Church of Cyric

The Church of Cyric was the organization of fanatics and zealots dedicated to the worship and increased influence of Cyric, the once-mortal man that ascended as the god of lies, strife, murder, and eventually madness.

The holy symbol of the faith was a jawless skull set before a purple of black sunburst. Individual temples modified the symbol as they saw fit, with additions such as a sword added beneath the skull, or flames within the skull's eyesockets.

Organization
The "church" was a vast and far-reaching organization that comprised individual cell-like cults within many major cities across Faerûn. Each cell kept the location and activities of their group secret to others, often leading to conflicts between individual cells.

Each Cyricist temple was led by the "most powerful" local priest or blackguard, established with a hierarchy that was dictated by this leader. Rivals often vied for power, often leading to regular and disruptive change in leadership and overt feeling of paranoia among church leadership.

Activities
In brief terms, the church of Cyric's collective aim were to destory any groups or individuals that they perceived to exist as a threat or rival, and accumulate more power for themselves and their god.

Tactics
To achieve their goals, Cyricist clergy members resorted to nearly any tactic available to them including spying, kidnapping, infiltration of other churches, economic disruption, and of course murder. In some cases, temple leaders brainwashed converts to enlist them for missions that they knew would end with the individual's death.

Individual agents preferred to carry out operations alone or in small groups, as that could more easily act without being noticed. These small groups only acted in coordination with one another when a strong-willed leader arose to take control of their collective aims.

Dogma
Cyric was viewed by his faithful as the only true divine power in all of Faerûnian cosmology.

Orders
For a time, the church of Cyric was wholly intertwined with the enigmatic organization known as the Zhentarim. When Cyric arose to godhood and took over the portfolio of Bane, many Bane-worshipping Zhents immediately turned to their new god, at least for a time. Others Zhentarim members merely paid lip service to Cyric while secretly continuing to venerate Bane, or his divine son Iyachtu Xvim.

The anarchic nature of Cyric's church led to the formationnumerous splinter organizations and factions. Among these were:


 * Flames of the Dark Sun, an order of assassins headquartered in the Cloud Peaks.

Relationships
The church of Cyric had no true allies, but at times partnered itself with other malevolent organizations or the more-monstrous races Realms, so long as their goals aligned with its own. Throughout the years, Cyricist clergy members have worked alongside the Cult of the Dragon as well as the Order of the Long Death.

After return of the god Bane to the Faerûnian pantheon, the dynamic between the Cyricist faith and the Zhentarim reversed, and members of the Black Network became counted among the church's most hated enemies.

Members
The faith attracted some of the worst of Faerûnian society: unabashed liars, murderers, spies, and shameless traitors to home and country. They were counted among the least loyal people of the Realms, even among their fellow faithful.

To coincide with intrinsic lack of order, the church welcomed any and all that chose to venerate Cyric. Converts to the faith were suject to horrific rituals and in some cases torture, meant to prove their devotion to the One and All.

Sword Coast
Mount Waterdeep was a sacred site to the worshipers of Cyric as this was the location of his apostheosis. As such, many of Cyric's more fanatical followers would make regular pilgrimages to the city of Waterdeep.