and interfering-often violently- with any effort to build
a centralized concentration of authority.
The Azorius Senate currently stands as the greatest
threat to the Rakdos way of life. The cult targets Azorius
senators and arresters for ridicule, harassment, and
occasionally assassination. The Boros Legion's zeal-
ous pursuit of order and jus tice poses a similar threat.
Although Boros's attention is focused on the Gruul at
the moment, Rakdos cultists are well aware that any
sufficiently disruptive performance with a high enough
body count could bring the wrath of the legion down on
their heads. The overreaching of the Azorius and the
self-righteous wrath of the Boros engender true fear in
the anarchic Rakdos cultists, and the Rakdos respond
to fear with bloodshed.
Rakdos Characters
Alignment: Usually chaotic, often evil
Suggested Races: Human, goblin
Suggested Classes : Barbarian, bard, fighter, warlock
You might enjoy playing a Rakdos character if any of the
following sentences describe you:- You enjoy mayhem.
- You like playing showy, dramatic characters who are
often the center of attention. - You're drawn to bards or warlocks.
- The idea of finding a heroic way to participate in a
demonic cu lt sounds like a fun chaJlenge.
j OINING THE CULT OF RAKDOS
The Cult of Rakdos attracts misfits and malcontents,
who can't abide the civilized norms of Ravnica, as well
as wayward souls eager to idolize an ancient demon lord
and partake in riots. However, what Ravnicans like most
about the guild is that it has evolved into a roving circus
that attracts hedonistic, anything-goes performers who
really know how to put on a show.
By the time you start your adventuring career, you no
doubt have a great act ready to go, and you're champing
at t he spike-studded bit to get out there and show the
world what you've got. But you must earn a place on the
stage or in the ring, and that means first doing your part
backstage to keep the show running. "Backstage" can
also mean "out in the city," carrying out a variety of e r-
rands for people who have more pull than you. And with
the Rakdos, such errands tend to look more like adven-
tures than like shopping trips.
What does your chosen form of performance look
like? What skills do you aspire to learn? Spikewheel
acrobats, lampooners, fire jugglers, puppeteers, pain
artists, noise musicians, and hellbeast riders form the
heart of the cult's bizarre e ntertainments, putting on
shows in guild-owned dark speakeasies and on portable
stages in the streets. Performers called uncagers tend-
and unleash-the variety of beasts and horrors used in
Rakdos shows.
Other Rakdos performers are spellcasters of spec-
tacular sort, using expressive, free-wheeling, and
dangerous magic. These mages find inspiration in the
responses expressed by witnesses of their magic. Theycan be equally gratified by howls of laughter or howls of
horror- any attention, in their minds, is good attention.
Most Rakdos performers are fighters of the Champion
or Eldritch Knight archetype, barbarians of the Path
of the Berserker, or rogues of the Thief or Assassin
archetype. Spellcasting performers are often bards of
the College of Valor or warlocks of the fiend {the demon
lord Rakdos).Background: Rakdos Cultist
You're an entertainer at heart. a performer with a Hair
for the dramatic and a love of the spotlight. You've spent
years honing your craft, mastering a demanding set
of skills so you can perform them with panache and
make them look easy. The wild applause, the screams of
the crowds, the mayhem and terror spreading into the
streets-this is what you live for.
You're also a member of a cult devoted to an ancient
demon who delights in viole nce and chaos. It just so
happens that Rakdos loves a good s how, and your high-
est aspiration is to please the Defiler, the Lord of Riots,
with your own performance.
Skill Proficiencies: Acrobatics, Performance
Languages: Choose either Abyssal or Giant
Tool Proficiencies: One type of musical instrument
Equipment: A Rakdos insignia, a musical instrument
(one of your choice), a costume, a hooded lantern
made of wrought iron, a 10-foot length of chain with
sharply spiked links, a tinderbox, 10 torches, a set
of common clothes, a belt pouch containing 10 gp (a
mix of Azorius and Boros 1-zino coins), and a bottle of
sweet, red juiceA FLAIR FOR THE DRAMATIC
Rakdos performance styles typically fuse standard cir-
cus-style acrobatics with fire, wrought-iron spikes and
hooks, and monsters. You can roll a d8 or choose from
the options in the Performance Options table to deter-
mine your preferred style of performance.PERFORMANCE OPTIONS
d8 Type of Performer
1 Spikewheel acrobat
2 Lampooning satirist
3 Fire juggler
4 Marionette puppeteer
5 Pain artist
6 Noise musician
7 Nightmare clown
8 Mast er of ceremoniesFEATURE: FEARSOME REPUTATION
People recognize you as a member of the Cult of Rak-
dos, and they're careful not to draw your anger or
ridicule. You can get away with minor criminal offenses,
such as refusing to pay for food at a restaurant or break-
ing down a door at a local shop, if no legal authorities
witness the crime. Most people are too daunted by you
to report your wrongdoing to the Azorius.<ll\l~llR2 GUILOStH'R\\NICA 7')