* Restricted: Beastmasters of Kargen only

The Beastmasters of Kargen

The following are the Sacred Sites of the Beastmasters of Kargen, and the principal Beastmaster Cult associated with each.  All are part of the Forest of the Far Lands, except as otherwise stated.

1. Far Circle - Boars (a Stone Circle in a hanging valley in the Far Hills, outside the disused Keragund Far Cave)
2. Grell Circle - Rats (a Stone Circle in the confluence of two rivers - also a Sacred Site of the Keragund, though little used by them, and of the Gnomish Rat Cultists)
3. Bone Caves / Circle - Wolves (a Circle of totem poles in an alpine meadow beneath a bone-strewn cave complex)
4. White Circle - Birds (a ring of fir trees on the crown of a hill, with fine views over the White Coast)
5. Sea Caves / Circle - Fish (flooded coastal caverns, with an underwater Stone Circle)
6. Lonely Circle - Bears (formerly Spiders - a Circle of totem poles at a crossroads, though the SE track is no more than a game trail used by bears)
7. Heath Crossing Circle - Snakes (a Circle of totem poles at a crossroads)
8. Vclo Desert Circle - Lizards (a Stone Circle on a desert hilltop above the River Vclo)
9. Vclo Heath Circle - Cats (part of the Forest of the Lazy Lands - a Circle of totem poles, which are frequently replaced as the cats sharpen their claws upon them)
10. Yawning Cave - Bats (part of the Forest of the Lazy Lands - a vast bat-filled cave leading into an extensive complex beneath the Yawning Teeth Range, with totem paintings on the walls)
11. Oasis of Whispers - Scorpions (part of the Forest of the Lazy Lands - a ring of whispering palm trees at a desert oasis) - Kasbah of The Grey Scorpions
12. Shifting Caves - Spiders (a subsidiary Site to the principal Sites of the Far Lands - a cave complex intersecting with the Ethereal Plane and the Gossamer Kingdom, with totem paintings on the walls of the heart cave)

The Sacred Heart of the Far Lands is the Shining Caves in Flerrig, the stronghold of the Keragund Organism Cultists.

The Sacred Heart of the Lazy Lands is the Sleeping Oasis in the Desert of Torpor, the Gateway to the Dream Kingdoms of the Totem Animals, which is protected by the Guardians of the Dreams of Beasts.  Its Totem is a sleeping Beast, of the species associated with the current Circle.

The Totems of the Circles are typically arranged in the above order of 1. to 12. with the Sacred Heart Totem substituting for the associated Beast of the present Circle, which is usually represented by a Central Totem, but may also mark the Sacred Heart.

The Beastmaster Cults of Kargen are fragmented into Twelve Cults, each of one of the above principal Totem Beasts.  There are also a number of lesser and sub-Cults of other Animals or sub-species.  The different Cults are constantly feuding with each other.  They rise and fall in strength.  Currently (Year 2504) the most numerous and powerful are the Snake, Wolf, Bird and Rat Cults (in that order), whilst the Boar and Spider Cults have become degenerate.  The Spider Cult have been ousted by the Bear Cult from the Lonely Circle, though a Spider Totem is maintained there, as a term of an uneasy truce.  The Bat Cult is ruled by powerful Vampires, so tends to be shunned by the other Cults, and has more influence in Harrig.

The Archdruid of the Beastmaster Cults of Kargen is elected by the Archdruids of the Twelve Cults from amongst their number.  He forsakes his former Cult and becomes a Beastmaster of all Twelve Cults, whilst his former Cult choose a replacement Archdruid for their Cult.  He is based at the Sleeping Oasis, and is served by the Guardians and a small band of Beastmaster Druids loyal to him.  It is his role to keep the peace between the warring Cults and maintain cordial relations with the Keragund and other Druidic Cults - something in which he is not always successful.  A new Archdruid is therefore elected more often than one might expect.

Back to The Lore of the Beastmaster Cults

Back to The Land of Kargen