#totlo lore

[twooftheluckyones]

How did the cult initially react to Narinder post-battle, and how did it change over the years until he became a god again?

If you want drawing ideas, I think it'd be cool to see a rough layout of the cult over the years or something.

Cult lore go!

As far as the cult layout goes: At the start, Una couldn't keep the cult together at all. She wasn't a fighter, leader, or even a god. She had the crown and nothing else. The bishops would send raids, or dissenters would start a rebellion, or many other things that all ended with her dead and the cult in ruins. However, Narinder simply pat her on the back and sent her back again. In the first panel here's an example of the time. Temporary dwellings, a small temple, and not much else.

After a long, long period of training with Narinder and the twins, Una finally made some headway. She was able to fend off raids with the help of her new enforcers, manage followers effectively with the help of Narinder, and eventually killed Bishop Leshy. The cult finally had room to breathe, and things became more permanent as shown in the middle panel! And lastly, after all the bishops are defeated, Narinder freed, and peace made, we have the current state of the cult. Tall buildings, elegant decoration and civic planning, and a massive temple! Una and Narinder both run things hand in hand, with Narinder using his experience and administration skills to handle the behind the scenes work, while Una uses her people skills to handle appearances! Its a team effort, and fitting too, as they are bonded as gods.

Narinder after the battle will be detailed further in our comic Luck of the Lamb, but most people didn't really think he was real. Una told the disciples that he was coming, but the average follower worshiped the lamb rather than the mystical god they'd never seen.

As for how they acted when he was actually freed, he earns quite a sour reputation at first for being rude, intimidating, and generally grumpy. Being the god of misfortune and death doesn't earn you many favors, and as detailed in the fic Festival of New Life, many people are way of him even after he and Una make amends. We'll show more of this as we get more comic pages done!

[twooftheluckyones]

-Narinder is a demigod catdog.

-The bishops are all Shamura's little child soldiers.

-Una could totally be 30ft tall if she wanted, but it feels weird to her so she stays small.

guys whats your weirdest/most unique/or silliest cult of the lamb headcanon

[twooftheluckyones]

The Sire of Shadows

Erebus, the old god of Shadows, and his disciple Feon. Erebus kept his disciples as a harem, much like many gods, but never had kids as he feared possible usurpers. A demigod is a potent foe, and the god of shadows saw threats in everything. Feon was disloyal, and used her own power in the miracles of shadow to conceal Narinder from him, but it didn't last long.

Erebus was a master of trickery and deceit, and his disciples practiced it just as well. One was greedy, or some might say hungry, for the power of the crown. The Fox tricked Erebus into a fatal trap, allowing a rival god to strike them down. Said god was none other than Shamura, who had only just recently begun their conquest of the old gods. However, instead of giving the Fox the red crown, Shamura kept it for their own plans, and the Fox has held a grudge ever since.

In the war between gods its normal for a new god to take over their followers and dispose of the disciples. It was only with her power that Feon was able to hide away young Narinder, pleading with her head on a chopping block to spare her child. The kitten spent years in hiding, and his oldest memories are of lurking in the shadows, stealing food, and endless desperation. His mother's memory is nothing but a vauge face, far too young to remember. It was only years later when Shamura found a little sneaky three eyed cat in their temple did they make the connection between the disciple and their now dead god. A lost demigod, already quite proficient in miracles and sneaking, was a powerful tool to have.

And thus the red crown was handed down from father to son, and from it came Death.

[twooftheluckyones]

