Andelas, The Cat. God of Felines and Hunting.

Andelas is the lord of cats, and so is different to some degree from the rest of the dark gods. In fact, were it not for his decidedly sadistic nature, it could be argued that Andelas is not really ‘evil’.

Followers of Andelas form cat cults, and idolize felines to the point of reenacting the stalk, the hunt, and the kill (complete with costuming, fangs, and claws). Andelas’ influence is revealed in that the quarry in the reenactments are most often members of one of the humanoid races. Unfortunately, they are rarely as enthused about their own participation as the members of the cult are.

It is rumored that Andelas has an avatar that walks the land known as The Claw of Andelas.

Andelas generally appears as a great cat. In human form, however, he retains his catlike quality, from his eyes to his unusually sharp fingernails. In manner he is much like a cat, either playful, sadistic or completely indifferent. His symbol is a black cat’s head on a field of red.

Andelas is a giant panther, and his demeanor is just like a cat. Whether he simply is fond of cats and likes to appear as one, or he is the father of all cats, it is not known. He's one of those gods that doesn't play a huge role in storylines, probably because, like a cat, he just doesn't really care.

He is known as the Lord of the Hunt, and many rogues follow him, as he is a master of stalking and ambushing. Some of his followers, like to dress up like cats and chase poor humanoids around as if they are giant mice. 

The cult of Andelas is an eclectic one, with many free-thinkers and all colors and races of people within it's ranks. It is truely the most diverse and open pathways of enlightenment, and for this they have the great cat to thank.

Known holidays of the Cult of Andelas

Ivastaen 1st, Cait Os, Day of Kittens

This festival traces its roots back into Elvin history, and, as the name suggests, celebrates the young sprites on both two legs, and the four legged whiskered ones. It is marked with toy giveaways for the young ones, gay parties and much feasting and merriment. This is also a auspiciously popular day to make kittens!

9th of Phoenatos - Nre Cheng, Cat's Night Out

This tradition is so old and widespread it is impossible to determine it's origins. If a full moon falls on this night it is thought to be especially lucky, particularily the moon of Lornon. This darker celebration is marked by a ritual hunt and kill, usually a higher sentient being, and especially prized is a female of elvin, human or sylvan blood, though some prefer halflings since they squeal and run faster. Usually the victim is not a volunteer, and it is known that followers of some Liabo gods are particularily prone to being set up for this ceremony. Other times, the coven or group will simply wait and watch for a victim on the streets or along the highways, and decide on their mark then. When the victim is caught, he/she is sometimes dragged to the nearest altar or temple and sacrificed there as an offering. Some may read this in astonishment but it happens quite often, the victims are usually those who will not be missed.

31st of Eorgaen - Lornon's Eve

This well-known holiday is marked by some Andelasians with ritual killing and feasting.

Eorgaen 1st Feng Mehir, or WintersTooth

Marking one of the only benevolent holidays of Lornon, and a more recent tradition, this day is marked with a ritual hunt, after which the victim which is then offered to the local feline wildlife. Merchants, tax collectors, and any plump two-legged wandering around town is fair game. Andelas is said to offer his blessings to those who help ease the hunger pangs of his whiskered children. Interestingly enough, it is said that this day was started by the halfling peoples.

Just as one can easily crush a wasp,
So in the same way the bodies of thine enemies
are torn asunder by your beautiful paws.

- Hymn to Andelas-

In Icemule, Andelas has an altar in the Hall of Those Outside.

 Glancing upwards, you realize that a mural has been created on the ceiling, and golden eyes look at you from there. A great black panther crouches, watching your every move.  He is completely still, although you realize that were he real, his tail would be twitching and lashing in the manner of a stalking cat.  Golden eyes shine in the darkness of his fur, highly intelligent and observant.

The sinuous forms of felines great and small stalk over the altar, chasing invisible prey.  The greatest of the cats is a panther, climbing over the left side of the altar.  His position places his head at the top, emblazoning it across the field of red.  An onyx plaque seems to dangle from his claw. It reads:

Andelas, God of Felines and Hunting

MY opinion of this shrine. While I like to see the great and majestic cats as I am out hunting and usually choose not to hunt them because of their beauty; This mural reminds me more of the thief in the shadows as much as it does the ambush. I'm not quite sure that he's evil.

Andelas is also a patron of the House Nalfein of the elves.

Eorgina, Queen of the Dark. Goddess of Darkness, Domination and Tyranny.

