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Playing the Cultists and Questions

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That might be spolier that there's a cult in the AP but I don't think it's too much of one.

But yeah, how do you play your cultists? I don't mean the named and ranked ones but the more grunt/foot soldiers. Silent, uncaring, near mindless vessels? Blood thirsty, fanatical, screaming for the glory of their Pharaoh? Somewhere in between?

Other question because I haven't really seen a good answer. Do they worship the Pharaoh to the point of him basically being their god or do they worship the deity he did, which might be Anbuis?
Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber

I'm in the Sightless Sphinx and my PCs have shown almost no interest in talking with them. In a way I'm glad because it is easier for me, but I think it would be more interesting if they spoke with the cult more. Maybe I should not be surprised - the AP has a Lord of the Rings feel to it (find an artifact and bring it to the enemy in an effort to stop it) and I don't recall the good guys in Lord of the Rings ever trying to talk to the orcs.

I think they do worship the FP and see him/her in his/her FP configuration as a god-queen. They tatoo that troth on their skin which makes me think the cultists believe the FP has some power over the afterlife hence the god-like nature of their belief. The AP never suggests they would surrender or anything either.

I have them shout fanatical things at the PCs in combat. If they tried speak with dead I would have to think more carefully about their responses but so far that has not happened. I would at least make them hostile under the speak with dead spell.

My PCs have also not tried to role-play with the girtablilu in the Sphinx who are more obviously willing to talk, so that is just my bunch.
Scarab Sages

When they took the troth, the weak willed ones became fanatic sycophants, eager to do whatever to please their living goddess. FPs words are law and they will quite literally explode should they go against her will. Those with stonger wills became the named cultists, still able to pursue their own means during their unyielding service to the FP.

For me, the troth of the forgotten pharoah is the lock that binds away their free will and turns them into the drones the books make them out to be.

Well they're about to get jumped by a group of cultists so I was wondering if I should play up the "You will die for the Cause" or "Glory be to the Pharaoh" cries when charging and in battle. Give the players a vocal hint before the cultists combust.
Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber

Mu cultists often say, "My soul is prepared, is yours?" in homage to the Indiana Jones movies.

Other question.

What action would you say it is to burst into flames with their feat? I ask in cause spells like Hold Person or other spells or actions that Parayzle/knock out/restrain come up.

Is it thought of "Okay time to go" or do you have to touch the tattoo?
Scarab Sages

I played it as an immediate action if it was triggered by interrogation or death, or a move action (mental command) to suicide trigger it.
archmagi1 wrote:
I played it as an immediate action if it was triggered by interrogation or death, or a move action (mental command) to suicide trigger it.

Might do it that way. They ended up capturing one but the session ended before any questions could be raised. So there's a tied up cultist sitting there and I'm going "Okay..., how to make him go boom?"

Scarab Sages

In the video game Renowned Explorer's International Society, on the 4-star Caribbean Island, if you win friendly or devious against the first fight on the island (voodoo cultists), they start to tell you about their Boss before a curse comes on and stitches their mouths closed mid sentence. Something similar (but explodey of course) would be a pretty cinematic moment.
archmagi1 wrote:
In the video game Renowned Explorer's International Society, on the 4-star Caribbean Island, if you win friendly or devious against the first fight on the island (voodoo cultists), they start to tell you about their Boss before a curse comes on and stitches their mouths closed mid sentence. Something similar (but explodey of course) would be a pretty cinematic moment.

Heeeeeeeeeeeey! I know that game!

I can probably yoink that idea. Either a question or two later they go boom or it's a key phrase that triggers it.
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