Since people have given me such helpful feedback on Babeester Gor, I figured I'd post the resulting cult write-up that I produced for my campaign. It's a mixture of RQ 2 and 3 cult stuff, so it's not exactly orthodox, but I figured it might be helpful/interesting for people. Let me know what you think.
Babeester Gor
The Avenging Daughter
Mythos and History
In the Godtime, Ernalda was the most fertile of goddesses. With Yelm, she gave birth to Voria. With Hykim, she gave birth to Eiritha, With Orlanth, gave birth to Barntar and Voriof. When Orlanth left on the Lightbringers Quest, she withdrew into the earth and slept. But even there, her fertility was foremost, and she gave birth to Babeester, without the aid of a husband.
Babeester was raised by Voria and taught the gentle arts of the household. But even day during the Great Darkness, as she sat spinning, a cry arose that a chaos monster was approaching. Breaking off the head of her distaff, Babeester raced outside and slew the beast with her improvised spear. As she did so, her blood sang to her, and she knew that she had found her calling.
She went to her aunt, Maran Gor, and asked how she could best protect her slumbering mother. Maran Gor told her that she must renounce her powers of fertility. Babeester did so, and took to herself the terrible name of Gor, and then her aunt taught her the secrets of Death.
Babeester Gor then went to the rest of her family, and asked her how to protect Ernalda. Ty Kora Tek told her of the Earth Axe, the sacred weapon of Ernalda which had been stolen by Zorak Zoran, and offered her grand-niece use of her sacred shovel. Asrelia told her of the Shield of Arran, which offered sure protection, and taught her how to find hidden things. Voria taught her how to invigorate herself in times of peril.
Babeester Gor set out and after a great quest found the Shield of Arran. Thus protected, she tracked down Zorak Zoran and attacked him. The fight was long and brutal, but she was well-guarded by the Shield and Zorak Zoran was unable to defeat her. At least he began to tire, but she did not, and as his strength lapsed for a moment, she tore the Axe from his hands and claimed it as her own.
Returning home in triumph, she learned that her mother was again under attack, this time by Ramponax, a chaos god who had mastered the dire secrets of chaotic fecundity. He hoped to copulate with Ernalda and father a race of chaotic earth monsters. Charging against him with a great yell, Babeester Gor fought with Ramponax until at least she severed his member. Ramponax fled, bereft of the power of fertility, and Babeester Gor triumphantly tied his member to her axe as a trophy.
From that moment on, Babeester Gor lived as the holy avenger of the earth, destroying all who threatened or harmed the earth, or who violated an oath sworn in Ernalda's name. Often she was overcome by rage at the crimes perpetrated against the earth. When some Talokian warriors pillaged an earth temple, she slew them all in a rage, pursuing those who fled back to their homes, where she slew their families as well. When the god Talok appeared to stop her, she slew him as well, and continued to ravage the valley, attacking even the healers of the region until she waded breast-deep in gore. Eurmal finally saved the remaining healers by turning the blood to beer, which she drank into oblivion.
After death, her followers go to the Paradise under the earth, where Ty Kora Tek tends them until rebirth. Like other earth cultists, Babeester Gor's followers are buried in the earth to aid them on their way to Ty Kora Tek's domain.
Babeester Gor is associated with the rune of Malign Earth (or Dust) and Death.
Cult Ecology
Babeester Gor is the earth's Holy Avenger. Her axe-wileding amazons are the sacred guardians of the temples of all earth goddesses. Ernalda is normally worshipped jointly with a husband-protector, and these cults are sworn to protect the goddess, but the cult of Babeester Gor enables women to express their concerns and protect themselves in a manner of their own choosing. Thus the cult helps ensure that women are treated well, even in those lands where men dominate women. They hunt down kinslayers, oathbreakers, and other criminals whose actions have harmed the temple they guard. The cult also provides a home to those women whose rage against men and whose anger prevents them from living a more peaceful life.
The cult is universally respected among Earth cultists, but it holds little political power anywhere except within areas where Ernalda has no husband-protector. In most regions, the cult is joked about and also feared by men, who have little understanding of why Ernalda needs a daughter to protect her when she already has a husband to do that.
