Sunekan Occultism

Sunekan Occultism is an eclectic synthesis of organized superstition, old folklore, pieces of ancient now-extinct religions, beliefs from charismatic cults, heresy, and warped foreign religion. It lacks a clear worldview or mission- this is not a religion. This is a group of interconnecting traditions devoted to the accumulation of personal power through supernatural means. Sunekan occultism, like occult traditions around the world, does not actually offer unique magical powers, but it does often include methods for learning actual magical arts.   Sunekan occultism may steal from local faiths, but it is not the same as local heresies or ancient religions. Rather, it appropriates their aesthetics and certain elements of their beliefs to create a sense of "forbidden knowledge and power" that the Sunekan priesthoods "aren't powerful enough to control". It advertises to the ambitious and the desperate, who seek the knowledge that they believe can make them successful. Not all occult groups are cut-throat ambitious power-brokers - most are disillusioned priests and middling-class youths who want a sense of control and individuality in a system that demands total obedience. But ambitious politicians are known to provide protection to occultists in exchange for political power.   The Sunekan Occult has a lot of variety, and honestly means different things to every practitioner. Only rarely is it actually harmful: most of the time it is focused more on self-empowerment than doing harm to others. Occultists have been known to use Curse Magic and unethical mind control, but only a handful of unhinged occultists have actually performed the kind of ritual atrocity that they are accused of by the greater Sunekan priesthood. They are often used as scapegoats for corruption and blamed for natural disasters or bad policy decisions.   As an organization, Sunekan Occultism is a loose network of practitioners who trade tips and rituals. They meet in isolated cells that often center around particularly well-studied or charismatic masters. Within this network, sub-networks gather around specific Lunar Gods that help them coordinate in exchange for influence. These celestial allies protect the occult network and allow it to flourish despite its persecution.   Occult groups may be distinct from heretical movements (heresies seek to appeal to everyone, while occultists revel in their individualism and exclusivity) but they do enter feedback loops and alliances where they trade information and philosophy. A special brand of semi-occult personality cult exists between the two, acting as middlemen that filter rituals and strategic information between heretics and occult cells.