#askdisgrace

[loominggaia]

"This is it," I said. "This is the day Disgrace finally gets some decent artwork!"

But then it wasn't, because this sketch sucks ass lmao :')

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[loominggaia]

Okay, new rule:

If you guys draw horny cheesecake fanart of a female LG character, you must then draw Disgrace in the same pose.

Even if it's just a shitty doodle, that is the tax you must pay for sexualizing the ladies. You must yassify the Divine of Hate.

(things got out of control while I was doing warmup doodles...I swear this started as a normal drawing, but I thought his pose was looking a lil sassy so I just went all in lmao)

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[loominggaia]

Goryx turbo-simping for Disgrace like a big gay loser will always be hilarious to me

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[loominggaia]

The cult is really stepping up their recruitment game with this fancy new ad!

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[loominggaia]

Speaking of Disgrace...

I think as more people encounter Isaac and see that he has the Divine Executioner, word will spread that Disgrace doesn't have it.

The dragon has lost its teeth, essentially. Disgrace has a LOT of enemies, and if there was ever a time to get the jump on him, that time is now. He's scrambling to get that weapon back because the longer he goes without it, the more danger he's in.

Other divines, in particular, have major beef with him because they're the ones who have to share their existence with him for all eternity. If he succeeds at world domination, they will face an eternity of Hell.

The Executioner was the only thing keeping them off his back. Now that he has lost the only thing that can kill them, I feel like at least one of them is going to shoot their shot and try to imprison/disable him somehow.

Something fun to think about!

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[loominggaia]

The thought of Disgrace leading his army around is so funny to me because like...not all of his soldiers are monsters and undead. A lot of them are just regular-ass dudes who need to eat, sleep, and shit like everyone else. He's gotta hit the drive-thru at McDonald's and get 400 cheeseburgers to feed these stupid fucks once in a while. He's gotta shelter them in someone's cutesy bed and breakfast so they don't get cold and die. He has to essentially babysit hundreds of The Worst Men on Gaia as he takes them from point A to point B.

idk I just think there's some comedy in there somewhere.

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[loominggaia]

Did Disgrace really kill Arjuk or is that just something they believe?

This is highly debated by historians. The short answer is: no one really knows.

There are some things to consider about this situation:

The Divine of Hate we know today may not be the same one that Arjuk encountered (if he encountered one at all). Sometimes there are multiple divines with the same or similar titles, or one divine may have multiple titles. There are two known "Divines of Love", for example: Azizala and Karenza. But there may be even more Divines of Love, known only to obscure cultures.

The World Athenaeum has not registered every single divine on Gaia. They know there are plenty more hiding out there who don't wish to be identified.

I will also mention that throughout history, Disgrace has been blamed for a lot of shit that he didn't even do. When a government or entity causes some terrible calamity, it's very easy to blame the Divine of Hate instead of taking responsibility for it. It's not like Disgrace is going to defend himself and deny it, he doesn't care. He'll happily take credit for all the fuckups and disasters on Gaia.

Is it possible that Arjuk was slain by Disgrace? Absolutely. But as of now, we just don't know for sure!

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[loominggaia]

Disgrace: Behold my fearsome minions! Tragedy, Goryx, Splitter, and *squints at smudged writing on hand* Wrench.

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[loominggaia]

How exactly does someone join the cult of the Crescent?

Good question! I think if you're the type of cruel, ruthless person the cult is looking for, you'll just kinda end up there without trying. The Cult of the Crescent has agents everywhere, hiding in plain sight, but they tend to congregate wherever nasty business is happening.

Wherever there is misery and suffering, the Crescent is never far away. Crime dens, riots, disaster zones, slaving and trafficking operations, battlefields, prisons...places like this attract bloodthirsty individuals and Crescent cultists. When the two meet, recruitments happen.

