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 Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:00 pm
I've not come across all that many in fantasy novels, but in games they seem to be more abundant. One cult I thought of is in the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and they're known as the Mythic Dawn. Oblivion Wikia The Mythic Dawn are a Daedric cult who worship and eventually summon Mehrunes Dagon. They are responsible for the assassination of Emperor Uriel Septim VII. The Mythic Dawn can draw upon the demonic powers of their deity by binding a unique set of metallic armour and blood-red robes around them. This gives them a strong advantage in battle. The Mythic Dawn cult seem to have a pact with the other Daedra besides Mehrunes Dagon, as well. They are seen in Paradise. Both Mythic Dawn and Daedra coexist and live together. The Mythic Dawn live in Mankar Camoran's domain along with Dremora and other Lesser Daedra. However, these Daedra may be the servants of Mehrunes Dagon, yet it is mysterious why he would need such Lesser servants when he has his Mythic Dawn. They are led by the powerful archmage Mankar Camoran, who acts as Mehrunes Dagon's herald on the realm of Lorkhan. PURPOSEThe Mythic Dawn serve Mehrunes Dagon as his servants on Tamriel, known by the Daedra, Aedra, and other immortal spirits as Lorkhan. Mehrunes Dagon, the Daedric Prince of Destruction, (as well as Change, Energy, and Ambition) is bound by his fate to destroy all around him. Because the realms of Oblivion are the dimensions of immortality and divine, celestial beings, they cannot be destroyed. This frustrates Mehrunes Dagon because he cannot destroy them, for they will simply reform again. It is believed (by mentions of the Mythic Dawn, yet mostly fragments from various books across Cyrodiil) that he desires to enter the realm of Lorkhan so that he can actually destroy something without its immediate restoration. He wishes to be able to enter Tamriel so that he can show his power, his destruction, his ability to change, and drive all into chaos. The Mythic Dawn are warped, psychopathic beings who Mehrunes Dagon preys upon with promises of power and immortality. The horrors they see at the hands of the Daedric Prince of Destruction is often enough to drive them to the madness that so often consumes them. They are offered powers beyond the grasp of mortals to bring Mehrunes Dagon into Tamriel. Beyond their pacts with the Daedric Prince, this often causes many Mythic Dawn members to traffic with other Daedra, demons, undead, chaotic spirits, and other unspeakable horrors. Through all of this, the Mythic Dawn perseveres to re-create the Age of Myth for their Lord, Mehrunes Dagon and their Master, Mankar Camoran.
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 10:29 am
It's too bad I haven't played that game yet or I might have more to add here.
I gotta say though, the description is kinda confusing and it's maybe cuz I haven't even tried Oblivion. I think cults tend to be mostly in the dark and secretive. Wasn't the "Illuminati" a cult? This Mythic Dawn sounds kinda scary too and I suppose most cults could be considered as such. Is there something in particular about this cult you'd like me to comment on Mel?
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 1:54 pm
Hypno, I posted the info on the Mythic Dawn because they're ONE cult in the Fantasy Genre. It's a starting point, an example too. You don't need to play the game for this thread, that's ridiculous. It's a general thread. The Mythic Dawn are as the information that I posted suggests (which is enough for anyone to go by whether they've played Oblivion or not), a Daedric Cult. The Daedra are demons/daemons, so what kind of cult are they?
It's just......ugh, like I said...an example.
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:01 pm
Cults are funny things when you think about it.
Everyone belongs to one, in some form or another. But most of them are evil and are to do with dark stuff.
Like...umm....vampire cults, people thinking that they are vampires, drinking blood etc.
I know these exist in america, as I watched a programe on them and it was rather graphic, using girls of a young age as sacrifices, drinking their blood and then making them join up as it were.
Even you say cult, you think of people worshiping the devil, it's a big thing with religion aswell. Cults are everywhere.
Would you not think, that playing games, reading manga, watching anime....makes someone be in a cult? Because it's a cult following?
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Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 4:34 pm
I realize that Mel but I was just saying too cuz, I have no real knowledge on cults myself. I guess I have seen some but I don't have as much info on them either. I suppose I could look them up on wikipedia but I barely have time for the guild as it is. mrgreen
You know Mandy, I never looked at things that way. I'm sure I would hate the idea of being in a cult that did that to anyone, much less young girls.
And yeah, I'm sure cults must be pretty much everywhere but I sometimes rather not to think about it. Whenever there are lots of people, there's bound to exist a cult one way or another. 3nodding
You make a good point too about the cult following. But what makes you being part of a cult in the first place? Don't you need some kind of membership card? Even a virtual one to be in it?