Eorgina is the Goddess of darkness and ruler of the dark gods. She bestows upon herself the title of Queen of the Gods and works toward the end of taking the places of Koar and Lumnis, or at the least replacing Lumnis at Koar’s side. It is incomprehensible to her that Lumnis does not claim the title of Queen of the Gods, as the thought of not taking power where it is offered is beyond Eorgina’s understanding.

The Queen of Darkness personifies the unrestrained power of tyranny and draws strength wherever one being dominates another, be it a despot with no regard for justice or a stepmother with no love for her husband’s children. Ironically, her worshippers often include those who have been wronged by tyranny and seek the revenge of returning the favor.

Eorgina’s preferred humanoid manifestation is that of a beautiful queen wearing the richest and most beautiful of velvet robes and weighed down with lavish jewelry. In manner, she is cruel and destructive with a veneer of royal bearing. Her symbol is red, stylized flames on a field of grey

Her followers are extremely loyal to her, but it is, in a sense, a false loyalty, for Eorgina allows very little, if any, free and inconsequential action from her devotees. She will often test their loyalty (and they will usually obey her without question). She will torture, physically, mentally, and emotionally, those who insult her, even if it was not intentional. Eorgina is utterly disdainful of practioners of good magick, and good people in general. However when she wants to, she can act  so completely kind, modest, and good that it is quite difficult, if not impossible to believe that she is as vain, cruel, and evil as she is.

The use of prayer is integral to maintaining ties with a deity such as Eorgina. She is ever volatile, and ever ready to smite all those who would disturb her- be they pauper or Priestess. For that reason, prayers to Eorgina are usually fashioned in a very particular manner. Assuming that one can even catch her attention (a formidable task in itself, and one best not attempted on a whim) it must be held, and held in such a manner that her ire is not raised. Prayers of worshipers to the Goddess of the Dark must stroke her vanity, they must reaffirm their dedication and must know themselves so that they appear penitent. This last is important to remember, as penitence can save them from having a lake of fire appear under their feet.

Elven prayer to Eorgina

Here is your queen. Here is Eorgina
You live by her
You learn obedience in her.
You rise in her. You rest in her.
You are made perfect by her.
You are made powerful by her.
You are judged by her.
You are pardoned by her.

Eorgina has an altar in the temple in Icemule Trace.

Hall of the Dark]
Almost no light from the surface reaches this room. What does, comes from the walls in a sickly grey glow, sending chills down your spine that have nothing to do with the cold in the air. Two altars, gold to the south and grey to the west, relieve the black in the room, and detailed murals grace the walls behind them.
Obvious exits: up. (all the way down the stairs from the entrance)
look wall
A beautiful queen sits upon a throne of deepest obsidian. Her clothing is rich velvet, and the finest jewels deck her form. The look on her face is coldly calculating, with only a smirk to hint at the arrogance beneath the mask.
>l grey altar
Intricate crowns, coronets, and scepters decorate the altar, which looks almost like a backless throne. Across the top, stylized flames burn, bright red seeming to burn out of the grey. A gold plaque shines from the front of the altar. It reads:
Eorgina, Goddess of Darkness, Domination, and Tyranny

MY opinion of this shrine... I stood and looked at the plaque for a few minutes and wondered at the altar. I guess that's what kept me there for a few minutes wondering why it burned. Must be because of some ancient power.. I couldn't concentrate enough to get any more opinion of her altar because I couldn't comprehend how folks could relate to a Goddess that didn't love everyone.  However, I am glad that she is around for she is a key part in keeping the balance here in Elanthia which I think above all no matter what side you align yourself with it is most important to keep the balance in mind.

Fash'lo'nae, the Grandfather. God of Magic, Forbidden knowledge and Libraries.

Fash’lo’nae, is the master of magic and arcane knowledge for its own sake. He regards the pursuit of esoteric knowledge as an end in itself, and the societal or other impacts of that pursuit are of no consequence. Even the gaining of knowledge for personal gain is not a goal, other than as it may make further inquiries, investigations, and experiments possible. Theft, dishonesty, and even murder are acceptable if they further the acquiring of knowledge, particularly arcane or mystical knowledge.

While Fash’lo’nae is certainly frowned upon by many, most do not consider him strictly "evil." In fact, he is credited in several legends with spreading beneficial knowledge that others (such as the Drakes and the other Arkati) would have suppressed. It is generally agreed that Fash’lo’nae brought fire to the mortal races, suffering the wrath of the Great Drakes, although there is dispute as to his motive in doing so. Many call Fash’lo’nae “The Grandfather,” and his followers contend that he is the eldest of the Arkati, even older than Koar himself.