The cult likes to prey on angry, desperate people who have nothing left to lose. People who have no qualms about hurting others and making the world a worse place, people who have lost all hope in life itself. The cult empowers these people to take their anger out on the world and make everyone around them suffer.

Everyone is welcome to join the cult, no matter their species, age, sex, or any other circumstance. There is no discrimination here! But not all who join will thrive; many are filtered out by their own conscience as the cult pushes them to commit worse and worse atrocities.

However, one who takes that first step in may not simply back out, because initiation requires committing an act of terrorism in the Divine of Hate's name. Now you are an enemy of regular society. No kingdom will accept you, but the cult will...so long as you keep terrorizing society. If you refuse, the cult will terrorize you.

The bottom line is, it's best not to engage with these guys at all. If someone reveals themselves as a Crescent cultist, don't even fight, just get the hell away from them. Even the most elite of these guys are just slaves, forced to serve the Divine of Hate.

Everyone who has ever joined this cult regrets it, but they have no power to leave. They gave that up the moment they betrayed society.

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[loominggaia]

Speaking of Dimmu Borgir, I think if the Crescent Cult had a theme song it would be "Progenies of the Great Apocalypse".

The cult's whole aesthetic is just corny symphonic black metal lol.

"The battle raged on and on Fuelled by the venom of hatred for man Consistently, without the eyes to see By those who revel in sewer equally

We, the prosperity of the future seal Cloaked by the thunders of the north wind Born to capture the essence of The trails of our kind

Zero tolerance must be issued forth Behind the enemy's line So it shall be written And so it shall be done

Discover and conceive the secret wealth And pass it unto your breed Become your own congregation Measure the sovereignty of it's invigoration

We, who not deny the animal of our nature We, who yearn to preserve our liberation We, who face darkness in our hearts with a solemn fire We, who aspire to the truth and pursue it's strength

Are we not the undisputed prodigy of warfare Fearing all the mediocrity that they possess Should we not hunt the bastards down with our might Reinforce and claim the throne that is rightfully ours

Consider the god we could be without the grace Once and for all Diminish the sub principle and leave it's toxic trace Once and for all"

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[loominggaia]

CULT OF THE CRESCENT, FAITH IN HATE

OVERVIEW

The Cult of the Crescent (also called the Crescent Cult) is a religious cult that worships Mankind’s Disgrace, the Divine of Hate. It is considered a terrorist group by every Great Kingdom, as the cult's manifesto is to create terror and misery to please their idol. Disgrace becomes more powerful by feeding on the pain of others, and he thrives in times of strife.

Their numbers have increased and decreased throughout history, along with their power and global influence. At its peak, the cult once took over Yerim-Mor Kingdom and installed the Divine of Hate as its High King. This dark period of history was thankfully brief, as his regime was overthrown and the cult was forced back into the fringes of society.

They have made a dramatic comeback in recent years, however, by using the Gold River War to their advantage. The cult's ultimate goal is to take over all Great Kingdoms and turn Gaia into a pit of misery, so that their idol may rule the world unchallenged.

The cult's symbol resembles the Divine Executioner, a legendary weapon that is heavily associated with Disgrace. Cultists often brand or tattoo themselves with this symbol to show their devotion.

Red, orange, and black are the cult's official colors. Red symbolizes blood, orange symbolizes fire, and black symbolizes hate.

CRESCENT CULT BELIEFS

-Overlord Disgrace is the rightful king of Yerim-Mor Kingdom.

-Gaia Herself should be enslaved to Overlord Disgrace.

-All who oppose Overlord Disgrace should be enslaved to him.

-Terror and agony are sacred. Terror and agony empower Overlord Disgrace.

-The Divine of Love and her Order of Love and Light are the ultimate enemies of Overlord Disgrace, and must be destroyed.

-Crescent Cultists are servants of Overlord Disgrace. They must be willing to die for his cause. Defectors should be eternally tortured to feed Overlord Disgrace.

