Sandy petersens cthulhu mythos (1) 191

Windwalker Cult
Those who worship Ithaqua the Windwalker know that
their ultimate fate is likely to become a wendigo—a
cannibalistic monster that moves with the wind. The
Windwalker attracts mostly wild folk, trappers, or
other explorers who dwell in the polar regions and
form unsophisticated but brutal and murderous cults.
In a very real sense, worship of the Windwalker is not
a choice, but a logical consequence of his followers’
increasing blood lust and ferocity.
Typically, such a cult cannot coexist with an
agrarian civilization, though raiders or nomads sworn
to the Windwalker often maintain a high standard of
living parasitically by preying on others. They pillage
and loot more stable cities or lands, taking what they
will and destroying the rest.
When the Windwalker’s cult reaches a certain
critical mass, it begins to spread as a plague, and waves

Eventually, enough would-be wendigos and their allies
create an organization of criminals to prey on others.
At first, they may only strike at outlying homes or
small groups of wanderers, then eventually escalate
their campaign to attacking small settlements. They
may participate in piracy.
At this point, Windwalker cultists often come in
contact with a gnoph-keh, and some of their number
are well on the path toward becoming wendigos. All
are inspired by Ithaqua’s personality and look forward
to his increasingly common visits to the mortal realm.
By this time, they can present as organized opponents

to a whole band of adventurers. They may even have a
home base from which to operate.

The Ice Crusades

of frantic cultists hurl themselves against entire nation-

As multiple rapacious bands join together and Ithaqua’s

states, destroying them, and moving on as their thirst

influence spreads, eventually whole tribes may fall

for plunder and destruction requires.

under his sway, and in the end, Ithaqua’s awful army

The Windwalker cult starts out small and grows

goes on the march. The winter winds howl and the

through three stages until it reaches a bloody crescendo

snow blasts as the Great Old One and his minions

of cannibalistic carnage.

descend upon the rest of the world in the fury of total

The Loneliest Cultist

In the beginning, Ithaqua is merely a horrendous
monster. He preys on individuals, driving them mad
until they begin to eat the flesh of their own kind
and one day turn into wendigos. Over time these
cannibalistic criminals may grow to sufficient numbers
to reach the next level of the Windwalker cult.
During this period, the Windwalker primarily acts
as the source of some particularly dangerous wilderness
predators. He is not determined to craft a cult but

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The Robber Band

war. Heedless of the outcome, they throw themselves
with unholy abandon at the forces of rationality,
civilization, and learning, desiring only to rend and
devour flesh.

Windwalker Cult Gifts

‘‘ The Lesser Transformation: The cultist
begins the process of becoming a wendigo (page
396). Killing and eating more victims allows
for the completion of the transformation.
‘‘ The Greater Transformation: Rare and difficult,

merely to give rise to as many wendigos as possible,

this gift begins the process of turning a wendigo

sowing the seeds of madness and destruction.

into a windwalker wendigo (page 398). This