The Court of the Grail

The Cult of Mythrys is a mystery religion, and its unknowable nature is mirrored in the Cult’s center of power, a district called the Court of the Grail. There are twenty-one initiations in the Cult. The higher initiations are wholly unknown to the lower initiates. As such, it is like many religions jumbled together, as reflected in the myriad temples of this district.

Sensations:

Some temples are squat, black, and marked with the obscene imagery of devils. Some temples are tall and gilded. Some orders are masked and hooded head to toe and bound by vows of silence. Some orders practice sacred prostitution and lie naked on ivory altars. Some holidays are celebrated with public processionals of venerated mummies. Some holidays are celebrated through seclusion and fasting.

Rumor:

Anybody can be shown the lesser mysteries of the first step, but only the Secret Pope knows the last mystery of the twenty-first step, and only the four members of the twentieth initiation even know who the Secret Pope is. As such, the identity of the Secret Pope is a thing of much conjecture. Some say it is a child and that the final mystery is “innocence.” Some say it is a corrupt and bloated vampire, and that the final mystery is “eternal life.” Some say it is His Majesty the Worm; nobody speculates as to what He knows.

Special City Action:

• Seek initiation: You are given the keys to the lesser mysteries and join the Cult of Mythrys. You begin at the first initiation. If you outrank another initiate, you gain favor in tests of fate to positively influence or bully them while in the City. When you gain a new rank (including your first), you are told a koan or riddle. To advance in rank, you must perform this City Action to try and guess the riddle’s answer. If you answer correctly, you advance in rank and are given a new koan to meditate on.

Wands