-It is the duty of every Crescent Cultist to wreak terror whenever and wherever possible, in the name of Overlord Disgrace. Promoting love and virtuous deeds is forbidden. Assisting any Great Kingdom or other opposing faction is forbidden.

-Overlord Disgrace owns the mind, body, and soul of every Crescent Cultist. All friends, family, and material wealth must be surrendered to the Cult of the Crescent.

CULTIST RANKS

The Cult of the Crescent is divided into a hierarchy of ranks. Cultists ascend through these ranks by committing Acts of Terror in the name of their Overlord. Higher ranks offer more wealth, power, and dark blessings from the Divine of Hate himself.

Tier 0: Slave - Slaves of the Crescent Cult cannot rise to higher ranks. They are considered disposable workers and sacrifices, used for many unsavory purposes. Slaves are usually captured, but some are born right into the cult.

Tier 1: Maggot - The lowest ranking members. Maggots are assigned to filthy grunt work and are awarded nothing for it, so most of them live double-lives, keeping their cult involvement a secret. They must prove themselves to their local Crescent priest with Acts of Terror in order to move on to the next rank, and only then will they start seeing rewards. The vast majority of maggots die in service or get arrested before they can ascend.

Tier 2: Soldier - Crescent soldiers have committed enough Acts of Terror to be awarded armor, weapons, food, and shelter by the cult. They may also earn luxuries such as gold and access to harem slaves. These accommodations allow them to leave their old lives behind and dedicate themselves to the cult full-time. They are the backbone of the Crescent military. All soldiers have their faces branded with a permanent Crescent symbol, which makes it more difficult for them to defect, as society treats ex-cultists like pariahs.

Tier 3: Priest - Only the most worthy soldiers can ascend to priesthood. Priests are awarded with enchanted masks that extend their lifespans and increase their strength. These masks feed on the pain of others and can never be removed, so priests can never integrate back into non-cult society. Priests are mainly responsible for overseeing soldiers and leading them into battle.

Tier 4: Chief - The cultmaster selects only the best priests to become chiefs. They are awarded a set of enchanted armor and weaponry which cannot be removed. They have no choice but to fully dedicate their existence to the Crescent Cult, overseeing all ranks below them. They are assigned to the cult's most important missions. Chiefs require regular blood sacrifices to keep themselves alive. Their existence is very expensive, so they are few in number. When the cult conquers a Great Kingdom or establishes its own, chiefs are appointed kings of its territories.

Tier 5: Cultmaster - Occasionally the divine Overlord dies, and the cult is left without its leader for a full year until he resurrects. It's the cultmaster's job to manage the Crescent Cult until the Overlord’s return. The cultmaster also acts as the Overlord’s second-in-command, and is granted authority over all ranks beneath them. They are chosen from former priests or chiefs. Overlord Disgrace typically appoints just one cultmaster, but there have been instances in which he appointed multiple at a time for various reasons. Historically, having multiple cultmasters has always led to infighting and disastrous fracturing of the cult.

Tier 6: Overlord - There is, and only ever has been, and only ever shall be one Crescent Overlord, and that is Mankind's Disgrace. As Overlord of the Crescent Cult, he is entitled to supreme authority over all of its ranks, as well as High Ruler status of whatever kingdoms they conquer.

RECRUITMENT

The cult employs multiple methods to recruit followers. Most often, they seek angry, disenfranchised men and promise them great wealth and power upon joining. Once these men commit their first Act of Terror, they become enemies of society and have little choice but to stick with the cult. The further in they get, the more impossible it becomes to get out, so most cultists simply choose to dig themselves in deeper and strive for higher ranks.

The cult is also known to kidnap babies and young children, who they brainwash into obedient cult members as they grow up. The cult is all these children have ever known, so they tend to stay loyal until death.

Crescent slaves are sometimes forced to breed as a way to “farm” future cultists. This method is rather slow and resource-intensive compared to others, so it is less common.

