Recent posts
#41
Suggestions & Ideas / Re: New Books on the Faiths
Last post by malarite - Jun 21, 2025, 03:53 AMArvoreen, Candlekeep Studies
ARVOREEN
The Defender, The Vigilent Guardian, The Wary Sword
Rank: Intermediate Halfling Diety
Symbol: Two Crossed Short Swords
Home Plane: Green Fields
Alignment: Lawful, Good
Portfolio: Defense, Vigilance, War, Duty
Faithful: Halfling Warriors and Protectors
Arvoreen is the Halfling god of defense, guardians, and watchers. Sages of other races consider him the closest thing the hin have to a war diety. The god is strict in his regiment and preparations, but preached to only react to aggression and never become the aggressor. He does not support starting conflict unless it is to prevent evil acts that could not be stopped through persistent protection. Arvoreen holds that halflings should never steal from each other or their allies, but finds the act not inherently dishonorable and can be a useful tactic against enemies of the hin.
Dogma: Vigilance against attack protects the community. Prepare an active defense, drill continuously, and leave nothing to chance. Put down danger before allowing it a chance to rear its head. Seek out allies, no matter how unorthodox. Stealing from other halflings or allies is never acceptable, but thieving is not dishonorable when employed against enemies to better the odds in later combat.
History: Nothing could be found of the god's origins or of any significant changes in their domain or power over the many centuries during this publications research. His faith today treats such ancient details as superfluous in face of very present threats.
Relationships: Of the halfling gods, Arvoreen is most closely aligned with Yondalla, Cyrrollalee, and Urogalan. He disapproves of the more capricious members of the pantheon, such as Brandobaris. Evil deities, especially the patrons of the goblinoids, incite Arvoreen to great wrath. He opposes Bane, Cyric, and the Deities of Fury.
Temples: Many halfling settlements have a temple to Arvoreen although many will avoid the area except for in times of war. They are easily mistaken for keeps thanks to their war ready construction, and the clergy of the temples can nearly always be found drilling or otherwise training in their holy robes of war chain mail and helmets.
ARVOREEN
The Defender, The Vigilent Guardian, The Wary Sword
Rank: Intermediate Halfling Diety
Symbol: Two Crossed Short Swords
Home Plane: Green Fields
Alignment: Lawful, Good
Portfolio: Defense, Vigilance, War, Duty
Faithful: Halfling Warriors and Protectors
Arvoreen is the Halfling god of defense, guardians, and watchers. Sages of other races consider him the closest thing the hin have to a war diety. The god is strict in his regiment and preparations, but preached to only react to aggression and never become the aggressor. He does not support starting conflict unless it is to prevent evil acts that could not be stopped through persistent protection. Arvoreen holds that halflings should never steal from each other or their allies, but finds the act not inherently dishonorable and can be a useful tactic against enemies of the hin.
Dogma: Vigilance against attack protects the community. Prepare an active defense, drill continuously, and leave nothing to chance. Put down danger before allowing it a chance to rear its head. Seek out allies, no matter how unorthodox. Stealing from other halflings or allies is never acceptable, but thieving is not dishonorable when employed against enemies to better the odds in later combat.
History: Nothing could be found of the god's origins or of any significant changes in their domain or power over the many centuries during this publications research. His faith today treats such ancient details as superfluous in face of very present threats.
Relationships: Of the halfling gods, Arvoreen is most closely aligned with Yondalla, Cyrrollalee, and Urogalan. He disapproves of the more capricious members of the pantheon, such as Brandobaris. Evil deities, especially the patrons of the goblinoids, incite Arvoreen to great wrath. He opposes Bane, Cyric, and the Deities of Fury.
Temples: Many halfling settlements have a temple to Arvoreen although many will avoid the area except for in times of war. They are easily mistaken for keeps thanks to their war ready construction, and the clergy of the temples can nearly always be found drilling or otherwise training in their holy robes of war chain mail and helmets.
#42
Suggestions & Ideas / Re: New Books on the Faiths
Last post by malarite - Jun 20, 2025, 07:14 PMAmaunator, Candlekeep Studies
AMAUNATOR
The Yellow God, Keeper of the Yellow Sun, Keeper of the Golden Sun, Keeper of the Eternal Sun, Keeper of the Sun, Keeper of Law, Light of the Law
Rank: Dead
Symbol: A sun with a face on the disk
Home Plane: N/A
Alignment: None. Presumed to previously be Lawful from translations of ancient tomes
Portfolio: None. Previously Bureaucracy, Written Law, and the Sun.
Faithful: None. Previously Netherese Rulers, Soldiers, and Wizards.
Amaunator is a currently dead diety who was the Netherese god of the sun, order, law, and time. Not much is known for certain of the god, and what little seems likely is all learned from ancient netherese texts found throughout the empires old reach. Amaunator seemed to have been considered a harsh but fair god by the upper netherese population, similar to how Helm or Hoar is seen by law abiding humans today. Amaunator was likely prayed to by most of the ancient kingdom on a daily basis considering his dominion over the sun and the time of noon, but was most prominent worshiped in their regular use of his clergy in nearly all record keeping, document processing, and beauracracy.
Dogma: No complete dogma of Amaunator has been discovered to the knowledge of Candlekeep cerca 1368 dr.
History: Nothing is known of Amaunator's origins, whether he was born, risen, or arrived in our plane from elsewhere. For all of Netherese known history, between the years -3830 dr and -339 dr, Amaunator seemed to be the prominent god of his historic portfolios within the region. The god is presumed to have died when Karsus's folly caused all of the floating cities of Upper netheril to come crashing to the ground. This is believed to be because of the following cooperating factors: The netheril pantheon's generally weakened state after losing nearly all of its power and much of its population. Aamaunator's disproportionate following amongst the highest status citizens who were then that much more likely to be victims during the fall. Some percieved blame by the few remaining followers, seeing that the god did not intervene to stop the tragedy. A complete collapse of many of Amaunator's domains, namely beauracracy and written law, immediately following the society's collapse.
