> I guess one big question is whether you can worship one of
> those "evil" deities while still practicing communal worship of the
> storm tribe. Another is can an initiate lapse to communal worship
> without triggering magical repercussions?
The first thing that springs to mind is that the average Orlanthi or Ernaldan who gets diverted from the true path to become a Krasht or Malia worshipper doesn't become an initiate.
They become Lay members of these cults and don't really know much about the details or spread of the cult. Most of the time they don't even realise it's Krasht or Malia. Gods have many names and they're certainly not going to tell you that the cult you've joined is the one your mum used to scare you with when you were little.
They're assigned an initiate or perhaps priest who guides their actions and leads them through ceremonies. Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt and Ignorance are the watchwords...
If they are devoted enough they may get chosen as initiates, but that's the point where they have to choose which path they'd like to follow - mainly because it'll show up at the next Orlanthi or Ernaldan ritual. Those who decline generally don't survive, obviously.
> Still, over time it gets harder and harder to cover especially as you
> further develop your new gods virtues......
...until the "day where you must choose" comes (aka. your initiation day).
> > Many good stories go out the window if it isn't possible for a well-
> respected community priest to actually be a servant of the Evil Gods.
I think Maximum Game Fun is an excellent reason for an illogical concept to be true inside a game world.
> > Thoughts? Is it all just Concealment and Hiding affinities?
I don't think initiates and devotees of evil cults go everyday in Heortling society, or at least not in the Stead and Hearth based societies. It's simply too hard to do in a village of 200 people. Everybody knows everybody else, so you're going to stick out like a sore thumb...
In cities it'd be different. Boldhome has so many people, so many races, that one Sartarite who doesn't show up to weekly worship simply doesn't register.
Harry.
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