Old Cults

Old Cults

(Organization)

Type

Religious

Leader

None

Alignment

Chaotic evil

Headquarters

Dark Tapestry

Scope

Great Beyond

Members

Followers of the Outer Gods and Great Old Ones

Source: Rule of Fear, pg(s). 56

The Old Cults are groups of nearly always insane and violent worshipers of the deities collectively known as the Elder Mythos, who reside in the Dark Tapestry, the void between stars: the Outer Gods, akin to true gods, and the Great Old Ones, comparable to demigods.

The Old Cults perform prehistoric rites in dark places, designed to bring about the return of their gods to Golarion from the Dark Tapestry. Other followers try to open magical doors to their patrons in an attempt to summon alien creatures, which are then released to wreak havoc. Some scholars believe that the Great Old Ones are simply the inventions of their fever-brained devotees, but this is clearly false, as clerics of these cyclopean monstrosities can draw on divine power and cast spells.

The Old Cults have few allies, even among each other, and are barely noticed by their patrons. Cultists primarily worship the Outer Gods and Great Old Ones for power and use the promise of power or nightmarish truths to gather weak-willed pawns which they then use to further their goals.

Some Old Cults also worship the demon lord Dagon.

Members

Cults of the Great Old Ones are often made up of demented humans, but they can also be found among numerous other races. These include the serpentfolk, seugathi, and cloakers of the Darklands.

On Golarion

The Old Cults have had a presence in Ustalav since prehistoric times, when it was still inhabited by debauched Kellid tribes, where the sanity of existence is thin. The most notable sites of Old Cult activity in Ustalav are Vieland, the Graidmere, Scrawny Crossing, Illmarsh and Carrion Hill.

References

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.