Followers of Fash’lo’nae are a hazard to all about them, since they consider the risks of demon summoning as a paltry price to pay for the potential of increased knowledge.

Fash’lo’nae’s preferred humanoid manifestation is that of an ancient man or woman of scholarly bent. In manner, he is cool and calculating. His symbol is yellow, slit-pupilled eye on a field of grey.

Fash'lo'nae has an altar in icemule in the Hall of those Outside.

look grey altar
Chaotic threads of shimmering glaes wind through the altar, looking like magical energy winding through the mists. At the top of the altar, the lines coalesce and shift in color to yellow, gathering into a slit-pupilled eye. A glaes plaque rests at the front of the altar.  It reads:
Fash'lo'nae, God of Magic and Forbidden Knowledge

look wall
A man sits at a table that is covered in books. A large tome sits open before him, but instead of reading it, he seems to be studying you, assessing what you are worth in knowledge. Frighteningly, you get the idea that he is willing to take whatever means necessary to learn what he wants.

MY opinion of the shrine in Icemule.

I don't like Fash'lo'nae. His shrine does not feel like a good place. I don't agree that you should know all knowledge and  I don't like that Fash'Lo'nae thinks it's so emportant to go to any extreme for.

House Nalfien considers Fash'lo'nae a respectful arkati. the same with the Illistim.

"What is knowledge? Knowledge is everything. Knowledge is power."

-Fash'Lo'Nae

Ivas, the Seductress. Goddess of Desire, Lust and Passion.

Ivas is the Goddess of seduction. Possessing a pair of tentacles where most humanoid beings have arms, and with full, sensuous lips hiding a maw filled with shark’s teeth, Ivas cloaks herself in illusion. She appears to the unwary as a woman of unearthly beauty.

Preying on those willing to be seduced, Ivas thrives on the jealousy, distrust, and hatred that results. Often times marked by rotting diseases that defy all cures, her adherents form cults which revel in perverted carnal pleasures. However, their primary goal is the seduction of unwary outsiders.

Ivas’ preferred humanoid manifestation is that of a beautiful woman with tentacles in place of arms. In manner, she is sensual and insatiable. Her symbol is a stylized, green wisp of smoke on a field of red.

Ivas has a temple in Vipershroud Forest.

The temple of Ivas in Vipershroud is in a state of ruin. covered with vines and plant life that has started to tear it apart, one wall even gone from being uprooted and ravaged by the plant life. The temple seems to have at one time been a much more beautiful place and having used many different kinds of stone to fashion it including alexandrite, sandstone, chalcedony and quartz. However alot of it is overgrown and covered with moss and lichens.

one interresting place is the hall of the marred

[Hall of the Marred]

Part of the north wall has succumbed to the spreading roots of vegetation growing along its outer surface, allowing a glimpse of the courtyard beyond. The mural's colors are still vivid even where the elements have spoiled some of its detail.

Obvious exits: east, west.

>l mural

>

Painted figures cavort in an opulent bathhouse, their glistening skin and broad smiles the only common factors among the disparate races depicted in the mural. Some of the bathers are marred by withered limbs, boils, and scabs that nest in the folds of their bejeweled fingers. A portion of the painting is left open to the rains and has been weathered beyond recognition, yet somehow even this damage contributes to the painting's theme of beauty and decay.

l mural

>

The painting depicts bathers languishing on low stone benches surrounding the main bath, some of them rubbing unguents on the suppurating sores along their legs and flanks. No one shuns the afflicted individuals, though -- if anything, the red-robed bath attendants beam even more worshipfully at them than at those with sound bodies.

The bathing chamber is  also in a state of decay, the bath itself is tarnished. There is a large window looking outside so that the bathers can see and be seen. The view to the forest is nice but, I don't find the other idea a comfortable one.   It is right atop a natural hot spring and in spite of incense burning in burners you can still smell the mineral smells from the hot springs. It makes for an odd combination of smells.

The Hall of The Impure is almost utterly demolished by plant life so vigorous that it is uncertain what scenes of dubious pleasure the few remaining statues depict. Thank goodness. I'm sure I don't want to know.

There are sleeping quarters here in the temple but they seem to be communal and have no idea what privacy is here.

