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Historical Factions
The historical factions are, simply put, those factions that pre-date Sh'zar and the establishment of the Code of Ananda. 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.
Erzuli Jingo: Primarily female Vodounistas aligned with the Cult of Ecstasy from the days of their African forebears. These mages practice Voudoun faith and
devote themselves to healing the minds of others by clearing their dreams with the help of their Loa, Madame Ezuli. Their magic involves astral travel and spirit
channeling, and occasionally curses and other sorts of black magic. The Jingo call their arts with ecstatic dance, frenzied religious experiences, and fire. Since the
Jingo have lost much of their power lately, younger members have taken that loss out on others.
Specialty Sphere: Spirit, Life
Fellowship of Pan: Inheritors of the legacy of the Cults of Dionysus, these Ecstatics believe that a human must embrace their primal nature in order to find Ecstasy.
They believe mankind is at its purest when in the grip of its unconsciousness, such as when drunk or making love or art, and tries to capture and harmonize with this
unconscious beat. They excel at healing, soothing minds, and inspiration. The Fellowship is rather loosely organized and for an Ecstatic Faction that's saying a lot.
Currently their membership has boomed with the addition of Maenads and the Astartites.
Specialty Sphere: Life, Mind
Kiss of Astarte: A modern pagan sect with a Dianic foundation. Many of these are lesbians, and some even have ties with the Black Furies. Their rituals focus
into healing, rejuvenation and retribution. They have some similarities with some Verbena, but their rites are Ecstatic both in form and content.
Specialty Sphere: Spirit
Maenads: A fierce and violent lot, even with their impressive and old legacy, the modern female followers of Dionysus have learnt to be more subtle and
discreet than their ancestors. Still, every full moon they reunite to dance, revel and scream under the night, and even if some of them try to direct their rage
killings into deserving targets, that is still quite subjective and many members fall into Jhor or Madness. For this very reason, there is a growing movement
inside the Tradition to have the sect declared as barabbi.
Specialty Sphere: Mind, Life
K'an Lu: Taoist ecstatics dedicated to perfecting the self. The K'an Lu seek to perfect themselves, they aren't seeking to heal people or moving others towards
enlightenment. They follow a decent portion of the Code of Ananda, but they seek to Ascend and free themselves from the Karmic cycle. They work to untie the Yin
and the Yang principles within themselves to perfection. Few Cultist could stand the rigid structure of the K'an Lu's practice, though a few of their Taoist beliefs have
made their way to the Western World. The Faction seems to be dying out and they are hunted relentlessly in their homeland of China by the government. Even so,
they are considered one of the greatest masters within the Cult.
Specialty Sphere: Time, Prime, Mind
Vratyas: Nepalese ecstatics who practice the deepest secrets of Tantric magic and live in seclusion. They militantly defend their ways from outsiders, including other
Cultists. It is said that Sh'zar learned from the Vratyas, and that they possess a love for humanity as great as the Joybringers and a willingness to destroy as great
as the Euthanatoi. They are taught from birth (and with magic even from conception) the secrets of the human body and how to unlock its utmost potential.
Specialty Sphere: Life, Mind, Prime, Spirit
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. They do not really reject 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. They are considered by the rest of the Cult a necessary evil, as even being shunned by the others they show a fierce loyalty to the Tradition.
Aghoris: The oldest of the Dissident factions, descendants of the Shakti Cults outside of Bengal. They were some of the first to join with Sh'zar in an alliance. They
believe in the philosophy of total self-destruction, to shatter all illusions of karma by destroying the biggest falsehood of all: "the Self". Unfortunately, since they
believe all life is united as one, the Aghoris harm others as readily as themselves. They use Tantra, blood loss, human ash, flagellation, castration, whirling and
physical exhaustion. The Aghoris live in rural areas near places of death, and often have strict or strange eating habits.
Acharne: An all-male sect that practices Ecstasy through psychological and physical torment. The Acharne seek to perfect their will by beating it into submission.
