Muted Cabal

The icon of Zetsuris and the Muted Cabal

A Muted Cabal cultist

"*I have seen the one true purpose! The most noble purpose! We have been lied to! Despair! Terror! Sorrow! They are the only truly constant universal aspects! Join me, and together we will spread this purpose!*"
—Cenobyte of Zeturis Behr Thorenshield
The **Muted Cabal** is a relatively new and large Chaos Cult that worships the God of Despair and Hopelessness, Zetsuris. They emerged in the Ska'Fel system during early M42 after an Inquisitor was turned to a Cenobyte of Zetsuris. At the moment they are the largest and most organised of Zetsuris' Despair Cults, and sow their prisoners' mouths shut.

## History

### Creation

The Cult was created in early M42 during a joint campaign between the Hopebringers chapter and the Inquisition. During the fighting, Inquisitor Behr Thorenshield was exposed to the face of a Lesser Daemon of Zetsuris. He survived, but at the cost of becoming a Cenobyte; an incredibly powerful thrall of Zeturis. Retreating to the planet's surface, he quickly began to create a cult among the surviving inhabitants of the Hive World, subverting the Planet's government quickly, and so when the Hopebringers turned to Zetsuris, becoming the Loss of all Hope, they rose up and took the planet in the name of their shared God.

When this heresy became known to the wider Imperium, the entire system was exiled, and declared traitors.

### Recent history

During the invasion of the Vor'Kai sub-sector, the large forces of the Muted Cabal were along the frontlines, spreading terror and corruption well ahead of their actual forces. This exponentially increased the power of their patron God.

Currently, the Muted Cabal is the predominant Despair Cult across Ska'Fel V, sharing the planet with the Loss of all Hope. They have begun to enforce the believe of Zetsuris among the Vor'Kai sub-sector, and spread it beyond. Despite their high levels of organisation, the very nature of their God means that it is beginning to dissolve and disintegrate from the inside, as terror and paranoia grips the more devoted members.

### Notable Campaigns

* **007.M42 - 010.M42 -** The Ska'Fel Purging. During the Ska'Fel purgings in M42, Behr Thorenshield became a Cenobyte, and began to create the Muted Cabal. The new Cabal remained silent until the Loss of all Hope returned, and they emerged in a sudden burst of violence.
* **010.M42 - ~M42 -** The Vor'Kai Uprisings. During the Vor'Kai Uprisings, the Muted Cabal was at the forefront of the fighting and were essential in the sheer manpower needed to subdue a sub-sector.
* **~M42 - Present -** The Muted Cabal has been undergoing a series of continuous raids along the Eastern edge of the Segmentum Solar. The prisoners are taken back to Ska'Fel V, where they are used to increase Zetsuris' power.

## Cult Home World

The Cult is based on Ska'Fel V, which is a mountainous medium sized planet. They share the planet with the Warband Loss of all Hope. The many large cities and settlements on Ska'Fel V are completely devoted to Zetsuris.

Scattered across the planet are vast amounts of torture rooms and hunt gardens that act as the primary bases for the cult. The hunt gardens are areas of land tended to by specific members of the cult to be as dark, dismal and impossible to navigate as possible. It is within the hunt gardens that one of the cult's most revered rituals - the Hunt - takes place. During the Hunt, a group of prisoners is taken through a hunt garden under the guise of being transported to another torture room. The strongest of these prisoners is allowed to escape, and despite the apparent efforts of the Cult members, they lose track of them. Over the next few weeks however, a large force of Cultists begin to slowly hunt down the prisoner, using every known method to incite despair and madness. When their mind is completely corroded, they are captured and sent back to the torture room their original group is being held at. The sight of their strongest member being beaten bloody and completely insane is often enough to drive all hope of resistance out of the captives, and spread feelings of futility.

## Cult Recruitment

The Muted Cabal recruits from the many worlds they have control of in the Vor'Kai sub-sector. They also accept many of the Imperial Guard who turn to Zetsuris.

