Cult of the Ebon Star

Overview:
The Cult of the Ebon Star, a secretive faction of eldritch worshippers in Ravensgate, manipulates rifts to summon dark gods like Xulthar, Zaladria, and Nyrathos, spreading shadow and chaos that fuels the city’s plague. Hidden in rune-scarred lairs, they perform rituals to weaken the Aetherian seal, clashing with the City Watch and Plague Doctors. Their actions, veiled by deceit and cosmic dread, threaten to unleash a second Calamity of the Void, making their defeat crucial to Ravensgate’s survival.

Description:
In Ravensgate’s darkest corners, the Cult of the Ebon Star lurks, their lairs pulsing with void-black runes that hum with Xulthar’s abyssal energy. The air chokes with ozone and decay, stinging throats as Zaladria’s illusions coil like serpents. Cultists in tattered robes, their eyes gleaming with Nyrathos’s forbidden truths, chant in shadowed crypts, rifts crackling with plague-tainted mist. Their aesthetic fuses steampunk horror—rusted ritual daggers, grinding relic-gears—with cosmic terror, their altars a gateway to the maw of chaos.

History:
Pre-Calamity: The Ebon Star’s roots trace to the Aetherian Empire’s forbidden sects, arcanists who worshipped Eldritch Gods in secret. Operating in Crownspire (modern Ravensgate), they sought Nyrathos’s secrets and Xulthar’s voids, defying the empire’s Veil wards. Zaladria’s illusions cloaked their rituals, while Morgrath’s madness drove their zeal, sowing discord that weakened the empire before the Calamity.

During the Calamity: The Calamity of the Void empowered the Ebon Star. Xulthar’s rifts became their summoning gates, spreading the Whisperplague. Zaladria’s Shadowveil Betrayal turned allies against the empire, while Nyrathos’s whispers amplified their rituals, unleashing plague-like curses. Morgrath’s mirrors fractured their minds, and Xyraxis’s decay tainted their relics. Though the gods were sealed beneath Ravensgate, the Cult survived, embedding itself in the city’s shadows.

Current History: In Ravensgate’s lockdown, the Cult of the Ebon Star thrives, manipulating rifts to summon gods and spread the plague. Allied with the Ember Syndicate, they smuggle tainted relics, while their rituals in the Veilcrypt and Blighted Mausoleum weaken the Aetherian seal. Distrusted by the City Watch and Verdant Covenant, they infiltrate the Iron Quill, fueling corruption. Their plague rituals—linked to Xulthar, Zaladria, and Nyrathos—threaten chaos, forcing Plague Doctors to hunt their lairs to uncover the plague’s source and prevent an eldritch resurgence.

Regions in Ravensgate:

  1. Veilcrypt Altar: A rift-laced crypt in the District of Secrets, pulsing with Xulthar’s voids, used for summoning rituals.

  2. Blighted Mausoleum: A decayed tomb haunted by Nyrathos’s whispers, hosting plague-spreading ceremonies.

  3. Shadowveil Sanctum: A hidden lair cloaked by Zaladria’s illusions, storing cursed relics.

  4. Withered Crypt: A ruined vault in the District of Desolation, tainted by Xyraxis’s decay, hiding ritual tomes.

  5. Mistveil Rift: A foggy rift-site near Mistveil Pier, echoing Zephyrus’s omens, used for cult smuggling.

  6. Ashen Shrine: A scorched altar burned by Seraphel’s purges, guarding eldritch artifacts.

Characters:

  1. High Zealot Klythe the Hollow

    • Description: Skeletal Drow warlock, void-black eyes, trembling voice.

    • Backstory: Veilcrypt Altar leader, channels Xulthar’s rifts, spreads plague. Assigns ritual tasks (Persuasion DC 15).

  2. Shadowpriest Kael Duskwind

    • Description: Pale cultist, rune-tattooed, manic gaze.

    • Backstory: Blighted Mausoleum zealot, serves Nyrathos, performs plague rituals. Fights players (CR 3, Cult Fanatic).

  3. Voidstalker Zeryn Gloomveil

    • Description: Shadowy rogue, inky blades, manic grin.

    • Backstory: Shadowveil Sanctum enforcer, uses Zaladria’s illusions, ambushes relic-seekers (CR 3, Spy).

  4. Witherkin Lyssa Ashveil

    • Description: Frail cultist, ashen skin, ravenous gaze.

    • Backstory: Withered Crypt scavenger, tainted by Xyraxis, hoards plague tomes. Guides to ruins (Investigation DC 16).

  5. Dawnblade Elara Pureveil

    • Description: Radiant zealot, glowing blade, scarred face.

    • Backstory: Ashen Shrine enforcer, purges “heretics” for Seraphel, aids Ebon Star (CR 3, Cult Fanatic).

  6. Runecaller Myron Shadeveil

    • Description: Pale arcanist, rune-etched robes, fractured eyes.

    • Backstory: Blighted Mausoleum sage, deciphers Morgrath’s mirrors, trades plague lore (Arcana DC 15).

  7. Mistcaller Toren Fogveil

    • Description: Breezy cultist, misty cloak, whispering voice.

    • Backstory: Mistveil Rift smuggler, hears Zephyrus’s omens, aids Ebon Star. Offers rift maps (Insight DC 14).

  8. Plaguewarden Sylva Thornveil

    • Description: Verdant Covenant traitor, vine-wreathed, haunted gaze.

    • Backstory: Shadowveil Sanctum spy, tainted by Xyraxis, sabotages cures (Nature DC 12).

  9. Whisperblade Ragna Mistveil

    • Description: Blind oracle, misty robes, trembling voice.

    • Backstory: Mistveil Rift seer, channels Zephyrus’s truths, warns of plague rifts (Insight DC 14).

  10. Farseer Vionna Starveil

    • Description: Melodic cultist, thorn-wreathed lute, haunted eyes.

    • Backstory: Veilcrypt Altar bard, sings to empower rifts, aids Xulthar’s summoning (Performance DC 14).

Impacts on Denizens:
The Cult of the Ebon Star’s denizens weave chaos through Ravensgate’s lockdown, their rituals a cancer spreading the plague. Xulthar’s voids pulse in the Veilcrypt Altar, weakening the Aetherian seal, while Zaladria’s illusions cloak the Shadowveil Sanctum. Nyrathos’s whispers fray minds in the Blighted Mausoleum, and Xyraxis’s decay taints the Withered Crypt. Zephyrus’s omens guide their Mistveil Rift smuggling, and Seraphel’s purges burn the Ashen Shrine, masking their deeds. Allied with the Ember Syndicate, their plague rituals threaten the city, forcing Plague Doctors to infiltrate their lairs, seize cursed relics, and stop summonings to halt the plague and prevent a catastrophic eldritch resurgence.