The hall of the feast smells of rotten food and carpeted floors here are stained with wine and other things.  Like the rest of the temple it seems to be decaying and yet a haunting echo of temple bells serves to remind that for some folk this place used to be a holy place. Two murals on the walls depicting scenes that further described these peoples lifestyle.

look mural

The feast portrayed to the west has devolved into outright debauchery along this span of the painting. The diners drizzle honey from their fingers into one another's gaping mouths and smear the juices of figs and pomegranates on one another's bare arms. Some of the revelers are missing limbs or are disfigured by the ravages of some unknown disease. A beautiful woman, her smile of amusement visible beneath her veils, reclines on a couch placed in the position of honor at the head of the table.

look mural

The painting depicts a feast, perhaps a celebration of a holy day. The fruit which is heaped with abandon on the table is clearly overripe, some of it to the point of rottenness. Nonetheless, the elegantly clad celebrants are stuffing their own and each other's mouths with it in an obscene display of gluttony. Their greasy-lipped smiles of ecstasy betray no displeasure with the spoiling food.

My opinion of this temple.... These diseased and rotting peoples from all walks of life which are depicted in these many murals indeed seem to have been seduced into this lifestyle out of having been otherwised shunned by their fellow men. It is a strong reminder that we must take care and watch out for others that things like this don't happen to them or that they don't go treading down other darker or more twisted paths.

Ivas has an altar in the temple in Icemule Trace

[Hall of the wounded heart]

look wall

This wall looks in on a bedroom. While you cannot say that the activities shown on the wall are obscene, they do hint at things that make your skin burn with a hot blush. At the back of the room stands a woman of beauty like you have never seen, despite the fact that for arms she has tentacles. Her lips are full and red, the slight smile playing across them hinting at sharklike teeth beneath.

The altar is made of clear red ice. Flowing up through the middle is a wisp of green smoke, seeming to move and undulate seductively within the ice. A gold plaque gleams from the front of the altar. It reads:

Ivas, Goddess of Lust and Passion

My opinion of the shrine to Ivas here in Icemule...

Even the Goddess here in the mural on the wall is a misformed creature a body which is as perverted as her ways, which are disgusting. I think the green smoke on the altar represents the poison that she puts into the hearts and minds of men.

Luukos, Eater of Souls God of Death, Lies and Undeath

Luukos is the god of unending death.  Unlike Lorminstra, Luukos shows no reverence for the souls of those who have died.  To him they have two uses, either to animate one of his undead minions in his efforts to extend his power, or as sustenance for himself.  Luukos’ primary foods are the blood of the dead and the souls of the recently fallen.

Luukos’ form of choice is that of a large green serpent. It is not unusual for survivors of a large battle to report the sighting of such a creature slithering from corpse to corpse on the recently abandoned field of combat.

Luukos is able to claim the souls not only of those he takes by force through his undead minions, but also of those who have sullied themselves in life.  Thus, Luukos is also the Lord of Lies, and his minions always seek to spread misinformation among mortals.  Legend holds that Luukos can snatch the soul of one who has died with a lie on their lips even from Lorminstra, and that the only way to be free from his hideous jaws is to renounce the lie.

Luukos’ preferred humanoid manifestation is that of a dark-complected man with faintly reptilian features and a forked tongue. In manner, he is persuasive, treacherous and sadistic. His symbol is a green serpent on a brown field.

Luukos has a shrine at the Coastal Cliffs.

[Underground, Hidden Wing]
This appears to be a small shrine of some sort. Against the east wall is an altar with tarnished religious symbols on it. The covering is tattered and the three pews here are dry and rotted. For the first time you notice that the thick dust on the floor is punctuated by shallow footprints, leading you to think that this place is not as abandoned as you first imagined.
Obvious exits: west.
look altar:
The altar stands about waist high and is covered with a tattered cloth. A rotting book holder, tarnished oil lamps and small sacrificial pots hold their place on the altar top.
look tome:
Upon further examination of the tome you realize that disturbing it in any way would cause the pages to turn to dust. You decide to satisfy your curiosity with just the two pages the book is currently open to.
look at page in tome
The ancient script on these pages is faded and barely legible. From the parts that are still readable you derive that this tome contains various rituals which are used in the worship of Luukos. The ritual detailed on these pages appears to call for a blood sacrifice of some kind. You cannot, however, determine exactly what manner of creature is required.

I did find out after much more research that there are many rituals to Luukos involving bloodshed and blood sacrifice, including opening wounds on the body while praying and even bleeding to death and then either choosing to rot or be brought back to life by a worshiper of Luukos.

Luukos has a shrine on Teras Isle. I wasn't going to risk life and limb to get there but, I heard from a cleric friend of mine that there are statues there of Luukos and Amsalen and the altar is bloody and used for some of the rituals. I don't think I would want to see it.

