Seven Very Boring Cultist Hooks

Cultists are among the most common enemies in low-level D&D. As the modern style of D&D pivots further away from orcs and goblins as “default” enemies, cultists (like bandits) increasingly populate low-level adventures from Wizards of the Coast and third party publishers. 

In the real world, we can easily understand cults as those dabbling in dark, mysterious, or sinister arts; and that their interest stands in clear opposition to monotheistic religious norms among the broader population. A cult in a Call of Cthulhu or Unknown Armies game makes sense.

But in a world where a multi-polar pantheon is factually known, what is a cultist? Presumably someone worshiping an evil deity or a fiend. But relying on the Great Wheel and the good-evil alignment spectrum makes for static, uninteresting gameplay.

What if we define cults and cultists not by good and evil but by their social functions? How do they support or undermine the norms of the society they exist within, and how does their existence activate factions and create interesting roleplay scenarios?

It’s a secret society. Like the ancient Greek and Roman mystery cults, it is complementary to mainstream religion, but highly secret and prestigious. It may even allow for social power and advancement among marginalized outgroups like women and the poor.

It’s a schism from a mainstream religion. The “cultists” are in their own view the correct and true practitioners of the faith. It’s the majority of worshippers who are in the wrong. All the better if the same god seems to be granting spells or other divine favors to both groups…

It’s a back-to-basics movement. The cult legitimately wants to reform either the current predominant religion, or wants to return society to an earlier, purer, or better religion (possibly prior to foreign influence or conquest).

It’s funded by a rival power, whether spiritual or temporal. Another church, state, or entity is secretly supporting the cult’s efforts, hoping to sow unrest. 

It’s an elaborate scam to cheat a gullible rich person or persons. The lead cultist is officiating rituals as part of a long con targeting bored, wealthy citizens.

It’s just an excuse to throw parties. No legitimate religious purpose, just purely bacchanal. All the better when it actually does create a connection to the divine.

It’s just an excuse to kill people. Well, not every cult has to have some deep and complex motivation. Sometimes it is simply a charismatic sociopath draping themself in the legitimacy of the divine, or a cold killer using cultic trappings to throw off investigations into their (ultimately kind of secular) murder spree.

Next week: 20 Extremely Boring Bandit Hooks