Cult of Elysium

The **Cult of Elysium** (also known as the **Cult of Persephone**, the **Cult of Demeter**, and the **Waldron Island Society**), is an occult secret society and hermetic organization reported to have been founded in the late twenty-first century by a collection of corporate elites and members of the American academia. According to reports made by Evan Shaw - an employee of the Alliance of Investigative Reporting - in 2149, the origins of the group can be traced back to influential businessmen such as Elijah Tyrell, Marcel Lasanne, Kellan Shannon, Jonah Stanton, and more. These businessmen reportedly first came together as part of a lobbying bloc with aims towards securing expanded intellectual property rights in the United States. Their scope then expanded as the various corporations controlled by the cult - namely Dynetic Systems Interstellar and the Lasanne Corporation - branched into intrasolar operations and colonization. In these times, the cult was known as the Waldron Island Society, as members routinely met to discuss at the Waldron Island Complex, owned by the Lasanne family.

The cult did not branch out into esotericism until after the Third World War and the nuclear exchanges that occurred as a result, after which the occult doctrine of Elysian Thought emerged. First proposed by Holden Tyrell and a collection of scientists, including Alexander Grannell and Florence Dorgan, Elysian Thought posits that the global culture of humanity has become inhibited by mankind's history of violence and depravity, and that a coming apocalypse is inevitable as a result. The cult's solution to avoiding the imminent end of the world is thus the construction of starships capable of travelling to other star systems beyond Earth. Elysian Thought also touches on concepts such as annihilationism and misanthropy. Many members of the cult believe that life after death is only granted to those who pass 'Last Judgement', and that those who do not pass have their souls destroyed instead of sent to hell. Many members of the cult also believe that humans are inherently evil, and a new collective memory must be created so as to eliminate the flaws of mankind. Alongside these beliefs, Alexander Grannell, a world-renowned anthropologist and archaeologist, was one of the cult's members who promoted hermeticism. Proponents of Grannell's beliefs claim that evidence of past cataclysmic events as a result of human activity can be found through the study of ancient texts and materials. Some even cite the myths of great floods to be the result of past human activity. These 'Elysian Hermeticists' are reported to have been active throughout the world since the late twenty-first century.

In modern times, the cult is said to have influence over a sizeable portion of the world's most valuable corporations, and is claimed to be larger than ever before. Further investigations into the society since Evan Shaw's release of the Waldron Papers have been met with extreme resistance, however. It is unlikely any further information on the group will be released for some time.

Similar to many secret societies, the Cult of Elysium is said to initiate potential members through a series of ceremonies and rites aimed towards securing the loyalty and secrecy of new associates. At the end of these initiations, aspiring associates are said to be introduced to the group's yearly theatre portrayal of the myth of Hades and Persephone, and granted some sort of psychedelic substance which is said to 'awaken' associates to the truth of humanity.

## Structure

The Cult of Elysium is said to be organized by both levels of initiation and by how long any one member has been introduced to the lesser and greater mysteries. At the top of all active and aspiring associates, however, is the Council of the New Telesterion. Comprised of a group of twenty-two of the most powerful and longest-active members of the society, this council is said to organize the society's events, meetings, finances, admissions, and recruitment. The sect of the society based on Waldron Island, however, is reported to be only the main branch of a wider organization. Several other sects of the cult are said to exist throughout South America, Europe, and Asia. As of yet, none of these sects have been investigated or confirmed to exist.

### Aspiring Associates

The first class of member within the Cult of Elysium is said to be that of the aspiring associates. These are members who have been accepted into the group temporarily by the Council of the New Telesterion, but have not yet been fully inducted through exposure to the lesser and greater mysteries. Regardless, aspiring associates are made to swear vows of secrecy.

### Associates

The second class of member within the Cult is said to be that of associates, full-time members who have been inducted and awakened through the mysteries. These associates are considered active participants within the mysteries from their induction, and can be sorted into four categories...

* Priests, priestesses, and hierophants, who help conduct the mysteries and guide aspiring associates through their first experience of the group's ceremonies.
* Initiates, undergoing the mysteries for the first time.
* Standard associates who have already experienced the mysteries and are eligible for the final category...
* Those who have attained contemplation, and fully embraced Elysian Thought.

### Priesthood

The priesthood officiating the Cult of Elysium, particularly during the yearly ceremonies and holding of the mysteries, is said to be divided into several offices with different tasks.

* *Priest of Hades* - a male-only position of high priest, charged with organizing the mysteries and participating in plays through the role of Hades.
* *High Priestess of Demeter* - a female-only position of high-priest, charged with overseeing the production of the psychedelic substances used in the mysteries and participating in plays through the role of Demeter.
* *Avatar of Kore* - a female-only position of actress charged with participating in plays through the role of Persephone, considered the most important role within the plays and often held by individuals 'saved' by the cult.
* *The Men of Light* - male torchbearers and servants who are charged with operating the play from backstage, delivering food and drink to spectators, and providing security for the mysteries.
* *The Guide* - a female-only position of priestess, charged with assisting the Men of Light and organizing the serving of psychedelic substances.
* *The Mothers* - two married priestesses, one charged with serving Demeter, one charged with serving Persephone
* *The Daughters* - a group of priestesses who live a life secluded from men, many of which previously acted as the Avatar of Kore, whom act as extras during the plays.

## Notable Participants

* Elijah Abraham Tyrell (deceased)
* Jordan James Tyrell (deceased)
* James Kennedy Tyrell
* Elizabeth Lilly Tyrell (deceased)
* Nancy Lauren Tyrell
* Marcel Lasanne (deceased)
* Marianne Lasanne
* Silvain Lasanne
* Kellan Shannon (deceased)
* Rory Shannon (deceased)
* Jonah Stanton (deceased)
* Alexander Grannell (deceased)
* Florence Dorgan (deceased)
* Darragh O'Sheridan (deceased)
* Zheng Kang
* Sylvaine Beauregard
* Saoirse Kennedy
* Klemens Rosenblatt
* Augustin Maibaum
* Onofrio Cianelli
* Iosif Usilov