Worm Cult
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 | Apocryphal This article's subject is only mentioned in apocryphal sources, i.e. official BattleTech products which are not clearly Non-canon but do not meet the current Canon criteria either. For more information, check the Canonicity section. |
- Ash Witch Cult redirects here.
The Worm Cult is the local religion on the planet Niomede-4, a buddhistic-inspired faith centered on the Niomede Worms that live in the planet's crust. In 3028, the Worm Cult spawned the Ash Witch Cult.[1]
Ash Witch Cult
Niomede-4, an airless world where life is only possible in underground cities, featured an understrength militia lance consisting of three captured Hermes II 'Mechs; the four qualified MechWarriors were local celebrities. In 3028, Niomede-4 came under attack from rogue elements of the Defenders of Andurien and Warrior House Kamata assumed overall command of the defenders, refusing to consider surrender because of a secret research laboratory they were guarding on Niomede. Following a modest contribution to the planet's aerospace defenses, scientist Ju Tang was hyped as a war hero by Capellan propaganda to boost the defenders' morale.
During the ground assault on the underground capital city of Bram-Ze, the Niomede militia lance saw combat for the first time ever and lance commander Niu Doun panicked, froze up, and abandoned his post during the fight, leading to the death of another militia MechWarrior. Attacking BattleMechs entered the cavern city on the next day, pushing back the outnumbered defenders. On the second day of fighting, Ju Tang and Niu Doun met by coincidence. The military-trained Doun explained the grim tactical situation to her as the battle unfolded. After they briefly discussed their respective roles–she craved to act but had no function besides hollow representation, while he failed to act when he had the chance–, a bitter remark from Doun that all Capellan citizens should fight inspired her to spring to action in her bright yellow dress to rally the militia and civilians alike, brandishing a Liao flag and leading them against the 'Mechs. Suddenly an earthquake hit the city, not an unusual occurrence yet a morale boost for the defenders under the circumstances as it briefly halted the attackers. In her hysterical frenzy Ju Tang declared this to be a sign of support by the Niomede Worms and led the hopeless charge on in religious fervor. Lacking any military training, she tried to attack a BattleMech with what she believed to be a missile launcher but in truth was a fire extinguisher, and was in turn shot by a 'Mech laser that set her body aflame. Although gravely injured, Ju Tang mysteriously survived.[1]
On 3 October 3028, Niu Doun–now a crazed pariah driven by self-loathing following his disgraceful conduct in the battle–preached to the masses on a public place in Bram-Ze. He declared Ju Tang an avatar of Niomede's Worm Cult religion, "cleansed in laser fire". Although his preachings were rooted in the Worm Cult, Doun denounced the original Worm Cult, its temples and buddhistic-inspired rituals as "dead", creating a separate, independent movement. His words caught on and sparked religious worship of Ju Tang's charred and comatose body, now commonly referred to as the Ash Witch ("Aschehexe").[1]
The Ash Witch cult quickly spread beyond Niomede-4, with the gray-clad Niu Doun as its increasingly powerful prophet.[1] Its followers became also known as the "Grays", for donning gray robes and using gray makeup (apparently mimicking the gray color of Niomede rocks or Niomede Worms); it also became fashionable to inject silicates from Niomede Worms despite the sometimes serious adverse health effects.[2][3] The Grays believe that the strange meandering scars on Ju Tang's body hold messages from the Niomede Worms and attempt to divine their meaning.[2][3]
Immediately after the fighting on Niomede and the inception of the cult, Ju Tang's body was transferred from Niomede-4 to the ducal seat on Principia for medical care.[1] Dr. Yol Song, the expert tasked with looking after her, also received secret orders from Duke Pao Tell to prepare a body double, so that the Duke could retain some leverage over the increasingly powerful sect in case Ju Tang should awaken or die.[2]
In early 3031, the Ash Witch cult swept Grand Base and incited patriotic fervor in the Capellan defenders, which became a factor in pushing the Andurien occupation forces offworld.[4]
Around the same time, Richard Humphreys found that the mother of his child had become a member of the Grays, and joined the sect himself to be with her. However, upon learning who he was, the staunchly pro-Capellan sect attempted to abduct him; Emma Centrella led his bodyguards in a rescue mission that saved the drugged and indifferent Richard from the sect's clutches.[3]
The cult was an economic boon for Niomede-4, as it brought pilgrims and tourists to the formerly unimportant and forgotten world.[4]
Also in early 3031 word got around that the Ash Witch had supposedly woken from her coma.[4][3]
Canonicity
Ju Tang, the Ash Witch, only appears in German novels by Bernard Craw that were not translated in english and thus do not meet the current criteria for canon.