Why do NPCs join cults?

[Bayushi_seikuro]

Insofar as we are talking about the kinds of cults the PCs won't have guilt about slaying and bashing their way through, I tend to consider cruelty and hunger for power as the primary motivators. There are lots of reasons someone might join A cult, but the reason people join THIS cult is purely cruel and selfish. They are small, wicked people who wish to gain wealth, influence or power without putting in the work, and are happy to see innocent people pay the price for them. Cults of this sort worship beings of greed and pain and domination.

One thing I try to avoid is the real world evil of many cults directed at women and children. Nobody needs that in their elf game.

I do think, in addition to the cruel and power-hungry, there is a place for a story about a cult that wants to end the world either because they feel all roads lead to entropy and dissolution or maybe because they're people who have had such traumatic losses that they feel erasing the world is kind and beneficial - like by ending the universe, they're doing a Good Deed by solving all the world's evils.

 

[Reynard]

I do think, in addition to the cruel and power-hungry, there is a place for a story about a cult that wants to end the world either because they feel all roads lead to entropy and dissolution or maybe because they're people who have had such traumatic losses that they feel erasing the world is kind and beneficial - like by ending the universe, they're doing a Good Deed by solving all the world's evils.

I mean, that is a good cult story, but it is not a good "we can kill all these BLEEPS" story.

 

[Bayushi_seikuro]

I mean, that is a good cult story, but it is not a good "we can kill all these BLEEPS" story.

I don't know. It's probably not as good as killing wanton agents of chaos and gluttony, but sadly in my experience at tables, it doesn't take a lot to get players to take out cults. Hell, it's sadly been unfortunately easy to get parties to - I've not known many players to specifically avoid killing, especially in 'save the world' situations. There have only been a few campaigns I've been in where people slowed up enough enough to find out more about factions they're hired or told to go after - and again, I recognize that's just anecdotal.

 

[sevenbastard]

Cause they need to justify that dip into Warlock?

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Free Kool-aid

Technically, Flavor Aid.

Dentists sponsoring an evil cult is totally plausible.

The Tooth Fairies are just juvenile Bone Demons.

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

I could see some cultists seeing their evil god as a force of nature that brings about a greater good.


For evil gods - for example, Tiamat- the goddess herself might be the one that will bring about the destruction of the world and, therefore can be seen as a purifier that will raze the world of evil and remake it and bring paradise.

So dragon cultists are doing the “dirty work” for the greater good.

 

[Fenris-77]

Cults have cookies.

 

[aco175]

Just expand on real world politics or work policies or sports team fans. Some seem to not need much to join something and there are varied levels of commitment to be in a group.

I mean look at everything as a group or cult. The town guard might be looking out for people, but only to the town limits or some of them might be trying to push a rise to mayor or secretly have a bribe going on the side, or whatever. Bad cults should have people with varied ambitions as well. A cultist put on guard duty since he is a new member might not be one you can question for much or just need money or only joined to get the girl or whatever.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Just expand on real world politics or work policies or sports team fans. Some seem to not need much to join something and there are varied levels of commitment to be in a group.

Just google the edition wars!

 

[DrunkonDuty]

Cults have cookies.

That's why they need dental.