Cult of Lunar Whispers

## History

In the Age of Dynasties a mysterious champion who was rumored to have close connections to Ayume Mayakyu began to take an active part in influencing the city state of Senfalas. While none knew their face or even saw them, the mysterious backer named vacancy began to actively proselytize for the minor god known as Groetus. While the god was an inactive one who cared not for worship the cult quickly began to gain traction with its novel and positive interpretations of the gods domains. While the god prophesized to end the world, the Cult said this held a meaning that one should live as if everything is special and important as an end will one day come to all. While morbid in tone, this encouraged the people to pursue their true desires and live in a way they would not regret. In the beginning many took this as a pass to commit evil deeds. This however was quickly dismissed by the church with the statement that while one should pursue their goals and ideals consequences for those actions are still to be expected.

After a few decades the Cult grew powerful enough to raise a church in the lands of Senfalas. Raising the Church of finality in a village named Tamalon. The village and the cult worked together to grow more powerful and now have reached a near inseparable relationship. While the nation at first held reservations at the power held by the cult, negotiations between the organization and the nation it lay in led to a treatise. The church would not directly interfere with the military of the town but may train their own warriors and present them to the guard in tribute. This solidified their ties with the town while at the same time giving them no direct control over the town. In response to this the cult created its own militant section of the church for defense, though it is half the size of the guard itself. Rumors speak of a secret militant section the nation does not know about interacting with the Underworld but nothing has been able to be proven.

At one point there was a falling out between the Cult and local Pharasman worshippers within the nation leading to widespread violence. The cult quickly tried to regain control afterword's and was forced to pull back the main force of its worshippers to Tamalon. It still has an influence on the rest of the nation despite this although it has been weakened.

## Current Activities

### End of Poverty

Every Sunday, as the dusk takes over the day. The church will open its doors to those who might need it. As the end of the week and the day it holds special symbolic meaning to the nihilistic cult. During this time any who might have concerns or who desire advice comes to the Cult to commune. The poor and homeless are also offered a place to sleep for the night as well as food and other commodities until the morning comes. While not a full charity as it takes only one night a week, this has lead to good rapport for the church and a healthy respect by those down on their luck.

### March of Cinders

Once per year the church will gather the toughest of the volunteers for the guards and take them on the March of Cinders. An event that will march the recruits around to various sites of natural disaster and destruction teaching the recruits the ways of rebirth after total destruction. During this they are taught the secret power of the church the Pale Flame, a divine flame that does not burn but turns what it touches to ash. By the time they return one year later the recruits are hardened, stoic, and reserved. Proving a valuable addition to the guard.

### Gathering of Whispers

While the cult of lunar whispers is centered in Tamalon. Many of its higher level priests, bishops, and other ranks wander the nation. Some even as adventurers trying to improve the lives of others. The Gathering of Whispers is the only time all non basic members of the church gather. During this time all lights in the Church of Finality are put out and the doors locked for 72 hours during which they convene. No one but the members in this gathering knows of what they speak of during this time, but when they exit all look haggard and perhaps even unstable. This stabilizes as the week goes on most of the time but some have not recovered and are taken into the church to be cared for.

## Dogma

1. Live every day as if it is your last. Because one day it will be.
2. If you see someone with talent or passion who struggles, encourage them to the best of your ability. The world only has meaning if you live a fulfilled life.
3. Do not harm the name of the Cult or its God of The End Times
4. Do not think anything is eternal. Everything can and will be taken from you one day. Value what you have while you have it.
5. Do not speak of the Cults secrets to those not Authorized.
6. While the church encourages doing what you desire, it does not mean you can avoid consequences of your actions. Behave in a way you can take responsibility for.

## Ranks of The Cult

Deacon: These are the religious recruits in training to becoming full on priests of the Cult. They must go through a thorough training process and the process is only known by those of Bishop rank or above. Leaking of the training process is forbidden and punishable by death in the name of the Cults religious values.

Priest: This is the rank of those who have vowed to serve the Cult. One must go through the ritual known as the Test of the Moon and vow on a magically binding contract to help the Cult in its goals and spread the religion of Groetus

Bishop: Granted the rank of Lower Noble in the land of Tamalon. This rank is given a unique title based off of their attribute they display most in their actions for the Cult. They are granted a small amount of land in Tamalon and are given the task of helping raise the standard of the common people of Senfalas while teaching the values of the Cult to those unknowing of them. They are the first rank allowed to recruit people into the Cult and are able to allow people to skip a number of the trials and rituals of the Deacons training.

Archbishop: These are the Leaders and role Models of the Bishops, while still lower nobles they are given authority over the bishops in their Control, each bishop belongs to a pod of five that are under a Archbishop most fitting of them, and use their authority to organize religious doctrine and the spread of their religion. They also can give bishops missions to help the nation they are part of. If they prove particularly skilled and prove a level of loyalty to the church beyond the standard they may rise in rank.

Cardinal: The Cardinals are the first rank with full access to the Cults information and decision making as a whole. They are part of the council of Skulls and may submit proposals to the Shadow of the Moon as well as decide who may increase in rank and when. They may submit trials to those who they consider worthy of rising in rank and spend their time learning the magical and martial techniques known only to the cult. The Cardinals are given a rank of Greater Noble within the town of Tamalon and the nation of Senfalas as a whole.

Shadow of the Moon: The highest position in the Cult. They are unknown, only met by the Cardinals in pure darkness. This is keeping in tradition of the original founder of the Cult who was never seen by those who followed the Moon god. As such the name and appearance of the Shadow is unknown. Though they whisper their decisions to the cardinals, even their voice is shrouded in magic making it impossible to determine.

## Points of Interest

### Church of Finality

The main headquarters of the Cult this massive building towers above all else, even the Ashen Spire. The Church takes a significant amount of land around it, while not officially claimed by the church the plant life in this radius withers and warps leaving it an unofficial representation of their influence. The church is the most impressive building architecture wise and many come to look upon it simply to find beauty in its dark silent vigil over the town. Most of the time it is closed to outsiders, save for the End of Poverty.

### Ashen Spire

The Ashen Spire is the home to the Ash Sentinels. A spire that reaches into the sky like a massive hand grasping at the moon. None are allowed to enter the tower save the sentinels even high ranking officials. To relay a message they have a gatekeeper at the bottom which is rotated daily through the entire group. There are rumors that if the uninitiated where to gaze upon the inside their eyes would burn out of their heads.

## People of Interest

Cardinal Gregory: The main diplomat for talking to adventurers this mild mannered cardinal is known to be reasonable. A few have tried to exploit this however and found that things mysteriously go wrong for them.

Ash Sentinel Captain Dust: A Cardinal of the Cult and the leader of the Ash Sentinels, this Dhampir warrior is the strongest of the Martial champions within the cult, known for blowing things away into dust with their hammer strikes covered in an advanced form of the Pale Flame, Pale Radiance.

Cardinal Lara: This elven Cardinal is old enough somehow to remember the start of the cult. As part of this they have a ludicrous amount of information though they often are hard to understand because of this fact.

Archbishop Reek: This Archbishop is known for producing the most highly skilled and talented additions to the cult through his training. Many have tried to find the secrets to his teachings but none have been able to find them. He is a respectable and well thought individual who takes his choice of new recruits to train. One of the most noticeable students in the adventuring group that he has taught being the Bishop of Apathy Dot Ravenclaw.