Cult Insurrection Cell

Proficiencies: Stealth +5, Fieldcraft +5

Rehearsed Rising. If the cell is not surprised, it begins the encounter in prepared positions with one trap, charge, or barricade already in play.

Cell Structure. The cell fights as a horde with two or three embedded specialists — a leader, a demolitions expert, or hybrid muscle — who act independently of the horde body.

Breaking the Riot. The cell takes one extra die of damage from area effects. Below half Vitality, its Coordinated Ambush Volley loses one damage die and its specialists begin acting to escape rather than to win.

Coordinated Ambush Volley. Ranged Attack: +5 to hit, range 60/180 ft., one target or a cluster of targets within 10 feet of each other. Hit: 2d10 + 3 ballistic damage. Targets in the area caught out of cover make an Agility Save DC 13 or become Pinned until the start of the cell's next turn.

Blow the Charges. The cell detonates prepared demolitions at a point it rigged before the fight. Creatures within 15 feet make an Agility Save DC 13, taking 3d6 fire damage on a failure or half on a success. The blast may instead collapse a section of cover or seal an escape route, at the cell's choice.

Scatter Protocol. The cell breaks into fragments that flee along mapped routes at full Movement without provoking Reactive Fire, carrying the conspiracy's secrets with them. Each fragment that escapes makes a future mission harder.

Morale: Fanatical while the cell leader stands; if the leader falls, survivors scatter to warn other cells rather than surrender.

Tactics: Run the cell as an authored ambush: the party enters ground the cult prepared, and the first round belongs to the enemy. The real stakes are informational — captured members, documents, and who escaped to warn the brood. A cell wiped out cleanly is a victory; a cell that scatters successfully is a problem.

Loot / Evidence / Hooks: Coded cell orders, a demolitions inventory with items still unaccounted for, and a contact list pointing one layer up the conspiracy.

A Cult Insurrection Cell is a complete uprising in miniature: neophytes with guns, a hybrid enforcer, a demolitions plan, and a schedule. It is what the party finds when they pull one loose thread of the conspiracy.

Use this enemy as a self-contained encounter package for raids, ambushes, and the investigation phase before the general uprising.

Horde-scale Vitality with specialist teeth, coordinated ambush opening, demolitions and area denial, morale tied to the cell leader.

Rehearsed Rising. If the cell is not surprised, it begins the encounter in prepared positions with one trap, charge, or barricade already in play.

Cell Structure. The cell fights as a horde with two or three embedded specialists (leader, demolitions, hybrid muscle) who act independently.

Coordinated Ambush Volley. The whole cell fires on a signal; targets caught in the open make an Agility Save or are Pinned.

Blow the Charges. Detonates prepared demolitions: area damage, collapsed cover, or a sealed escape route.

Scatter Protocol. The cell breaks into fragments that flee along mapped routes, carrying the conspiracy's secrets with them.

Morale: Fanatical while the cell leader stands; if the leader falls, survivors scatter to warn other cells rather than surrender.

Tactics: Run the cell as an authored ambush: the party enters ground the cult prepared, and the first round belongs to the enemy. The real stakes are informational — captured members, documents, and who escaped to warn the brood. A cell wiped out cleanly is a victory; a cell that scatters successfully makes the next mission harder.

Full Stat Block Priority: Medium