How to Design A Cult or Sect Standard Template [b] [color=#33FFCC]Overview [/color][/b] [b] [color=#33FFCC]Name [/color] [/b] [[b] color=#33FFCC]Prevalence [/color][/b] [b] [color=#33FFCC]Belief Outlines [/color][/b] [b] [color=#33FFCC]People - Appearance and Mindset [/color][/b] [b] [color=#33FFCC]Coat of Arms - Symbols [/color][/b] [b] [color=#33FFCC]Organization [/color][/b] [b] [color=#33FFCC]Worshiping Practices [/color][/b] [b] [color=#33FFCC]Temples/Housing [/color][/b] [b] [color=#33FFCC]Trade/Production [/color][/b] [b] [color=#33FFCC]Myth/Lore [/color][/b] [b] [color=#33FFCC]Origin and History [/color][/b] [b] [color=#33FFCC]Importance [/color][/b] Template Including Suggestion Text (Please replace this text with your ideas) [b] [color=#33FFCC] Overview [/color] [/b] Give a brief description of the cult or sect, its territory and its people, is it a mainstream cult or a persecuted sect? The overview should be as short as possible, but give the reader sufficient information so that he does not need to read the whole entry. [b] [color=#33FFCC] Name [/color] [/b] If there is more to say about the name or if the cult has several names, give here a more detailed analysis, otherwise include the information in the overview. [b] [color=#33FFCC] Prevalence [/color] [/b] This is the "where" section. Put in here in which region of the world of Caelereth this cult is common, how much it is spread in general. Are the members found in a specific city or remote location? Does the cult still exist or was it only an episode in history? [b] [color=#33FFCC] Belief Outlines [/color] [/b] If you are writing about the belief of a main cult, a very short summary and a link to the main religion entry and to the god/goddess entry will suffice. If you are describing a new (or until now not yet existing) cult, this chapter should tell the reader everything of importance. If a variation of the mainstream religion or a sect is described, the differences to this main religion should be pointed out clearly. [b] [color=#33FFCC] People - Appearance and Mindset [/color] [/b] Who are those people? Do they look different to the rest of the community? Have they different clothing (if any...), hairstyles, scarring/tattooing, etc? Again, mainstream ‚cultists‘ don‘t need to be described as thoroughly as special groups. The priests of the main religions have their own template, the clerics or representatives of smaller sects or cults have to be included though. Differ the members of the cult from other ‚normal‘ people through their daily behaviour (not rites or ceremonies), do they have a different approach to daily life, are they set apart somehow? (Those who venerate Queprur mainly differ surely from worshipers of Dalireen) Food (optional) Do these people have restrictions, what food concerns? Are they avoiding meat or live primarily on it? Are special animals forbidden to eat, because they venerate it or are the symbol of their god? Weapons (optional) Are these people famous for using a special weapon or are they preaching non-violence? [b] [color=#33FFCC] Coat of Arms/Symbols [/color] [/b] Is there anything, a sign, a gesture, a symbol, a flag which would immediately associated with the cult or sect? Are there secret symbols or signs which are only used to communicate to others members, especially secret signs which show, that you are a member of that group? [b] [color=#33FFCC] Organization [/color] [/b] Describe here the organization structure (if any) and the roles of the members and leadership. How is this group ‚governed‘? Is it strictly hierarchical or are equals dealing with each other? Is it possible for every one to ‚climb the ladder‘ or is this restricted to certain persons only? How much is the single person included (or forced) into daily activities? Is he free to participate or are failures punished? [b] [color=#33FFCC] Festivals/Celebrations [/color] [/b] What kinds of regularly rituals, practices, gatherings does the cult/sect do? Are they linked to the governing structure? [b] [color=#33FFCC] Organisation, Structure of the Cult [/color] [/b] Does this cult/sect celebrate any special holidays? Festivals? Sacrifices? How intense is the participation of the members? Are any excluded from special ‚events‘? Are these festivals commonly accepted or doubted by some? [b] [color=#33FFCC] Temples/Housing [/color] [/b] What kinds of temples does the cult/sect worship in? Do they prefer a specific type of housing or environment? Temples and housing does not mean that they worship in a physical structure of stone/wood. If they worship outdoors in woods, on a mountain top or desert, describe that. [b] [color=#33FFCC] Trade/Production (Optional) [/color] [/b] Is there anything only this group creates, produces, is famous for? (see Cult of Fire) [b] [color=#33FFCC] Myth/Lore [/color] [/b] What kinds of mythology surrounds the cult/sect? What sort of lore is associated with them? [b] [color=#33FFCC] Origin and History [/color] [/b] When did this cult or sect come into life? (It may not be possible to pin that down). How where it origins? A historical event? (A war, a natural catastrophe, a lightning)? Was there a special person or group who initiated it or became the focus of veneration? Did it split from a main stream religion and why? When did it split, was it tolerated at first, but persecuted later? How did it this cult or sect develop later? Was it an underground group for years? Did its members decrease and rise again? What where the reasons? How was its influence on religion and politics? And so on... [b] [color=#33FFCC] Importance [/color] [/b] What makes this cult or sect important? In what ways are they famous (or infamous)? Where did it influence society? Why is it worth to get an entry in the compendium? Where lies the common interest in knowing more (about) it?