Heads or Tails. Woo hoo! 300 followers! Thank you all so much. As always I like to remind that our ask box is open for silly prompts or drawing requests. GET IN THERE! But we got something else for y'all! Lore dump? Lore dump! We wanted to yap off about how our Narinder and Una's powers work in our AU, but this requires a bit of context in how gods work in general. A god is a sum of its devotion, the raw power poured into it by the will of mortals. Much like a fire, devotion can be as simple as a candle or as raging as a bonfire. A god channels their devotion through a Conduit Crown, which allows them to manipulate the universe. These powers are basic at first, but eventually form themselves into a Domain, or an area of expertise and control a god has. For example: Heket controlled Famine, and in it both hunger and feast. Shamrua, a more aged god, had a wider domain of both War and Peace but also Knowledge and Unawareness. Originally, Narinder was the god of Death, raised by Shamura to blend with the shadows and assassinate rival gods, but his hunger for a larger domain led to his family fearing his rise to power and thus his imprisonment. When Una was given the red crown, she channeled Narinder's energy through herself. She was not a god, simply a vessel, a mortal given the power but not truly the one commanding it or being worshiped. However, as time went on, her followers began to slowly worship her instead. It wasn't by their own choice, mind you. She preached the gospel of the red crown, but mortals saw her feed them, shelter them, and protect them. Its difficult to praise a god you've never met while the one who saved you from being sacrificed is right there cooking soup for the cult. Thus she began to form her own godhood, as mentioned in part one. Her domain was Fortune and change, as she was both quite the lucky lamb and the harbinger of a new era. Lucky to be the last one found. Lucky to be saved by the god of death. Lucky to always get good dice in knucklebones. Narinder could sense this, but his fondness for her and the promise of freedom allowed him to ignore it. A problem that would eventually solve itself. Except it didn't. When fate came to be and their blades met, Una triumphed against Narinder and stripped him of his godhood. But she didn't want to. She had always wanted to rule by Narinder's side, and be his most loyal follower forever. A dream kept deep in her heart from the first days of her revenge, even if it was impossible from the start. So in the apex of battle, when the swirling energy of destiny filled her blade, Una's raging power changed things without her even realizing. A crown cannot lie on sit upon two brows, but a throne can be wide enough for two to share. And with a fateful bargain, a new crown allows them to rule side by side, intertwined as their roles combined. Post ascension, Narinder's old power now belongs to both of them, though each still has a unique domain. Una still controls fortune, ranging from anything to getting lucky in a card game to bumping into your soulmate by pure coincidence, but her power also alludes to growth. Her power manifests as intense bursts of energy, lightning that strikes hard and fast leaving opponents nothing but ash. Narinder's power still pertains to death, but now his domain is Decay and Misfortune. Stubbing your toe, getting rained on, and so many worse fates. His power forms as inky blobs of wispy shadow, corrosive and consuming. Powerful in their own right, their strength only grows when they come together. When life and death meld, their ability carries the strength to change almost anything they desire, if the bickering pair can agree on it. They exist together now, united as gods for eternity.

[twooftheluckyones]

What do the average cult followers look like(clothes/fashion) and how do their houses look like?

LORE DUMP WOOO

In our cult, there are three separate "tiers" of followers. Mere civilians, the enforcers, and disciples. At the bottom we have average followers, who are simple civilians that make up the bulk of the cult. They wear the usual robes, nothing particularly special unless their job demands it. They do mostly manual labor, with the vast majority of them being farmers. Our cult has large lumber and stone industries, so some followers are lumberjacks, woodworkers, stone masons, and many other specialized skill-sets often passed down through their families. Civilians don't often participate in rituals and the divine, though they do attend weekly sermons. They live in simple homes, though that is largely dependent on their family wealth.

In the middle tier is the enforcers, who ensure order in the cult, carry out doctrine, and patrol the streets. Crime isn't common in the cult, but as the community grew into the hundreds and Una found herself spread thin, Narinder proposed the special group to help her. Enforcers are well trained and enjoy special privileges, but the selection process is strict and demanding to ensure loyalty and ability. They wear quilted coats that provide protection. They are lead by Kaynke, the disciple of loyalty.

Finally we have the disciples, a selective group that we've spoke about before here! They wear some fancy silk robes and live in the secluded temple grounds.

[twooftheluckyones]

Disciples

Pictured above left to right: Zepar, he's the head chef. Gemma, she's lead disciple. Hano, he's the head of arts and crafts, plus sin.

Any god needs faith, but the devotion of a common follower pales in comparison to that of a dedicated disciple. In the world of Luck of the Lamb, disciples are a select handful of the many hundreds of people of the cult, numbering roughly around a dozen. The path to becoming a disciple is long and rigorous. A follower must first dedicate a serious amount of time to studying. Their initiation test will involve being heavily questioned on divine history, arts, fluency in the demonic language, and many more topics that the average follower will not be normally educated on. While school is provided for every member, the topics are simple and only begin to brush against the large degree required to pass discipleship initiation. Additionally, a follower making their attempt will need to prove their loyalty and devotion for many months or years prior, regularly attending sermons and participating in the more basic rituals to build their rapport. Some followers try for decades to become a disciple, and for many it never becomes more than a idle fantasy. If the follower passes their initial exam, they will be dubbed an initiate and taken into the fold. Disciples do not typically mingle with the outside followers, living inside an exclusive section of the temple only accessible to disciples. The initiate will be given a necklace of proven loyalty, but they are far from receiving their halo. For five years they remain on probation, never leaving the protected inner area as they slowly adjust to their new life. A disciple gives themselves fully to their faith, expected to abandon their possessions, family, and more. They are expected to follow any order, perform any task, and do it all with a smile on their face knowing its for the good of the cult. What happens beyond this point is known only to those who pass it, and there is no return. If one fails their initiation, either by attempting to leave or failing to integrate properly, they are never heard from again.