Notably, the Cult of the Crescent is almost entirely populated by men. Women are usually not eligible for positions beyond slavery.* The cult believes that women are of little use beyond brood mothers, sex slaves, and grunt workers. Besides that, the cult is so violent and hateful that the few women who do manage to ascend ranks usually face disobedience, rape, and death by the hands of their fellow cultists.

(*Pyriads are an exception, who make up a decent portion of the cult's soldiers. They are infertile and too hot to touch, so other cultists generally leave them alone.)

Very rarely do women hold any authority. Occasionally a high-ranking cultist will marry one or more of his female harem slaves, and these women may gain a small shred of authority through that. Otherwise, they are expected to be quiet and obey the men around them.

LIFE IN THE CRESCENT CULT

No matter their rank, all cultists are expected to carry out Acts of Terror on a regular basis. These acts can take many forms, and all are valid so long as they create fear, pain, suffering, or weaken an enemy faction.

Arson, torture, rapes, bombings, and murders are all common Acts of Terror. Lower-ranking cultists may act alone or in small gangs, but higher ranks tend to commit larger, more organized attacks under the guidance of a superior, such as a priest or chief.

The cult also operates elaborate crime rings to generate funds for their cause. They are responsible for everything from petty theft to large-scale corporate embezzlement. They are known to involve themselves with corporate, political, and religious entities for financial gain, corrupting every entity they touch.

Once a person involves themselves with the Cult of the Crescent, it becomes very hard to detach from them. The cult takes great offense to defectors and will enslave any they catch without question. Some organizations, such as the Order of Love and Light, operate special programs to help people leave the cult and integrate safely back into society.

DOMINION OF THE CRESCENT

Disgrace usually tries to conquer existing kingdoms, but has also attempted to establish his own from scratch. This kingdom is known as the Dominion of the Crescent, or simply the Crescent Dominion.

Historically, the Dominion has never expanded beyond a handful of poorly-managed territories, and it has completely collapsed many times. Sometimes the collapse is due to attacks by enemy factions, and sometimes it is simply due to incompetent leadership.

The Dominion's economy functions purely on slavery and raiding. As a result, it makes a lot of enemies very quickly and tends to burn through all its resources attempting to defend itself. This fly-by-night kingdom just keeps rising and collapsing, often appearing in different locations, but always contained in the Serkel Desert region. Here, it can continue to leech off of Yerim-Mor Kingdom as it has always done.

Disgrace has made many attempts to expand his Dominion outside the desert, but neighboring kingdoms don't take kindly to this. They are always quick to stamp out his new settlements. Disgrace continues to fight an uphill battle, determined to reclaim Yerim-Mor's throne at any cost.

After that, all of Gaia is next.

SEE ALSO

Agony Awakens (story)

Ask - Disgrace

Order of Love and Light

Skorpius

Agony Cradle + Wretch

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[loominggaia]

I think of Justice as the Karenzan "Doom Slayer" of Looming Gaia.

She's a one-woman army, and inexplicably OP as shit. She rips through Crescent Cultists like a hot chainsaw through butter. Just utterly annihilates their outposts in a matter of minutes, using a combo of magic spells and industrial tech.

This bitch shows up wearing power armor with a magic staff in one hand and a Zareenite bazooka in the other, and the cultists already know it's GG. Hell, they knew it was GG when they heard the rock music blasting from her power armor's radio in the distance. It's like her personal war drums lol.

She's here to kick cultist ass and chew gum, and she's all out of gum.

(The Order of Love and Light only sends her as a last resort, because sending Justice is like sending a fucking nuke...There will be tons of collateral damage and unnecessary slave/prisoner deaths, but rest assured, every last cultist will be wiped from that area by the time she's through with it!)

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[loominggaia]

Why doesn't Mankind's disgrace just take over Yerim-mor if it's already about to collapse? Is he stupid???

Yes, he is stupid.

