Cultists

Summary

The Cultists are a group of robed and masked worshippers who serve the Sniff Lord in the caverns beneath the Rex Tree. During Session 3, the party eliminated this group as a threat after a confrontation that began in the previous session when Safia revealed her bat form and unmasked one of their number. The cultists conduct rituals around a food-laden altar in the Cavern Chamber, and they operated the Portcullis Buttons to control access to their deity's domain.

Each cultist wears distinctive masks as part of their religious practice. The one member whose identity was revealed proved to be an ordinary man in his late 40s or 50s with olive skin and a mustache, wearing a dog mask. When their ritual was disrupted and one of their number was unmasked, the group panicked and fled up the ramp, abandoning the party to their fate behind the closed Portcullis.

Details

The cultists' ritual practices center on worship of the Sniff Lord, involving the preparation of food offerings placed on an altar. Their ceremonial garb consists of robes and masks, with at least one member wearing a dog mask, though whether each cultist wears a different animal mask remains unclear from the available evidence.

The group demonstrates knowledge of the mechanical systems in the Cavern Chamber, specifically the operation of three stone buttons that control the Portcullis. The dog-masked cultist pressed one of these buttons upon entering the chamber to seal the portcullis behind the party, though the party members could not remember which specific button was used. This action trapped Safia, Erin, and their companions in the chamber with the Sniff Lord.

When Safia transformed into bat form and tore the mask from the dog-masked cultist, revealing his mundane human appearance, the entire group broke formation and fled. They retreated up the ramp without bothering to reopen the portcullis, leaving the party to deal with their deity alone. This panic response suggests the cultists rely heavily on their masked anonymity and are unprepared for direct confrontation.

History

Session 3

The party eliminated the cultists as a threat during this session, though the exact circumstances of this elimination were discussed rather than shown in detail. During end-of-session mechanics, Safia noted that removing the cultists fulfilled her neutral alignment requirement to eliminate an unnatural menace.

When the party discussed the Portcullis Buttons, Shawn reminded them that "the masked dog guy hit one of these when they walked in to shut the portcullis behind them, but you don't remember which one," referencing the cultists' actions from the previous session.

The party confirmed their victory over the group during session wrap-up, with one participant noting, "And also eliminated those. Those masky cult people." However, another voice expressed uncertainty about the cult's ultimate fate, remarking, "Well, I mean they ran away. Who knows what they're up to." Despite this uncertainty, the group was acknowledged among the notable enemies the party overcame, mentioned alongside other threats they had faced.