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#41
Suggestions & Ideas / Re: New Books on the Faiths
Last post by malarite - Jun 20, 2025, 04:02 PMAbbathor, Candlekeep Studies
ABBATHOR
Great Master of Greed, Trove Lord, Wyrm of Averice, the Avaricious
Rank: Intermediate Dwarven Diety
Symbol: Jeweled Dagger
Home Plane: Dwarfehome
Alignment: Evil
Portfolio: Greed
Faithful: Dwarven- Misers, Rogues, and Shadow Dancers
Abbathor is the Dwarven god of greed. A dark horse amongst the dwarven pantheon, he represents not only avarice but a wily determination to protect what's important to you, no matter the cost. While any dwarf may offer a prayer the gods way if they feel themselves or their clan growing too apathetic, Abbathorans are usually the particularly ambitious of the group. They will sacrifice the blood of their enemies along with gems to their god annually, and in turn have their greed stoked. Abbathorans wish to gather everything they can and hold onto everything precious for as long as pheasible. This can make them cantancorous to work with, but the faith ultimately discourages infighting and growing in wealth by taking from each other. Most dwarves know the faiths evil tendencies, but most also trust the faith to steer such tendencies towards the clan's enemies and against barriers to their further prosperity.
Dogma: Toril's wealth was created for those dwarves crafty enough to capture it by any means necessary. Revel in the posession of all wealth that shines or sparkles, for its pleasing form was meant to bring you pleasure. Greed is good, as it motivates the posession and holding of all that is precious. Do not seize wealth from the children of the Morndinsamman, however, nor conspire against the favored of Abbathor, for strife in the name of avarice weakens the clan.
History: Based on small details in his origin legend, Abbathor was likely born between the time when dwarves first appeared in their current forms and when the dwarven overgod Moradin assigned the rest of the pantheon to their roles. Some claimed he used to have a different name though none knew what it was, while others insisted he had always been called Abbathor and simply used to have a different role. According to both Abbathor's priests and others following the Dwarven pantheon, the god used to be a diety concerned with the natural beauty of gems and metals. He had heavily covetted the position of patron god of gold dwarves, but trusted that simply doing his own job well enough would lead him to the role. However, when time finally came, Moradin named Dumathion as that position. Abbathor became spiteful, disdain between Dumathion and him continuing to this day. The god had decided that his only fault was simply not fighting for what he wanted directly and with enough passion. Abbathor vowed that day to never be in the same position again, where he is denied the thing he most wanted. Henceforth, if something appealed to Abbathor, he took it. He traded the tradition and honor of the dwarves for trickery and stealth. He began to preach the benefits of greed, a creed that quickly grew popular with an ambitious minority of Dwarven kind. Now, while Abbathor remains estranged, he is still fully a part of the Dwarven pantheon. Many priests of other Dwarven dieties consider Abbathor a distasteful, obsessed, and spiteful brother that nonetheless aids the pantheon in times of strife and who remains, at the end, a steadfast ally.
Clergy: Abbathor accepts prayers from and also has dedicated minority following from most Dwarven clans across faerun. No temples were seen during this research for they are nearly all secret, but according to clergy it is common for a large enough clan to have one active one at a time. The temples are reportedly extremely well decorated, usually painted in gold leaf and filled deep with precious stones and medals. There have been reported issues of the holy sites being mistaken for treasure chambers. They are tended to by dwarves in red lether armor and red caps: Clerics of Abbathor known as aetharnor (a dwarves word meaning "those consumed by greed"). They pray for spells at night. Solar eclipses, volcanic eruptions, or any other natural phenomenon that blocks the light of the sun during the day are causes for great religious celebration among the aetharnor, who use the cover to hatch their larcenous schemes. Once annually, aetharnor sacrifice an enemy of the dwarves (ranging from elves to umber hulks), opening the unfortunate's ribcage to create "Abbathor's purse," into which the penitent cast coins and gems. The entirety is then burnt in offering to the Trove Lord. Favorite sacrifices include orcs, trolls, and giants.
