Page 247 - Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica

R AKDOS NPCs don't give their all. His flaming scythe has brought more
than one tepid show to a sudden and spectacular close.
The Cult of Rakdos attracts thrill seekers. Some of its
jaded as he is, Rakdos attends his cult's performances
members are lured by promises of hedonistic pleasure;
only rarely. He often retreats into his lair below the cult's
others are drawn like moths to the spectacle of the fiery
guildhall for months or years at a time, but his followers
stage. They come to join a twisted community where no
know that he might emerge at any time to witness the
impulse is unacceptable, no act is too vile, and all that
latest spectacle.
matters is the excitement and pleasure of the moment.
They come for a chance at the spotlight- some slim RAKDOs's TRAITS
hope of fame, even if it is the infamy of going down in Ideal: "Everyone should pursue their greatest desire."
flames. And they come for fellowship, an easy compan- Bond: "If you want my favor, show me a performance
ionship without the earnest spirituality of the Selesnya, I've never seen before."
the regimented discipline of the Boros. or the hierarchy Flaw: "What is joy?"
of the Orzhov.
Not every member of the guild is a performer; some BLOOD WITCH
members simply tag along to witness the guild's may-
Blood witches imagine themselves to be the intermedi-
hem. The Rakdos NPCs table summarizes key roles
aries between Rakdos and his cult- the pinnacle of his
within the guild. Statistics for these NPCs are found in
priesthood, his trusted advisors, and the messengers
the Monster Manual unless the table states otherwise.
who communicate his will to the scattered troupes
and ringmasters. T he Cult of Rakdos recognizes no
RAKDOS NPCs
authority but Rakdos, and the demon lord requires no
Role Appropriate Stat Block advisors. Nonetheless, the blood witches are smart.
Blood witch Blood witch* charismatic, and powerful, so their voices do carry
Cult member Cult fanatic or cultist some weight.
Performer Rakdos lampooner* or Rakdos performer* Blood witches strive both to protect the cult from
external interference and to punish those who bring
~·A ppears in this chapter
harm to the guild. T hey claim grandiose titles, such as
Tormentor of the Wojek, as a way of mocking their in-
RAKDOS
tended victims.
Rakdos, the demon for whom his cult is named, embod-
ies hedonism. He is also the consummate entertainer, RAKDOS LAMPOONER
whose mere appearance is an act of grisly performance
One of the most effective weapons in the Rakdos cult's
art. A monstrous figure standing thirty feet tall, spread-
arsenal is satire, and a Rakdos lampooner is a virtuoso
ing enormous wings, crowned with fire and swinging
of that art. Lampooners generally reserve their mockery
a flaming scythe, Rakdos demands the spotlight. His
for people and guilds that have seized an outsized mea-
every entrance is a showstopper.
sure of power, those who need to be taken down a peg,
Sometimes after his grand entrance, Rakdos crouches
rather than piling further humiliation onto those who
to witness the performances of those who adore him. To
are already struggling. They use masks, marionettes, or
them, his opinion is the only one that matters, but he is
effigies to caricature public figures, or sometimes play
a demanding spectator. He has seen thousands of years
pranks on those individuals directly in the streets.
of circus tricks and has no patience for performers who
RAKDOS PERFORMER
By offering a place for those of many different talents,
the Cult of Rakdos has seen its numbers swell with
performing artists, including blade jugglers, fire eaters,
and high wire acrobats. Performers carry the message
of Rakdos out into the streets: cut loose, free yourself
from the bonds of society's mores and expectations, and
indulge your desires.
JUDITH, THE SCOURGE DIVA
Judith appears at Rakdos clubs and street shows as a
singer and performance artist, combining dark soliloquies
and bizarre pain stunts. She's the grande dame of the
Rakdos, and what she says backstage goes.
Judith covets the adoration heaped on Rakdos by his
cultists. She does countless performances a week, but the
big demon gets all the praise. She has begun to assemble
a small entourage of fans, toadies, and understudies who
echo her complaints about the guild's leader.

l3Looo Wire. ...