Illithidists (MyCampaignSetting Setting)
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Illithidists[edit]
Illithidists are members of a secret religious cult.
Dogma[edit]
They don't typically worship or even acknowledge most gods in common mythology (except perhaps Ilsensine or Maanzecorian), but believe they are reincarnated descendants of an alien race, and perhaps distantly related to illithids (commonly known as mind flayers). They believe they are more mentally developed than typical humanoids of any race, and advance in levels to achieve a higher state of spiritual awareness, mental powers, etc. They believe they are progressing themselves and all humanoids alike, and perform charitable acts, but mostly just for other active members.
Because they believe they are reincarnations of an alien race, their birth parents aren't their actual spiritual parents, but only their physical parents of this lifetime. They believe they have lived countless lives, attempt to remember these past lives, and mentally store knowledge of their current life to pass onto the next.
Their organization require a lot of time and devotion, often at least two hours per day or more. They are required to study and learn from many books, scrolls, tomes, etc., and attend meetings to learn more from their appointed leaders quite often that are held in utmost secrecy. They are required to purchase these books, scrolls, tomes, and pay to attend these meetings. Members often pay for have one-on-one sessions with higher ranked members to discuss their past, behaviors, crimes, thoughts, feelings, emotions, etc. They believe that confronting all of this often will help progress themselves further in this life by letting go of negative energies. They are also encouraged to tattle on other members, especially those who are thinking about leaving the cult.
Members[edit]
Most often congregate in very small numbers, spread throughout the land. However, they may have much larger followings in larger cities, and one rumored to be headquartered.
Because of their beliefs in alien reincarnation, it's easier for them to severe ties with their non-believing friends and family. They are taught to shun all ex-members who defunct from the organization, no matter who they are, their previous ranks within the organization, etc. Ex-members who attempt to publicly expose the organization are often followed, spied on, and perhaps even verbally threatened and physically tortured.
New members must prove their devotion by studying, attending classes, and severing ties with all non-members, friends and family alike. Although anyone can be a member, most leaders are often high level psionists whom all other members revere without question. Between their financial and pscionic resources, they often have very strong influences with local authorities, law enforcement, and perhaps even governments.
Since they uphold their own laws over common law, most members tend to be chaotic neutral, but believing they are actually good, and acting lawfully within the laws of their organization. They tend to operate secretly as to not draw any attention to themselves or their religion. Members who do, even accidentally, are often severely punished by those above them within the organization. Vocal ex-members publicly denounce their verbal and physical abuse, but the organization often deny these claims, and pay off local authorities to ignore these allegations. Higher ranked members may use information collected by lower members to verbally abuse, blackmail, ostracize, and threaten these lower members, their family, and friends within the organization.
Most members are often taught and skilled in bluffing, disguise, forgery, gathering information, intimidation, sense motive, psicraft, and spellcraft. They often learn knowledge of history (but only what pertains to their religion), nobility and royalty, psionics, and the planes. Members who are also spellcasters often prefer enchantment, illusion, and summon extraplanar monster spells.
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