ABBATHOR
Great Master of Greed, Trove Lord, Wyrm of Averice, the Avaricious
Rank: Intermediate Dwarven Diety
Symbol: Jeweled Dagger
Home Plane: Dwarfehome
Alignment: Evil
Portfolio: Greed
Faithful: Dwarven- Misers, Rogues, and Shadow Dancers
Abbathor is the Dwarven god of greed. A dark horse amongst the dwarven pantheon, he represents not only avarice but a wily determination to protect what's important to you, no matter the cost. While any dwarf may offer a prayer the gods way if they feel themselves or their clan growing too apathetic, Abbathorans are usually the particularly ambitious of the group. They will sacrifice the blood of their enemies along with gems to their god annually, and in turn have their greed stoked. Abbathorans wish to gather everything they can and hold onto everything precious for as long as pheasible. This can make them cantancorous to work with, but the faith ultimately discourages infighting and growing in wealth by taking from each other. Most dwarves know the faiths evil tendencies, but most also trust the faith to steer such tendencies towards the clan's enemies and against barriers to their further prosperity.
Dogma: Toril's wealth was created for those dwarves crafty enough to capture it by any means necessary. Revel in the posession of all wealth that shines or sparkles, for its pleasing form was meant to bring you pleasure. Greed is good, as it motivates the posession and holding of all that is precious. Do not seize wealth from the children of the Morndinsamman, however, nor conspire against the favored of Abbathor, for strife in the name of avarice weakens the clan.
History: Based on small details in his origin legend, Abbathor was likely born between the time when dwarves first appeared in their current forms and when the dwarven overgod Moradin assigned the rest of the pantheon to their roles. Some claimed he used to have a different name though none knew what it was, while others insisted he had always been called Abbathor and simply used to have a different role. According to both Abbathor's priests and others following the Dwarven pantheon, the god used to be a diety concerned with the natural beauty of gems and metals. He had heavily covetted the position of patron god of gold dwarves, but trusted that simply doing his own job well enough would lead him to the role. However, when time finally came, Moradin named Dumathion as that position. Abbathor became spiteful, disdain between Dumathion and him continuing to this day. The god had decided that his only fault was simply not fighting for what he wanted directly and with enough passion. Abbathor vowed that day to never be in the same position again, where he is denied the thing he most wanted. Henceforth, if something appealed to Abbathor, he took it. He traded the tradition and honor of the dwarves for trickery and stealth. He began to preach the benefits of greed, a creed that quickly grew popular with an ambitious minority of Dwarven kind. Now, while Abbathor remains estranged, he is still fully a part of the Dwarven pantheon. Many priests of other Dwarven dieties consider Abbathor a distasteful, obsessed, and spiteful brother that nonetheless aids the pantheon in times of strife and who remains, at the end, a steadfast ally.
Clergy: Abbathor accepts prayers from and also has dedicated minority following from most Dwarven clans across faerun. No temples were seen during this research for they are nearly all secret, but according to clergy it is common for a large enough clan to have one active one at a time. The temples are reportedly extremely well decorated, usually painted in gold leaf and filled deep with precious stones and medals. There have been reported issues of the holy sites being mistaken for treasure chambers. They are tended to by dwarves in red lether armor and red caps: Clerics of Abbathor known as aetharnor (a dwarves word meaning "those consumed by greed"). They pray for spells at night. Solar eclipses, volcanic eruptions, or any other natural phenomenon that blocks the light of the sun during the day are causes for great religious celebration among the aetharnor, who use the cover to hatch their larcenous schemes. Once annually, aetharnor sacrifice an enemy of the dwarves (ranging from elves to umber hulks), opening the unfortunate's ribcage to create "Abbathor's purse," into which the penitent cast coins and gems. The entirety is then burnt in offering to the Trove Lord. Favorite sacrifices include orcs, trolls, and giants.
#42
Suggestions & Ideas / New Books on the Faiths
Last post by malarite - Jun 20, 2025, 04:00 PMThe current faith books in the server are copied from their relevant sections in faiths and pantheons. This is great information, but can be rather omniscient at times. I want to make drafts for new faith books that will be more grounded in what a realms author might be able to learn about the dieties. Depending on prominence, I plan to have up to 3 different types of book for any given god:
Faith, Candlekeep Studies - These academic journals will be the most comprehensive, essentially recording what can be found on a god as long as anything can be. They will be written by a sage in candlekeep based on research and will attempt to remain as neutral in tone and unopinionated as possible. These will likely be the closest to the current faith books.
