The Leviathan Cult from 'Dark Shadows'

The water shall nourish each grain of sand, wedged between ancient sacred stones, and guide us to a threshold of a time to be, and restore our flesh and bones.

Possibly one of the more dangerous threats that faced the Collins family was the Leviathan Cult. Made up of beings from the primordial, the cult played in the background of Dark Shadows over a period of episodes, culminating in the rise of their leader, the defeat and attempted resurrection, and even attack in different timelines. What makes the cult dangerous is their utter dedication to their dark lords, the complete mastery over events, and their ability to bide their time.
The Leviathan Cult

The Leviathan Cult is made up of countless members across the globe from every walk of life. The purpose of the cult is to return to control of the Earth to its eldritch non-human denizens. To this end, the Leviathan Cult utilizes magic, connections, agents, and artifacts to bring about their control. Most of the appearance of the Cult in Dark Shadows deals with the return of the cult's master, a mysterious being whose presence is kept in an artifact called The Naga Box. Through use of blackmail, mind-control, magic, and other means the Leviathan Cult managed to force Barnabas Collins to do their bidding, ultimately meeting their end when Collins joined forces with their leader in the cult's destruction. Although Resources are not necessarily addressed, it is clear that an Cult of this size operating as long as it has would require significant resources. That being said, I would place the cult’s total resources at Mn (75), with accessible resources depending on the individual and the current purpose.

Typical cult members run the gambit of statistics and abilities. The cult seeks out people of importance and either converts them directly (with the use of the Naga Box) or through deals and pacts made. The Cult has many members versed in the occult, and every member (converted or not) have the following talents due to their membership in the cult:

• Occult Lore
• Knowledge: Leviathan Cult
• Knowledge: Dark History of the Naga
• Knowledge: Areas of Power

Leviathan cult members identify themselves with either lockets or rings bearing this symbol:

The Naga Box

The Naga Box is an artifact of great power, storing the life-essence of the Cult's leader and possessing great powers of its own. The Naga Box can act as a device of spirit storage at Un (100) rank, allowing those of greater power to work through the box as if a conduit. Any person who stares into the box must make a Psyche FEAT vs. Am (50) intensity or be converted into a Leviathan Cultist. The powers that drive the Leviathan Cult can use the box to enact mystical effects, ranging from Am (50) to Mn (75) level curses or effects. The box and its denizen will not function if it would endanger the purpose of the Cult, such as reveal powers. Such effects included cursing Barnabus Collins with vampirism again. For some reason, some people were unable to be converted due to something about their genetic structure. The Judge’s discretion on what that means, but some people simply are impossible to convert with use of the box.

The box is considered indestructible unless taken to a Leviathan altar where it can be destroyed as it becomes vulnerable. Although initially considered one of a kind, it was revealed that a second box existed and was nearly used to revive the cult after its destruction. Once the box is destroyed, those converted to the Leviathan Cult immediately revert back to normal with little or no memory of their actions while part of the Cult.


The Altar of the Leviathan

The Altar of the Leviathan is a mystical artifact which is used in the summoning and preparation for the birth/return of the Leviathan leader as well as other key functions. The Altar of the Leviathan is as old as the cult itself, and even without the Cult it remains and exists, although the Altar itself can only be summoned and used by a true cultist.

The Altar’s unique abilities include:

• Teleportation*: The Altar itself can travel from place to place whenever it is summoned, crossing real time, alternate timelines, and dimensions with Un (100) ability. The Altar cannot be ‘summoned’ by normal means, requiring a high-ranking member within the Cult to do so (The leadership of the Cult).
• Pocket Dimension*: The Altar has a small cavern-like sub-dimension underneath of the mail altar itself, which is accessible as the Altar can separate and open. The cavern is where the leader of the Leviathans resided until released into the Naga Box, and can hold a small group of people comfortably. The area is never seen, but those who enter do so either to be punished, to be transformed into a true Leviathan (also never fully seen), or to be converted into the Cult. Those that are inside the Altar when it disappears and travels travel with it, as Barnabus did when he entered in the 1790s and reappeared in the 1970s.
• Conversion to the Cult: Much like the Naga Box, the Altar could convert someone into a Leviathan Cultist by having the person either enter the cavern-dimension underneath the Altar or by being used as part of ceremony on top of it.
• Site of Magic*: The Altar is the main sacrifice and mystical point for the Leviathan Cult, and as such any magics attempted by the Cult at this location gain a +1cs to effectiveness. The Altar functions so long as the Cult functions, and destroy one the other is also destroyed. The Altar, the Naga Box, and the Cult are all tied together in this way. The Altar is the only location that has proven capable of destroying the true Naga Box.

Cult Limitations:
While the Cult is well-connected and powerful, they have several limitations to their abilities and ultimately to their goals:

• Fear of Werewolves and Ghosts: The Leviathan Cult fears werewolves and ghosts to such the degree that they attempt anyone who may either be a werewolf or is a werewolf. Werewolves are immune to the manipulations of the Cult, and seemingly cannot be controlled or manipulated. Furthermore, magics and charms used by the Cult seemingly have little to no effect on Werewolves when they have changed into their bestial mode. With spirits and ghosts, it is strongly suggested that the Cult’s activities cannot affect the truly dead (Although undead like vampires can easily be controlled). The Cult attempts at many points to destroy focal points and objects belonging to spirits as they fear spirit. Much like werewolves, the Cult’s magic has little effect on the dead.
• Resistance: As stated earlier, some humans are simply unable to be controlled by the cult. Theorized by Dr. Julia Hoffman to be related to some sort of genetic mutation, some humans cannot be swayed by the box or altar to join the cult.
• Secret: The cult is only truly effective when they are secret. Knowledge of the cult and discovery causes the cult to retreat, unless situations are in motion for large events or planned activities (such as raising their lord or capturing Barnabus Collins for use, etc).
• Reputation: Although secrecy is very important, those in the mystical circles are aware of the cult and aware of both their goals and reputation.

Known Leaders of the Leviathan Cult
Several individuals have had high leadership positions within the Leviathan Cult. Most notably the cultists known as Oberon and Haza, Barnabus Collins (When under the sway of the cult), and Jeb Hawkes – the destined leader of the cult who ultimately turned against it.