Luukos has a shrine in Icemule.

Hall of the Holy Struggle]
The walls of this circular chamber are filled with pictures of horror and of goodness. The western walls are covered with carvings of undead beings, etched in disgusting detail, while the eastern walls bear bas-relief warriors in gleaming armor marching to war. The pictures seem to be chasing each other in a perpetual hunt, although you could better see if you looked more closely. Two altars have been erected in the room, one tinted black, the other white. A spiral staircase leads up to the next level.

look black altar
Serpents etched in the ice writhe over the surface of the altar, eventually leading to a larger green snake on a brown field. Many snakes are wrapped about undead beings, and every type of unliving horror imaginable is pictured. A green copper plaque has been hung from the front of the altar. It reads:
Luukos, God of Unending Death.
l wall
All manner of horrible undead creatures are depicted on this wall. Skeletons with rotting flesh hanging from their bones, horrible ghouls and rotting mummies, and decomposing zombies can all be seen, following a man whose image strikes terror in the pit of your stomach. His complexion is dark, his features faintly reptilian, and a sickening smile lights his face as he leads the hordes of Unlife through a battlefield filled with corpses, carrying a standard marked with a green serpent on a brown field.
>

MY opinion of Luukos shrine in Icemule:

Are the snakes on this altar entwined on the undead a representation of his manipulation and influence with the undead? i stood and wondered that. Looking at the muscular snake man and i wondered about the reptilian features. These thoughts I had to focus on else i turn away from there in an instant in revulsion.

Marlu, the Destroyer

God of Demonic Summoning, Destruction and Power

Often mistaken for one of the greater demons and frequently called the Demon Lord, Marlu delights in death, destruction, and the devouring of still-living prey. Tales tell of Marlu being seen around ancient ruins, prying open old chambers and delving into all manner of spaces. Common legend has it that he seeks others of his kind to loose upon the innocents of Elanthia.

Just as some believe Koar is actually the last Drake, there are those who hold that Marlu is a true Ur-Daemon who sought asylum with the Arkati when the rest of his kind were killed or driven out of this realm of existence.

Marlu derives power from the summoning of demons, one reason that such practices are frowned upon by many worshippers of the Light Gods. Whether his power comes in the same manner as other Arkati, or from the loosening of the portals between dimensions, is unknown. Marlu is also drawn to all manners of destruction. More than any other of the Dark Gods, Marlu seems bent on destruction of a scale so massive that it might actually eliminate the world and all his worshippers with it. While Eorgina personifies power over others, Marlu is the embodiment of personal destructive power.

Marlu’s preferred manifestation is that of a gruesome creature with glistening black skin, leathery wings and barbed tentacles. In manner, he is demonic. His symbol is a black six tentacled “star” on a field of grey.

Marlu is one of those deities you follow and assist for his benefit only. There is nothing to be gained by following him, except satisfaction and your eventual death. He cares nothing for any other living things in Elanthia. Most of his followers accept the fact that they are lower than dirt in Marlu's eyes, and at best, are considered a valued slave.

Marlu has a shrine in the dark Grotto of the broken lands atop some giant stairs and it has a secret entrance.

I'll keep the secret for those who like puzzles. there are a lot of puzzles getting out there.

You get to the top of the giant stairs and here's what you see.

[Dark Grotto, Dark Cavern]

Age seeps from the walls of this huge chamber, smothering everything with a dust laden blanket of silence.  There is a huge relief carved into the wall at the end of the long chamber, opposite the opening to the south.

l relief

The image is that of a dark beast with leathery wings and blood red claws.  The inscription below the image is in a strange language, and reads "Marlu lyxatis kort.  Thro dyar K'mur."

(secret way in omitted)

[Dark Shrine, Altar]

The low stone altar is covered with dark stains.  One corner of the altar has been broken off, and several of the hideous faces and figures carved into the stone walls have been smashed.  Large iron braziers, covered with rust and corrosion, stand at each end of the altar table.  A cracked brass gong hangs from a wooden brace along the north wall, facing an ancient tapestry which hangs directly opposite.

Obvious exits: west.

>l altar

The altar table is covered with dark stains, and one corner has been broken off.

>l tap

Dark images of sycophants, dressed in long black robes surround a low stone altar similar to the one in this room.  The figure of a man, twisted and broken, lies on the surface of the stone table while another dark shape pours some foul looking fluid from a small urn out over the tortured man's body.

>l gong

A crack runs from the rim of the huge corroded disk to the center

An interresting room in the shrine is the one all the way to the west.

