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The Cult of Arawn

At the time of this writing, the Church of Arawn is little more than a cult. Let us hope, for the sake of the new free peoples of this land, that it stays that way. I began this investigation into their practices in order to assess their weaknesses, for I had long been isolated from the outside world, and knew not how they had developed.

You see, I have a score to settle with Arawn himself. This godling dared to creep into my mind as I wandered the shores of the Otherworld in Reverie, using my strength to gain a foothold in our world. Of late, I have heard the stories of what I became. They are wrong when they say I went insane, for I was not.

I was a god.

Arawn had taken my form, my natural abilities, and had devoured me whole. He consumed my mind, and my resources, in a frantic search for -- power -- followers -- I do not know. I truly do not understand exactly what drives him, and I WAS him, tucked away in a far corner of his mind, locked in a constant struggle for control. It is as if he craves followers, but does not know how to court them. Even today, his followers multiply through coercion and magical force. It was very odd to see how a being of such great power behaved so often like a spoiled, lonely child.

When he took my identity, he was newly come to our plane and his plans were shaky at best. His strength has always been subterfuge and guile, but at that time he did not know how to bend the weaves of the Otherworld to his will. I think he sought to use my knowledge of anatomy and magic to create an army of followers, a pre-made congregation of worshippers. As he met with failure after failure, (perhaps elemental spirits and the unwilling dead do not provide a god with the proper sort of worship), he became increasingly violent and erratic in his behavior. I think my struggling was also finally taking its toll. Whatever the reason, his control grew lax enough that I was able to arrange a series of events that lead to his downfall, and my apparent demise.

But neither of us died. I remained trapped in a prison of my own making, and Arawn returned to the Otherworld to lick his wounds and prepare new plans.

Unfortunately, it seems the God of Mists has learned a thing or two since we last shared a skull. Since my return, I have devoted my resources to the investigation of his new organization, for I am determined that he shall fall. My resolve has not faltered, but I must say that I am in awe of what I have seen.

First and foremost, Arawn has now mastered the subtleties of the Otherworld, and fully a quarter of the whole plane now lies under his sway. His domain is known as the Unseelie Court, which he rules from the freakish mountain stronghold of Caer Morga. It was from this seat of power, by tapping into the creative forces of the Plane of Dreams, that he was able to complete the task for which I was inadequate - he created life. From his fevered imagination sprang the Dark Fey, creatures that are a mockery of all that is beautiful in that place.

Most people living to day do not know this! They think the Unseelie court has always been a part of the Otherworld, part of its "charm," when Arawn and his brood have only been among them for a scant two millennia. How short the memories of mortals are!

The Otherworld also grants Arawn other abilities. I believe now that this godling, more than any other Talanuan deity, has developed total mastery over dreams. No other god draws its power from the Otherworld, and so in this respect Arawn has already become the Greater God of Nightmares. This is itself is a horrifying prospect, for even the Dagda dreams. The Dreamplane also gives Arawn and his followers unlimited travel ability. As the Otherworld intersects our world at all points, it has provided the Cult with the ability to instantly step from one point on the planet to another. I wonder, has this Cult taken root in the lands of White Glass? Surely they have the strength of will to resist...

And so, more than 1000 years later, armed with his newfound power and backed by his army of dark spirits, Arawn returned to the waking world. This time, however, he made his way with caution. I believe he began in the woods of Perelinn and Tethynara, and that most of his initial worshippers were taken by force. They were more than likely infected with the Divine Plague and then let back into their villages to spread their "faith" further. Unfortunately, once you have become an UNwilling devotee of Arawn, there is very little left of your moral compass or socialization - emotion and chaos rule your mind. As a result, there are areas deep within the woods of Tethynara where all structure has completely degenerated. The former inhabitants live like debauched animals in the woods and have nearly hunted each other to extinction by now.

As I have said before, Arawn knows precious little about courting followers.

Regardless of the consequences of worship, I am certain the Cult now has strongholds throughout the northern woods of Perelinn, Tethynara and Grengon. Several families of Roma have fallen under its sway, and it is feared that they are assisting in the spreading of the Plague. I cannot confirm this, but I have seen their mark in the other countries with my own eyes. I myself am but recently emerged from such a place that was established deep within the territories of Grengon, far from the northern woods where this began. They have even claimed an entire Grengonian city. I believe it was called Telyth. I fear this does not bode well, if they are already spreading so swiftly.

What is worse, with each passing day Arawn grows in power. For a god, worship equals power, and as he amasses more followers his might increases. He does not yet rival the native deities of this realm, but surely they must take notice soon!

Until they do, however, it will be quite a struggle to cripple Arawn's advances. It is only a matter of time until he converts an area with powerful mortals - priests and mages, and men of great martial prowess. What will happen then, I do not know.

-- Gwynn ap Nudd