Walk the Path (Cult RP)

[JessicaHouse]

Madames and monsieurs, good evening.

This idea is still sort of forming, and is open to discussion, but I want to do an RP where the player characters are all members of a cult. The setting can be post-apocalyptic or modern, and I prefer modern. I'd like to play as the cult leader too. We'd need to figure out things like basic tenets of the cult, where they meet, how they dress, and what they do. While I, personally, will not engage in any smut, there can certainly be smut between the other players in this RP. I'd like for this to be fairly dark, but not too over-the-top. As an example of what I mean by "too over-the-top," if the RP takes place in modern times the cult will not paint the halls of its temple in human blood, neither will they regularly sacrifice human beings. For that matter, even if it is a post-apocalyptic setting there's only so much blatant evil and violence people will tolerate before they want to leave the cult.

Let me know if you'd be interested in helping develop this idea.

[Kit]

This idea of cults in modern era gives me chick track vibes (evangelical cartoons created and published by Jack T. Chick) and particularly the one about the "dangers" of role-playing where there is a Cthulu-adoring cult that gets stronger the more people play D&D basically.
Also thought about the smiley cult in Mob Psycho 100.
Anyway consider me interested and willing to help.

[JessicaHouse]

Certainly, Kit. I wasn't thinking of making this one quite as comical as the D&D one with Cthulhu. Actually, I wasn't really thinking comical at all.

Did you have any ideas for the sort of character you'd like to play?

[Kit]

Well honestly all characters I have in mind are all comical but if you want a more serious vibe I'll work on it.
Maybe something satanical but without human sacrifice, like do you know the indie games FAITH ?

[Sparky01]

Peeks in.  I typically like to play a support role, so this has my curiosity piqued.

If only there were details on the cult leader, though. I mean that in a fun way. In all seriousness, what is the aim of the cult? To serve a purpose that the leader directs, I'm imagining.

I'd play a type of lacky that is fully dedicated to the cause, carrying out minion-like tasks with purpose.  That's my personality.  I'm at a loss for details, yet, but plant my interest to see how things flesh out.

[JessicaHouse]

Well honestly all characters I have in mind are all comical but if you want a more serious vibe I'll work on it.
Maybe something satanical but without human sacrifice, like do you know the indie games FAITH ?

I haven't. I'm thinking maybe not Satanism as Satanism is a bit overdone and real Satanism is more focused on selfishness, self-fulfillment, and the individual rather than the community. Maybe more of a end-times cult might be in order.

[JessicaHouse]

Peeks in.  I typically like to play a support role, so this has my curiosity piqued.

If only there were details on the cult leader, though. I mean that in a fun way. In all seriousness, what is the aim of the cult? To serve a purpose that the leader directs, I'm imagining.

I'd play a type of lacky that is fully dedicated to the cause, carrying out minion-like tasks with purpose.  That's my personality.  I'm at a loss for details, yet, but plant my interest to see how things flesh out.

Thank you for the questions as they help flesh out the ideas.

I was thinking that a big part of the goal of the cult is the survival and well-being of the specific community. This could entail attempts by them to take control of a largely rural county somewhere. They could work to influence elections, officials, and the police, that sort of thing. An attempt to create their own little paradise on Earth.

What about an Atlantean cult or something of the like, looking to bring back the glory of a long-lost (mythical) civilization by taking over an area and making it run on the supposed principles of that civilization?

[Sparky01]

Thank you for the questions as they help flesh out the ideas.

I was thinking that a big part of the goal of the cult is the survival and well-being of the specific community. This could entail attempts by them to take control of a largely rural county somewhere. They could work to influence elections, officials, and the police, that sort of thing. An attempt to create their own little paradise on Earth.

What about an Atlantean cult or something of the like, looking to bring back the glory of a long-lost (mythical) civilization by taking over an area and making it run on the supposed principles of that civilization?

Yep, that's exactly the kind of thing I would be interested in. A total change of society, a different basis of rules and structure of social interaction.  If your character is perhaps a prophet or self described ruler of the society and wants to shepherd followers to Utopia, I'd be up for that. 

I'd rather see them striving for independence and 'their way' rather than an apocalypse type of thing. 

This gives me an idea for a character.  A person dissolusioned with a very strict and oppressive church.  Picture a secretary for the office of a minister of some fundamentalist church. Basically, converting from one cult to another, lol.

[JessicaHouse]

Yep, that's exactly the kind of thing I would be interested in. A total change of society, a different basis of rules and structure of social interaction.  If your character is perhaps a prophet or self described ruler of the society and wants to shepherd followers to Utopia, I'd be up for that. 

I'd rather see them striving for independence and 'their way' rather than an apocalypse type of thing. 

This gives me an idea for a character.  A person dissolusioned with a very strict and oppressive church.  Picture a secretary for the office of a minister of some fundamentalist church. Basically, converting from one cult to another, lol.

That sounds great to me.

I'm thinking the cult leader could be a prophet, but he's actually looking for the descendant of the last emperor of the lost civilization. That person is believed to have divine blood, and would be the "living god" figure of the cult, once the prophet finds them. In Christian terms, the cult leader is sort of like John the Baptist, making the path straight for the coming of the Christ. Except, you know, without the whole pacifism thing. They don't start fights unnecessarily, but they do engage in battles they feel they can win if they think it is necessary.

[Sparky01]

I love it.

I like my idea of an already somewhat brainwashed individual that may have been a member of a church where people are zealots.  I'm thinking a Pentecostal Televangelist type of church.

If my character is female, I'm anticipating her to have been psychologically abused a bit...or...alot...by her husband who is now in jail. Maybe she was physically abused and kept it hidden.  The church was maybe implicated in being complicit, as they had a pretty strong preaching of standing by your man no matter what. She ends up feeling rather liberated and awakened with the opportunity to start fresh.

I'm flexible.  That's an idea I can get behind, though.  Nice and moldable.

[JessicaHouse]

I love it.

I like my idea of an already somewhat brainwashed individual that may have been a member of a church where people are zealots.  I'm thinking a Pentecostal Televangelist type of church.

If my character is female, I'm anticipating her to have been psychologically abused a bit...or...alot...by her husband who is now in jail. Maybe she was physically abused and kept it hidden.  The church was maybe implicated in being complicit, as they had a pretty strong preaching of standing by your man no matter what. She ends up feeling rather liberated and awakened with the opportunity to start fresh.

I'm flexible.  That's an idea I can get behind, though.  Nice and moldable.

I like your idea. I feel this could add quite a bit to the RP.