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+---- Thread: The Covenant- Cult (/showthread.php?tid=3982)
The Covenant- Cult - Gabriel - Jan 08 2017
Before I begin, I must assure all players that even within the cult death of a character is the player's choice and no-one else's. Even with the cult's focus on death, characters will not be killed or subjected to physical or psychological injury for any reason unless the player decides that it is what they want.
With that out of the way, let's begin!
![[Image: yF49qyY.png]](http://i.imgur.com/yF49qyY.png)
THE COVENANT
So, in case none of you know this yet; as the horseman of Pestilence and Conquest, part of Gabriel's aim in the cave is to create the strongest gembound ever seen using reincarnation, hybridization, and plagues. He will be doing a lot of experimentation with various elements and other Gembounds with the aim of becoming stronger and when he gets to later cycles, he will be looking for likeminded gembounds who see death as an opportunity rather than an end. This group isn't necessarily evil, and Gabriel views itself as a guardian angel of sorts, looking out for the future of the caves rather than the present.
The covenant view death as an opportunity rather than an end. They can be born into the cult, or sign a contract with Gabriel by giving a piece of their stone or their mark on one of the cave walls. Death in the cult is an event to be celebrated rather than mourned, and when a member is lost, a trial will be held amongst the cult to determine who is strongest. The winner will have the opportunity to revive the stone. Members of the Covenant are encouraged to collect lost stones and try to end those who challenge them, whether that be in secret, or by leaving a message for all the caves to see.
The Contract
Upon entering the covenant, new members will be joined by each existing member of the covenant along with the Enlightened in an especially picked alcove. Here, The enlightened will promise to expand the new member's knowledge, respect them and their views, fulfill their needs and aid the purpose they seek. In return, they pledge a part of themselves to Gabriel and promise to defend the Covenant with their lives, and more than anything else work with them towards a greater cause. This will involve allowing Gabriel to create a sensorial link between them. Then, they will dip their paw or hoof into a concoction of lesser gembound blood and mud, and make their mark on the alcove wall alongside the rest of the Covenant.
Hidden Messages
The Covenant may have a set of symbols that can be used to deliver messages to the rest of their kind. They will be written throughout the caves and have something relating to the location which would be difficult to convey via thoughts. They can be simple symbols, written in blood or crushed berries or with items that can easily be found nearby. However, more important, urgent messages can be delivered quickly and easily via the mental link that Gabriel creates when initiating new members. Examples of uses could include:
-Something by a cluster of flowers, indicating that the flowers are poisonous and are to be avoided, or else collected for use in alchemy.
-a chewed skull and crossbones, indicating that a dangerous gembound resides in the area- perhaps a note to return with backup.
-Covenant trap- such as a poisoned carcass, left to try and gain more kills.
Ranks
I have several ranks for the Covenant laid out, however these are not set in stone and open to suggestions for names.
The Enlightened- The group's founders and/or the four Knights.
@Gabriel @Andromeda @toevij
The Ascended-Second-highest ranking members who died and were revived more powerful than before. The successful experiments, essentially. They have first choice on whether to revive a stone themselves before the trials begin.
The Awakened- young gembounds (who were born into or looking to join) who haven't yet proved their worth.
The Diligent- The general population. Upon joining the covenant, members are assigned to this group until they show prowess in a particular area.
@Imperia @Lituus @Astaroth @Future
The Patient- those on the sidelines, they go about their lives under the watchful eye of Gabriel or another of the Enlightened until offered a place.
The Seekers- a rank entirely dedicated to the research of the caves and every aspect of life, they will report their findings to the enlightened, no matter how small their information seems.
@Tacitus
The Faceless-These Gembounds are born, live and die repeatedly, to be revived by another Gembound in a quest to find the most powerful combination of creatures. The Seekers may choose the next gem to revive their stones based on research, or they undergo standard Awakening Trials. Faceless will be kept alive until their fourth cycle, at which point they will be either killed to be revived again, or be promoted to the Ascended if the resulting hybrid is powerful enough. Despite their repeated killing, the Faceless are admired for their devotion to the cause.
