How to Create Cultures? Cults

Symbols

• What’s this Cult’s Name?
• What information does it give you?
• Where was it created?
• Who has created it?
• What was its original purpose?

• Banners
• Do they have a Flag?
• Do they have a Crest?
• Do they use Idols?
• Do they use Frescos?
  • What does these Frescoes represent?
• Are there multiple Banners?
• Are there multiple Subdivisions?
• What level of Diversity is there inside the Cult?

• Tools
• What are the main Weapons of the Cult?
• Do they use Swords?
• Do they use Lances or Polearms?
• Are they ceremonial?
• What Catalysts are used?
• Are they used to Summon?
• Are they used during ceremonies?

• Summonings
• Do they have Avatars?
• What does these Avatars look like?
• Are they close to them?
• Do they Communicate with them?
• Through which means?
• Which Tools are used to Invoke?
• Which Rites are used to Invoke?
• How do the Avatars respond?
• Do they respond?
• How present are they in common life?

Rules

• Dogma
• Is this culture a Theocracy?
• What is the place of Cult in the culture?
• Are the people interested in Cults?
• Is is popular to be part of a Cult?
• Is is ill-view not to be part of a Cult?
• Are there conflicting view on Cults & their activities?
• Are foreign Cults authorized?
• Are foreign Cults tolerated?

• Principles
• What are their Sayings?
• What are their Slogans?
• What are their Teachings?
• How are the Higher-Ranking member seen?
• Are they seen as Lords?
• Are they seen as Teachers?
• Are they seen as Arbiters?
• How do they relate to individuals exterior to the Cult?
• How are they seen by leaders of foreign Cults?

• Fundamentals
• What are the Fundamental Rules of the Cult?
• Where are these Fundamental Rules exposed?
• Are they Written?
• Are they passed Orally?
• Are they kept away form the Public?
• Who has access to the Inner Workings of the Cult?
• Is Peace promoted?
• Is Faithfulness promoted?
• Is Order promoted?
• Is Wisdom promoted?
• Is Temperance promoted?
• Is Patience promoted?

Entry

• Rites
• What are the stages of the Entry process?
• Who supervises the process?
• Who decides which participant is qualified?

• Right to enter
• Who has the right to participate to the Entry process?
• How is the participant identity verified?
• Can 1 get access after passing a preliminary sub-Trial?
• What qualifications are required?
• Which persons are favored?
• Are there individuals entitled to entry?
• Are there individuals which can enter without passing a trial?

• Trial
• Are there Pilgrimages?
• Who is sent on Pilgrimages?
• Why are they sent?
• What are the different types of Trials?
• How is 1 sent on a specific Trial?
  • According to which Criteria?
• Is there a multiplicity of Trials which 1 can choose from?
• Are the Trials displayed publicly?
• Are they conduced in secrecy?
• Can any person assist to the trials?

Organizers & Ordinators

• Hunters
• Who do they Pretend to serve?
  • The cult?
  • The followers?
• Do they Require sustained trust?
• Do they Favors Submission to the Symbols?
• Do they Place Obedience over faith?
• Do they Give Direction to the cultists?
• Do they Allow them to access a state of Order?
• Is Cruelty allowed for conversion?
• Is Cruelty allowed for retribution?

• Guides
• Do they Know the rules grant no physical tribute?
• Do they Preach Long term results & sustainability?
• Do the Favor Comprehension of the Symbols?
• Do they Place Wisdom over faith?
• Do they Give Hope to the cultists?
• Do they Allow them to access a state of Peace?

• Aries
• Are some members fiercely believing in the cult?
• Are they believing in the Rites?
• Do they defend the Avatars?
• Do they protect the Followers?
• Do they antagonize opponents to the Cult?
• Do they attempt to rally people exterior to the Cult?

Hierarchy

• Status
• What is the status of monks & priests?
• What is the status of clerics?
• Do they act as Advisors?
• Do they act as Teachers?
• Do they act as Judges?
• Do they possess privileges?
• Do they wear specific Garments?
• Do they wear specific Head-dresses?
• Are they recognizable physically?

• Sections
• Is there a military order?
• Is it included to the Cult?
• Is it distinct?
• Are there healers & medics?
• Do they receive only cult members?
• Are there painters?
• Are there authors?
• Are there scribes?
• Are there archivists?
• How do they preserve the Principles of the cult?

• Verticality
• Is the Hierarchy purely Vertical?
• Is there a sense of Horizontality?
• Are certain places reserved to certain individuals?
• Is the Hierarchy Heteronormative?
• Is it regulated by Age?
• Is it regulated by Origin?

• Pantheon
• Does the Cultists Hierarchy reflects the Avatars Hierarchy’s?
• Are the followers distinctly categorized?
• Are they associated to Avatars?
• At which scale?
  • Is there a World Hierarchy?
  • Is there a Country Hierarchy?
  • Is there a Local Hierarchy?
• How are displayed the Relationships between the avatars?
• How does these Relationships affect the Cultists?
• Do they create Subdivisions between the cultists?

Shrines

• Structure
• How is the Architecture of the Shrine?
• Who built the Shrine?
• How ancient is it?
• What is the form of the Shrine?

• Access
• Can people exterior to the cult access the Shrines?
• What do you need to access the shrine?
• Do you need to bear a Brand?
• Do you need an authorization?

• Belonging
• Does it feel welcoming?
• Does it grant a sense of Peace?
• Does it grant a sense of Comfort?
• Does it compel Warmth?
• Does it entice Gregariousness?

• Altars
• How are the Altars?
• Are they multiple ones?
• Is it easy to gather around them?
• What do they display?
• Are they built around a figure?

• Manifestations
• Which manifestation can you assist to?
• Are there flames burning?
• Are there spheres of Light?
• Is the wind singing in the walls of the Shrine?
• Are there seismic manifestations?
• Does the water undulate?

Rituals

• Procedures
• What are the inerrant procedures?
• What rites have been derived from?
• Who brought these modifications?
• Who confirmed their necessity?
• Do the procedures change according to the different subdivisions of the Cult?

• Freedom
• Are the Rituals mandatory?
• Who is allowed to participate?
• Who is obligated to participate?
• Which roles are essential to the execution of the ritual?
• Does it have to happen in the same place at all time?
• Can it be practiced freely?

• Schedule
• When do the Rituals happen?
• Is there a preferred time?
• Why this time?
• Are there multiple occurrences of the same ritual during a defined day?
• Are they held by different people?

• Participants
• Who participate to the Rituals?
• How many Participants are required for a defined rite?
• Which Item do they use?
• Who has the role of Organizer?
• Who assists her?