A New Faction For Shadowdark: The Cult of the Scale

The Cult of the Scale is a mass movement of reptilian monsters and races, to take back the world from mammalian races. They believe that since mammalian life arose after those who have scales, that such hairy usurpers and their civilisations must be overthrown. They wish to resurrect their ancient empires and see humanoids as nothing more than slaves and cattle. Insane, self-loathing humans wishing to overthrow society and lured by the promises of magical power and secret knowledge, and evil scaly creatures like the Viperians and the Lizard Folk, fill the ranks of the organisation, revering dragons and other scaly monsters such as primeval dinosaurs as gods. Insidious and ruthless, the cult seeks to infiltrate the hierarchies of cities, other religions, and rival factions to destroy them from the inside, while freeing or resurrecting reptilian monsters like the Tarrasque and evil dragons. Common creatures of Scalykind include the basilisk, bulette, cockatrice, couatl, crocodile, dinosaurs, dragons, hydra, lizardfolk, naga, salamander, snakes, viperians, wyvern, and the terrifying, colossal Tarrasque, a monster of apocalyptic destruction. The most terrifying of these monsters are treated as a living god by the members of this secret society.

MISSION

To spread the worship of all scaly creatures such as lizards, snakes, and dragons, and overthrow the civilisations of mammalian humanoid races, especially humans, using infiltration, corruption of leaders, and targeted violence.

BYLAWS

1. Protect and serve scaly races and monsters.

2. Keep the Cult a secret.

3. Hoard all wealth for the Cult.

4. Slay all infidels who invade holy places or attack scaly creatures.

5. Spread misinformation and corruption to disrupt humanoid societies.

6. Enslave all mammalian humanoid races when possible.

IN THE REACHES

The Cult of the Scale works in the shadows, using spies, assassins, moles, and imposters to infiltrate power structures throughout the Western Reaches. A member of the cult is going to hide their presence and membership. They could be in any walk of life and live throughout the Western Reaches and many lands beyond them, though only in small covert cells, often living underground or in ancient ruins.

Typical members are human cultists, lizardfolk warriors, and the elite viperians. Members in good standing learn about evil plots to join and wealthy targets for robberies and scams.

KNOWN MEMBERS OF THE CULT OF THE SCALE

The real leaders of this faction are unknown, hidden figures working from the shadows, possibly even gods like Apep or Tiamat. But some up and coming members are well-known by others of the cult, and even by some elements of the public, outside of the faction. Some examples are presented here as characters for the Shadowdark game.

Name: Lady Tinanjenan Ancestry: Human Class: Warlock Level: 5 Title: Occultist Background: Drawn. You hear a whispered call and follow it. Alignment: chaotic Deity: Scalykind Languages: Common, Reptilian, Draconic. Talents: 1) +1 to melee or ranged attacks 2) Add +1 point to two stats– Dex, Cha. 3) Add +1 point to two stats– Str, Con Patron: Typhonus Boons: 1) +2 to Charisma stat 2) 1/day, turn into a cobra for 3 rounds, 3) Learn a wizard spell, tier = half your level. Cast it with INT, 4) Learn a wizard spell, tier = half your level. Cast it with INT.

Spells Known

Tier 1 Tier 2

Sleep Hold Person

Str: 8 Dex: 13 Con: 12 Int: 14 Wis: 15 Cha: 16 Hit Points: 20 Armour Class: 15

Attacks

Dagger +1 hit/1d4 dmg

Crossbow +1 hit/1d6 dmg

Staff -1 to hit/1d4 dmg

Equipment Total Gear Slots: 10 Empty Gear Slots: 5 Gold: 412gp

Leather Armour+3. Covered with Faint arcane runes. Benefit: Undetected creatures do not have advantage to attack you. Curse: Mounts fear you and will not allow you to ride them.

Silver Crossbow+2. Decorated with a moon motif. Benefit: Shoot a bolt of energy near with DEX, 1d6 damage. Curse: Bathe weapon in blood daily or it temporarily loses its magic.)

2 Daggers+1. A matching pair inlaid with gold.

Staff of the Cobra.

Tinanjenan is a scourge used by the Cult of the Scale to punish non-believers. She hunts priests of human religions and executes any member of her cult who dares to show weakness or mercy. She spends most of her time looking for temples to burn and priests to murder. Who she answers to is unknown, but she is fanatically loyal to the Cult of the Scale, and works with precision and discipline to complete her missions.

Name: Lord Coroshdenos Ancestry: Human Class: Witch Level: 7 Title: Uncle Background: Marked. You carry an eldritch mark. Is it a curse, or a gift? Alignment: Chaotic Deity: Cult of the Scale Languages: Common, Reptilian, Diabolic

Talents: 1) Gain advantage on casting one spell you know— Charm Person, 2)+2 to Charisma stat, 3)Gain advantage on casting one spell you know— "Swarm", 4)Learn an additional witch spell of any tier you can cast— "Fog", 5) Gain advantage on casting one spell you know— Polymorph

Str: 9 Dex: 13 Con: 10 Int: 12 Wis: 12 Cha: 17 Hit Points: 16 Armour Class: 11

Attacks

Dagger +1 (1d4)

Staff -1 (1d4)

Equipment Total Gear Slots: 10 Empty Gear Slots: 5 Gold: 205gp

Magic Wand. 3rd-tier spell— "Void Stare" (250 gp)

Magic Scroll. 4th-tier spell — "Nightmare" (260 gp)

“The Pruning Shear”. A +2 Magic Dagger Inlaid With Gold Benefit: Behead the enemy on a critical hit, Curse: Any light source you hold immediately extinguishes.) (500 gp)

Magic Wand. 3rd-tier spell— Howl (250 gp)

Spells Known

Tier I Tier II Tier III Tier IV

Hypnotize Frog Rain Broomstick Polymorph

Charm Person Invisibility Swarm

Willowman Toadstool

Eyebite

Fog

Lord Coroshdenos is a corrupted nobleman who has been working to undermine the king by spreading rumours to create disruptive scandals in the royal court and quietly recruiting aristocrats to join the Cult of the Scale. Using his magical powers he manipulates other aristocrats, spies on them, and impersonates rivals to discredit them, all with the end goal of generating distrust of the government and social elites by the common people to inspire revolts and overthrow lords and ladies who refuse to join his order.

Sebeknakht, Lizard King of the Blood River

AC 20 (platemail + shield), HP 43, ATK 2 greataxe (close) +3 (1d12+knock), MV near (swim or climb), S +3, D +1, C +3, I +2, W +3, Ch +3, AL C, LV 9

Knock. DC 15 STR or be pushed a close distance and fall down.

Armour of Sobek-Ra. (Mithril platemail armour +3 etched with a pattern of scales. Benefit: Once per day, gain advantage on all attacks for 3 rounds. Curse: Mounts fear you and will not allow you to ride them.)

Fang of Apep. +3 spear made of a dragon’s tooth. Benefit: Regain 1d6 hit points when you slay a creature. Curse: You must loudly praise Sobek whenever you see his symbol.

Unholy Blade of Blood. +1 greataxe of starmetal. Benefit: Shoot a bolt of energy near with DEX, 1d6 damage. Curse: Bathe weapon in blood daily or it temporarily loses its magic.

A lizard man of great strength and wisdom, Sebeknakht is a powerful warrior and leader of his people. A cunning general, he is inspiring to his followers and leads an immense horde of warriors that is quietly preparing to conquer nearby human kingdoms. He is organizing small units of human and lizardfolk warriors and spies across many lands with the plan of one day uniting them for an apocalyptic war against warm-blooded races.