@Poughkeepsie @Yuma
The Sleepers- Stones whose awakening trials are underway.
(if anyone wants to offer any stones for revival, feel free to post below!)
The Lost- The stones of Gembounds who were 'problematic' in life. These will go unrevived or revived by a weak gembound to be trained as servants for the cult.
This cult is completely open to suggestions for ranks, ceremonies, rituals, and so on. The cult will be created over the course of the coming cycles, with formation likely taking place when Gabriel reaches 4 cycles of age. Feel free to make suggestions!
RE: The Covenant- Cult - Tacitus - Jan 08 2017
Oh yes, Tac would be all over this.
He wouldn't necessarily be interested in being the strongest gembound or challenging for stones but he would love to help study and create a strong gembound. He would use his studies to help the group decide what would be best to combine to get the best results.
He would also be happy if the group have him the opportunity to dissect and study specimens (plants, fungi, lesser gembounds, greater gembounds, gemstones) and he would be more than happy to share his results and findings with Gabe. Perhaps there could even be a section of the group dedicated to his sort of research since it could help with deciding the best gembounds to add to a hybrid.
@Kin-Kin
RE: The Covenant- Cult - Kin-Kin - Jan 08 2017
Oooohhhh, a research wing sounds like a really interesting idea! And Tac would definitely end up with some greater gembounds to dissect at some point or another...
Any ideas for the researching ranks?
@Tacitus
RE: The Covenant- Cult - Lituus - Jan 08 2017
@Lituus for strongest gembound. All in favor?
I intend for Lituus to be a sort of.. proprieter of good, but she's young. Impressionable. Not that this group is inherently evil, but I know if she witnesses anything outside of her general alignment (Lawful Goodâ„), she'll have a problem with it. I think it would be incredibly
RE: The Covenant- Cult - Kin-Kin - Jan 08 2017
@Lituus
Oooohh, that'd be really interesting! I feel like the two could end up being childhood friends if they meet early on- because whilst Gabe isn't the most savoury type if you look deep into it, on the surface he can definitely pass for an intelligent, optimistic type who just wants to help out. She could end up drawn into it that way, with Gabriel telling her about the stones they're looking for but not that they used to belong to other Gembounds.
That could also be a gateway for some very interesting scenarios between the two later on down the line.
RE: The Covenant- Cult - Ghanyarah - Jan 08 2017
Ghanyarah might be trailing Lituus and try to get himself involved if he knows about what she's doing, also! He doesn't really care about other groups' goals, only about keeping his own people safe, so he might get a little bit nosy.
RE: The Covenant- Cult - Lituus - Jan 08 2017
@Kin-Kin: I'm totally down for being childhood friends! Lituus is still dependent on Ghanyarah's protection at current, but when she's not hitch-hiking on his back, I assume she just stays around Yara's tree in The Groves of Cetus. Until she can fly, I'd be OK rping her around there. She'll be hiding though. Pls don't eat the little bat.
RE: The Covenant- Cult - Imperia - Jan 08 2017
Mm, Imperia would likely be interested, mostly in the idea of creating the strongest gembound...although they'll likely be a bit hesitant when it comes to reviving a stone themselves, at least for some time
RE: The Covenant- Cult - Nox - Jan 08 2017
That'd definitely be an interesting scenario for the everyone involved!
@Ghanyarah
Ooooh, well, Gabriel is currently travelling the caves to learn every nook and cranny, so you can safely assume he'll be passing by Cetus at some point. If you like, I can make a thread at some point! Are you still waiting to finish threads before joining any new ones?
@Lituus
@Imperia
That'd be fine with Gabriel! It'd give them an excuse to fight and kill, this time for some purpose- which would definitely earn her Gabriel's favour.
RE: The Covenant- Cult - Lituus - Jan 08 2017
@Gabriel, @Ghanyarah
I'm open for more threads!