Cult of Ecstasy

‘You ever been in a real groove, when you’re playing or singing or whatever, and you get to the place where you’re just going and lettings things happen, and it’s the best stuff you’ve ever done? That’s where this train is going.’

Specialty Sphere: Time

Associated Abilities: Performance, Subterfuge, and Humanities.

Many Initiates come to the Cult because of its reputation as a continual party. Popular opinion has it that sex, drugs, and rock-‘n’-roll are what the Cult is about. When the Mages get to a party, though, they find out that there’s a very specific point to all the revelry. The Cult of Ecstasy does use things like drugs and music and even sex, but they’re just a means to an end. The point is to achieve a mental state that transcends the physical world, a trance that allows the Mage to see beyond his normal experience and to go outside all the lines that keep most people and Mages penned in. Cultists take the word ecstasy in its original meaning: a sudden, intense rush of feeling that catapults the subject into an altered state. It doesn’t have to be a pleasant feeling, but given a choice, most Cultists definitely prefer it that way. The Cult of Ecstasy breaks down barriers and self-imposed limitations to give people a rush of eye-opening experience.

Tradition Paradigm: Enlightenment is found through our experiences.

Philosophy: The Ecstatic philosophy holds that all limitations are self-imposed, both physical and mental. The only boundary is the one you refuse to overcome. To surpass one’s limits, one must leave behind comfort, tranquility, and safety, and seek out new experiences, and new ways of experiencing the world. Once human limits are breached, the person sees beyond the horizon of human insight, to reach a truly cosmic consciousness. Tools like sex and drugs – the Kamamarga, or paths to ecstasy – just open the door.

Every Ecstatic has their favorite Kamamarga, but none would ever force drugs, sex, or any other experience on another person. The point is to increase understanding and empathy, not kill it. Cultists aren’t drug dealers and pimps. On the other hand, if someone comes to an Ecstatic seeking a new way to see his life, the Mage will be more than happy to help him extend his senses as far as he’s comfortable.

The Cult is not entirely without guidance. The Code of Ananda governs responsibility in the pursuit of ecstasy. The Code exists not to set boundaries, but rather to dissuade Cultists from pursuing paths that lead to destructive behaviors or damaging experiences. The Cult has a long history of (Sorcerer’s Crusade), although most young Cultists are blissfully unaware of their legacy.

Failings: A sufficiently enlightened Cultist can reach their transcendent state without any outside help, but for many, their tools end up being their crutches. If the Mage doesn’t pay attention to what he’s doing – asking himself questions about the nature of magic and experience – he runs the very real risk of becoming dependent on her Kamamarga (be it drugs, sex, or such), addicted to it and unable to do magic without it. The Cult is also vulnerable to its own chaos – so many Mages going in so many different directions means that nothing ever gets accomplished.

Likes

Euthanatos: We’re two halves of the same wheel. We cherish and uplift life, while they honor and ease death. They need to lighten up, yes, but we could say that about anyone.

Virtual Adepts: These young Mages have it right. Live fast, live hard – it’s better to burn out than to fade away. Too bad they’re so focused on virtual realities…we’d love to show them the experiences that only flesh and blood can give them.

Dislikes

Akashic Brotherhood: They limit themselves needlessly. There’s much to be learned by going beyond moderation. They claim the mind and body are one, yet they attempt to explore the depths of the mind without touching the depths of the body.

Dreamspeakers: A dying art, focused only on their past. We’ve changed with the times, to embrace the culture of a new century. People change, Traditions change, and you can either get with the times, or keep partying like it’s 1399.

Sons of Ether: Strange fellows. They focus on what a body can build, rather than what it can feel. They just need to get out of the lab more, meet some people, make some love for a change instead of making whatever their newest gadget is.

Verbena: We wish people would stop thinking the Cult and the Verbena are the same. Yes, we both like to be naked. Yes, we both understand life, both beautiful and messy. But they let sex and pain drag them down, while we let it lift us up. They’ll figure it out eventually, when they’re tired of bowing and scraping to their high-and-mighty Wyck.

