Line #31 PlayingWith/ApocalypseCult


1	'''Basic Trope''': A religion or sect obsessed with the end times, sometimes to the degree of trying to bring it into existence.
2	* '''Straight''':
3	** Teot'wakiism has its central belief in an [[TheEndIsNigh immediate or near-immediate]] [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt apocalyptic end of the world, of time, or of humanity]].
4	** Teot'wakiism's central belief is in an immediate or near-immediate end of the world/end of time/end of humanity AND believes that it must play a central role in inviting it or causing it to happen, anything from setting up the birth of or summoning an end-times figure to killing people or committing mass suicide.
5	* '''Exaggerated''':
6	** [[TheKlan Teot'wakiism's]] ''only'' tenet is the apocalypse/end of the world, which according to it must be produced [[ApocalypseHow immediately and in any way possible]], and it's willing to welcome [[OmnicidalManiac anyone]] [[PsychoForHire who is willing]] [[AxCrazy to destroy or kill]] under its expansive umbrella.
7	** [[NGOSuperpower Teot'wakiism]] actually ''has'' the supernatural or natural means to produce said apocalypse, and is engaged in a battle for the world/humanity/the fabric of space-time itself with any sane creature who doesn't want to be supernatural entity chow/wiped from existence/killed by weapons of mass destruction/etc
8	** Teot'wakiism has become a mainstream religion or the ONLY religion in the entire setting or in a specific locality in it.
9	* '''Downplayed''':
10	** The end of the world/end of time/end of humanity is one belief - maybe even a central belief - in Teot'wakiism, but it's not the center of their faith. None but the most [[TheFundamentalist radical]] members believe the end to be imminent, and only a few scattered fanatics believe that they should bring it about.
11	** Teot'wakiism believes that disasters and the end of the world / end of civilization / end of humanity are possibilities, maybe even definite possibilities, but emphasizes [[CrazyPrepared individual emergency and disaster readiness, safety, and planning]] rather than violence or bringing on the apocalypse -- a member might have a well-stocked fallout shelter, but they won't be out killing people or committing suicide.
12	** Teot'wakiist belief emphasizes the oncoming apocalypse, but only in order to back up their tenet that members must do everything they can to make the world a better place ''now'', [[TheAntiNihilist because it might not be there the next day]].
13	* '''Justified''':
14	** [[CrapsackWorld The world]] ''[[TheExtremistWasRight is]]'' [[JustBeforeTheEnd actually ending]] in the setting.
15	** The threat of apocalypse is the only thing that can motivate people to do anything about it/to stop it (as in the downplayed version)
16	** The followers of the cult wish to remake the world into something they find better than the one that exists now, but the two cannot exist simultaneously and so they conclude that the current one must be wiped away before the better one they envision can be created.
17	* '''Inverted''':
18	** The Immortalist Society believes in [[ImmortalitySeeker human, animal, and planetary immortality as its primary tenet]], and seeks to [[SaveTheWorld prevent apocalypses and disasters]], [[EverybodyLives stop any and all unnecessary and unwanted death]], and promote the virtues of [[LivingForeverIsAwesome a peaceful universe striving toward eternal, immortal life for all]].
19	** The Downplayed version can become an inversion: doomsday preppers who wish to protect and reestablish civilization and humanity after the apocalyptic disaster they predict.
20	** Teot'wakiism believes that the world has already ended, and that current civilization is a pale imitation of the original created by the few survivors. The religion wishes to re-create the original pre-apocalypse world.
21	** Teot'wakiism is obsessed with the idea of creating new worlds and universes. They have put a lot of thought how to do this and how to progress to it. As technology hasn't caught up they are mostly harmless scientists who spend their time developing theories and proposals to work to that goal.
22	* '''Subverted''': The Teot'wakiist cult only serves as a front organization for [[TheManBehindTheMan Emperor Evulz]] to advance his ''other'' plan, namely to steal some [[WeaponOfMassDestruction WMDs]] and frame the "crazy cultists" for it, then use it to blackmail the world powers.
23	* '''Double Subverted''': Evulz really is a practicing Teot'wakiist in secret, and his ''other'' plan is to trigger an apocalyptic nuclear war, in accordance with Teot'wakiist beliefs. He uses other cultists as cannon fodder because they're going to be dead soon anyway if all goes well, so why not have it be in support of their cause?
24	* '''Parodied''': Teot'wakiism believes the world ends in a distinct way every five minutes thirty two seconds and three tenths of a second only to be perfectly recreated with no memories of the prior apocalypse. [[SaveScumming They believe it is because god is bored]]. Few are sure if they are [[PoesLaw serious]] or a ParodyReligion.