What Dieties dont want you to know - These books are written by someone writing under a pseudonym who seems to have little more than the average knowledge of dieties. This lack of expertise however has not stopped them from publishing every secret, rumor, and harmful theory they can dig up on each god. Hopefully their identity remains hidden and the gods treat their obvious lies as something not worth dignifying with a responce, because these are going to make many clergy angry.
Propaganda - Books or chap books printed about a faith, by the faith, for reading by those outside of the faith.
I will reply to this post with drafts hopefully ready for admin review and edits. Each reply will be an additional potential book for consideration. Once enough are done, perhaps the old omniscient versions could be taken off the drops.
Faith, Candlekeep Studies - These academic journals will be the most comprehensive, essentially recording what can be found on a god as long as anything can be. They will be written by a sage in candlekeep based on research and will attempt to remain as neutral in tone and unopinionated as possible. These will likely be the closest to the current faith books.
What Dieties dont want you to know - These books are written by someone writing under a pseudonym who seems to have little more than the average knowledge of dieties. This lack of expertise however has not stopped them from publishing every secret, rumor, and harmful theory they can dig up on each god. Hopefully their identity remains hidden and the gods treat their obvious lies as something not worth dignifying with a responce, because these are going to make many clergy angry.
Propaganda - Books or chap books printed about a faith, by the faith, for reading by those outside of the faith.
I will reply to this post with drafts hopefully ready for admin review and edits. Each reply will be an additional potential book for consideration. Once enough are done, perhaps the old omniscient versions could be taken off the drops.
#43
Admin Announcements / Atonement & Conversion
Last post by ladybug - Jun 12, 2025, 12:17 PMDivine characters are, by their nature, expected to abide by a code of conduct in line with their deity's dogma. Characters who are observed to repeatedly and consistently violate this conduct are subject to falling.
Per our current rules, a character must complete a DM-overseen redemption quest to either regain the favor of their divine patron or convert to a new one. This, however, has proven untenable with the growing server population. As such, we are revising the process of redemption and conversion:
As of this posting, redemption/conversion quests no longer require direct DM oversight. Instead, we are implementing an application process to reflect independent player-driven RP.
Divine requests will need to be posted in Miscellaneous requests on the forum. We hope that this opens up new character possibilities to make your stories more enjoyable. Go forth and have fun.
Per our current rules, a character must complete a DM-overseen redemption quest to either regain the favor of their divine patron or convert to a new one. This, however, has proven untenable with the growing server population. As such, we are revising the process of redemption and conversion:
As of this posting, redemption/conversion quests no longer require direct DM oversight. Instead, we are implementing an application process to reflect independent player-driven RP.
Divine requests will need to be posted in Miscellaneous requests on the forum. We hope that this opens up new character possibilities to make your stories more enjoyable. Go forth and have fun.
#44
Admin Announcements / Re: Transparency - Player Bans
Last post by Nokteronoth - May 31, 2025, 09:50 AMMeryl Ball has been banned from the discord as an alias of Marionette/Whisper1 and being generally a troll there as well. (This is more of an updated ban rather than a new one.)
~BR
~BR
#45
General Discussion / Re: On Cyric, the Dark Hope of...
Last post by razgril - May 30, 2025, 09:49 PMI want to contribute this from the Faiths of the Forgotten Realms Supplement, which may not be cannon, but gives some more lore and flavour to many faiths, and has some pretty cool art:
Cyric (Cyricists)
Cyric has no defined holy days on the calendar. The date of his ascension to godhood isn't celebrated, as church canon insists that Cyric has always been a deity, despite other canonical stories about him, including his mortal deeds.
Day of the Dark Sun. This is a general term for any day declared holy by a powerful follower of Cyric. It is marked by a valuable blood sacrifice to the deity, which allows worshippers to make pleas to Cyric for guidance or power.