Hollow Ones: Morbidity has its limits. They throw wild parties, but just so they can have as much fun as possible before they die. When they’re ready to really face death, and really embrace life, we’ll be here to show them the way.

Hates

Celestial Chorus: They put a division between the body and the soul. That’d be okay, if they weren’t constantly trying to lord their virtues over us. A celibate priest is going to get horny, not holy. Call us sinners, call us heathens, whatever, we don’t really care. We’ll be laughing down at you when you finally realize what a miserable wreck your virtues have made you.

Order of Hermes: You can’t put numbers on passion, codify love, or find a mystic formula to ecstasy. They think they can master anything, if they just know the right formula. Here’s the secret to the Cult of Ecstasy: get your nose out of your stuffy books and live a little, you dry, spiritless bastards!

Factions

Historical Factions

These factions have very stable, ancient, and ritualized styles. Although they exhibit some measure of innovation, for the most part the ways of the Historical Factions are set in stone. Whether through Taoism, Greek indulgence, or Voudoun faith, the Historical Factions gain their strength by standing on the shoulders of those who have come before. These tend to be among the most ‘serious’ Cultists, who actually understand their place in history, and how ecstasy has long been considered a path to enlightenment. However, their archaic ways tend to put off the younger, more enthusiastic Cultists, and so their membership is declining.

Faction Paradigm: Humankind has always sought ecstasy; that history gives us our direction and power.

Dissidents Against Ananda

These factions stand in active defiance of the Code of Ananda. The Code is based on a belief that the world is fundamentally good, and that an Ecstatic must not harm others, beliefs in which the Dissidents find numerous paradoxes. But do not think of them as rejecting the Cult of Ecstasy; the Cult’s philosophy is based on surpassing what came before, and the Dissidents believe they know how to improve the Cult for the future. The Dissidents can be violent, passionate, and wild, and also very dangerous to themselves and others. Very few of them are actually evil or depraved, though – they’re all just seeking ecstasy in their own violent, self-mutilating way.

Faction Paradigm: Any limits we set on ourselves just hold us back.

Progressivists

These factions bring the Cult into the modern age, innovating old philosophies into modern tools and new subcultures. However, in embracing the pleasures of the present, many of these factions throw themselves headlong into addiction. The Progressivists are growing in numbers, certainly, but many wonder if a bunch of stoned teenagers or ravers are really helping the cause of Ecstasy. Nevertheless, the Progressivists are pursuing their Kamamarga everywhere, whether through parties, raves, anarchistic revolts, or philosophy.

Faction Paradigm: Mankind is constantly developing new ways to pursue ecstasy, and we must understand these new cultures.

Political Factions

Cultists are activists, taking people to their boundaries and beyond. Some Cultists see the act of cultural rebellion as more important than the quest for personal perfection. These Factions tend to uphold the Code of Ananda strongly, ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to find their ecstasy, and nobody is oppressed. This Faction contains the most ‘socially acceptable’ groups of the Cult, whether they be protecting children, trying to clean up the Cult’s public image, or discussing religion and philosophy.

Faction Paradigm: We must be involved in social reform in order to bring ecstasy to everyone.

Elite Cabal: Vratyas

The enigmatic and mysterious Vratyas remain secluded in their Nepal stronghold, and militantly defend their ways from outsiders. Their arts are remarkably powerful, many of them having been trained throughout their entire magical career, or even from birth. They know techniques for reaching ecstasy that can kill if used improperly, and only the most watered-down versions of these ever reach the Cult at large. To be inducted into the ways of the Vratyas is an honor which few Cultists will ever achieve.

Cabal Paradigm: Powerful ecstatic techniques lead directly to enlightenment, for those mature and skilled enough to survive them.

Requirements: Performance and Humanities at 4, Subterfuge at 5, two other Abilities at 4. Time at 3, one other Sphere at 3.

“If you can’t look beyond your own nose, you have only yourself to blame. Dump your burdens, and learn how far you can really see. Does that seem selfish or trivial? Fine! At least I’ll know that I’ve lived when it’s time to die!”