The Esoteric Cult of the Devourer
Audio
Lore
Among the many disparate saurian tribes, civilizations, and warbands, perhaps the one common shared trait is that no two groups can agree on the true meaning of the prophecies and plans of their gods and predecessors. Many meetings between frog mages result in months or years long debates, a silent psychic tangle which may only resolve in further disagreement. Some splinter groups are even lead not by a frog mage but by a lizard or gator, whose unique reading of some ancient tablet inspires their followers into a new plan. Other groups dig deep into esoteric knowledge, intent on the belief that intense study and meditation will reveal some as-yet undiscovered hidden plan within the plaques and writings they hold dear.
One such esoteric group is the Esoteric Cult of the Devourer. Some years ago, a Kappa - a turtle-like creature of great magical power - came upon a lost tablet commanding for the slow simmering of animal bone, the frying of aromatics, the boiling of starch. This wise turtle-priest, named Tampopo, commanded his skink servants to produce this concoction, and ate it beneath the stars. With each bite, his mind was set at ease... and became more open to the prophecies of the stars above. Upon drinking the last drop of this savory stew, his amphibian eyes gazed up.
Before him, bright and glimmering, the Devouring God, a serpent of glistening light, slithered across the night sky. He watched in awe, as the legless lizard seemed to consume moons and stars, growing longer, coiling, until it had consumed the night sky itself. The glory of the universe had opened up to this turtle mage, its truths revealed by the simple art of meditating over a bowl of soup.
The kappa reveled with such ecstasy that hours had passed without his noticing, and morning came. In a delirious state, the turtle called for his followers to listen to the Plan which had revealed itself to him.
Spoke Tampopo the Kappa: "Travel the lands. Search for the holiest meals, with which to commune with the gods and spirits of the world. Consume, and praise the Devouring God.
"This form of esoteric decadence, being perhaps heretical to the more orthodox readings of the tablets of the Old Ones, may make us many enemies. So be it! We shall travel far, so as to find those few from each tribe who may be sympathetic to our cause. No more shall we divide by spawning, by tribe, by kin. We are all children of the feast, and where there be a gluttonous gecko, a famished frog, a starving saurian, a gormand gator, a cranky chameleon, a skink in need of satiation, we shall be there, bowls in hand, ready to welcome them into our kitchens. We shall seek friends in all lizard tribes!
"It is not mere earthly cravings we wish to sate, but a spiritual hunger - the hunger of the Gods! By eating, we feed the Devourer. Soon, the truth shall be revealed, and the scourge of evil, chaos, undeath, and corruption shall be purged from our world.
"The warm bloods may stand in our way, but in their self-destructive ways have always hindered us, the true protectors of the world. Seek not to agitate, but if they should sacrifice themselves on our blades, then let us feast upon them. No more blood sacrifice under the sun - we shall ritually consume our fallen foes under the stars. And when the reckoning comes, and the Devourer God eats the evil of the world, they shall thank us!"
Soon, reptiles of all kinds flocked to this new and radical message. On a warm night, should the savory scent of soup cross your nose in the wilderness, fear not! For the nomadic Cult of the Devourer brews their nightly soup. Should you seek their protection, simply offer chicken bones to render stock, and your friendship is guaranteed. But selfishly guard your lifestock, and you will find yourself between the maws of a great and slithering beast!
Organization
A rough painting planA (work in progress) roulette for painting lizard minis
The minis in this army are (mostly) inspired by real-world herps. Attempts are made to pull from a variety of lizard families, but emphasis is on eye-catching and beautiful lizards, rather than being truly representative of all lizards (which tend to be single color, green, brown, or black, which does not make for an interesting army). Some models are exceptions: the Kappa is inspired by a variety of artworks and statues depicting the mythological creature, and many of the crocodilians are brightly colored like Kremlings rather than their muted real-world counterparts.
Minis
Turtles and Frogs
Coming soon...Skinks, Chameleons, and Geckos
When autumn arrives, green anoles scurry about, prepping for the storm...