Guildmasters Guide to Ravnica

(Nancy Kaufman) #1
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.

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