Cult of the Black Earth

The **Cult of the Black Earth**, also simply referred to as the **Black Earth**, is a faction in the *Forgotten Realms Campaign* of Nat19. It is a cult of earth elementalists and monks dedicated to worshiping the earth archomental Ogrémoch. It once operated out of a temple beneath the Sacred Stone Monastery in the Dessarin Valley.

## Role in Plot

The Cult of the Black Earth first appeared as the Apocalypse Party was traversing the Sumber Hills in search of Ajisai's targets, as well as the missing delegation from Waterdeep. In the night, several cultists attempted to ambush them, but they were well prepared and defeated them all. After interrogating one of them, they learned the location of their base, the Sacred Stone Monastery, and set a course straight for it.

Upon arriving at the Sacred Stone Monastery, the Apocalypse Party began infiltrating it. Initially their infiltration was a stealthy one, but it quickly grew into a massive fight.

The Apocalypse Party raided the monastery and the temple beneath it several times, killing more and more of its members with each infiltration. During these raids, Ajisai was killed twice, once by a captive umber hulk, and again by Marlos Urnrayle, one of the leaders of the cult and Ajisai's targets. After their first fight with Marlos, they made off with his war pick Ironfang. Marlos rested briefly to recover from their struggle and pursued them alone to their campsite in the nearby woods, where Maxine dealt him a fatal blow with Ironfang, leaving the cult without its leader.

The Black Earth cult was not heard from again for several weeks, until the town of Westbridge had been taken over by a group of its surviving members. The Apocalypse Party learned of this and ventured there to free its people, as well as procure Casper Caskbuckle's stolen Deck of Many Things. The black dragon Carnifex also arrived shortly after, and a battle between him, the Apocalypse Party, and the Black Earth cult broke out. During this encounter, it was revealed that the cult had named a new prophet: Dreyon. Dreyon eventually called for a retreat after considerable losses, in order to let the adventurers and the dragon continue fighting one another.

The Apocalypse Party later made their way deep into the Fane of the Eye to find and disrupt the Black Earth cult's ritual to summon Ogrémoch. They found the Earth Node that housed the portal to Ogrémoch's domain in the Elemental Plane of Earth, guarded by Dreyon, as well as several cultists and earth elementals. The party did battle with the cult's forces, killing Dreyon and all of his men save for one earth elemental that Maxine magically dominated which Ajisai named Sid. Maxine, receiving a vision from her patron deity, realized she could use Ironfang to permanently close the portal to Ogrémoch's domain, which the party would not have been able to do otherwise. After sending Sid through the portal, she did so, though she was forced to sacrifice Ironfang in the process. With Ogrémoch sealed away and the cult's leaders dead, the Apocalypse Party claimed victory in their long fight against the Black Earth cult.

## Relationships & Affiliations

### Cult of the Crushing Wave

Despite their seemingly hostile attitude towards one another, the Crushing Wave and Black Earth cults are working together, though in what capacity is unknown.

### Apocalypse Party

The Apocalypse Party pursued the Black Earth cult's leader, Marlos Urnrayle, at the behest of Ajisai. In their pursuit they killed many of the cult's members and its elemental/bestial minions.

## Members

* Dreyon †
* Hellenrae †
* Marlos Urnrayle †
* Miraj Vizann †
* Qarbo †