Editing Ivelka (section)

===The Strategies of Ivelka and the Cult===

1. <b>Corruption of Holy Orders</b> Ivelka’s cult specialises in infiltrating established religious institutions, corrupting their members from within. Her agents target clerics, paladins, and priests who are struggling with doubt or disillusionment, offering them an alternative to the gods’ seemingly indifferent rule. Over time, these corrupted holy figures become subversive agents within their own orders, spreading the cult’s doctrine of despair and undermining the faith of those around them. This weakening of religious institutions is key to Durnstang’s plan, as it diminishes the power of the gods to influence the Weave and maintain the Cycle of Mortality.

2. <b>The Rejection of Resurrection</b> Ivelka teaches her followers to reject the divine magic of resurrection, believing that it is a tool used by the gods to keep mortals bound to life’s suffering. Her followers actively seek to destroy places where resurrection magic is practiced and sabotage rituals that bring the dead back to life. They spread a belief among the common folk that resurrection is unnatural and a violation of the true release of death. This weakening of resurrection magic subtly frays the Weave, as it undermines one of the fundamental ways in which the Cycle of Mortality is maintained.

3. <b>The Death’s Embrace Ceremonies</b> Ivelka’s cult holds secret ceremonies known as <b>Death’s Embrace</b>, where willing participants are ritually sacrificed in an effort to sever their souls from the Weave. These ceremonies are designed to prevent the souls of the dead from moving on to the afterlife or being reincarnated, sending them instead into oblivion. Ivelka believes that by doing this, she is freeing her followers from the gods’ control. In truth, these rituals weaken the Weave further, as the souls of the dead are no longer passing through the natural cycle of life and death, creating dangerous tears in reality that Durnstang can exploit.

4. <b>Plagues of Despair</b> Ivelka uses her death domain powers to create magical plagues and spread despair among the masses. These plagues are not just physical diseases, but magical afflictions that drain the will to live, leaving those affected in a state of hopelessness. Entire villages and towns have been brought to the brink of mass suicide under the influence of these plagues, as people lose all hope and embrace death as their only escape. These plagues weaken the societal structures that bind mortals to the Weave, as communities collapse under the weight of despair.

5. <b>The Destruction of Soul Anchors</b> Ivelka has a particular hatred for the idea of reincarnation and the immortality of the soul. Her cult actively seeks out <u>[[soul anchors]]</u>—powerful artefacts and locations where the Weave is particularly strong, allowing souls to return to life or pass on to the afterlife. These anchors are often found in ancient temples, sacred groves, or the tombs of great heroes. The cult seeks to destroy these places, disrupting the flow of souls and further destabilising the Weave. This weakening of the natural order makes it easier for Durnstang to unravel the Weave entirely.

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