a Dark Jedi named Sariss in the winter thread if you want something there, too

[apathy_is_death]

[The Sith had hidden any mention of her, naturally enough. Her teachings, heretical; her objectives forbidden and horrifying even to the Sith. By and large, she only haunted the ruins of Malachor but then, from nowhere...there was a tug. The smallest little sense of opportunity.]

[And her spirit flowed into it. Whatever Ezra Bridger had been expecting, what he got was likely not it. The room would seem to enlarge as light vanished around him. From the symbols in front of him, blackness tinged with violet flowed outwards, covering the ground and the walls like grasping tendrils.]

[From the center of it, finally, a voice.]

A call, in the Force. So long since that has happened. Curious. Curious indeed.

[And above all - power. He would sense power. Even from beyond, from a place long since dead.]

ooooh

[merging]

[Instinctively, he tries to back away- or the closest thing to backing away when it comes to the Force. This... isn't what he was expecting at all, no. His hand hovers over his lightsaber, like that'll do something when the only thing here is a voice and a presence. Still, there's some kind of comfort in it, even if it's useless in this situation.]

Uh, hi.

[Probably not what you're supposed to say, but it's too late, he's already said it.]

Sorry. I think I might've... made a mistake somewhere.

[apathy_is_death]

[Something starts to swirl around him, in the darkness. Like a fish flicking its tail beneath the waves, as she once again begins to take physical form.]

Inexperienced child, your weapon will not harm me. Nor will it save you, from the challenges ahead.

[The voice moves around his head, coming to a stop in front of him]

But you made no error - though here were many who would have wished you had.

[merging]

[Kanan probably wishes he had messed this up, or he will once he finds out. If he finds out. Except unlike casually using the Sith holocron, this seems like a harder secret to keep.]

I'm not a child.

[he shoots back, childishly.]

What challenges? What are you anyways?

[apathy_is_death]

[What finally resolves in front of him is a vision of a black-robed woman, skin grey and with only one hand. Dead, black eyes stare back at Ezra, and he will very quickly get the impression that what she sees does not require eyes in any way.]

[The purple tinge seems to arc around them, like power pumping through veins.]

You are indeed a child, Ezra Bridger. So much to learn. So much more road still to travel - with ends even beyond my sight. You will know such victory, and such defeats.

I am not a what, Ezra Bridger. I am Darth Traya, the betrayer, the forbidden one. She whose name even the Sith trembled to speak.

[merging]

[Although he's definitely afraid because who wouldn't be, he still rolls his eyes at her insistence he's a child. He's almost 17, Hera's mentioned he might get a rank in the Rebellion soon, and he's already strong in both the dark and light.

The last part gets his attention, though.]

If even the Sith are afraid of you... then you can tell me how to defeat them. Right? Since like you said, you are the betrayer and all.

[apathy_is_death]

And there is the child - still too eager, too open with what you wish to achieve. You must learn subtlety, Ezra Bridger, if you wish to defeat the Sith.

[But her form seems to sigh, at the latter.]

And that is the wrong question. Look deeper. What do you want, Ezra Bridger?

[Because there are generalities, and then there are specifics.]

[merging]

[If he could roll his eyes right out of his head, he would. Subtlety isn't what's going to stop the Sith. He wouldn't be looking to the dark side for answers if it was.

But as for her question...]

I want to become stronger. Strong enough to defeat the Sith. Strong enough to protect everyone.

[The most obvious goes unsaid. I don't want to lose anyone else.]

[apathy_is_death]

[He know nothing, yet. A dabbler, for the moment. And unaware. He thinks the dark side is all about power, strength. When those mask its greatest assets. But she knows.]

Then you must ask the next</> questions. How many people are you going to have to kill? Name them. Who must be removed, to achieve your aim. And since power always demands sacrifice...who are you willing to give to your..great cause?

[merging]

Uh, Darth Vader. The Emperor. The Inquisitors if they're still around.

[And probably lots of stormtroopers and various Imperial officials, but he doesn't really care about that.]

Look, are you gonna help me or just ask weird questions?

[apathy_is_death]

[It is then that the fullness of her power slams into him, vibrant and strong despite four thousand years beyond the pale. And he will learn something, then, about the power of the dark side. About power itself. The Inquisitors laugh and cackle, threaten and seek to intimidate, because they are unsure of their power, fear their weakness.]