Temples and Shrines. Cyricism has few friends on the Sword Coast, and as a result, permanent temples aren't common. More than this, the constant, intentional contradictions that Cyric introduces to the beliefs of his followers make any permanent house of worship difficult to maintain without the clergy tearing each other apart.
Background Story Options:
d4 Event
1 I've always delighted in sowing strife and chaos. I was drawn to the church by my nature.
2 I was exposed to the Cyrinshad and was an enchanted follower of Cyric for years. Now that I'm free, so much of my identity is tied to Cyricism that I gave myself to the faith willingly.
3 I found a ruined temple of Cyric and the god spoke to me. I alone have been taught his One True Way.
4 I've always regarded the doctrines of other religions as blasphemous or untrue. Cyricism appealed to my disbelief in agreed-upon history.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XZzuvJX2NscZyFIsjpV6b5cxODmFp9AF/view?usp=drive_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Cz_qhHOfZgo_gQ1wv0cI1H_QH_hsZOL3/view?usp=drive_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kWdGbNr6gyow-yWY7RUeR3iH4NmUgNel/view?usp=drive_link
Cyric (Cyricists)
Cyric has no defined holy days on the calendar. The date of his ascension to godhood isn't celebrated, as church canon insists that Cyric has always been a deity, despite other canonical stories about him, including his mortal deeds.
Day of the Dark Sun. This is a general term for any day declared holy by a powerful follower of Cyric. It is marked by a valuable blood sacrifice to the deity, which allows worshippers to make pleas to Cyric for guidance or power.
Temples and Shrines. Cyricism has few friends on the Sword Coast, and as a result, permanent temples aren't common. More than this, the constant, intentional contradictions that Cyric introduces to the beliefs of his followers make any permanent house of worship difficult to maintain without the clergy tearing each other apart.
Background Story Options:
d4 Event
1 I've always delighted in sowing strife and chaos. I was drawn to the church by my nature.
2 I was exposed to the Cyrinshad and was an enchanted follower of Cyric for years. Now that I'm free, so much of my identity is tied to Cyricism that I gave myself to the faith willingly.
3 I found a ruined temple of Cyric and the god spoke to me. I alone have been taught his One True Way.
4 I've always regarded the doctrines of other religions as blasphemous or untrue. Cyricism appealed to my disbelief in agreed-upon history.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XZzuvJX2NscZyFIsjpV6b5cxODmFp9AF/view?usp=drive_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Cz_qhHOfZgo_gQ1wv0cI1H_QH_hsZOL3/view?usp=drive_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kWdGbNr6gyow-yWY7RUeR3iH4NmUgNel/view?usp=drive_link
#46
General Discussion / Re: On Cyric, the Dark Hope of...
Last post by Sidhe - May 30, 2025, 08:38 PMQuote from: probot on May 30, 2025, 03:00 PMA third faction, growing in strength, wars with the clergy of Bane in Darkhold for control of the western branch of the Zhentarim. The leader of this faction is at present unknown. Some believe a charismatic cleric named Dag Zoreth has assumed the mantle of leadership, while others claim that a military commander known as the Pereghost commands the loyalty of the Dark Sun's faithful. In any event, it is this faction of Cyricists who are most likely to ignite an open holy war with the church of Bane.
Just as a clarification since this is an FR Canon block quote -- CD canon differs from FR canon on this particular point -- Darkhold is also Banite held on CD, and the Pereghost returned to the Black Hand in similar fashion with Fzoul. The currently low-key war against Black Sun faithful by the Banites, though, is very much a real thing and multiple plots have featured these tensions beneath the surface in ways not always immediately apparent to the broader community.
But yeah, keep on rockin! All of the dark gods have potential for an interesting approach.
~Sidhe
Istielé Dadain
Anastasia Thond
Ridley Knight
Mizari Muor
#47
General Discussion / Re: On Cyric, the Dark Hope of...
