The Cultists (Fears To Fathom)

## Hostile Species

**The** **Cultists**, also known as, **The** **Ironbark Cult**, are the main antagonists of *Fears to Fathom: Ironbark Lookout* and serve as the episode's threat to protagonist Jack Nelson.

They are a mysterious Satanic group of individuals that roam the woods of the Ironbark State Park at night, abducting and silencing anyone who discovers their existence. It's truly unknown who The Cultists are, and what they presumably to do in the Ironbark forest.

## Appearance:

The Cult members themselves consist of tall, adult human males (presumably), with tarn black pants and tarn black t-shirt underneath, a large black cloak-like robe on top with long sleeves, a horned-shaped fabric mask with two holes for eyes with a upside down pentagon across the forehead, a black-grey belt along the robes, black tinned shoes, black tinned/tarn gloves, and various necklaces resembling satanic religionism's.

Most members encountered by protagonist Jack, wield a large sickle, and have various tools and accessories on their belts, such as ropes, knives, walky-talkies, and even strangely violent looking hunting knifes. It's unknown if all members wear various accessories, or if it's just the members that actively hunt.

## Biography:

Little is known about the group's history prior to Ironbark Lookout, though it's implied that they've been operating for a considerable amount of time, as since Billy, one of the park rangers, appeared to be aware of them and would regularly carry around a shotgun to protect himself if they ever came for him. One of the fire lookouts, Connor, even mentions that he sometimes wished that the stories of cryptids such as Bigfoot and the Goat Man living in the forest were true as opposed to the disturbing truth.

According to Silas, a notable member of the cult group, the cult believes that nature follows it's own set of rules separate from that of civilization and violent acts of destruction, such as forest fires, are not only natural and inevitable but also necessary in order for the natural world to survive and replenish. This philosophy may also extend to human nature as well, as the cult appears to have no problems with kidnapping and killing various people who wander too close to their location.

Though as the cult was determined to keep their existence a secret, they were not always successful as some campers and hikers who had encountered the group would sometimes escape and tell others about their experiences. Though these were almost always dismissed made up stories of cryptids. Possibly in order to support this illusion, the group dresses up in horned masks and robes.

### In-Game:

Jack Nelson first comes across an alleged member of the cult when he leaves his tower to urinate. A mysterious man is seen to shine a light at him and disappear into the darkness of the forest.

The second night, when Jack is investigating a camp fire up north in the park, he hears a man screaming before coming across the eerily deserted camp site, a cult member in full attire can be heard whistling and seen hiding in the area limit sign beyond the trees on the left, before running off after Jack spotted them.

The whistling cultist follows Jack back to Tower 11, his whistles being heard as Jack prepares to sign off for the night. A member (presumably the same whistling man) is later seen outside Jack's fire tower, leaving a pentagram signed skull of a goat near the door, warning Jack to not interfere with their activities.

The following night, Jack helps a lost hiker, who is notably scared and confused, the lost hiker eventually hears and comes across a notable cult member whistling, it's presumed that not only the hiker is killed by this member, but this is implied to be the same whistling cult member that has been seen stalking Jack earlier.

Later that night, Jack encounters a man calling himself Silas lurking around his supply hut. Claiming to be a repair man working on the distant radio tower, Silas warns Jack that “curiosity can lead to places you’d rather not go” before disappearing into the forest. Connor later reveals that the same-latter tower has been out of use for a long time and instructs Jack to report on Silas if he ever makes a return.

A week later, Jack spots and observes the cult performing a ritual, assumingly with a burning corpse in a hand-made wooden coffin, when taking a photo to document as evidence, the cult spot the camera’s flash and quickly disperse. Jack then spots a cult member running towards his tower and hides under the bed, with the cult member searching for him afterwards. Jack taking the chance to escape, heads back to his RV, though is caught one last time with him forcibly hiding into the nearby outhouse portable, with the same cult member searching once more. Returning to to the camp parking lot, Jack makes his way to his RV, and spots a cult member (presumably the same one that actively searches for him) pursuing him, in a quick brink Jack manages to escape, returning home, and later quitting his fire lookout job.

Jack, during the ending, claims that no one believed his story of the so-called cult, and thus indicating knowledge and fear of this cult and how dangerous they most likely are.

## Trivia:

* A member of the cult appears to whistle when it comes to stalking his victims, it is unknown if each cult member does this or just the one individual.
* Silas, one of the more notable members, can be seen on the right-hand side at the start of the game inside the diner eating a meal, next to him is a shovel and his cultist attire hidden under his bag. He later breaks into Jack's RV and presumably thieving a couple of Jack's personal belongings. Silas is also spotted numerous times throughout the game in his repair man clothing.
	+ It's also unknown if Silas is the cult member who actively chases Jack, stalks Jack, or is the whistling man. It's possible that Silas is none of these members, and that it was a much different individual entirely.
* A common theory among Fears To Fathom fans, is that The Intruder from Episode One, could be in fact a member of the cult group, considering the speculation of The Intruder's fascination with Episode One's protagonist Miles, and how he is underage, also take in consideration that The Cultists kidnapped various children and others alike with no hesitation after discovering their cult hideout, it's highly likely that's he's apart of the cult group.

## Gallery:

The Ironbark Cultists performing a disturbing ritual (It's implied they're burning one of their victims corpse).The Ironbark Cultists noticing protagonist Jack Nelson taking a picture of their ritual campsite.
## Navigation

Near Pure Evils