Cult Icon-Bearer

Saves: Willpower +5, Toughness +4

Proficiencies: Athletics +3

Raised Icon. Cult allies within 30 feet gain +1 to Willpower Saves and Morale checks while the icon is aloft.

Weight of Blasphemy. Enemies that start their turn within 15 feet of the icon suffer -1 to saves against fear.

The Icon Endures. If the bearer falls, another cultist within reach may take up the icon as a reaction, gaining this stat block's traits.

Icon Haft. Melee Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d8 + 1 bludgeoning damage.

Plant the Standard. The bearer fixes the icon in place. Its auras persist at that point even if the bearer moves or dies, until the icon is torn down or destroyed.

Rally the Faithful. One fleeing cult ally within 30 feet immediately stops and turns to fight.

Morale: Will not abandon the icon; dies holding it upright or planting it where the cult must rally.

Tactics: Position the icon where the mob needs spine and make the party cross the mob to reach it. Handling the captured icon afterward should be its own bad decision (Corruption exposure).

Loot / Evidence / Hooks: The icon itself: a Corruption hazard, a cult holy relic, and an Inquisitorial bounty, in whichever order the party discovers.

The Cult Icon-Bearer carries a blasphemous standard that steadies heretic hearts and gnaws at loyal ones. The bearer is nothing; the icon is a battlefield-wide morale weapon on a pole.

Use this enemy to make a cult formation hold under fire and to give the party a visible, hateful objective in the middle of the mob.

Low durability, negligible attacks, strong ally morale support, passive fear pressure, corruption risk on contact with the icon.

Raised Icon. Cult allies within 30 feet gain +1 to Willpower Saves and Morale checks while the icon is aloft.

Weight of Blasphemy. Enemies that start their turn within 15 feet of the icon suffer -1 to fear saves.

The Icon Endures. If the bearer falls, another cultist within reach may take up the icon as a reaction.

Plant the Standard. Fixes the icon in place; its aura persists there even if the bearer moves or dies.

Rally the Faithful. One fleeing cult ally within 30 feet immediately stops and turns to fight.

Morale: Will not abandon the icon; dies holding it upright or planting it where the cult must rally.

Tactics: Position the icon where the mob needs spine — the center of the line or a choke the cult must hold. The party will want to destroy or capture it; make them cross the mob to do so. Handling the icon afterward should be its own bad decision (Corruption exposure).

Full Stat Block Priority: Medium