Delvers of the Maze
Delvers of the Maze are a sect of worshipers of the ancient god Mamuk, who was said to reign over puzzles, mazes, and lost places. Following the word of Mamuk, his followers created a sect of the most devout and able-bodied acolytes, who train to be paragons of humanity. The acolytes of this god believe that physical and mental improvement are holy courses of interaction, and that one should strive to increase personal power. Despite the self-serving (vain, even) nature of this tenet, it is a core belief that this strength is to be used aid and protect people. For Delvers of the Maze, glory and righteousness are held as equally holy pursuits to be attained together.
Acolytes spend their time training, emphasizing athletic prowess and agility to prepare for tests set in trap-filled and monster-infested mazes. During downtime, novices test each other with riddles and puzzles to sharpen wits. When they have successfully passed all tests set before them, Delvers are sent out into the world to wander. As they explore, Delvers of the Maze seek to uncover lost places, recover treasure from hidden lairs, hunt monsters, and go to the aid of those who can not do these things themselves.
Culture
For the acolytes of Mamuk, the thrill of danger is something to be embraced. To the exasperated repetitions of teachers of the faith, this does not mean jumping headlong into any dangerous situation, but rather is about maintaining oneself when thrust into a peril, and not backing down when threatened. This is put into practice when acolytes go forth to protect people from monster attacks, or delve into lost cities and monster lairs to return lost wealth and treasures to their rightful owners, if any are still alive. If not, these items are used to bolster communities that are ailing, or at risk from monster incursions.
Demography and Population
Adherents to the religion of Mamuk were never very populous, but they were widespread across the world. Unlike most religions that span across continents, worshipers of this god of adventure and mystery are oddly unified in interpretation. Even in the golden ages of humanity, sects of Mamuk worship only existed in small pockets, the largest monastery ever only harboring about a hundred individuals. Yet each of these small sects, all across the world, shared the same tenets as said to have been first delivered by Mamuk himself, generally only varying by focus on monster or trap specializations. Delvers of the Maze took people of all species as equals, provided they shared that rare mindset needed to seek adventure for the good of others.
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