Scourges of the Dominion

 

The Scourges of the Dominion

Nature of Worship:

A deviant and fanatical priestly order dedicated to the Sun Goddess, Arva. They consider themselves the only true expression of Arva's will: her desire for Total Supremacy over Valenor.

Distorted Creed:

They do not worship Arva's light as a source of life and healing (the orthodox doctrine), but as a force of Consumption and Domination. They believe the only way to honor the goddess is to eliminate every source of "impure light"—that is, all other deities and their cults—so that Arva may shine unrivaled over the entire world. Their faith is one of "purification through fire."

Main Objectives:

• Forced Monotheism: Destroy temples, confiscate sacred texts, and massacre the priests of every other god, particularly those of lunar, marine, or subterranean deities, seen as "shadows" who dare obscure Arva's light.
• Political Ascension: Infiltrate noble courts and political institutions, replacing advisors and officials loyal to other gods with their own fanatics.
• Rites of Strength: Their rites are not centered on peaceful prayer, but on grueling tests of resistance to heat and pain (simulating being "tempered by the sun") and, in secret, ritual sacrifices of followers of other cults, performed at dawn to "feed the rising sun."

Symbols and Iconography:

The Radiant Sun with Crown of Thorns: They use the traditional symbol of Arva (a radiant sun), but add a crown of thorns or blades around the rays, symbolizing the pain their "truth" must inflict on the world.
Colors: They dress in black and crimson red robes (the color of blood and sunset/sacrifice) trimmed in shining gold (the light of Arva). White and gold are used only in moments of extreme display of power or during public rituals.

Methods of Action:

Infiltration: They often act as charitable solar priests by day, using their reputation to gain information and draw targets closer.
Terrorism: They are known for public acts of targeted violence, such as burning entire cathedrals or carrying out mass assassinations of rival clerics, leaving behind burned solar symbols as their signature.
Holy War : They mobilize fanatics and mercenaries to wage full-scale military campaigns against territories loyal to other deities, seeing each battle as a step towards the Dominion of Arva.  

History of the Organization

The organization has its roots in the era of the "Sisters' War," the clash between the followers of Arva and those of Sela. Initially, they were a wing of theologians and warriors known as the "Broken Rays," charged with protecting Arva's temples from attacks by the rival cult.   The turning point came about three centuries ago, under the leadership of the charismatic High Priest Malakor the Tempered. Malakor theorized that the current religious pluralism was not a sign of tolerance, but a weakness that "diluted" Arva's true power. His doctrine was simple: if Arva is the sun, her light must be the sole source of energy and truth. Every other deity is a shadow and must be consumed for Arva to achieve her true power (the Dominion).   The Broken Rays embraced this radical vision. They renamed themselves the Scourges of the Dominion, adopting darker and more violent rituals and transforming their defensive mission into a ruthless offensive. They were officially condemned and excommunicated by a Grand Solar Council of Arva's orthodox clergy, but, operating in the shadows and with the support of a few fanatical nobles, they managed to survive and prosper in secret.
 

Current Situation

Currently, the Scourges of the Dominion operate as a secretive, trans-regional terrorist cult. Their base of operations is not fixed; they constantly move to avoid capture by the authorities and Arva's orthodox clergy (who consider them the most dangerous internal enemy).   Their influence is greatest in areas of recent expansion or where central power is weak. They are in a constant state of "Holy Cold War" with the major religions of Valenor. Their activity is divided into three levels:   The Visible Scourge: Acts of terrorism and public assassinations of prominent religious figures to spread panic and demonstrate the "weakness" of rival deities.
The Shadow of the Dominion: Meticulous infiltration of institutions (especially mercenaries, spy guilds, and sometimes even the City Watch) to sabotage forces that might oppose their plan for supremacy.
The Harvest of Souls: An aggressive recruitment campaign, exploiting social discontent and the promise of divine power to attract fanatics and desperate souls.
 

Important Members

The Instigator: The current spiritual and strategic leader. His true identity is a closely guarded secret. He is believed to be a former Orthodox Archbishop ousted for heretical doctrines or a disgraced noble. He is the only figure who knows the network of all the lairs and resources.
* High Priestess Lyra "Living Ash": The Advocate's right hand and the chief performer of the rites. Lyra is known for her ruthlessness and her mastery of the magical and priestly arts of fire and light (distorted into consuming flames). She leads the "Purification" squads and extermination campaigns.
The Iron Hand: Commander Rauth: A renowned former mercenary captain who converted to the cult. Rauth is the Scourge's military leader, responsible for training and commanding battalions of armed fanatics. He uses his past to obtain weapons and recruit fighters willing to shed blood for a cause (even if they don't know the cult's true purpose).
 

Possessions & Resources

Base of Operations (Mobile): The Hollow Fortress: They do not possess a single fortress. Their main base is a network of underground ruins, old abandoned forts, and active volcanic caverns (near the "fire of Arva"). These locations are used for limited periods, and the Hollow Fortress is the codename given to their current main stronghold.
  Financial Resources:
* Noble Donations: The cult is funded in part by a small but wealthy circle of extremist nobles who believe in Arva's monotheistic mission.
* Looting: Much of their income comes from the systematic looting of destroyed rival temples, where treasures and cult objects are melted down and sold.
* Information Trafficking: Their infiltrated members sell sensitive political and military information to finance their operations.   Human and Material Resources:
Fanatics: The Consumed: The core of the cult, composed of former priests, warrior monks, and adepts totally devoted to the cause of the Dominion. They are ruthless and do not fear death.
Mercenaries: The Brutes of the Sun: Soldiers of fortune hired and indoctrinated with a watered-down version of the creed. They are the cult's muscle, used for open-air assaults.
Arsenal: Black and red armor (often with modified solar symbols), bladed weapons, and heavy maces. They make extensive use of poisons and fiery oils in their assaults.