Cults

Spoiler Alert!
This section contains spoilers of the game.

Various cults throughout the game have been dissolved, or not much is known about them yet.

“	This crumbling ruin is to be the site of your new Cult. We have much to do. We begin by indoctrinating this poor soul into the warm embrace of your Cult.	”
	— Ratau tells Lamb about how a sect is run

Cults are one of the main focuses within the game's lore. There are different cults that serve and worship different Gods, people, or even inanimate objects. The main cult in the entire game is the Cult of the Lamb.

Description[]

Cults have certain main characteristics, one of the most important being the followers, who must be instilled in faith through various acts. It is also necessary to have someone or something to worship, and to grow that worship. Most cults usually serve a deity, but it is not a rule that should always be applied.

Old Faith[]

The Old Faith is a powerful cult, and the dominant religion in the Lands of the Old Faith led by the Bishops, and are the main antagonists in Cult of the Lamb.

Chaos Cult[]

“	The worm, it is hungry. It feeds. It partakes of our flesh. But that is the price for safety. For that we gladly give it all we have.	”
	— Swordsman praying to Leshy

This cult is led by Leshy, Bishop of Chaos. His followers pray to him for protection in exchange for offering him sacrifices to satisfy his voracious hunger, even sacrifices of their own flesh. This cult disbands after the events of the game, following Leshy's murder at the hands of the Lamb.

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Famine Cult[]

“	Heket, please accept our sacrifice and bless us with fertile soils and bountiful harvest. Keep the famine at bay!	”
	— Swordsman praying to Heket

This cult is led by Heket, Bishop of Famine. Her followers pray to her for fertile lands and bountiful crops in exchange for offering her sacrifices to keep famine at bay. This cult disbands after the events of the game, following Heket's murder at the hands of the Lamb.

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Pestilence Cult[]

“	We worship you, Kallamar, in the hope that you will find us worthy of good health and long lives.	”
	— Swordsman praying to Kallamar

This cult is led by Kallamar, Bishop of Pestilence. His followers pray to him, hoping to be worthy, for good health, and a long life in return for offering him sacrifices. This cult disbands after the events of the game, following Kallamar's murder at the hands of the Lamb.

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War Cult[]

“	Shamura, for your wisdom we make this offering. Knower of all, in you we seek the answer.	”
	— Swordsman praying to Shamura

This cult is led by Shamura, Bishop of Knowledge and War. Their followers pray to them for their wisdom in exchange for offering sacrifices, hoping they will provide answers to their questions. This cult disbands after the events of the game, following Shamura's murder at the hands of the Lamb.

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Death Cult[]

“	He wanted to open the doors between Life and Death, to... to allow their return. Those mere... mortals.	”
	— Shamura telling the Lamb about Narinder and his cult

This cult is led by Narinder, Bishop of Death. His followers pray to him for the chance to return from the dead, something frowned upon by the other Bishops. This cult disbanded after Narinder was imprisoned by the other Bishops of the Old Faith in The Gateway.

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Independent Cults[]

Cult of the Lamb[]

“	This hallowed ground which once was mine, is now yours. This crumbling ruin is to be the site of your new Cult. We have much to do.	”
	— Ratau, as you visit the cult for the first time.

This cult is led by Lamb (or Goat, if you change character), The New God of Death. Their followers are those they has rescued during their crusades and former followers of the Bishops. This cult is the main one during the events of the game, being one of the few that still exists throughout the story, and its administration and purpose depend on the player's choices. However, it was created with the original purpose of being a cult of The One Who Waits, and with the mission of freeing him by killing the Bishops of the Old Faith.

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Cult of Ratau[]

“	Ratau was an adequate servant, yet lacked the ruthlessness you have so eloquently displayed. He renounced his position after striking a bargain that resulted in the sacrifice of a Follower. He was weak, and allowed my Temple to descend into ruin.	”
	— The One Who Waits talking about Ratau after Lamb gives it to the Fox

This cult was led by Ratau, Vessel of The One Who Waits. His followers seemed to be his most precious possession, as he decided to abandon his cult and his responsibilities after being forced to sacrifice one of them. This cult became the headquarters of what is now known as the Cult of the Lamb.

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Lighthouse Cult[]

“	Now we have no choice but to pray until the lighthouse is lit once more! ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY LIGHT!	”
	— Lamb's first meeting with the Lighthouse Keeper

This cult is led by the Lighthouse Keeper after its original leader disappeared. His followers and their leader pray to him by the light of the Pilgrim's Passage beacon. They have a duty to keep the beacon lit to prevent ships from sinking and, in turn, more pilgrims from reaching the Lands of the Old Faith.

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Mushroom Cult[]

“	The great Sozo sent us to find more of his beloved Menticide Mushrooms. He cares only for mushrooms. His madness grows!	”
	— First interaction with Mushroomo, talking to us about Sozo

This cult was led by Sozo. His followers, the Mushroomo, are tasked with finding Menticide Mushrooms, both to satisfy Sozo's obsession with these mushrooms and to avoid being eaten by him. It seems his followers follow him thanks to Brainwashing Ritual, which makes them obey him and follow his delusions.

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Hunt Cult[]

“	Great Hunter, we write this prayer and leave this offering in the hopes you will grant us triumph in our hunt. We vow to take no more than we need, and leave the brooding and the young. May we be swift and silent as you, Hunter.	”
	— Description of Offering to the Owl

This cult is led by Haro, Great Hunter. His followers pray to him and offer him offerings, hoping he will grant them success in their hunts, and they promise not to take more than necessary and to leave the females and young alone. The end of this cult came with the Purge of Gods, where in search of survival, Haro would abandon his divinity.

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Cult of the Fanatic[]

“	Simple things… silly, almost… creatures seek protection in my shadow, pour faith into my soul and by their devotion I am changed. I was like them, once…	”
	— Description of Ancient Tablet III

This cult was led by The Fanatic, the Greatest of Fanatics. Their followers came to them seeking protection. Little is known about their religion, only that it was based in a temple and the leader venerated the First Gods, considering any attack against them blasphemous. After a crown-bearer, no longer of divine right, arrived at their temple and was expelled for his ideas that blasphemed the Great Ones, a purge ensued in which The Fanatic participated, and they likely disappeared along with their cult.

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Cult of Chemach[]

“	Little God likes Chemach's Followers? Chemach made them herself!	”
	— Chemach speaking to the Lamb

This cult is led by Chemach. Her followers were created by Chemach herself, and they are found inside sacks in a praying position or with their arms outstretched. They appear unable to move, and worms emerge from within some of them, but they still seem to retain a trace of life, because when attacked with Necromatic Weapons, there is a possibility that ghosts will appear. It seems that her cult was created to fulfill Chemach's madness of pursuing a path to divinity. Furthermore, its leader is the creator of various Relics of fallen Gods.

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Gold Cult[]

“	This is where we trust our precious Gold to the Gods. Sometimes in their benevolence they give back more. Other times, it is lost. But it is not for us mere mortals to question...	”
	— Midas talking about donations to the Gods of Gold

This cult is led by Midas, but the worship seems to be directed towards the Gods of Gold. The followers of this cult are golden statues, who were likely brought by force or given to them, just like The Lamb. Even so, it seems that over time some began to develop a taste for gold, just like Midas. This cult makes donations to the Gods of Gold through the Midas' Well, where they are sometimes rewarded, and sometimes their donations are rejected.