At the end of their probation, an initiate is tasked with the final test of their unwavering loyalty. They must place their head on the chopping block, passing into divinity like the Lamb they worship did as well. Resurrection is only used in this exact situation, so the initiate has no way of knowing what will truly happen, but they must go in without hesitation to prove they trust fully in the divine. They must be willing to die without question. Only after a new scar decorates their neck upon their revival do they earn their halo and become a true disciple.

Many followers have an idealized concept of what a disciple does. Many see the mysterious lifestyle, living so close to the fabled Lamb, and can only dream. The reality is much more intense. Disciples follow a strict schedule of daily chores and prayer. Initiates are often tasked with preparing meals, cleaning, and other rudimentary tasks. Disciples themselves have many duties, ranging from delivering sermons and minor blessings to the wider flock and producing art in glory of the Lamb and Death.

But of the duties, one of the most important was rituals. The average follower has very little to do with complex rituals, which for the vast majority of the flock have been adjusted to seasonal festivals more approachable to the uninitiated. However, beyond the locked doors of the temple complex, disciples still perform the horrifying and intense rituals that the faith demands. Deep in the temple, dissident prisoners are sacrificed, lust flows freely, and true power is wrought. Their necklaces, given to them upon becoming a disciple, allow them to tap into the devotion of the flock and become a conduit for it. While normally they then pass it on to their gods, they may use some to use curses if needed.

[twooftheluckyones]

So does the cult have any poop villagers? If so i usually just sacrifice them as fodder because of bad stats or they just piss me off

Unironically, in all 3 COTL save files we have, EVERY SINGLE NARINDER IS A COPROPHILE. Why he gotta do that. WHY.

Regardless we're gonna use this as an excuse to ramble about our lore. In our AU, we've got our Sewer Crew. It's been hundreds of years since the cult was started, and now it's a large town, home to almost a thousand members. One of the improvements that's been developed since then is that of a water and sewage system. It provides clean, fresh water for the cult to use in drinking and bathing, as well as sewage.

These three fine folks are the ones in charge of making sure the system works. Mayla is the newest plumber, and she's only in the job to fund her studying to become one of the Lamb's disciples. Tanbo is far more enthusiastic, having worked with plumbing since he was a puppy. His passion for the job might be questionable if you're the type to judge. Finally we have Gus, who was old enough to be one of the original designers and builders of the water and sewage systems. He lost his sense of smell decades ago.

They'll be showing up in our AU soon. Stay tuned!

[twooftheluckyones]

First off I LOVE the lore omg-and secondly since the crown's power split, how did the followers react to the new co-leader? How did Narinder react to suddenly having his domain somewhat shifted to be the counterpart to his once-vessel?

Well, this will be detailed in our comic later on, as it causes a fair amount of turmoil! Narinder was always in the back of Una's sermons, and she never tried to undermine his authority or legend, but her followers grew up watching her bless them, save their lives, and guide them. They might have heard her preach about the god of death, but it was impossible to guide the flock to ignore her own influence. Over time, many of them started to even assume Narinder didn't even exist, but was rather a mythical figure that lived on in scripture to keep sinners from straying. Now imagine their surprise when he's actually real. However, he still lacks their devotion and struggles to earn it. Narinder's style of godhood is far crueler, much like his siblings, and doesn't earn much favor when compared to Una's gentle but firm guidance. Nevermind that he and her are at odds for a long time. Even after the events of Luck of the Lamb, many people still struggle to accept Narinder as their new co-god, though he's found a niche in the festivals of the fall and winter where the dead and darkness are a focus. As for Narinder's reaction, he's beyond livid at first. Thousands of years working towards victory against the old gods, only to be betrayed by his family, chained for another thousand years, and then betrayed by his vessel and closest friend right on the cusp of victory. Even when their relationship settles he doesn't always enjoy feeling like the "number two", and he often feels that the followers only respect him out of fear and respect for Una. Even stranger is his new domain over not just death but general negativity in general. His powers are strange and unfamiliar, and he has very little control due to his limited devotion. To him, a former god with power overwhelming, the sudden change to being nothing but a novice again at something that was normally so easy is nothing short of maddening.

[twooftheluckyones]

I love the concept that Aym is secretly an idiot while showing none of it except on the most random of times

He's an idiot when it comes to academics and such. He kind of spent all of Narinder's homeschooling goofing off or going off into the expanse of the Gateway to visit Mimi. However, he's still very skilled with a weapon and he did pay attention to the cool stuff like funerary practices and necromancy. He knows all the bones of a skeleton and can identify species, age, sex pretty much at a glance. He's got his wits about some things, just uh, not most of them. Bit of a himbo, little hot headed at times, but a good guy.

Baal was the studious one, far more dedicated to Narinder and trying to be the 'good twin'. He absorbed all his teachings like a sponge, but as a result, kind of fell behind socially. He's polite but very awkward with anyone except a select few people. He'd rather keep to himself and read. Now in the cult, he's Narinder's office assistant and top disciple. His patience makes him a good buffer between followers and gods. His brother, however, is exempt from being treated politely.