They focus on mental suffering and physical mutilation. Originally stoic societies in Greece, the Acharne drifted to Britain and America, giving rise to the "Hellfire
Clubs". This mystery cult torments its initiates through all manner of suffering and losses. Once inducted, they drink the blood of their cabalmates and form powerful
bonds. Torture and suffering are favorite foci, though blood-drinking, hard-core drugs, and Greek symbols are also used.
Specialty Sphere: Mind
Hagalaz: Norse pagans who adhere fiercely to the old beliefs, the Hagalaz wage war on modernity and Christianity. Named after the rune of change, they live in a
perpetual state of change and chaos, forcing the world to see everything from a new perspective. They believe the old Norse culture was better in every way, more
flexible, fairer and productive. The Hagalaz seek to overthrow the practice and Christian morals, and challenge modern society through frenzied magical practices
based on ancient Norse gods. The Hagalaz keep close to heavy-metal subcultures, which share some of their core beliefs. As during the '70s they opened their
ranks to all kind of thugs, misanthropes and neo-nazis, now they are almost in a state of civil war between the more traditional Spae-crafters and the new viking
wannabes and anti-christian fanatics, with the Tradition considering the latter borderline barabbi, to the point they have been declared outlaws by the more
traditional Hagalaz.
Freyji: Worshiping this female deity who was wife of Odin, these Hagalaz turn to her to call down curses, reveal the future, and improve fertility rites.
Sons of Wotan: Necromantic berserkers said to be able to continue fighting even while headless. They throw themselves near-suicidally against enemies like
the Technocracy, believing that only the valorous will make it to Valhalla.
Sutr: As Loki priests, the Sutr use rune-carving and traps to defeat their enemies. Tricksters and fire-bringers, the Sutr learn how to dip into Marauder-like Arts
to summon ancient Bygones to fight for them.
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.
Joybringers: Percentage-wise, the largest faction of the Cult of Ecstasy. Joybringers are what most think of when they conceptualize the "stereotypical ecstatic."
The Joybringers seek to teach others the simple pleasure of existence. They believe that mankind is inherently good. By medicating humanity in pure bliss, the
Joybringers feel that they can achieve peace and eventually Ascend. The Joybringers help humanity on many fronts, such as combating AIDS and homelessness.
Indulging in drugs, sex, and simplified Tantra, the Joybringers appeal especially to the youngest generations of Ecstatics, but its members are the most vulnerable to
addiction.
Dissonance Society: While they share many beliefs with the Joybringers, instead of a peaceful accord this sect wants to overthrow society and start again new.
They are anarchists and philosophers, debaters and terrorists. The Dissonancers use practical foci, such as psychology, double speak, probability, violence,
herbalism, and mass protest. They are part anarchist, part philosopher and despite their image they are first those than warriors. Even with their differences, they
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agree on one thing, and that is that it is time for a change. When they cannot get their goals peacefully they are not above beatings and riots to get their points
across but their activities are not all physically violent. More than one corporation has found their bank accounts empty and their computers databases wiped.
Klubwerks: The youngest Ecstatic sect who seek to unite humanity via total abandon through music. Like the Fellowship of Pan, the Klubwerkers seek to unite with
the underlying, subconscious beat of humanity. However, they use very different methods. They seek to unite mankind under the auspice of total abandon through
music. Their shows are not just performances: they are rhythms that unite the audiences into a single communal entity, and even the musicians are caught up into
the beat. Hundreds of people can be swayed under the Klubwerker's influence and powerful effects yet coincidental effects can be created.
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.
Children's Crusade: This group's political agenda is simple: the protection of children. While the Cult dives into drugs and sexual bliss, they strongly oppose
subjecting children to these things. Kids are not mature enough to get anything out of it, quite frankly, and they suffer emotional scars or worse as a result. The
crusaders fight to stamp out child slavery and prostitution; even the Technocracy turns a blind eye to the crusaders, which has allies in almost every Tradition.
Cult of Acceptance: This political movement attempts to "clean up" the Ecstatics' image by pushing for social change. Legalization of marijuana, decriminalizing
some sexual acts, education about consensual S&M, and even opening art or dance schools all fall under the Cult of Acceptance's aim. They hope to offer new
possibilities to the masses and that people will get over their social stigmas and open their minds to new practices.
