Cult Activity: The Fading Legion

Cult Activity gives you a cult-driven set piece: location, background, hooks, everything you need to build your own adventures in Midgard.

There are few in Midgard who worship Loki and fewer still who openly admit to doing so. Whether called Loki, Hermes, Kvasir, or any of his countless aliases, the trickster god gives few demands of his followers, and said followers are happy to simply wreak mayhem as suits their own designs.

A small sect of Loki’s worshippers saw an opportunity, however. Led by a trickster-priest claiming to be directed by the god himself, the group hires itself out to thieves’ guilds, small-time crooks, crime lords, and anyone else who can afford their rates. This so-called “Fading Legion” commits theft, defacement, arson, and even kidnappings and murder for the right price, using a magical lotion that allows them to change their appearance. Less costly (and less obvious) than invisibility magic, this oil of alteration provides the perfect cover—and alibi—for those who wish to exploit it.

Only the uppermost echelons of the organization know who makes the oil of alteration. Most members believe the leader alone has the ability. Each dose comes individually packaged in a leather bottle. Because the creation of the oil is a mystery, no one is quite sure who possesses the formula for creating it. Attempts to reverse-engineer the process have met with failure, and attempts to sell the packets have resulted in terrible curses.

Of course, not many could say for sure whether the sect’s leader truly receives directions from Loki. In fact, no one can credibly claim to have ever met the elusive leader in person, though in fairness, it would be difficult to say if they had. Followers of Loki are by necessity a canny lot, and claiming to have the attention of the god is a near-unbelievable claim. Naturally, such a setup also sounds just like the kind of trick the Lord of Deception would pull . . .

The Fading Legion consists mostly of commoners and cultists guided by superiors known as trickster votaries, with each individual sect led by a high priest/administrator known as an ármann.

Trickster Votary

Use the statistics for a cult fanatic but replace the Spellcasting trait with the following:

Spellcasting. The trickster votary is a 4th-level spellcaster. Their spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 11, +3 to hit with spell attacks). The trickster votary has the following cleric spells prepared:

Cantrips (at will): dancing lights, spare they dying, thaumaturgy

1st level (4 slots): charm person, disguise self, inflict wounds

2nd level (3 slots): pass without trace, spiritual weapon

Trickster Ármann

Medium humanoid (any race), any non-lawful alignment

Armor Class 15 (chain shirt)

Hit Points 78 (12d8 + 24)

Speed 30 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 15 (+2) 13 (+1) 16 (+3) 15 (+2)

Skills Deception +4, Perception +5, Persuasion +4

Senses passive Perception 15

Languages any two languages

Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)

Innate Spellcasting. The ármann’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma. They can innately cast the following spells (spell save DC 12), requiring no material components:

At will: disguise self

Spellcasting. The ármann is an 8th-level spellcaster. Their spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks). The ármann has the following cleric spells prepared:

Cantrips (at will): dancing lights, spare they dying, thaumaturgy

1st level (4 slots): charm person, disguise self, protection from evil and good

2nd level (3 slots): misty step, spiritual weapon

3rd level (3 slots): blink, dispel magic, hypnotic pattern

4th level (2 slots): phantasmal killer

Actions

Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) poison damage.

Light Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 80/320 ft., one target.

Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) poison damage.

Blessing of Loki. The ármann touches a willing creature other than itself to give it advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks. This blessing lasts for 1 hour or until the ármann uses this feature again.

Cloak of Shadows. The ármann becomes invisible until the end of their next turn. It becomes visible if it attacks or casts a spell.

New Magic Item

The Fading Legion issues oil of alteration to its operatives for use in “fading” into the crowd after a heist or other operation. Generally, the operatives apply the oil in advance and use it to shift between appearances as needed as they work.

In order to identify themselves as they shift amongst forms, most teams agree upon an insignia such as a red flower pinned to the lapel, a red sash worn across the shoulders, or a similar visual device. Using this technique, the team members can keep track of who is on their side no matter what form they change into using the oil.

An observer can identify the presence of this insignia by succeeding on a DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check or a DC 13 Intelligence (Investigation) check.

Oil of Alteration

Potion, uncommon

Beads of multicolored oil form on the outside of its container and seem to be constantly shifting. The oil can cover a Medium or smaller creature, along with the equipment it’s wearing and carrying (one additional vial is required for each size category above Medium). Applying the oil takes 10 minutes. The affected creature then gains the change appearance effect of the alter self spell for 1 hour.

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