[Dark Shrine, Large Chamber]

Like a huge pair of eyes, two large, round windows look out over the eerie rough terrain far below.  The openings look out on a panorama of rocky desolation.  Huge, jagged mountains rise up all around, snow capped peaks high above ice covered slopes, strewn with large boulders.  The cold wind that blows in through the openings bears as much desolation as the view.  There is no scent of green trees and running sap, no odor of wildlife rising from the slopes outside.

Do you think that Marlu would look down and contemplate things from here that he was going to do to mortals? That's how I fealt.

Here's the way out.

[Dark Shrine, Chapel]

Here, surrounded by dark frescoes presenting frightening images of terror, foul beasts and macabre rituals, confronted by the huge, ghastly statue that dominates the center of the chamber, the sense of evil is a palpable force that threatens to smother and consume all that it can.

Obvious exits: northeast, northwest.

>l statu

The statue is large, over twelve feet tall.  The central figure is a huge, hideous beast with black skin, leathery wings and large red claws.  It stands atop a pile of skulls, surrounded by three smaller figures, with pointed tails, blood red eyes, and small, leathery wings.

>touch statue

You place one hand on the large statue.

(secret omitted here) The room disolves around you.  You feel a tingling sensation run through your body and suddenly you see...

Some ancient language I found about the shrine which I have managed to translate roughly.

Marlu lyxatis kort.  Thro dyar K'mur

Marlu dreaded master  Guardian dark lord

dyar trog=dark cavern

lo thal ta shin=spirit born half death

I also encountered several lesser vruul in the area. I think they are probably demons in the likeness of Marlu.

Marlu has an altar in Icemule.

[Hall of Those Beyond]
Eerie light fills the hall, making you wonder for a moment if you are in the world you know so well. The murals on the east and west walls, filled with images of insanity and terror, do not help to reassure you that you remain on familiar ground. A grey altar sits before the west wall, and a black altar sits before the east wall.
Obvious exits: southwest, up.
>l wall
A legion of demons stares back at you, sending a shudder of fear through your body. At the head of the army is a creature like you have never seen and hope to never see again. His skin is a glistening black, and leathery wings droop from his back. Cruelly barbed tentacles branch out from his body, waving in a vicious dance about him. The look on his face is one of utter cruelty.
>l grey altar
The altar seems to be covered in thousands of leathery grey wings, folded tightly about something. Between the wings on the top of the altar sprout six black tentacles, laying over the surface in the shape of a six pointed star. A rotting modwir plaque hangs from the front of the altar.  It reads:
Marlu, God of Destruction and Demons

MY impression of this shrine....

Could Marlu really be an Ur-Daemon? if so then why would he remain here on this world instead of fleeing through the portal? I do believe that he does control demons but I have the supposition that he is not the strongest of his kind.  Perhaps. He is to be respected for what he is, and I for one would not want to call his attention to me for any reason.

To me the altar seems to be almost alive.

Behold the Demon god!
Behold him and tremble.
Despair, despair for your life is forfeit.
He is black and dancing the dance of chaos
Because he is black, I love black.
Because he is dancing, I dance.
Because he is so black and splendid
and I am nothing, I cannot help myself, I love him!

- Faendryl poem-

Mularos the Suffering.  God of Suffering and Torture

Known as “He who is the Sorrow of the World,” Mularos is the god of suffering, both physical and emotional. He draws the most strength from pain inflicted by others.

While Mularos is not worshipped by any formal church, cults to him have surfaced from time to time. These are most often collections of sadomasochists, often led by a charismatic but twisted leader. These cults seduce young followers with a decadent and reassuring lifestyle, then bend their minds to dependent love and strict obedience. While the usual end result is mass suicide, it is rumored that such cults have lasted for centuries.

Mularos is the progenitor of practices that skirt the darker sides of love, like Ivas. Where Ivas is into all sorts of kinky things and wild orgies, Mularos seems to be more closely tied to the S&M world. As the documentation states, he is alternately dominant and submissive, sadomasochistic and sad.

At times Mularos seems to revel in causing pain, but he feels the pain of mortals at the same time as he draws strength from it. In a sense, he is a victim of mortals as much as they are victims of him.

Mularos’ preferred humanoid manifestation is that of a young man of delicate features dressed in simple silk robes. Often a glimpse of the scars left by manacles can be seen at the hem and sleeves of his robe, or the bloody mark of a lash below the collar. In manner, he is charming, alternately dominant and submissive, sadomasochistic and sad. His symbol is a heart with a dagger piercing it on a field of white.