Silver Bridges: The Silver Bridges seek to "bridge the gulf" between religion and ecstasy. While Hindu Tantra works as a fine focus, most religions have a hard time
swallowing the Cult's practices. To counter hyper-conservative factions of Christianity and Islam, the Silver Bridge recruit allies among these religions' "fringe
practitioners" such as flagellate Christians and Sufi Muslims. They hope to bust apart the orthodoxy and remove the stumbling block of conservatism, so religions
will evolve to accept new forms of expression and enlightenment.
Others Sects
Fifth World Tribe: Los Sabios Locos: This sect incorporates Native American shamanism, hippie anarchism and powerful music into a gestalt that could shake the
roots of the modern world. In time, they hope to bring it down and replace it with a cleaner, spirit-oriented culture. These Ecstatics have friends among the Changing
Breeds in general and the Garou, Corax, and Nuwisha in particular. Its members go off on frequent vision quests across mountains, deserts and beaches.
Ka'a: The Ka'a project their essence from their bodies after hours of Tantrik exercises, dance, and herbal drugs. These women are quite bisexual - they often
choose female lovers to achieve a state of ecstasy, then go off to find male partners to add to it. A secret cult, these Tibetan mystics seem perfectly ordinary on their
own. They meet once a month in remote sanctuaries, in groups of three women whose menstrual cycles always remain in synch. When together, the Ka'a raise
power and leave their bodies behind, then drain Shakta from distant Sleepers and carry it home as Tass; this essence fuels mental and physical healings. To prevent
discovery, the mages change their forms and become dream lovers, usually to strangers. Interestingly enough, Ka'a never become pregnant when using only
magick to make love. Their paramours, however, awaken feeling listless and drained (but cheerful nevertheless).
Khlysty Flagellants: This Russian Christian Orthodox sect believe that in order to be forgiven one must sin. After indulging in forbidden pleasures, they punish
themselves with ritual penance, being by flogging, fasting or exposure to the elements as a way to achieve ecstasy. They are known by their extreme stamina,
longevity and resistance to pain.
Bongo's Rangers: A Discordian sect based on the unraveling of consciousness and the use of high-tech and magic to overload all kinds of stimulation. They
believe that to reach the Lakashim, one must divert the stream of consciousness in unexpected ways, so they stage raves, drugs and endless stimulation to
Sleepers in order to undermine society and speak gibberish that most of them don't even understand. Incoherence is the main point of this sect.
Introduced Elsewhere
Dervish: Sufi mystics who seek spiritual enlightenment through poverty and religious study under Masters. They dislike organization outside the master-student
relation and they usually left politics to the Batini. Their magic is subtle, music, dance and poetry as common foci. Sometimes they use hashish and opium to get
prophetic visions.
Confrérie de Chango: One of the several small sects based on Voudoun like the Erzuli Jingo, all of them using dance, drinking and sexual practices to achieve the
divine. The Confrérie de Chango is a militant brotherhood known for their powerful fire and lightning magic.
Roda do Jogo: Another sect of Voudounistas, these ones are Brazilian martial artists who are versed in fighting to the point it is said they even compare to the
Akashic Brotherhood.
Los Sangradores: Descendants of Xiootan Iox and other Mayan priests, a secret cult in Central America. They achieve ecstasy through blood loss, piercing their
bodies, usually their tongues or genitals. That blood represent a sacrifice to the gods, allowing them to touch the spiritual world. Other rituals for more potent magics
involve piercing body parts with thick coils of rope followed by a frenzied dance that scatters their blood through the air.
Studiosi: The Zealous Ones. Influenced by flagellants movements in Italy and Germany after the Albigensian Crusade, the Studiosi reject not only the illusion of the
material world but seek to destroy their prisons of flesh, believing that the physical world is just a distraction to find Gnosis. They usually wear hair shirts, mutilate,
burn and whip themselves bloody, and even get to extremes of castration or circumcision. They also consider the Technocracy as the new servants of Rex Mundi,
the demon king of the material world.
Umilyenye: Russian Christian Orthodox Ecstatics who seek visions through an state of raw emotion and religious ecstasy brought by the vision of religious
iconography and holy symbols.
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