The Black Sun Cult

In Eldham there lies a tall black lighthouse. However, more than a beacon to ships, it is a beacon to those who watch the world from afar, and a method of contacting them. This tower serves as the primary tool of the Black Sun Cult, an order dedicated to the strengthening of the Black Sun, and thus the deliverance of That Which Lies Beyond the Gate into this reality. The cult is currently led by it's founder, Lord Astithrai Nyarlathotep.

Core Tenets
While members of the Cult may be members of differing faiths and belief systems alongside their participation in the Cult (Astithrai holds beliefs aligning somewhat with those of Titanica), all hold several main beliefs, which are as follows:


 * 1) That Which Lies Beyond the Gate is an unknowable and effectively omnipotent entity on a super-universal scale. It is what we serve, and it's deliverance into this universe is our ultimate goal
 * 2) Inside this universe there exists a Court of Chaos, which serves That Which Lies Beyond the Gate. Our founder, Astithrai Nyarlathotep, is a former member of this court cast out for a secret failure. The cult serves the Court of Chaos as an extension of That Which Lies Beyond the Gate. We communicate with the Court using the Black Beacon.
 * 3) That Which Lies Beyond the Gate will be brought into this Universe by the The Balck Sun, which will tear a rift in the fabric of this universe, allowing That Which Lies Beyond the Gate to enter from interuniversal space. However, in order to do this, it must gain strength.
 * 4) The world of Eldham must be prepared to be used in the strengthening of the Black Sun as per the Court of Chaos's orders. To do this, we follow their intructions as sent through the Black Beacon. Being a member of their race, some messages can only be understood by Astithrai, who must then faithfully translate them to the rest of the cult.

Organization
The cult is organized into a loose heirarchy surrounding it's prophet, Astirthrai Nyarlathotep. Directly under the prophet are the region heads; there is one for each continent of Eldham, and they hold general jurisdiction inside their continent. If the cult grows significantly populated on one continent, then under the continental heads, a leader is chosen for each country. Together, these regional heads and the prophet form the Council, which makes policy decisions and interprets orders from the Black Beacon. Ordinary cultists fill the rest of the Cult, and can have varying duties from collecting sacrifices to performing espionage. Any cult member is able and allowed to make sacrifices, but only the Prophet can recieve messages from the Court of Chaos.

Sacrifices
Sacrifices for the cult are pretty simple. Unless direct orders come from the Court of Chaos, sacrifices generally consist of random natural organic or inorganic material. It is believed that the Court ordered this general sacrifice to gain knowledge of what Eldham has to offer in their efforts to strengthen the Black Sun. To make a sacrifice, the materials are to be thrown into soulfire, preferaby held in a blackstone or amythest container, and the words "Oh Court of Chaos, receive my offering" are to be spoken (this differs for certain sacrifices). The most well-considered sacrificial area is the Black Beacon, and thus the tower is considered a sort of pilgrimage site for a members of the cult.

Amethyst
Amethyst is considered sacred to the cult, as evidence of the Court of Chaos's extended influence over Eldham. Thus, it is considered heresy to destroy naturally-spawning geodes. However, the harvesting of amethyst clusters/buds and their sale is highly encouraged, as it is seen as helping to spread the influence of the Court of Chaos. It is also considered holy to wear an amythest crystal upoon the head of a cultist.

Close to the Black Beacon lies an amethyst geode which serves as the cult's main source of amethyst. On the surface above it lies Crystal Station, a strange structure that is said to have descended from the stars to guard the geode. This station also serves as an access point to the geode.