Guildmasters Guide To Ravnica

Rakdos NPCs

The Cult of Rakdos attracts thrill seekers. Some of its

members are lured by promises of hedonistic pleasure;

others are drawn like moths to the spectacle of the fiery

stage. They come to join a twisted community where no

impulse is unacceptable, no act is too vile, and all that

matters is the excitement and pleasure of the moment.

They come for a chance at the spotlight- some slim

hope of fame, even if it is the infamy of going down in

flames. And they come for fellowship, an easy compan-

ionship without the earnest spirituality of the Selesnya,

the regimented discipline of the Boros. or the hierarchy

of the Orzhov.

Not every member of the guild is a performer; some

members simply tag along to witness the guild's may-

hem. The Rakdos NPCs table summarizes key roles

within the guild. Statistics for these NPCs are found in

the Monster Manual unless the table states otherwise.

RAKDOS NPCs

Role

Blood witch

Cult member

Performer

Appropriate Stat Block

Blood witch*

Cult fanatic or cultist

Rakdos lampooner* or Rakdos performer*

~·Appears in this chapter

RAKDOS

Rakdos, the demon for whom his cult is named, embod-
ies hedonism. He is also the consummate entertainer,
whose mere appearance is an act of grisly performance
art. A monstrous fi gure standing thirty feet tall, spread-
ing enormous wings, crowned with fire and swinging
a flaming scythe, Rakdos demands the spotlight. His
every entrance is a showstopper.
Sometimes after his grand entrance, Rakdos crouches
to witness the performances of those w ho adore him. To
them , his opinion is the only one that matters, but he is
a demanding spectator. He has seen thousands of years
of circus tricks and has no patience for performers who

don't give their all. His flaming scythe has brought more

than one tepid show to a sudden and spectacular close.

jaded as he is, Rakdos attends his cult's performances

only rarely. H e often retreats into his lair below the cult's

guildhall for months or years at a time, but his followers

know that he might emerge at any time to witness the

latest spectacle.

RAKDOs's TRAITS

Ideal: "Everyone should pursue their greatest desire."

Bond: "If you want my favor, show me a performance

I've never seen before."

Flaw: "What is joy?"

BLOOD WITCH

Blood witches imagine themselves to be the intermedi-

aries between Rakdos and his cult- the pinnacle of his

priesthood, his trusted advisors, and the messengers

who communicate his will to the scattered troupes

and ringmasters. T he Cult of Rakdos recognizes no

authority but Rakdos, and the demon lord r equires no

advisors. Nonetheless, the blood witches are smart.

charismatic, and powerful, so their voices do carry

some weight.

Blood witches strive both to protect the cult from

external interference and to punish those who bring

harm to the guild. They claim grandiose titles, such as

Tormentor of the Wojek , as a way of mocking their in-

tended victims.

RAKDOS LAMPOONER

One of the most effective weapons in the Rakdos cult's

arsenal is satire, and a Rakdos lampooner is a virtuoso

of that art. Lampooners generally reserve their mockery

for people and guilds that have seized an outsized mea-

sure of power, those who need to be taken down a peg,

rather than piling further humiliation onto those who

are already struggling. They use masks, marionettes, or

effigies to caricature public figures, or sometimes play

pranks on those individuals directly in the streets.

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 th e 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. ...