The cult of Babeester Gor demands that women have their rightful voice in society, though the nature of that rightful voice varies from region to region, depending on the normal relationship between men and women. Cultists champion and defend women who have been wronged in any way, and they are notoriously savage to rapists, wife-beaters, and those who take advantage of innocent or naive girls. In patriarchal regions, such as Sun County, they also punish women who violate cultural laws, but they normally do so with more mercy than the male authorities would.
The Cult in the World
The cult of Babeester Gor maintains few temples anywhere, although it does have one at Earthshaker, where her worship is second only to that of Maran Gor. However, virtually all temples to earth goddesses maintain a shrine to her, and independent shrines can also be found in areas heavily devoted to earth cults. This includes temples to Aldraya, which worship Babeester Gor as the Death Which Comes in Dark Season.
Temples to Babeester Gor are dominated by the High Priestess, who rules as she sees fit so long as she respects the rights of the women who serve under her. Temples are independent from one another, but are expect to aid each other in times of crisis.
The cult's holy days are Freeze Day of Death Week of each season, with the holy day in Earth Season being the high holy day, marking the day that Babeester Gor learned the power of death from her aunt.
Lay Membership
All women are considered to lay members of Babeester Gor from their birth. Men are excluded from the cult, unless they are already initiates of another earth cult. Females of all species are welcomed except those from chaotic species, although rumors circulate that some broo females worship the goddess.
Lay members have few requirements except that they refrain from hurting women. They are expected to help women in need, but are not required to risk their lives to do so. They are expected to bring an offering of food to worship ceremonies, to help those cultists who are in need.
Lay members of the cult may call on initiates for defense in times of danger. They may learn Axe Attack and Parry and Any Shield at half price.
Initiate Membership
Any woman whose mother was a priestess of Ernalda or an initiate of Maran Gor may initiate into the cult automatically so long as she knows Axe Attack at 50%. Any other woman may initiate if she knows Axe Attack and Parry at 50%, and Listen, Shield, and Track at 25%. Any woman who has been raped may automatically initiate if she wishes to. Men may only initiate if they know all cult skills at %0% and undergo castration and a severe beating. These requirements ensure that virtually no men join the cult. All initiates accept ritual scarification of their faces, and many also scar their genitals as well.
Initiates must swear to go to aid of any woman in danger, unless the odds against survival are clearly overwhelming, in which case she must alert an Axe Sister. The same rule applies to fighting chaos creatures. They must willingly sacrifice their lives in defense of any earth priestess. They may not till the soil or herd beasts for their livelihood. They are not required to be celibate or chaste, but if they become pregnant they must either abort the child or leave the cult. They may marry, but doing so is frowned on and hinders advancement in the cult.
Initiates may request food and shelter from any lay member, and while lay members are not required to grant it, refusing to do so releases the initiate from any obligation to defend the lay member. They may demand support and assistance from any initiate or Axe Sister of the cult and may demand healing and ransom from any earth temple.
Initiates of Babeester Gor are considered initiates of Ernalda and Maran Gor as well, and they may choose to resume the powers of fertility by dedicating themselves to Ernalda as Reflowering Ones. Although Reflowering Ones are still considered initiates of Babeester Gor, they may not progress further in the cult. This option is normally chosen by those who choose to have children.
They may learn the following skills at half price: Axe Attack, Axe Parry, Listen, Spot Hidden, and Track. They may learn the following spells at half price: Bladesharp, Demoralize, Detect Enemies, Healing, Strength, and Vigor, and may learn Silence for free.
Axe Sister Membership
The leaders of the cult are known as Axe Sisters. A candidates for Axe Sisterhood must have been a member of the cult in good standing for at least a year. She must know all five cult skills at 90% and must have a power of 15. She must know Bladesharp 4. She must prove her dedication to the cult by organizing a raid on either a chaotic foe of some sort or on someone generally considered a foe of the earth, which includes trolls.
Axe Sisters must pledge themselves completely to the cause of the
earth, which for most means a lifetime of service in a temple of an earth
goddess.
For others, however, it may mean wandering from community to community,
championing women and the earth. They must protect women from harm in any
situation, and must risk their lives to obey the orders of any earth
priestess. They are also obligated to protect and rescue each other. The
cult rarely ransoms members, preferring to rescue or avenge them.