Mularos has a shrine in the temple in Icemule Trace.

Hall of the Wounded Heart]
Two altars sit in the room, one red and one white. On the east wall, pictures swirl that make you blush, uncomfortably embarrassed at what they suggest. The west wall, however, only holds a pair of gilded shackles which dangle, gleaming in the light.
look white alt
Images of ropes and chains twist about the altar, winding in a dance that confuses the eye and mind. Across the top of the altar is a heart of deep red, a dagger piercing it cruelly. A plaque of steel has been set into the altar. It reads: 

Mularos God of Suffering and Torture
look shackles
The shackles of gold-gilded steel hang from the wall. As the light shines off them, you begin to see the form of a man locked in them, the scars on his wrist evident beneath the cuffs of his simple silk robe. He is young, with delicate features, his soft lips twisted in what is either a grimace of pain or a smile of ecstasy, although you cannot be certain which.

MY opinion of the shrine in Icemule...

This shrine is suggestive of perversions not too different from those of Ivas. You see an illusion of a young man within the shackles. His face I think is expressing pleasure in pain, it is both, knowing what we know of the philosophy of pain.

Oh this bittersweet pain!
Mularos, how I hate you,
and love you all the same.

Sheru, Bringer of Terror.  God of Nightmares, Insanity and Terror.

Sheru is the god of night and nightmares. Truly the god of terror, and of unbridled fear, Sheru thrives on these emotions in lesser creatures. Only experiencing satisfaction when his efforts unseat a being’s sanity, Sheru will use any means to achieve this end.

Because Luukos' undead minions tend to cause more terror than most of the other creatures of darkness, Sheru and Luukos are allied more often than any of the other Dark Gods.

The insane are often said to have received Sheru’s Gift. Strangely, Sheru and Zelia cannot stand each other, despite serving each other’s ends quite nicely.

Sheru’s preferred humanoid manifestation is that of a large man with a black furred jackal’s head. In manner, he is cold, emotionless, and cruel. His symbol is a black jackal’s head on a field of gold, or alternately, a black jackal’s head on a field of crimson and gold.

Shrine of the Jackal]
Once elegant, but now ruined, stained glass windows show this was once a chapel. A smooth slab of obsidian seems to suck up all the faint light that falls upon it, and gives back only darkness. On the slab, in sharp contrast, sits a statue carved of glittering crystal that bends and twists the few glimmers of light left into a mockery of beauty. The question remains as to just what has been worshipped in here of late and you like not the thoughts it stirs. You also see a smooth black mein door.
Obvious exits: down.
On the obsidian slab you see a crystalline statue.

>look statue
The statue, pure crystal, is of a normal looking human whose head is quite abnormally that of a jackal. Inset into the eyes of the jackal head are two sparkling rubies that stare back at you, sending an uncomfortable chill that seems to originate from deep within you. (This statue is insane in and of itself. Very fitting for a god of Nightmares and Insanity)

If you know the secret of how to get into the door this is what it looks like...

I fealt like I was being mocked and touched by the dark god as I was doing this.

Go door

The very top of this tower, the only one remaining fully intact to judge from the wreckage strewn far below, is open to the wind and rain and elements. Great powers once strove here, for the massive stones are blackened and charred. In spots the stone has been melted and cooled so that brittle puddles of black glass crunch underfoot. Crowning the battlements, a massive jackal, cast or carved out of the blackest ora, peers down at the surroundings like a brooding monarch above a dead kingdom. You also see a smooth black mein door.
look jackal
Approximately eight feet in height and fashioned from solid black ora, this is a statue of a Jackal, symbol of the jackal-headed dark god Sheru, Bringer of Night. Around the base of the statue are five elemental symbols, those of fire, earth, air, water, and spirit. A small arrow is etched into the base of the statue, facing the same direction as the jackal. The arrow is currently pointing to the air symbol.

You can also pull and push the statue to change what element the arrow faces to set the Iron maiden for transportation to different locations within the castle.

‘Earth’ is the setting for sentinels..

‘Spirit’ goes to the roa’ter tunnels underneath banshees

‘Air’ goes to the northwest corner of the second floor, between the space to golems/banshees, and the trapdoor to kiramon (1st floor)

‘Fire’ goes to the southwestern area of the first floor

‘Water’ goes to slightly north of the middle of the eastern edge of the second floor, near the monolith on that level.

