Blight Cult

The Blight Cult is a formidable and unique faction in the Sector. It can trace its history to the 1800s, to a British librarian named Alastair Morrow. Morrow discovered an ancient magical text, called Codex of Blight, in an abandoned Howard vampire tomb, and used it to teach himself the dark art of necromancy. Morrow kept the knowledge to himself, until he died in 1876, when his more ambitious daughter Lucinda discovered the book. Lucinda showed off the book's knowledge to her friends in secret, and so began the cult. Lucinda styled herself as a goddess named Blight, able to transcend life and death, and give the gift of eternal life.

History
In 1908, Lucinda and her closest followers fled to the USA after their headquarters underneath the city was discovered while building the Tube. They established a new stronghold in the town of Morton, Illinois. The cult thrived in a compound built outside the town, until 2206. Lucinda disappeared without a trace that year, and in her absence, her disciple Edward Fell became the new leader. He took the cult in a much more aggressive direction, blaming the outside world for Lucinda’s disappearance (despite many analysts suspecting Edward killed her). He declared war on non-believers, declaring everyone must be converted or killed. Edward claims to have channeled Lucinda’s spirit, and has styled himself as Fexis the Corruptor, Bane of Life.

Organisation
The Blight Cult is a very authoritarian state, with little to no freedom for its subjects. All people in Blight Cult lands are required to convert to the Blight Faith, worshipping Lucinda and Fexis as deities. Anyone who does not convert is enslaved.

Government
The Blight Cult operates as a theocracy, with a group of necromancer priests making and enforcing all laws. This group is called the Dark Conclave, and entry is required to learn the secrets of necromancy.

Territory
The Blight Cult has conquered a large swath of territory, from Omaha in the west to Minneapolis in the north, to St Louis in the south and Columbus in the east. Morton is their capital city and official seat of power, where the Dark Conclave meets. Fexis has erected a gigantic fortress in Cairo, Illinois, known as the Blackwall. He lives and rules from there.