"Sanguis Pro Sanguine Deo."
"Om Eyriusgodus ax Eyrius."
—Varkanist chant, translating to "Blood for the Blood God."
Most gods are worshiped freely in Abmarah as it is full of cultures from all over. However, worship of Varkanus is still a taboo in many parts, leading to increased cultism surrounding the Blood God. While the adherents of Varkanism fear the god and worship him primarily to appease him, there are extremists across the world who actually believe Varkanus' teachings fully and seek cruelty and carnage. These fanatical extremists are grouped together as the Cult of Varkanus.
The Cult of Varkanus is deep rooted and has spread across the world, staying on the down low and performing his sacrifices hidden in plain sight. With various sects and leaders popping up all over the world, it is impossible to fully eliminate. Not every group shares the same values or teachings, and are sometimes at odds with each other.
Check the main campaign page for the detailed plot summary.
(To be written post-campaign!)
The known members were:
Check the main campaign page for the detailed plot summary.
The Blood Sea has had various cults of Varkanus all throughout its history due to the more common abundance of demons and aberrations. However, around the middle of the 21st century a more organized sect was formed in the Jasivian Sea by Genso Naoko. It included powerful individuals such as Yulis as well, and their ultimate goal was to seemingly create an abyssal plague in the pursuit of medicine. They were primarily based on the island of Yube, but also had a presence in the sewers of Taltigo where Yulis almost sacrificed a tiefling child to Varkanus before being stopped and killed by the Phoenix Nebula. Genso sought to retrieve the Black Scroll of Blood and was almost successful in his pursuit but was defeated by the Phoenix Nebula with the aid of the Crimson Navy at Darkgrove Isle.
(Wakhotep Lore to be written)
The tower of storms on the Dragekysten near Aldrigvinter was controlled by a triton cultist named Moesko for nearly two decades, as he used the lighthouse to lure ships to the rocks where they sank.