Cult Membership

Vingans who wish to join the cult can do so at any of the larger shrines. They must be initiates or priestesses in good standing, followers of the DarkStorm or Spearwoman subcults, and pass a test set by a panel of three priestesses (called Spear Daughters). The test takes three days and is designed to evaluate the candidate’s sincerity, aptitude, and character.

The test includes evaluations of the candidate’s fitness, fighting skills, magical aptitude, and knowledge. The cult sees Brains as a virtue, and if would-be members fail to impress in that respect, then they will also fail the test. It should be noted that most cult priestesses can determine the difference between stupidity and a lack of knowledge, the latter is unlikely to harm the prospects of an otherwise promising candidate (knowledge can be acquired easily compared to wisdom and intelligence).

The GM should determine the precise form that this test takes but it typically involves using six skills successfully from the list that follows; Battle Command, Battle Lore, Dodge, Earth Lore, Esrolia Lore, Fist Attack and Parry, Human Lore, Missile Attack, Orate, Ride, Run, Scan, Vinga Lore, Weapon Attack and Parry. Priestesses wishing to join the cult must possess either Battle Command or Battle Lore at 90% or higher ( with the other skill at 70% or higher), as this is considered the minimum standard suitable to qualify as a priestess in the cult.

Candidates who pass the tests are allowed to initiate into the cult and become a Spear Sister. They must sacrifice 1 POW at any shrine of the goddess, and donate 10% of their goods and income to the cult.

DarkStorm members of the cult tend to specialise in guerrilla warfare and scouting.

The cult is divided into two types of worshipper.

The first consists of Vingans who remain part of their clan or tribal warband. They must spend 10% of their time on cult duties, a mixture of training, rituals, and fyrd duty (priestesses are expected to help train and command their clan or tribal warband, and must spend 90% of their time on cult duties). Twenty percent of initiates income must be donated to the cult, half to their local shrine or temple, the other half is to help support the Spear Council and the training centres. Priestesses must gift 30% of their income to the Spear Council, and 60% to their own shrine or temple.

Members of this group can get training in Battle Command, Battle Lore, Human Lore, and Vinga Lore for free through the cult. Other cult skills can be learnt at half-price at most shrines. They may sacrifice for divine magic at any shrine or temple, and can learn any cult spirit magics at half-price. The divine magic spell Battle Insight can be sacrificed for at the shrines at SpearPoint Lodge, Ernalda’s Home, Notchet, Keltere, and Garrel.

The second group of followers is the Spear Daughter warband. This is the route most often taken by those who wish to devote themselves fully to the cult. They guard the holy places of the cult, and act as trainers and advisors, both to other members and clan warbands.

Initiates are called Loyal Spear Sisters; priestesses have the title Loyal Spear Daughter. Members train and work hard, most hoping one day to reach the exalted rank of Spear Lady (senior priestess), and possibly even join the Spear Council itself.

Loyal Spear Sisters must devote sixty percent of their time to the cult. What this involves depends on the experience of the initiate. Junior initiates tend to get minor duties, such as grooming horses, equipment maintenance etc, whereas experienced initiates normally help with training, act as assistants to a priestess, and perform tasks with a fair level of responsibility. Many are sent to foreign lands to observe their military practices and report back to the Spear Council, this is especially true in the case of Sartar and Heortland, as the Council is gravely concerned by the Lunar threat.

Priestesses must devote all of their time and income to the Spear Daughters, but are in return fully supported by the cult. They spend most of this time training other cult members, leading everyday rituals, and acting as military advisors to cult allies. In some cases they act as warband leaders for allied clans without their own Vinga priestess, but this is increasingly rare. At the moment many are absent from SpearPoint, away fighting the Lunars.

Senior priestesses normally spend their time supervising the other priestesses, and performing cult rituals, but are frequently assigned to Queens as military advisors, although this duty is typically reserved for members of the Spear Council in times of major war.

Members of the Spear Daughters can get accommodation and training in cult skills for free (at any shrine or temple). All members of the warband can learn up to three points of cult spirit magic for free each year, any other such spells can be learnt at half-price. They may sacrifice for divine magic at any shrine or temple. The divine magic spell Battle Insight can be sacrificed for at the shrines at SpearPoint Lodge, Donbry, Ernalda’s Home, Notchet, Sylthi, and Garrel.