Last post by probot - May 30, 2025, 03:00 PMClergy and Temples: Clerics of the Dark Sun pledge to spread strife and work murder everywhere to make folk fear and believe in Cyric. They support rulers with a taste for cruelty and empire-building but indulge in intrigue in every land. They avoid plunging realms into widespread war, which would pay honor only to Tempus the war deity. At least, this is the ideal Cyricists pay lip service to. In truth, Cyricists spend most of their time scheming against one another, each striving to strengthen his or her personal power in an endless struggle of cabal against cabal. To make matters worse, during his madness Cyric spoke often to his faithful clergy, but not with one voice. As they all fear him, and each believes what he says is the One True Way, his words set Cyricist temples at cross purposes. His clerics are at one another's throats as often as they are promoting the defeat of other religions.
Cyric's temples are festering sores of evil that vary widely in appearance, reflecting the deity's chaotic nature. Many are hidden within caves or existing structures, including abandoned buildings, crumbling sewers, and forgotten dungeons, from which terrifying screams echo at irregular intervals. Many such complexes once served as temples of Bane, Bhaal, or Myrkul, and thus resemble the grim, foreboding keeps of the Black Lord, the hidden guildhalls of the Lord of Murder, or the tomblike vaults of the i Lord of Bones. All have in common a bloody sacrificial altar and a great hall where the local high cleric can rant to the assembled worshipers at irregular intervals.
When not disguising themselves to move in secret among the general populace, clerics of Cyric dress 'in black or dark purple robes trimmed with silver, with or without hoods. They wear silver bracers or bracelets (usually stamped with the skull-and-sunburst symbol of Cyric) to symbolize the church's enslavement to Cyric. Some clerics paint the symbol of their deity on their cheeks or foreheads on high holy days.
The Prince of Lies recognizes no single pontiff who rules over the entire faith, although a dozen or more powerful elerics believe that Cyric intends them to achieve such a role. Such conflicts stem from the time when the Dark Sun in his madness deliberately pitted his faithful against one another. Although the Prince of Lies has ceased doing so overtly, schisms within the faith have by no means healed, and the chaotic nature of his followers makes it unlikely they ever will. Clerics of Cyric dominate most factions, although powerful sorcerers, wizards, barbarians, fighters, rangers, and blackguards play important roles as well.
Currently the two most powerful factions are found in Amn. Watchful Skull Tynnos Argrim is high cleric of the Mountain of Skulls in the Cloud Peaks and founder of the devout order of assassins known as the Flames of the Dark Sun. He has consolidated his influence over the Dark Redoubt, a temple in the Tejarn Hills once led by a rival sect, and allied himself with the armies of Amn against the Sythillisian Empire. Blackwill Haarken Akhmelere, high cleric of the Twin Towers of the Eternal Eclipse, is working with the army of monsters led by two ogre magi from the city of Murann and now maintains a stranglehold over trade passing along the Trade Way..A third faction, growing in strength, wars with the clergy of Bane in Darkhold for control of the western branch of the Zhentarim. The leader of this faction is at present unknown. Some believe a charismatic cleric named Dag Zoreth has assumed the mantle of leadership, while others claim that a military commander known as the Pereghost commands the loyalty of the Dark Sun's faithful. In any event, it is this faction of Cyricists who are most likely to ignite an open holy war with the church of Bane.
Faiths & Pantheons, p. 20-21
Cyric's temples are festering sores of evil that vary widely in appearance, reflecting the deity's chaotic nature. Many are hidden within caves or existing structures, including abandoned buildings, crumbling sewers, and forgotten dungeons, from which terrifying screams echo at irregular intervals. Many such complexes once served as temples of Bane, Bhaal, or Myrkul, and thus resemble the grim, foreboding keeps of the Black Lord, the hidden guildhalls of the Lord of Murder, or the tomblike vaults of the i Lord of Bones. All have in common a bloody sacrificial altar and a great hall where the local high cleric can rant to the assembled worshipers at irregular intervals.
When not disguising themselves to move in secret among the general populace, clerics of Cyric dress 'in black or dark purple robes trimmed with silver, with or without hoods. They wear silver bracers or bracelets (usually stamped with the skull-and-sunburst symbol of Cyric) to symbolize the church's enslavement to Cyric. Some clerics paint the symbol of their deity on their cheeks or foreheads on high holy days.
