Assuran
"I am your judge, jury and executioner. Know my name, and fear it." | |
- Fragment from an Assuran Manuscript | |
Assuran, also known as The Doombringer, was the vengeful deity of retribution invoked by those who sought to repay an eye for an eye. He was a bitter deity, prone to mood swings and fits of violence. As part of the Untheric Pantheon the Doombringer has some form of relationship with each of its members however a special obsession is haboured in plotting the downfall of Ramman, the Untheric deity of war. | |
Relationships
Achanatyr & Shar
Both Achanatyr and Shar vie with one another for influence over Assuran, The Dark Goddess pushing him to become more like his "Doombringer" persona and be her servant of bitter vengeance at all costs, whilst The Just God cajoles him to embrace the humour and irony of life and bring poetic and satisfying justice to those with a sad view of fate. The Lord of the Three Thunders as yet rebuffs both endeavours, however persuading.
Ramman
Assuran and Ramman has quarrelled for generations and remain heated rivals.
Dogma
Uphold true and fitting justice and maintain the spirit of law, not the letter of law. Fitting recompense will always accrue for one’s actions. Violence will meet violence and evil pay back evil, but good will also come to those who do good. Walk the line of the Doombringer’s teachings, seeking retribution, but do not fall into the trap of pursuing evil acts for evil’s sake, for that way is seductive and leads only to one’s downfall. Vengeance must be sought for all injustices, and all punishments must fit the crime. Revenge is sweetest when it is sharpened with irony. All attacks must be avenged. Those who do not respond to attacks against their person or that which they hold dear only invite future attacks.
Holy Days/Ceremonies
The clergy of the Doombringer celebrate few major holy days. Instead, each priest is encouraged to celebrate the anniversaries of his most fitting and sweetest acts of revenge. Each priest is also expected to mark the anniversary of each injury, insult, or slight as yet not avenged with quiet contemplation (many persons not of the faith would call it brooding) upon strategies for appropriately enacting that revenge. However, true members of Assuran’s clergy are also to remember those who have helped them unselfishly, protected them from harm, or otherwise provided them aid and contemplate ways to reward them personally and lastingly, rather than with meaningless titles, shallow items of wealth, or faint and passing praise. Silent or thunderous praises (as appropriate) must be given to Assuran each and every time some vengeance is exacted by a priest of the Doombringer.
The Impending Doom
The Impending Doom is observed on the 11th of Marpenoth with daylong ceremonies of rumbling drums, vigorous oaths, and exhausting acts of purification. It celebrates justices yet to be meted out, revenges yet to be carried through with, and good deeds that call to the celebrants to be remembered.
Affiliated Orders
Hunters of Vengeance
The Hunters of Vengeance are an informal order of bounty hunters and vigilantes active throughout the Realm, predominantly the North. Few in number, their actions are spoken of with admiration and dread long after they have moved on.
Worshipers
Priestly Vestment
The clergy of Assuran wear their ceremonial garb whenever possible except when they wish to conceal their identity while stalking a perpetrator of some injustice. Their ceremonial raiment always includes a black tunic over a long gray robe, soft, black leather gloves, and a surreal mask that covers their faces when they are officially on a "hunt" for vengeance. Priests typically keep small tokens of their successes on silver-bordered, dark red sashes slung from their waists. They carry curved daggers, and sport the symbol of Assuran worked into a piece of jewellery as a holy symbol.
Adventuring Garb
When adventuring, priests of the Doombringer wear whatever garb is best suited for the mission. Typically they garb themselves in leather armour when stealth is required, and the heaviest armour available when a frontal attack is anticipated. While they can wield any weapon, Assuran priests must carry at least one blunt, one piercing, and one slashing weapon at all times. When injured (or anticipating injury) by an opponent, Assuran priests are expected to use a weapon of the same type or at least the same damage type in response, as such attacks are more fitting in their impact. Those who deserve death should be finished off with their own weapons.
Day-To-Day Activities
There are few actual temples of Assuran in the western Realms. Instead the Doombringer's priesthood is composed primarily of itinerant wanderers who travel from town to town agreeing to pray for Assuran’s intercession on behalf of one who seeks or fears vengeance for some attack in exchange for a small fee. Charlatans masquerading as members of Assuran’s clergy or priests who neglect the prayers they have promised to make receive a fitting punishment by Assuran’s hand.
If one wanted to seek vengeance on another by praying to Assuran, it was believed that writing prayers down made them more likely to be answered. To ensure a long-lasting reach for prayers, some vengeance seekers carved them into items made of lead. These were then buried to keep others from knowing about them.