Temples: Ruined temples to Amaunator have been discovered in many ruined netheres upper cities, enough to imply that a large majority had one before Karsus's Folly. The most intact examples appeared to be primarily offices designed for beaurocratic meetings, document storage and processing. The size implies that most of the netherese used Amaunator's faith specifically for such tasks. Ones that today are typically handled by which ever faith a family trusts most, and in triplicate for settlements larger than a town by the three faiths its community trusts most.
Controversy: I would be remissed to not mention the unpopular but well documented idea that the sun god is still with us under a different name. The heresy of the risen sun proposes that Amaunator did not die with the fall of Netheril, but was only weakened. It then claims that he later rose again a changed god as the diety of the dawn and new beginnings, Lathander. Most clergy of Lathander are skeptical of the heresy. Some claim that divinely gifted clerics of Lathander have strongly supported the heresy and not been denied magic or corrected in dream. This would imply that Lathander at least doesn't consider the matter worth their time to correct. However none such priests could be contacted during this lengthy research period to confirm their existence. Most priests agree that Lathander has never spoken personally on the subject. Proponents of the idea claim that Lathander is both unwilling to lie about his origins but also wanted his reign as a god of new beginnings to start unburdened by his history. It is also possible that even if he was not the ancient sun god, that the god of optimism simply sees no need to dwell on the past. After scouring for evidence claimed by proponents for the idea, the most consistent and persuasive is simply noticing how one god related to the sun rose to prominence after a previous god of the sun had died. This is what we would also expect to see if a new god ended up with part of the sun portfolio after the old god of the sun died. Is the fact that the two gods are nothing alike and that the current one promotes themes of personal change and new beginnings a mere coincidence? This author thinks so.
AMAUNATOR
The Yellow God, Keeper of the Yellow Sun, Keeper of the Golden Sun, Keeper of the Eternal Sun, Keeper of the Sun, Keeper of Law, Light of the Law
Rank: Dead
Symbol: A sun with a face on the disk
Home Plane: N/A
Alignment: None. Presumed to previously be Lawful from translations of ancient tomes
Portfolio: None. Previously Bureaucracy, Written Law, and the Sun.
Faithful: None. Previously Netherese Rulers, Soldiers, and Wizards.
Amaunator is a currently dead diety who was the Netherese god of the sun, order, law, and time. Not much is known for certain of the god, and what little seems likely is all learned from ancient netherese texts found throughout the empires old reach. Amaunator seemed to have been considered a harsh but fair god by the upper netherese population, similar to how Helm or Hoar is seen by law abiding humans today. Amaunator was likely prayed to by most of the ancient kingdom on a daily basis considering his dominion over the sun and the time of noon, but was most prominent worshiped in their regular use of his clergy in nearly all record keeping, document processing, and beauracracy.
Dogma: No complete dogma of Amaunator has been discovered to the knowledge of Candlekeep cerca 1368 dr.
History: Nothing is known of Amaunator's origins, whether he was born, risen, or arrived in our plane from elsewhere. For all of Netherese known history, between the years -3830 dr and -339 dr, Amaunator seemed to be the prominent god of his historic portfolios within the region. The god is presumed to have died when Karsus's folly caused all of the floating cities of Upper netheril to come crashing to the ground. This is believed to be because of the following cooperating factors: The netheril pantheon's generally weakened state after losing nearly all of its power and much of its population. Aamaunator's disproportionate following amongst the highest status citizens who were then that much more likely to be victims during the fall. Some percieved blame by the few remaining followers, seeing that the god did not intervene to stop the tragedy. A complete collapse of many of Amaunator's domains, namely beauracracy and written law, immediately following the society's collapse.
Temples: Ruined temples to Amaunator have been discovered in many ruined netheres upper cities, enough to imply that a large majority had one before Karsus's Folly. The most intact examples appeared to be primarily offices designed for beaurocratic meetings, document storage and processing. The size implies that most of the netherese used Amaunator's faith specifically for such tasks. Ones that today are typically handled by which ever faith a family trusts most, and in triplicate for settlements larger than a town by the three faiths its community trusts most.
Controversy: I would be remissed to not mention the unpopular but well documented idea that the sun god is still with us under a different name. The heresy of the risen sun proposes that Amaunator did not die with the fall of Netheril, but was only weakened. It then claims that he later rose again a changed god as the diety of the dawn and new beginnings, Lathander. Most clergy of Lathander are skeptical of the heresy. Some claim that divinely gifted clerics of Lathander have strongly supported the heresy and not been denied magic or corrected in dream. This would imply that Lathander at least doesn't consider the matter worth their time to correct. However none such priests could be contacted during this lengthy research period to confirm their existence. Most priests agree that Lathander has never spoken personally on the subject. Proponents of the idea claim that Lathander is both unwilling to lie about his origins but also wanted his reign as a god of new beginnings to start unburdened by his history. It is also possible that even if he was not the ancient sun god, that the god of optimism simply sees no need to dwell on the past. After scouring for evidence claimed by proponents for the idea, the most consistent and persuasive is simply noticing how one god related to the sun rose to prominence after a previous god of the sun had died. This is what we would also expect to see if a new god ended up with part of the sun portfolio after the old god of the sun died. Is the fact that the two gods are nothing alike and that the current one promotes themes of personal change and new beginnings a mere coincidence? This author thinks so.
#43
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.
#44
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.
#45
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.
#46
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
#47
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
#48
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
#49
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
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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?