BUT ALSO...

Disgrace has no allies. None. Literally every faction on Looming Gaia hates his guts, and his bases are constantly getting gangbanged by multiple enemies at once. That's why it's so hard for him to build up his forces, and why they're always stretched so thin. He can't spare large armies for offense because he needs them for DEfense. And every time he dies, he bleeds resources, bases, and troops, which sets him back even more.

What I'm saying is: the second Disgrace's asscheeks touch the Morite throne, the other Great Kingdoms will gang up and wipe Yerim-Mor off the map. Disgrace held that throne once in the past, and ain't nobody wants to deal with that nightmare again. They're prepared this time.

At the same time, nobody like provoking divines, especially the Divine of Hate. They just let him do his thing for now, because for the most part he keeps his bullshit contained in Yerim-Mor territory. The Morites act like a sponge, soaking up all his abuse. But the second his forces leak into foreign places, they get stomped like roaches, whether by kingdom troops, tribal natives, or wild nymphs. Like I said, everyone hates the Cult of the Crescent. Nobody wants them to get a foothold in their territory, so they nip it in the bud.

As for Yerim-Mor, it's simply too late for them. Disgrace got his foot in the door after the Gold River War, when the kingdom was too weak to defend itself. Now he's established tons of little fortresses out in the Serkel Desert that are constantly churning out soldiers and oppressing the Morites. The cult is like an infection, and Yerim-Mor is fighting for its life. Meanwhile the other Great Kingdoms are standing around with gloves and Lysol like, "Nah you keep that nasty shit to yourself, Yerim-Mor..."

Anyway, Disgrace can't just walk in and plop his butt on the throne just yet. He knows he's going to get dogpiled the moment he does. So, his plan is to build up a respectable empire around Yerim-Mor until he has enough resources and troops to fight off the inevitable dopile.

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[loominggaia]

Been working on updated artwork for Disgrace. Ever wonder what he looks like without his cowl? Well here ya go. He has a few different outfits throughout the series so I want to depict more than one here.

I'm also tweaking his mask to make it more ambiguous. It's usually described as "a jackal mask" but it's not necessarily meant to be a jackal, or any known animal really.

Nobody really knows what it's supposed to resemble. Sometimes the protrusions on top are described as "ears", other times they are "horns". Sometimes the front protrusion is called a "snout" or sometimes a "beak". If it does resemble a creature, that creature is not of this world. ;)

[loominggaia]

niittinaatti Maybe I should stop simping for Disgrace at this point, maybe, just a thought

Like, sure, he commits vile atrocities and forges monstrous horrors beyond all comprehension to terrorize humanity...but just look at those abs!!! 😍😍😍

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[loominggaia]

I'm surprised Yerim-Mor kingdom is homophobic. Don't they have worse problems to worry about?

Most Morites actually aren't homophobic, this issue in this case lies specifically with the Cult of the Crescent. The cult uses Yerim-Mor Kingdom to farm victims they can kidnap/torture/recruit/whatever.

They intentionally sabotaged this kingdom's educational system, economy, and safety to keep its people poor and desperate, which leads to a lot of excess births. More births = more victims.

I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this...The Cult of the Crescent views Morites as livestock and wants them to breed as much as possible. Same-sex couples usually don't result in children, and the cult doesn't like that, so they discourage homosexuality by targeting these people and "making an example" of them.

Of course this will vary depending on region; the cult has a stronger hold on some territories than others. They get away with wilder, crueler behavior in more rural Morite territories, while the urban ones tend to be better protected by the kingdom guard.

Same-sex marriage is perfectly legal in Yerim-Mor Kingdom and most of the citizens take no issue with it (like you said, they have much more important things to concern themselves with) so LGBT people don't have to fear the law or society here. It's that damn cult they have to watch out for.

Then again, that's what everyone else has to watch out for too, so...bottom line: this place totally sucks whether you're LGBT or not.

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