Cult of the Black Tower

The Cult of the Black Tower are people who live in the Rakarian Valley dedicated to the destruction of Tminir Tower. Most are drawn to the cult either through a personal encounter with a demon, or their hatred of the elves that built the tower, or most commonly through family heritage. The group is driven to remain hidden, save those enslaved by demons, kill those who work with demons, and pass on the secrets of their book.

The members of the cult remain hidden by strictly adhering to the tenets of not contacting anyone outside of your own circle. Each circle is guided by a book of poetry written by Walther Gladder while he was the Lord's Poet in Bornheim. In truth the poems are a cipher that is nearly impossible to break without knowledge of the key. Most believe that Walther's books were written during a period of madness, but instead it was his most enlightened moment. By whatever means he pierced the veil between this realm and the others and looked upon the elven sin they wrought on this land.

The first book was written by Walther Gladder while he was an apprentice scribe in Y249 AH. After a night of drinking and opium he awoke to discover he had written out several scrolls with of poetry. What seemed madness made so much sense to Walther that he tore the pages and had them bound to a wood and cord book. The poetry was terrible, of that nearly everyone agreed, but a few people heard his readings and stayed after to listen. He gave them the book and told them to prepare of the time when the moon would freeze in the sky.

In Y257 Walther was kicked in the head by a horse. By then he had been the Lord's Poet for two years. He was unconscious for nearly a week. When he finally awoke he was not hungry or thirsty, but instead sat down and wrote. Another week went by when he finally left his room. Among the scattering of scrolls, tablets, and detritus was the second book. This book was given to a scullery maid who understood and loved the foreboding poems.

For the next thirty-two (32) years until his death he wrote twelve (12) other books. Each one found an eager audience when most thought he was a raving madman. After the second book the Lord of Bornheim banished him from court, but Walther continued to write, continued to lay out exact pattern of the ages that would safely destroy the tower and banish the demons back to the Infernal Realms.

In Y396 AH the three branches of the cult that survived in Bornheim where co-opted by Charles, a contract demon. None of the groups suspect their purpose has been twisted, their trusted books replaced. Instead of each group dedicated to a single part of an overall plan to seal off and destroy the tower they are focused on killing the Master of the Tower. There is plenty of invective directed at the elves, but equally as much at the one that controls the tower; the one with the corrupted soul.