[twooftheluckyones]

Is there a reason Aegis is so cruel to thier cultists?

Cruelty by his god now passed down to his followers.

Aegis was very much like Una, the endling of a species hunted for its prophecy. But his Narinder was far crueler. He used his vessels to lure goats out of hiding. Had them hunted just like the bishops. He even granted his crown to some with promises of safety if they started a cult, only for him to betray them as goats gathered and were thusly culled en mass. His Narinder knew that he only needed the last goat, so the sooner he killed them off, the better.

His philosophy with Aegis was hardly better. Una's Narinder is cold, calculated, but he isn't blindly cruel. Aegis' enjoyed their misery, relished in the cult's agony. Since many of them were formed followers of his siblings, he saw no reason to not inflict suffering on them after they'd left him chained for millennia.

Aegis started in it for revenge, but grew to enjoy the power. Running all his life, finally given power and the chance to inflict pain on those who wronged him. As he grew in strength, mortals turned to nothing but toys to play with for his amusement.

In the end, it was his Narinder that made him that way, and in the end Aegis repaid it in kind. When the god boasted of his culling of the goats and demanded his sacrifice, Aegis struck him down. Now a mortal, the one who waits was powerless to prevent himself from becoming another toy for the last god. And thus he cooked him alive and had his flesh with his disciples, the creator consumed by the monster it made. Now, with nothing to do but watch eternity pass by, Aegis passes his time by being just as cruel as his old master.

[twooftheluckyones]

Hi Cake! Hi Gem! first of all: i appreciate you guys work so much second of wich: i was about to waste some of my time doing asks for some creators but this one is more to not lose the promise. this is embarrassing cuz i was going to do a ask about baal and oko when their first art came out but *oops* now my question doesn't make sense cuz apparently our boy baal won't build a family. but in case he could, would he commit the same "accident" as his brother or narinder would give him a proper "the talk"? anyways sorry for anything. have a nice day.

Baal did all his reading, and so, knows indeed where babies come from. There's a couple of factors preventing him from pulling the same stunt as his brother:

Baal is, academically, much smarter than Aym

Baal is dating a cis guy

Now, in this universe, that won't stop you from having a crotch goblin of your very own. There's actually two ways to cook up an egg. The old fashioned way, which Aym became very familiar with, and divine intervention.

If a couple that can't do it naturally desires children, they can request a ritual from Lady Lamb, and make that happen. Essentially Mating Tent mechanics, where she provides a godly blessing. The egg just kind of forms out of the couples energy, so no worry about who's laying it.

So, if Baal and Oko did want a family at some point, they could, but it would be very embarrassing for Baal to ask that of his stepmom.

For now, his neices and nephews are plenty enough.

[twooftheluckyones]

What level of technology is the Cult at? Is there stuff like electricity, plumbing, etc?

Mostly a late medieval era inspired period. They have a lot of wooden and some stone buildings, indoor plumbing and sewage, civic services like schools and libraries, but the social structure is very much still 90% of people being farmers. No electricity yet, but they do have record players and other simple machines. It took Una roughly 300 years to defeat the bishops, and in that time she gathered a large number of followers which led to a number of innovations. What started as tents and dirt paths turned into multistory homes and paved brick roads. The town is very large, extending far beyond the original area we see in game. The trees have been cleared away to make room for farmland, while the walls were reinforced to protect against attacks from both heretics and wild monsters. The temple itself was expanded on with an entirely new building. Inspired by European cathedrals it now has a large central hall to house the huge number of followers, as well as two tall bell towers, a library, school, and an interior courtyard. This inner area is where the Divine Family resides, as well as the disciples.

[twooftheluckyones]

In the Beginning...

By the time of our story, many of the old gods are long since dead. Battled and beaten by none other by the God of War themselves, along with their family. But it was not always this way. There was a time long ago where the war against the old gods raged, and Shamura, clever as they were, needed allies.

So when reports reached them of a thief breaking into their chambers and nearly getting away with it, they could not help but be curious. Many assassins had been sent to test them, and none had so much as reached their temple walls. Who could be so skilled as to reach the very heart of their fortress alone?

A little starving kitten, desperate but cunning, hardly fits Shamura's idea of a master thief. But there is opprotunity in this lone and desperate soul, an ally to be found, family to be gained.

And who can resist such a cute face?

[twooftheluckyones]

Festival of New Life

During the spring festival celebrating the end of the winter, Narinder struggles to accept his new place in the cult as co-leader and reformed god.

We've been working on this one for a bit and finally got it wrapped up, I hope you like a cute little one-shot with some lore and relationship drama!