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 7:55 am
This is ridiculous.Dictionary.com - Cult –noun 1. a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies. 2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult. 3. the object of such devotion. 4. a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc. 5. Sociology. a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols. 6. a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader. 7. the members of such a religion or sect. 8. any system for treating human sickness that originated by a person usually claiming to have sole insight into the nature of disease, and that employs methods regarded as unorthodox or unscientific.
And Hypno, if you have no knowledge of what cults are, look it up.
Pardon my being abrupt, both of you, but it's only common sense to look into it if your knowledge on such things is limited.
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 9:52 am
Ok so not suprisingly(though perhaps ironicly) the athiest is interested in the topic of cults, I didnèt have a whole lot of knowledge on so I looked up a few things. Mostly about the origins of the word itself, the word was origionaly used by Christians to describe a group or psuedo religion that claimed to abide by biblical doctrine but in some way strayed from this doctrine and could be considered (possibly) extremist or unorthadox. Later on the word became more mainstream, and obviously is now quite a common word in our language.
*attention, very slight oblivion spoilers inside this paragraph*
Anyway more on the fantasy aspect, it seems fantasy usually takes word cult and replaces it with demon-worshippers. All I've seen of cults in fantasy are things exactly liie Mythic Dawn. If you have played Oblivion you will already know the characteristics of this group but in case you havn't I'll give you a few facts. Their home in the game is a cave inside of a mountain, the main scene they feature in has their leader reading from a book written by a race of demons and performing a sacrifice, and this cult is apperently full of assasins, one of which killed the emperor(the event that starts the whole game). Now this seems like a pretty good example of what most people like think of when they hear the word cult.
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Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 4:01 pm
Sorry Mel. I admit I don't know everything there is to know about cults but I thought I knew enough about them to begin with. Guess not, huh? sweatdrop
I suppose common sense can only take you so far...
I agree with Mr. Drizzt! That's pretty much what I think of when I hear the word "cult" and I'm surprised that even after seeing quite a few movies and shows with cults in them I'm still not very in tune with the concept. confused
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Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 11:56 am
drizzt-catstyle Ok so not suprisingly(though perhaps ironicly) the athiest is interested in the topic of cults, I didnèt have a whole lot of knowledge on so I looked up a few things. Mostly about the origins of the word itself, the word was origionaly used by Christians to describe a group or psuedo religion that claimed to abide by biblical doctrine but in some way strayed from this doctrine and could be considered (possibly) extremist or unorthadox. Later on the word became more mainstream, and obviously is now quite a common word in our language.*attention, very slight oblivion spoilers inside this paragraph*Anyway more on the fantasy aspect, it seems fantasy usually takes word cult and replaces it with demon-worshippers. All I've seen of cults in fantasy are things exactly liie Mythic Dawn. If you have played Oblivion you will already know the characteristics of this group but in case you havn't I'll give you a few facts. Their home in the game is a cave inside of a mountain, the main scene they feature in has their leader reading from a book written by a race of demons and performing a sacrifice, and this cult is apperently full of assasins, one of which killed the emperor(the event that starts the whole game). Now this seems like a pretty good example of what most people like think of when they hear the word cult.
That's only because the Christian church looks upon it in that fashion. Many goths are pagans (paganism is also heavily associated with wicca/witchcraft - which is also ritualistic as is thought of in cult activity regardless of whether or not it involves demons). I'm interested in that sort of thing, and would consider myself in the goth category, but I am nevertheless, a Christian.
Drizzt_Catstyle, I would also class the Dark Brotherhood (Oblivion also for those who don't know) as a cult as well. What about you?
I mean, they worship and conform to "Sithis" and the "Night Mother", and assassinate those who aren't doing the world any favours, and also those who betray them.
And Hypno, don't worry about it. Just look up some information instead sometimes if you know your knowledge isn't great on something. No offence, but half the time when you don't know something I've ended up trawling the internet and bringing back the links and quotes myself. I know you don't get a great deal of time online, but that's just something that was bothering me, you know? I'd rather people do some of their own research as well as asking questions. ^_^'
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Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 4:14 pm
Ah, that's a good point actually, I hadn't even thought about the Dark Brotherhood(strange because I spent quite a few hours doing quests for them). Anyway yes I'd deffinitely say they fit the description of a cult nicely.
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Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 2:16 pm
Thanks Mel! I know you weren't trying to make me feel bad and I realize how frustrating it must be when someone who has little idea or knowledge about something post about it. However, like I said before, I thought I knew more about this but I guess I didn't, he-he. sweatdrop
I'm glad I was able to come and read Drizzt's posts cuz he added some nice info about this. Not that you didn't but still... mrgreen
But really, this is one of the reasons I haven't written about cults in any of my stories before.
It's weird that I don't recall any cults in most of the games I've played. You know what sort of felt like a cult? The guys in black cloaks from FF7. xd
I know all of them were just Sephirot's clones but it still felt like I was playing a game that had some kinda cult in it. xp
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