Order of Gnostics

From beyond the stars comes a race of god-like Supernaturals collectively known as the Eldritch. Vast, oceanic beings from outside of our concept of time and space, they are titanic beings who waste away the eons in deep slumber or intricate themselves in vast plots that span generations. These beings are of unknown origin, with some occultists theorizing that they are alien gods from another Realm entirely or that they may, in fact, be survivors of the universe that preceded our own? 
Whatever their story, the Order of Gnostics knows them well, and either hinders or faithfully seeks to awaken these dark gods from their ancient slumber. 
Paradigm: Eldritch. 
== Facts: ==
-The Order of Gnostics are a wild card among the Adept Orders. They exist fundamentally to interact with, and often serve, the mysterious beings known as the Eldritch. But what that means is up for debate. Are they good guys, bad guys, or something else? Do they even believe in our conceptualizations of morality? 
-One thing is for certain, the Gnostics almost universally regard the mind as being the true seat of humanity. They often view the corporeal body as a sham, a prison in which our souls are bound. This is why they are known as the Order of Gnostics because they have always been associated with gnostic or dualist teachings down through history. Indeed, many Adepts believe historical Gnosticism originated among certain members of this Order. 
-The exact powers a Gnostic will develop really depends on the Eldritch they follow. Worship of a particular Eldritch brings with it powers and attributes that reflect that Eldritch. 
-The Eldritch are known to be very powerful psychic beings. Gnostics will, therefore, often sport some serious power in the psychic realm. They will also have an affinity for dark magick, especially the summoning of their Eldritch masters and their master's many minions. 
-The most (in)famous of all Eldritch among Adepts has to be Cthulhu. He is, effectively, the betentacled face for the Order of Gnostics itself. 
-Gnostics tend to be mistrusted by other Adepts with the notable exception of the Heretical Orders. The Heretical Orders are perfectly used to dealing with the unknown, and so they (probably) won't feel as uncomfortable around Gnostics and their 'allies' as other Adepts would. 
-Most Gnostics tend to stick together, especially if they all follow the same Eldritch. 
-One area of weakness for the Order is religious tension. The Eldritch are a bombastic pantheon of entities, and personal grudges and turf challenges spill over into the interplay between their followers. Gnostics who follow vying Eldritch have been known to fight among themselves bitterly because of it, often to the death. 
-Gnostics aren't very common, they tend to be found among smaller, more non-traditional Tribes and communities. 
-You'll have an easier time finding a unicorn's horn than a Gnostic who doesn't have membership in the Occult Underground. 
== Staving Off Disaster: Keeping the Eldritch Asleep ==
For most Adepts, the Order of Gnostics are a tribe of raving lunatics who serve alien gods with all the religious devotion of the overzealous. However, while there are certainly plenty of cosmic sycophants filling up the ranks of the Gnostic Order, there is a deeper truth hidden under the layers of madness. 
The Order of Gnostics actually has a role to fulfill, and that is to keep the worst of the Eldritch asleep. 
Azathoth, Father of the Eldritch, must remain sleeping, as should the great and terrible Cthulhu. Even in their mighty dreams, they are able to interact with the world of mortals, but in such a state their desires are enfeebled and left unrealized. For mankind to continue, these alien gods must not be allowed to awaken from their ancient sleep, and the hardcore backbone of the Gnostic Order exists to do just that. 
These Gnostics, often the senior Adepts among them, and those who have truly taken the vocation of their Order seriously, understand what it is they must do. Yearly rituals, dark sacrifices, ancient magick, whatever it takes, it must be done. For if the ancient ways are forgotten, or the rhythm is broken, one or more of the sleeping Eldritch might rouse itself from slumber. And all the world will pay dearly for it. 
== Summoning Eldritch Abominations: ==
Gnostics have traveled the Realms far and wide and have returned with strange knowledge and even stranger alliances. Gnostics possess the power to call out to these ancient dwellers of unknown Realms and can receive power and knowledge from them in return.
Gnostics do not speak of their alliances often with other Adepts, since the other Orders tend to view the Eldritch as a dire threat. Gnostics see them for what they are - citizens of other Realms, each with their own alien worldview and agenda. While they don't trust all Eldritch, the Order of Gnostics believe that some of them are worthy of being served. 
*Summoning Eldritch usually involves a series of empathic calls outward into the greater darkness. Gnostics who practice this enough will be able to discern not only what calls work best, but who is answering them... 
*Remember that the Gnostics view the Eldritch as gods, but that doesn't mean they always trust them. The Eldritch are truly alien identities, hailing from worlds and universes completely foreign to our own. 
=== A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z ===
== References: ==
-https://medium.com/@AurochDigital/the-mainstreaming-of-cthulhu-how-a-fringe-horror-creation-became-popular-5598dcb7795e
-Cthulhusattva: Tales of the Black Gnosis
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0cSDIVBI_4
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOi9gjoylas
-https://www.reddit.com/r/Cthulhu/
-https://lovecraft.fandom.com/wiki/The_Call_of_Cthulhu
-https://store.steampowered.com/app/399810/Call_of_Cthulhu/
- Category:Eldritch