The Cult of the Damned was, according to Azerothian mythology, a religion which existed in the world of Azeroth. It was founded in 22 ADP by then human mage Kel'Thuzad, who was a close agent of the Lich King. The tenets of the religion are that the Lich King is a god whom adherents must serve and obey, that they should strive to earn the right to die and rise as honorable state of undead and that they will live eternally on Azeroth. Kel'Thuzad attracted many of the Lordaeron's overworked laborers and disenfranchised masses with promises of social equality and freedom of hardships but also nobles and landowners whom he told the lower classes were a tool which would be used to defeat their enemies and let them acquire more wealth. During the Third War, the Cult of the Damned was responsible for distributing plague cauldrons throughout northern Lordaeron. The cauldrons affected the cities' population and the victims turned into Lich King's mindless undead servants who were named the Scourge. After the Third War, the Lich King was able to command the Cult in a physical body. Members the the Cult were secretly present in nearly every city of the Alliance and the Horde and the distribution of the plague cauldrons continued. After the War against the Lich King occurred, the Lich King worshiped by the cult was destroyed with Bolvar Fordragon becoming the new Lich King. Nevertheless, the cultists were still devoted to their original purpose and were active in Plaguelands where they were attempting to spread plague and to re-blight or prevent the healing of the lands. After Lich King Bolvar Fordragon was destroyed, the Jailer reformed the Cult and positioned himself as its new god.