## Organization

The Muted Cabal is organised unusually rigidly for a Chaos Cult. At their head is 9 Cenobytes of Zetsuris who have been turned during the cult's battles. Each controls one 9th of the overall cult. The organisation of these ninths vary depending on the will of their cenobyte. Out of the 9, 4 of them specialise in warfare, 3 in the corruption of loyalist forces, and 2 in the control of the Cabal's worlds.

## Combat Doctrine

The basic fighting structure of the Muted Cabal is similar to most cults; unending hordes of cultists backed up by Daemons of Zetsuris summoned through rituals before the battle. Many of these Daemons are bound to individuals or machines, such as corrupted Leman Russ tanks, in the form of possession, but some are allowed to freely materialise and terrorise the frontline of the enemy. The Daemons are the only truly fluid part of the Muted Cabal's forces, as most cultists will be thrown forwards in a never-ending horde, while Daemons will reinforce weakened areas of the front line or push forwards, spreading terror and despair through their sheer power.

Outside of a battle, the Muted Cabal sends elite agents to assassinate and slaughter members of the enemy camp. Such agents are sometimes possessed by a Lesser Daemon of Zetsuris in order to aid with their mission.

## Cult Beliefs

The Muted Cabal worships the Chaos God Zetsuris, and attempts to empower him through every thing they do. This varies from their methods of war to doing everything in groups of 9, Zetsuris's sacred number, and their methods of capturing and imprisoning defeated enemies. They follow Zetsuris partly out of choice and partly because it is only their worship of him that prevents their immediate death from the aura of despair in the Muted Cabal's bases.

## Notable Members

* **Behr Thorenshield** - A Cenobyte of Zetsuris and the leader of the Muted Cabal, Behr was originally an Inquisitor until becoming a Cenobyte during the Ska'Fel purging.
* **Auin** - One of the 9 ruling Cenobytes of the Muted Cabal, Auin was originally an Imperial Guard Colonel, until she was turned during one of the Cabal's many raids.
* **Matel Dea** - A notable member of one of the cult's military ninths, Matel Dae is currently possessed by the Lesser Daemon Shi'Zet. The sight of their twisted body on the battlefield is terrifying to all who see it.

## Notable Ships

* **Space Hulk Gamma-42** - Gamma-42 is a large Space Hulk corrupted by Zetsuris. He has given it the ability to somewhat move through space and the warp, and it acts as the central ship in lots of the cult's battle formations.
* **Ska'Fel's Resilience** - A horribly mutated cruiser-class vessel, Ska'Fel's Resilience was captured by the cult during the Ska'Fel purgings and have been used ever since.
* **Unknown number of other vessels**

## Cult Appearance

### Cult Colour Scheme

The Muted Cabal's priests wears thick heavy robes of navy blue, with an electric blue trim. The mark of Zetsuris is sown onto the corner of the robes. They also wear orange clothes beneath the robes.

The basic members of the cult wear a motley collection of armour and rags, coloured in navy and electric blue and orange.

### Cult Badge

The cult's badge is the same as Zetsuris's; a bloody tear inside a nine pointed star.

## Cult Relations

### Allies

* **Despair Cults** - The Muted Cabal is allied with most other cults aligned with Zetsuris, called Despair Cults.
* **Loss of All Hope** - The Muted Cabal shares a homeworld with the Loss of all Hope warband, and accompanies them on most of their campaigns.

### Enemies

* **Tzeentch** - Like all minions of Zetsuris, the Muted Cabal shares a hatred for Tzeentch and his minions.

## Notable Quotes

### About the Muted Cabal

*Feel free to add your own*

 Tzeentch Warbands
 Nurgle Warbands
 Slaanesh Warbands
 Chaos Undivided Warbands
 Malice Warbands
 Minor Chaos God-Aligned Warbands

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