[She, colder than death, does not mock, or insult. Let this be his first lesson from her, then. Needful, too, for when he faces the Lord in Metal. Real power does not give warning, and it does not preen. Then she speaks her second.]

You wish to learn, to gain power, but will not think. You seek the dark side because it promises quickness, an easy path. But it lies, Ezra Bridger. You have notions, not plans - and any plan of the dark side will cost you dear. The questions are all. Ask them. Intelligently. And I will give you the power to save...everyone.

But you must prove worthy.

[merging]

[He flinches, his body tensing up from the sudden show of strength before he tries to reset and stand tall once more.

It's strange... how so much of what she's saying reminds him of Kanan's teachings. Unfortunately that just means he's more likely to tune her out.]

Then tell me how! What do I have to do?

[apathy_is_death]

[And it keeps flowing, undoubtedly different from what he's felt before - this is an ancient Sith, and one who was unique even in her time. What it feels like for him, she can neither guess nor care.]

Power is nothing without planning. The first step is acknowledging you bring death. If you wish to use the dark side, you must kill without mercy, without hesitation. And there will be so very many. Are you prepared for that, Ezra Bridger? Are you prepared for the friends who will stand in the way of what must be done?

Who are you willing to sacrifice?

[merging]

My friends will understand. I'll make them understand.

[But he wouldn't kill them. After all, that'd be defeating the purpose of all of this.]

Haven't- [Ezra hesitates, for all his rashness, it still seems weird to question powerful evil Sith lady] Haven't I sacrificed enough already? My parents, Ahsoka, my entire life... has been lost to the Empire.

[apathy_is_death]

[She shakes her head, slowly, purple tinges in the dark stirring with it.]

It doesn't stop. And you will be faced with a choice, on this path. Either discard them, or bend them to your will. In which case, will they still be your friends? Or your puppets?

If you wish to travel this road, you must understand what the dark side is. It isn't just power. It is a life, a way of knowing. And to think, all the sacrifices you will create for others. To kill your way to the Emperor, the widows you will make, the orphans you will leave behind.

[merging]

No, I-

[He pauses, because none of this is him. Not in any way. Sure, he doesn't mind hurting Imperials, but it's not like that. And he'd never think of his friends as puppets.]

Look, I don't think you get it. I'm only looking for power, not your way of life or whatever you're talking about. If I have to use the dark side occasionally, that's one thing, but... I'm still a Jedi, you know? Not really interested in trying the whole Sith apprentice thing.

[apathy_is_death]

You are truly deluded if you think power comes without consequences. Occasionally use the Dark Side. Your Master has done you a disservice by allowing you to remain so foolish.

[She swirls her hand, and an image appears, violet outline of a black-masked face. Vader.]

Do you think he began by wishing to be a Sith apprentice? If you will walk this path, you will face its consequences. And the payment is always higher than you would wish.

I chose the dark because the Jedi abandoned me - and because it was the only route to achieve my goals - and it came with such power - to rip the life from a force-user and leave them an empty shell with a mere gesture of my hand.

So tell me this, and prove yourself intelligent: do you think it cost me nothing?

[merging]

My master hasn't taught me anything about the dark side.

[Not anything useful, at least. Ezra didn't even know it existed until he accidentally used it himself. He's pulled out of his anger towards Kanan when she reminds him of Vader. Ahsoka's master. Is she trying to say he'll end up like that?]

No... I'm not like him! I'm not like you either. Maybe you failed, but I won't.

[Which is his very politely worded answer to her question. Yes, it cost her something, but that's her problem, not his.]

[apathy_is_death]

Please, then. Educate me, since you are so wise. How does one use the dark side without being tainted by it? Do explain it, to an old woman.

[That really is her warning rattle that he is being particularly stupid.]

Explain to me how you, alone among force-users, are special and immune.

[merging]

Because I still use the light. Because I'm still a Jedi. Because I won't give up on my friends.

[Maybe that sounds even more stupid, but it's obvious to him.]

The Sith, the Jedi, everyone treats it like it's all or nothing. But isn't the Force supposed to be about balance?

[apathy_is_death]

[Oh it is. Terribly, terribly naive. Some of the worst monsters the dark side has ever produced thought they were doing good. That there were bits and pieces that somehow meant they had not fallen. Delusion. Lies.]

[And he has stumbled into what is, to her mind, the greatest of them all.]

The Force isn't about balance. Ah, the lies that the powerful tell themselves. The Sith, that power frees them. The Jedi, that the Force can be balanced. The Force is not ours to control. It controls us.