The Prince of Lies recognizes no single pontiff who rules over the entire faith, although a dozen or more powerful elerics believe that Cyric intends them to achieve such a role. Such conflicts stem from the time when the Dark Sun in his madness deliberately pitted his faithful against one another. Although the Prince of Lies has ceased doing so overtly, schisms within the faith have by no means healed, and the chaotic nature of his followers makes it unlikely they ever will. Clerics of Cyric dominate most factions, although powerful sorcerers, wizards, barbarians, fighters, rangers, and blackguards play important roles as well.
Currently the two most powerful factions are found in Amn. Watchful Skull Tynnos Argrim is high cleric of the Mountain of Skulls in the Cloud Peaks and founder of the devout order of assassins known as the Flames of the Dark Sun. He has consolidated his influence over the Dark Redoubt, a temple in the Tejarn Hills once led by a rival sect, and allied himself with the armies of Amn against the Sythillisian Empire. Blackwill Haarken Akhmelere, high cleric of the Twin Towers of the Eternal Eclipse, is working with the army of monsters led by two ogre magi from the city of Murann and now maintains a stranglehold over trade passing along the Trade Way..A third faction, growing in strength, wars with the clergy of Bane in Darkhold for control of the western branch of the Zhentarim. The leader of this faction is at present unknown. Some believe a charismatic cleric named Dag Zoreth has assumed the mantle of leadership, while others claim that a military commander known as the Pereghost commands the loyalty of the Dark Sun's faithful. In any event, it is this faction of Cyricists who are most likely to ignite an open holy war with the church of Bane.
Faiths & Pantheons, p. 20-21
#48
General Discussion / Re: On Cyric, the Dark Hope of...
Last post by ServantOfTheSun - May 30, 2025, 02:43 PMI will say, there's plenty of opportunity if you don't want to join! Anyone is welcome to start spreading rumors or working against cult machinations too! But thank you for the suggestion, I did make a quest request- Let's see what comes from it! I also know that cyric players have to keep it secret everywhere on the server, so if there are any others, or anyone looking for an Alt idea, I'm hoping to join up!
The largest amount of stuff I've found on Cyric is his time as a mortal in the dalelands. That's been pretty interesting. Unfortunately there's not been a ton on the actual functioning of Cyric's church. Mostly the occasional comic relief priest or information about cyricist organizations. I just happen to think there's real meat on these bones that's being left unused. That's why I've been pushing it. Plus, look at how sick some of his stuff can be, who doesn't want to be a villain like this?
The largest amount of stuff I've found on Cyric is his time as a mortal in the dalelands. That's been pretty interesting. Unfortunately there's not been a ton on the actual functioning of Cyric's church. Mostly the occasional comic relief priest or information about cyricist organizations. I just happen to think there's real meat on these bones that's being left unused. That's why I've been pushing it. Plus, look at how sick some of his stuff can be, who doesn't want to be a villain like this?
#49
General Discussion / Re: On Cyric, the Dark Hope of...
Last post by ihmajin - May 30, 2025, 12:42 PMAdmittedly I don't know too much about most deities in the Forgotten Realms. Do the 3e source books go into much detail about Cyric? I'm assuming that the answer is no, since you are attempting flesh out this deity in the Cormyr and the Dalelands server setting which is awesome!
Like, SpacePope, I'm not playing as a Cyricist, and the alternate character that I'm putting together has a different patron deity. That said I would for sure enjoy if more players started popping up. Who doesn't like a cult!? Look forward to seeing if any players and DM's run with your ideas.
You might want to consider tossing some ideas as a Quest Request while you're at it!
Like, SpacePope, I'm not playing as a Cyricist, and the alternate character that I'm putting together has a different patron deity. That said I would for sure enjoy if more players started popping up. Who doesn't like a cult!? Look forward to seeing if any players and DM's run with your ideas.
You might want to consider tossing some ideas as a Quest Request while you're at it!
#50
General Discussion / Re: On Cyric, the Dark Hope of...
Last post by SpacePope - May 29, 2025, 05:47 PMI'm not playing a cyricist, but I just wanna say, I love what you're trying to do here. Keep on with the madness.