25	* '''Zig Zagged''': Teot'wakiism places heavy emphasis on the imminent apocalypse... as something to be ''opposed''; Teot'wakiist doctrine states that the only reason the world doesn't end every day is because Teot'wakiism actively prevents it from happening. They're generally as harmless as any mainstream religion, but they do have a few odd fundamentalists that believe that keeping the world from ending requires more extreme measures, as well as their own version of HollywoodSatanism that holds the belief that holding back the apocalypse isn't worth it and they should trigger it themselves, both to just get it over with and so they can have some measure of control over the outcome.
26	* '''Averted''': Teot'wakiism does not center around apocalyptic ideas. [[MysteryCult Whatever]] [[ScamReligion they]] [[PathOfInspiration might]] [[ParodyReligion be]], end-of-the-world preachers they are ''not''.
27	* '''Enforced''':
28	-->'''Scriptwriter Alex''': We need [[NebulousEvilOrganization a religious terrorist faction]] to oppose our heroes in this mission, and [[MiddleEasternTerrorists the Muslim threat]] [[DeadHorseTrope is too cliche already]]... Name something close you remember...\
29	'''Scriptwriter Bob''': Hmm, Aum Shinrikyo--\
30	'''Scriptwriter Alex''': Got it! Let's base the enemy faction on Aun Sher-- what is that called again?
31	* '''Lampshaded''':
32	--> '''Teot'wakii Leader''': Brethren, TheEndIsNigh! The [[BeastOfTheApocalypse Carnivorous Space Goat]] is soon coming to graze on the universe! I hear his hoofbeats drawing closer every second!
33	--> '''Teot'wakii Cultist''': WithAllDueRespect, Leader, you've been saying that for years and the Carnivorous Space Goat hasn't come yet. Come to think of it, the very idea of a world-ending Carnivorous Space Goat seems rather silly.
34	--> '''Teot'wakii Leader''': It ''definitely'' won't come if you keep that defeatist attitude, docent. Now ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve, brethren!
35	* '''Invoked''': Emperor Evulz covertly creates Teot'wakiism and shapes its unique theology/eschatology. He may not believe the end of the world is coming (after all, he wants to conquer it), but hordes of people who do are [[UnwittingPawn easy to manipulate]] and cost nothing to maintain.
36	* '''Exploited''': Emperor Evulz feeds the Teot'wakiists information on his rivals. He may have as much contempt for them as anyone else, but the opportunity to send a horde of suicidal fanatics after his nearest enemy is just [[PragmaticVillainy too good to pass up]].
37	* '''Defied''': Teot'wakiism actively denies any concept of an apocalypse and insists the universe will go on forever. Any member that says the world will end, let alone tries to cause it, is branded TheHeretic.
38	* '''Discussed''':
39	-->'''Det. Alice''': I got an assignment to infiltrate and investigate a secret mystic organization again.
40	-->'''Capt. Bella''': I hope it's not another band of loons preaching about the End of Time and stuff?
41	* '''Conversed''': "Do you notice that every other [[GenericDoomsdayVillain maggot who tries to destroy the world]] is a leader of some wacky quasi-religious group all too reminiscent of Jim Jones?"
42	* '''Deconstructed''': Teot'wakiism's [[TheEndIsNigh constant doomsaying]] and ActivistFundamentalistAntics causes everyone outside the cult to brand them as lunatics. This feeds into a persecution complex, and Teot'wakiists begin plotting a cataclysmic terrorist attack to [[WhosLaughingNow spite the naysayers]], causing a SelfFulfillingProphecy.
43	* '''Reconstructed''': When SignsOfTheEndTimes actually start appearing, the naysayers begin to think [[TheCloudcuckoolanderWasRight the Teot'wakiists were right all along]] and begin to convert. Eventually, the moderate converts outnumber and expel the extremists, and [[HeelFaceTurn the cult's beliefs become less violent]].
44	* '''Implied''': Teot'wakiism's beliefs are never explored in depth, but Teot'wakiists are {{Death Seeker}}s to a man, display an unhealthy interest in {{Fantastic Nuke}}s, and wear a symbol the audience would recognize as a DoomsdayClock.
45	* '''Played For Laughs''': Teot'wakiists are so incredibly stupid that they are harmless. They think turning out a light will bring the universe to an end.
46	* '''Played For Drama''': Alice converts to Teot'wakiism after a DespairEventHorizon and ends up as the biggest threat to the heroes, turning a straightforward, solvable problem into a disaster.
47	----
48	The world is always ending over at the ApocalypseCult
49	----
50	%% Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:

Context PlayingWith / ApocalypseCult