They must never sit while an earth priestess is standing, or eat before an earth priestess has eaten. Although they may wear male clothes, they must never disguise themselves as men.
Axe Sisters receive an exchanted copper axe and armor, and may ally a spirit. Allies spirits are most commonly put into snakes, particularly boas, since the cult has a special affinity for them. They may claim hospitality at any earth temple for up to a week, and may claim it longer if they will perform services for the temple.
Common Rune Magic: All 1 and 2 point spells, and Extension 3. They may Summon Medium Gnomes and Dismiss Medium Elementals.
Special Rune Magic:
One Point Spells:
Axe Trance: Duration 15 minutes. Range self. Reusable.
This spell must be boosted with one or magic points at the time of casting. Each MP expended increases the caster's Axe Attack by 10% for the duration of the spell. This spell is compatible with weapon-enhancing spells such as Bladesharp.
Slash: Duration 15 minutes. Range touch. Stackable. Reusable.
This spell must be cast on an axe or sacred shovel. Each point of Slash increases the damage done by the weapon by 1d6.
Three Point Spell:
Great Parry: Duration 15 minutes. Range self. Reusable.
This spell must be cast upon a shield. The shield has an infinite number of armor points for the spell's duration, although the shield's holder could still be knocked back or down. It also cancels the effect of any Fumble roll which would affect the shield.
Subcults
Spirit of Reprisal: The Screaming Fury
The Screaming Fury haunts any cult member who has violated cult laws, particularly if she harmed a woman or allowed one to be harmed. It manifests as a shrieking voice whenever the offender attempts to rest or concentrate, preventing her from sleeping or casting spells. It continues to do this until the offender makes amends. After a few days of such visitation, most break down and atone for their sins, if only to be able to sleep.
Savassa: Savassa is the Serpent Mother, whom Babeester Gor rescued during the Great Darkness and charged with protecting earth temples. The small cult of Savassa provides Babeester Gor with its snake familiars, and also with the following spell.
Constrict: 1 point. Duration 15 minutes. Range self. Reusable.
This spell enhances the caster's ability to grab and squeeze things. For the duration of the spell, the caster's STR is increased by 50% (up to species maximum) for the purposes of Grappling only, and her Grapple ability increases by 25% as well.
After a successful Grapple role, the caster may inflict damage equal to her damage bonus to the target. Armor protects until it is overcome, after which it is render useless. The caster may automatically inflict this damage ever round, until the target escapes her grasp.
Horomboros: During her pursuit of Zorak Zoran, Babeester Gor defeated this spirit of silence and used his power to stalk the God of Hatred unnoticed until she was ready to attack. This spirit teaches Silence to initiates for free.
Associated Cults
Asrelia: Asrelia provides her grand-daughter with Hide Wealth.
Aldraya: The goddess of the forests provides her protector with Chameleon.
Ernalda: The mother of Babeester Gor provides her with Earthshield, protecting her even while being protected.
Maran Gor: The Earthshaker provides her niece with Shake Earth.
Orlanth: Although the cult of Babeester Gor exists uneasily with most of Ernalda's husband-protectors, relations with the cult of Orlanth are quite good. In the Godtime, Babeester Gor willingly loaned the Shield of Arran to Orlanth, and in exchange, he loaned her the Lightning Spear, from whence she gains the spell Lightning.
Ty Kora Tek: Babeester Gor's great-aunt provides her with the spell of Bless Shovel.
Bless Shovel: 1 point. Duration instantaneous. Range touch. Reusable.
This spell may only be cast on a specially prepared ritual shovel. This shovel is normally used for the purpose of digging graves. When used this way, the shovel will cut through even the hardest packed or most deeply frozen ground.
However, the sacred shovel can also be used as a weapon. When wielded thusly, it uses the Axe Attack and Parry percentages, inflicts 1d6 damage, and has 10 hps. If the shovel successfully inflicts damage on a skeleton or zombie, the target is destroyed. If the shovel successfully inflicts damage on a vampire, the vampire will be unable to regenerate the damage and must heal it with magic, at the rate of 1 point per day.
Voria: The goddess of Spring provides her sister with Invigorate.
End of The Glorantha Digest V7 #185
Powered by hypermail