"From a distance, this vineyard looks immaculate, its grapevines perfectly kept, almost as if sculpted into the hillside. It's almost hard to resist paying such a place a visit..."
- —Description of the Cult of the Exquisite Cadaver from Total War: Warhammer III.[2]
The Cult of the Exquisite Cadaver is a Chaos Cult devoted to Slaanesh, the Chaos God of pleasure and pain. Founded in the town of Bögenhafen in the Empire, it moved to the Imperial capital city of Altdorf in order to escape the witch hunters.[1a]
The cult was founded by a wealthy woman named Marlene Gebhardt. Her uncle, a wine merchant, bequeathed her a significant fortune, initiated her into the worship of Slaanesh, and introduced her to dreamwine.[1a]
The cult formed around a small coven which was assembled through Marlene's dreamwine visions. They now recruit aspiring actors and dancers with promises of physical perfection through exercise, mental training, and cosmetics. But initiates end up blackmailed or hopelessly addicted, totally dependent on Marlene's leadership.[1a]
Organisation[]
"While passing through your lands, your forces are approached by a wine merchant, a middle-aged lady calling herself Marlene. Although she appears somewhat aged, it is clear that there's a youthful vigour about her, perhaps beyond beyond what might be expected. In fact, such curiosity is soon confirmed as she offers to sell some of what she calls her "Dreamwine" for a very reasonable price, explaining that drinking it brings good health, long life and a youthful appearance. A small amount of coin is exchanged for the dark, syrupy vintage and she soon leaves, heading in the direction of the nearby vineyard..."
- —A Wine to Die For, Total War: Warhammer III.[2]
The cult's founder, Cult Magus, and chief visionary is Marlene Gebhardt. A dreamwine user, Marlene has so far resisted the call of the Grey Mountains vineyards but knows they will be her eventual fate. She possesses the Sting Ring, a ring set with a crystal which conceals a Daemonic wasp. It is one of a set of six ancient pieces of Daemonic jewellery once possessed by various Champions of Slaanesh. Gebhardt desperately desires to obtain the other five.[1a]
Marlene Gebhardt's right hand and enforcer in the cult is the Chaos Warrior Katarina Briesach. Petite and pretty enough to pass in Altdorf society, Briesach is unnaturally strong and a capable warrior. Secretly she hopes to oust Gebhardt as leader of the cult. She has acquired the Scorch Stud, another of the set of six pieces of Slaaneshi jewellery, and passed a fake copy of it on to Gebhardt.[1a]
Gebhardt has two other lieutenants. One of them is a witch.[1a]
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Altdorf - Crown of the Empire (RPG)
- 1a: pg. 216
- 2: Total War: Warhammer III (PC Game)