You have spent your life in the service of a cult to a specific demon lord. You could have been born in it, or committed yourself to it later in life for one reason or another. You are not necessarily a crazy and/or evil because of this, you were ether raised in this situation or just decided to join the cult for one reason or another.
Choose a demon lord, and work with your DM to detail the nature of your religious service. Were you a lesser functionary in a cult, raised from childhood to assist the cultists in the demonic rites? Or were you a high priest who suddenly experienced a call to serve your lord in a different way?
- Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Religion, Performance
- Languages: One of your choice
- Equipment: A cultic symbol (a symbol gifted to you for your devotion to your cult), a ritual book, 5 candle sticks, a tinderbox, cultic robes, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 5 gp
As an cultist , you command the respect of those who share your cult, and you can perform the ritualistic ceremonies of your demon lord. You and your adventuring companions can expect to receive free healing and care at a cultic temples, shrine, or other established presence of your cult, though you must provide any material components needed for spells. Those who share your cult will support you (but only you) at a modest lifestyle.
You might also have ties to a specific temple dedicated to your chosen demon lord, and you have a residence there. This could be the temple where you used to serve, if you remain on good terms with it, or a temple where you have found a new home. While near your temple, you can call upon the cultists for assistance, provided the assistance you ask for is not hazardous and you remain in good standing with your temple.
Suggested Characteristics
Demon Cultists are shaped by their experience in temples or other cultic communities. Their study of the history and tenets of their cult and their relationships to temples, shrines, or hierarchies affect their mannerisms and ideals. Their flaws might be some hidden hypocrisy or heretical idea, or an ideal or bond taken to an extreme.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I idolize a particular fellow cultist, and constantly refer to that their deeds and example. |
| 2 | I can find common ground between the fiercest enemies, empathizing with them and always working toward peace. |
| 3 | I can hear the whispers of the dead. I'm completely comfortable with this. |
| 4 | Nothing can alter my pessimistic attitude. |
| 5 | I quote (or misquote) cultic texts and proverbs in almost every situation. |
| 6 | I am tolerant (or intolerant) of other faiths and respect (or condemn) the worship of other gods and demons. |
| 7 | I'm used to rough living, it barely phases me. I long to have a better off life. |
| 8 | I’ve spent so long in a cult that I have little practical experience dealing with people in the outside world. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Tradition. The ancient traditions of my cult and sacrifice must be preserved and upheld. (Lawful) |
| 2 | Charity. I always try to help those in need, even if it goes against my beliefs. (Good) |
| 3 | Change. We must help bring about the changes the demons need of us. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Power. I hope to one day rise to the top of my cult's hierarchy. (Lawful) |
| 5 | Faith. I trust that my lord will guide my actions. I have faith that if I work hard, they will bless me. (Lawful) |
| 6 | Aspiration. I seek to prove myself worthy of my lord’s favor by matching my actions against his or her teachings. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I would die to recover an ancient relic of my cult that was lost long ago. |
| 2 | I will someday get revenge on the corrupt temple hierarchy who branded me a heretic. Causing me to join a cult. |
| 3 | I owe my life to the cultist who raised me as a child. |
| 4 | Everything I do is for the common people. |
| 5 | I will do anything to protect the cult, where I worship. |
| 6 | I seek to preserve a demonic text that my enemies consider heretical and seek to destroy. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I judge others harshly, and myself even more severely. |
| 2 | I put too much trust in those who wield power within my temple’s hierarchy. |
| 3 | My devotion sometimes leads me to blindly trust those that profess faith in my lord. |
| 4 | I am inflexible in my thinking. |
| 5 | I am suspicious of strangers and expect the worst of them. |
| 6 | Once I pick a goal, I become obsessed with it to the detriment of everything else in my life. |
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