The Cult of Silvanus
A cult devoted to the worship of Silvanus, holding the Horned Hunter aspect in a higher regard then any other.
Structure
The cult is lead by the Grand Mother & Grand Father
Below these are Aunts and Uncles
Each family has their own Mother and Father
Culture
The cult sees animal transformation as a way for the cult members to get closer to Silvanus. Members are taught to transform from an early age, and most members of the cult are often born with some form of Lycanthropy. The cult utilises mammalian forms of Were-creatures most often. Higher ranking cult members will often stay in their were forms as long as possible, often reducing their Int and Wis scores by becoming more were-creature. Children are often expected to be able to transform by their 16th birthday, however, if you are unable to transform by your 22nd birthday, you are likely to become an outcast from the cult. The people of this cult have a strong connection to animals and plants, but the cult favours animal connection over plant connection.
Public Agenda
The cult is hoping to bring about the revival of Silvanus, by bringing him enough worshippers and sacrifices to bring about an era where Silvanus can become the overlord of the other gods, and return nature to its rightful place above all other aspects of the mortal realm.
Assets
The Cult of Silvanus mainly has a devoted group of worshippers who are willing to sacrifice life and limb in order to achieve the cults goals. they also have a variety of Monstrous animals at their beck and call to protect the Beastial Compound.
History
The cult of Silvanus was established during the Age of Calamity. This came about as the original family that started this cult witnessed the direct power that gods can have on the mortal plane, and found themselves disgusted with the divine intervention upon the nature of the mortal plane. This family started to seek out a force they could put their effort into that would be able to stand up against these divine powers, and not corrupt the nature around it. They chose this force to be Silvanus, the Oak father of wild nature. This began as simple worship, but over the course of the Arcanation, the viewpoint of this cult changed. The Wellsprings that would occur in nature after the Arcanation event would completely corrupt the nature around it with atrocious, Arcane magic. this is when the cult started to become more ritualistic, and also when the Lycanthropy started. The cult accepted a member in who was sickly, shaken and outcast from the nearby Carivate Ranch. It turns out this being was a werewolf. This member saw the CoS as a path in life in which he could still enjoy the fruits of his affliction, but be seen as a functioning member of a community. After this member revealed his nature to the cult, they found his outlook to be appealing. At this point many members asked the Lycanthrope to afflict them with the curse, while many more sort out different transformations to bring back to the fold.
Demography and Population
Mainly Werecreatures, with a population between 300-400 members. Most within the confines of the Beastial Compound, but some are sent out on Intel missions (mainly Wererats).
Religion
The Religous devotion to Silanus
Cosmological Views
The mortal plane was originally home to only nature magic, and this was an ideallic, peaceful time. Then Gods decided to meddle in the mortal plane, and brought Divine magics, which interferred with the power of Nature Magics. Finally, the mortal beings of the world turned their back on the devotion if nature, and devised their own magic system, Arcane Magic. This was the final straw, Silvanus left this plane to its own action, and decided it was no longer worthy of his magics.
Tenets of Faith
Gods are not to be trusted, the only true Higher Being is Silvanus. Members of this cult do not worship the Divine, nor study arcane magic. they are devoted to nature magic and nature magic alone.
Priesthood
The Grand Mother and Grand Father. they appear in wereforms never before seen in the cult.
Return the land to its owner
Founding Date
50 DC
Alternative Names
CoS
Government System
Anarchy
Power Structure
Dependent territory
Economic System
Gift economy
Gazetteer
Beastial Compound
Related Plots
Name: Disciples of the Horn. The avatars of the Oakfather and the Young Strider are acknowledged by the cult but are thought to be less pure depictions of the Silvanus' words, or otherwise potentially corrupted by outside influences.