I have recently started writing a dark fantasy DND campaign and I'm trying to come up with a hierarchy for an eldritch horror styled organization. Called the Eldritch Occult. Does anyone have any ideas of what I could do for it?
I had created something similar for my campaign. You know, I gave them an enigmatic name, a short history, and who they are in direct conflict with. But as you asked about it's 'hierarchy', may I suggest another aspect; how it's organized.
Because my 'cult' is also a large, world spanning organization fighting to, well, make evil crap happen, they must organize themselves as a secret organization. I loosely based how they operate on the French resistance of WWII, the maquis. Basically, they form "cells" of three people. Only the cell leader knows the identity of the other two. And only cell leaders communicate with each other and thus through the larger organization; using dead drops, cant, and other secret methods only those in the know would know, and never revealing their other cell mates to their contact. This keeps the larger organization secret. This is why when they come together for large meetings or sacrifices, they all remain hidden in robes.
I never bothered with a hierarchy, or leadership structure. But should a player somehow get really into all the "spy games" that could come out of this set-up I certainly would give it some thought. Lots of warlocks, I reckon, which fits with the eldritch themes. Perhaps something abhorrent as a leader? Aboleth, or some similar creature? Mind Flayer?
I think that is a great way to go about an organization I was also wanting to write up the leadership/hierarchy structure for mine I wanted it to be something where this organization does experiments on people turning them into eldritch monstrosities or taking them to some sort of eldritch horror they worship and having them be transformed into a monster by the creature directly I'm still figuring out what to do for the lore of my organization but I think I have a general idea of what I want to do I'm just trying to figure out how I would go about the leadership/hierarchy of it
Outta curiosity does it need a hierarchy? One of the scary things about eldritch horror is things just not making sense. Things being alien and weird. Having a set hierarchy seems very human.
perhaps have a shifting hierarchy based on something unknown, maybe specific domains are run by specific factions and there are conflicts between them.
Having almost an organisational or company ladder feels like a missed opportunity to insert something weird and fun
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I have recently started writing a dark fantasy DND campaign and I'm trying to come up with a hierarchy for an eldritch horror styled organization. Called the Eldritch Occult. Does anyone have any ideas of what I could do for it?
Maybe too obvious, but it seems like Cthulhu is on top, no?
I had created something similar for my campaign. You know, I gave them an enigmatic name, a short history, and who they are in direct conflict with. But as you asked about it's 'hierarchy', may I suggest another aspect; how it's organized.
Because my 'cult' is also a large, world spanning organization fighting to, well, make evil crap happen, they must organize themselves as a secret organization. I loosely based how they operate on the French resistance of WWII, the maquis. Basically, they form "cells" of three people. Only the cell leader knows the identity of the other two. And only cell leaders communicate with each other and thus through the larger organization; using dead drops, cant, and other secret methods only those in the know would know, and never revealing their other cell mates to their contact. This keeps the larger organization secret. This is why when they come together for large meetings or sacrifices, they all remain hidden in robes.
I never bothered with a hierarchy, or leadership structure. But should a player somehow get really into all the "spy games" that could come out of this set-up I certainly would give it some thought. Lots of warlocks, I reckon, which fits with the eldritch themes. Perhaps something abhorrent as a leader? Aboleth, or some similar creature? Mind Flayer?
I think that is a great way to go about an organization I was also wanting to write up the leadership/hierarchy structure for mine I wanted it to be something where this organization does experiments on people turning them into eldritch monstrosities or taking them to some sort of eldritch horror they worship and having them be transformed into a monster by the creature directly I'm still figuring out what to do for the lore of my organization but I think I have a general idea of what I want to do I'm just trying to figure out how I would go about the leadership/hierarchy of it
^^^
Mind Flayers. They luv to experiment. :)
Outta curiosity does it need a hierarchy? One of the scary things about eldritch horror is things just not making sense. Things being alien and weird. Having a set hierarchy seems very human.
perhaps have a shifting hierarchy based on something unknown, maybe specific domains are run by specific factions and there are conflicts between them.
Having almost an organisational or company ladder feels like a missed opportunity to insert something weird and fun