Exerpt from the story of Darkstone Castle about Sheru:

Now, Estrion and Siarl, while both megalomaniacs, were smart enough to realize that they could not accomplish their goals alone. Together they performed dark rituals, almost nightly, to call upon the spirit of the night, Sheru after the fall of the ice age, was even then hard at work on plans of his own, yet felt that in aiding these two foolish mortals, he could accomplish his own goal of wrestling the Realm of Dreams from Ronan. As Estrion and Siarl used Sheru's spiritual force to come to their aid, so did Sheru himself use the combined elemental energy of the two to prepare mortal world for his coming.

Things went wrong however, as both Estrion and Siarl where very draining, even upon this immortal figure. Their rituals and experiments in spirit and element backfired, causing a lingering mana storm to remain above the castle, its black vortex constantly sucking mana away from the ground and upward like a great vacuum. Sheru was spent of energy, and had to retreat back behind the veil

The mana storm never went away so that is why Estrion created this system of getting around with making the jackal and the iron maiden into portals

Sheru has a shrine in Icemule.

[Hall of the Dark]
Almost no light from the surface reaches this room. What does, comes from the walls in a sickly grey glow, sending chills down your spine that have nothing to do with the cold in the air. Two altars, gold to the south and grey to the west, relieve the black in the room, and detailed murals grace the walls behind them.
Obvious exits: up.
look south wall
The south wall is completely black. As you turn away, you catch the image of a large man with a black furred jackal's head fading out of the darkness, watching you with an intense gaze. The feeling of being watched brings goosebumps of irrational fear over your skin, and you realize that bearing his gaze for too long would drive you slowly and painfully mad.
look gold altar
The altar is made of the purest, most beautiful gold you have seen in all your days, save for the black jackal's head across the top. You reach out to touch the altar, and cannot seem to pull your hand away. You must have the altar. You want to take it with you, to keep it. A chill passes over you and you blink, frightened at the obsession that so suddenly overcame you. A green copper plaque seems to rot at the front of the altar. It reads:
Sheru, God of Night, Terror, Insanity and Nightmares

MY opinion of the shrine...

It seems that there is power embedded into the shrine as well as the south wall putting you into trances or influencing your mind as if you are in a dream. It makes you want to scream looking at the visage of the Jackal.

Come with me, into the terror,
Come with me, into the night.
We could live forever
Together in your fright
Hear the jackal's cry
Insanity feels so right.

- Invocation to Sheru

V'Tull, The Berserker. God of Combat and Bloodlust

V’tull is the champion of the dark gods Almost single-minded in his goal of bloodletting for its own sake, the sight of the life’s blood of any creature seems to fill V’tull with ecstasy. Given his nature, he has spent all of his efforts in perfecting his fighting abilities and in using them at every opportunity.

While all of the gods rarely manifest themselves among mortals, V’tull does so more often than most. He regularly enters into the bodies of warriors, whose eyes are said to turn black as night when this happens, and turns them into killing machines. His willingness to divinely inspire assures that his devotees among the martial classes are many, even where his worship is prohibited by those who fear their warriors will turn against them.

V’tull’s preferred humanoid manifestation is that of a man with marble white skin and coal black eyes who towers over everyone he meets. He is always dressed in armor so stained with blood that its true color cannot be known. In manner, he is determined, righteous, obsessive and vengeful. His symbol is a black scimitar on a field of red.

V'tull has a shrine in Icemule

[Hall of the Deathbringers]
The faint light coming through the ice is a filthy black-red. Covering the east wall is a scene of carnage so bloody that the gorge rises in your stomach at the sight, and an altar the color of blood sits before it. Death has also visited the west wall, with its black altar before it, although it is a much quieter manifestation.
Obvious exits: northeast, down.
look east wall
The scene on this wall seems to look directly into what remains of a great battle. Corpses and body parts cover the field in varying stages of dismemberment and the ground is red with spilled blood. In the center of the picture is a man, taller than any you have seen. His skin is marble white, and his eyes are black as coal. His armor is so stained with blood that you cannot guess what its true color might be.

look altar
A black scimitar has been painted on the top of the altar. Red blood seems to drip from it, covering the altar in a wave of red crimson that appears to be all the blood the sword has ever shed. A steel plaque gleams at the front of the altar. It reads:
V'Tull, God of Blood Lust and Combat

I don't really have an opinion of the shrine itself it just reminds me about what I've done in life in order to control my anger and bloodlust I have trained in berserking and it has worked ironicly to keep me on an even keel.

"Without war, the people would grow soft and weak,
There is nothing more sweet than the scent of battle
The taste of fresh blood, and the death of your hated foe."

- High priest of V'tull