Cults

There are several major cults known to be operating throughout Western America. They all have at least 50,000 members and their operations are big enough to be tracked by most major security forces.

The Human League

No, not, "don't you want me baby", but a weird cult who are anti-Evolved.

Where they're from - originated in LA in 2026. the founding member was Dr. Jenkins, a doctor who came into contact with several Evolved children at work, and developed a hatred for them from then on. He began by telling other doctors at conferences that the Evolved were pure evil, who carried a plague, but when most took no action, he started The Human League. They now have 60,000 members from Night City to San Diego.

What they believe - that all CyberEvolved are not part of mankind. Dr. Jenkins repeats this daily to himself, and preaches it to his followers. This is the main reason for their being. The theory is based upon the fact that the Change really does change the subject into something new, so technically they are no longer human. Who wants aliens on our planet, Dr. Jenkins asks. So far, his followers have found no answer.

Who they are - most membes are normal people who have seen the Carbon Plague take family members, or witnessed an Evolved kid gunning down a shopkeeper for petty cash. They see this and presume that the Change has done this to them, so the Change must be stopped. The rest of the cult is made up of the hard-core followers, who actually resent the Plague for whetever reasons they have, and are doing something about it.

How they act - most members do little, except for watching out for obviously Evolved children in their neighbourhoods. They try to get neighbours involved in the cult, and promote it at rallies and demonstrations. However, there is an elite band who do nothing else but hunt down the Evolved and take them out. They are funded by contributions from other members, and are the hard-core boys who do the dirty work. The Police do little to nothing to stop them, because in a roundabout way, they are actually doing their work for them.

Silent Light

Far-out worshippers who are into sun gods and waves from the cosmic rifts. Real loonies whom society mocks.

Where they're from - no-one really known where they started out. They have been around in one form or another for hundreds of years, from sun worshippers to techno-freaks. It is commonly thought that the cult originated in Europe in the Dark Ages, and was brought to America with the Pilgrim Fathers. None of this can be proven, though, and the members of the cult do little to aid any theories. Believed to number over 200,000, they are a secretive bunch who rarely reveal themselves.

What they believe - each member seems to have a different angle on the cults official line. This has something to do with a God who will come from the skies to reap something on his subjects. Followers of this believe that by worshipping him, he will spare them from death when the time comes. Then there are the less official lines. Some think that the God is a comet, which will colide with the Earth in 2100. It was expected to happen in 2000, but nothing materialised.

Who they are - it is hard to say, because the members are secretive and do not often reveal themselves. It is known that some live together in retreats, away fom publicity and mockery. Others are probably just normal citizens, who turn to their God after a hard day at the office. Each city has a leader, who conducts prayers and organises events. Any public gathering will be under the pretense of a rally, or animal rights meeting, but never openly a Silent Light occassion.

How they act - very secretive. No-one openly campaigns for their cause, because that would attract attention. This would be inviting trouble. Membes stick together, in the company of those they can trust. One member gained notoriety when in 2020, the policeman Peter Howells was in a hostage situation, and he broke down having a vision, resulting in the deaths of the hostages. Events like this have, over time, taught them to remain alone. No-one gives them hassle if they do this.

Orthodox Chapel

Christian Church rejects who support a hard religious line.

Where they're from - a very recent cult, founded in 2021 in the Washington area. They formed as a reaction to the Christian Church's official weakening of its attitude towards recruitment. After this event, many priests and clergy across the country abandoned the Church and turned instead to Orthodox Chapel.

What they believe - mainly that the Church should take a harder line and promote Christianity to the new wave of Evolved, who they believe could help their cause. Their line on Evolved is unusually relaxed, considering their other extreme views, including not allowing women to become priests, compulsory Church attendance and the reinstatement of the English monarchy as the country's ruling body.

Who they are - the most influential members are the small proportion of vicars, priests and clergymen who left the Church in 2021 and now hold much of the power within the organisation. The rest of the cult is made up of ordinary people, all Christians, who agree with the new harder stance towards the country's religious attitude. In total, they are believed to number around 25 million, with the greatest densities being in rural areas.

How they act - not usually violent, although it is not unheard of from them. Typically they will organise rallies in the cities to encourage membership, several of these being held in every major city each year. Other activities include door-to-door recruitment, festivals and on occassion anti-Church demonstrations. If proceedings do turn violent it is likely to be due to the presence of the most extreme members, who are often recruited from other cults.