Arcadian Mysteries

The Arcadian Mysteries, also known as Pelasgians, was one of the four great cults active during the Hellenistic period. It explained magic through the lens of Greek culture.

Overview

Claiming the heritage of a group of sorcerers who challenged the Olympians with their magic, the Pelasgians believed that the gods had sullied magic when they stole their power from the titans, whom these willworkers viewed as concepts incarnate, as the gods were incapable of becoming one with said concepts.

This cult performed magic by communing with the titans in Tartaros, using rites passed down by their predecessors.

Interestingly, despite the antagonistic role of the Olympian gods in its mythology, the cult neither loved nor hated them. It viewed the conflict between the gods and titans as being an inevitability.

Over time, the beliefs of the cult of Arcadian Mysteries would grow to predominate the overall culture of the Awakened, with other cults absorbing its Atlantean philosophy.

Organization

This cult initially was divided geographically, with any given city-state bearing its own faction of Pelasgians. Once Alexander the Great drew together his empire, however, the old political factions gave way to two philosophical ones: the Atlanteans, who redefined the old myths as symbolic, and have taken on Plato's notion of philosopher-kings who will lead the people to a golden age; and the Tyrannoi, who seek to rule the current world as it is by binding the Olympians and displacing them, becoming gods.

Branches of the Arcadian Mysteries are led through a hierarchy, the higher rungs of which have greater knowledge of various invocations to the titans. Highest of all is a region's Hierophant and his council of Masters.

Legacies

Known legacies of the Pelasgians include the House of Ariadne, which was focused around the Time Arche; the Orphans of Proteus, a legacy of wild shapeshifters; the Rhapsodes, singers of epics who would later be called Skalds; Sphinxes, who studied the secrets of languages; and Storm Keepers, who were known for manipulating weather.