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Message: <blockquote data-quote="DMEntropy" data-source="post: 1199120" data-attributes="member: 13270">Religion of KirokKirok    Kirok is an alien god cast out from his home dimension by the more powerful beings that reside there.  Little is known of the reasons for his exile.  His entrance into Aerde was dramatic.  He fell from a rift in the sky to form a great hole in the earth upon his impact.  At the conclusion of the time of gods the hole was filled.   Torrential rains covered the northern lands until a round lake was formed.  It is now known as Lake Spire.    Kirok is a humanoid being with two joints in each arm and leg.  His face is alien and reptilian in appearance.  He (it?) is constantly dressed in plate armor battle gear.  A very large, heavy mace is always at hand.  This is frequently the tool needed to fix any problem that faces Kirok.Requirements of Priesthood    The priests of Kirok are solely from the clans of the northern barbarians.  They reside on the steppes and the mountains of the northlands that surround Lake Spire.  This lake marks Kirok’s entry point into Aerde.    Only men can become priests.  Priest must have a Strength of 12 and a Constitution of 12.  Candidate priests must participate in a blood sacrifice ritual dedicated to Kirok with an intelligent victim before being accepted into the priesthood.  All priests either come to the priesthood with a sadistic personality or quickly develop one to survive.Many women are also associated with the clergy.  Women can take the role of sorceresses who are sworn to serve the priests.  They never obtain an official title or status within the hierarchy of the priesthood.  It is a foolish man who thinks that these women are under the complete control of the priests however.Kirok demands complete service from his priests.  This is effectively enforced by rival priests; sometimes too effectively.  Assassinations within the priesthood are common.  There is a high turnover rate in the hierarchy of junior priests as their senior counterparts gain or lose political power.Multi-classing is allowed without restriction to the priests of Kirok.  It is not uncommon for a priest to also have rogue, fighter or barbarian levels as well.  Less frequently a priest will multi-class as a sorceror.  Wizards are virtually unknown in this society.Aims, Credos and EthosKirok fosters conflict.  Strength is gained through overcoming an enemy.  The weak are culled from a society by the strong.  Victory can be gained by whatever means are successful.  Physical strength is not the only manner to achieve victory.    Outsiders are all enemies to be conquered.  Others from related tribes are also enemies in some circumstances.  In times of invasion by outsiders or visible weakness of neighboring clans the tribes will come together to overcome their enemies and conquer new lands when possible.    Conquered enemies are taken as slaves.  Good slaves can rise to become members the clan through proof of strength and loyalty.  Most are not so fortunate and die during their servitude from harsh conditions and harsher masters.    It is unclear to those outside of the highest circles of power in the temple what Kirok's ultimate goals are.  Death and destruction of all those who do not follow him seem to be a common theme however.    The priesthood of Kirok will cooperate with the priests of Typhus when they come into contact with each other.  No formal alliance is formed between these religions and they have few common goals.RitualsThe winter solstice is the highest ritual day for this priesthood.  It coincides with the annual gathering of the tribes on the shore of Lake Spire.  Many sacrifices of blood and magic are made during a week-long ceremony.  This culminates on the last night of the year when both Talina and Lunak are new, marking the anniversary of Kirok's entry into Aerde.  A special barge is constructed and floated out to the center of the lake.  Sacrifices are placed on the barge and it is set afire.  Their screams join the chanting priests to call upon Kirok's favor.    The chief temple of Kirok lies in the mountains overlooking the lake.  It is an imposing structure of blackest basalt with high towers and battlements.  The temple appears more like a fortress than a temple.  Priests from all of the tribes journey here each year to pay homage to the high priest and receive training.  Each of the tribes and clans also has their own temple to Kirok.  Most frequently this is a large tent constructed of strong poles and the hides of conquered enemies.    Each tribe will have a basalt dagger.  This is the ritual dagger that is used to slay sacrifices on the altar.  If a tribe should lose this dagger or have it taken they are lost.  Who ever possesses the dagger can then claim the tribe as their slaves.  No member of a tribe would knowingly allow such a dagger to come to be held by an outsider.  Even magical compulsion is tested by this act.    The priests of Kirok are constantly seeking out powerful magical items and spells.  They are then used in rituals of sacrifice to Kirok to build his strength on this plane.  There are monthly rituals in the temples of the clans.  Blood sacrifices are the most common at these ceremonies.  Slaves and captures enemies are favorite victims.Customs, Rules and TaboosThe northern tribes are hostile and warlike.  Orcs in the northern plains region are a constant enemy.  They are frequently in conflict with one another as well.  Peace is a concept that is not well understood by the people of the north.  It is not whether they are at war that concerns them.  It is whom they are currently at war with that is the important issue of their lives.The priests serve as advisors to the leaders of the clans.  If the clan leader ever develops a will of his own and defies the priests it is not long before a new leader is at the head of the clan.  Control of the clan leader is never an overt process.  An illusion that the priest is merely an advisor is striven for at all times.  The yearly training all priests undergo involves lessons about how to accomplish this goal.Each clan looks to the priest to settle matters of small dispute, freeing the leader to perform the more important tasks of planning the next battle or defense of the clan.  In this way the priests serve as judges over most legal matters of the clan.  The cases are presented to the clan leaders for approval in all cases of importance.  It is quite rare for a leader to alter the judgment of the priest.Showing mercy to enemies or rivals is never tolerated.  It is completely inexcusable for a priest to do such a thing.  If ever caught doing so a priest is either executed on the spot or taken alive for later public sacrifice.  The second option is preferred to make an example to the junior priests and the people of the clans.Kirok brought wyverns into Aerde as a side effect of the ceremony that brought an artifact from his home dimension.  Many other evil avian and flying creatures also made the crossing from Kirok’s home dimension.  There is an affinity with these evil creatures and the spell casters of the northern tribes.  Sorceror’s will have the smaller versions of these creatures as familiars.  Priests use wyverns as mounts at higher levels.  There are also stories of priests taking the shape of wyverns.Equipment, Garb and OfferingsThe priests of Kirok favor armor that is adorned with spikes and other small blades with which they delight in slashing their opponents.  Priests will rarely leave the temple without wearing armor.  Most priests will use a mace or morning star in combat.  Though some notable high priests have favored battle-axes and spiked clubs.  The three arrow symbol of Kirok is prominently displayed on the clothing and armor of the priesthood.Offerings to Kirok are almost universally blood.  The priests demand gold and other valuables as well as foodstuffs from the clan chiefs to support the temples.Specialty MagicWYVERN MOUNTConjuration (Evil)Level: Clr 4Range: PersonalCasting Time: 1 actionComponents: V, S, DFArea of Effect: 1 summoned wyvernDuration: 1 hour/levelSaving Throw: N/ADescription:  A priest of Kirok calls a wyvern to serve him as a loyal mount for the duration of the spell.  The wyvern can be communicated with verbally or mentally while being ridden.  Only verbal communication is possible if the caster is not riding the beast.     The wyvern will follow the commands of the priest, even to its own death.  Kirok becomes displeased if a wyvern is killed following the command of a priest.  Should this occur, the priest will lose one fourth level spell slot for a week.  If it recurs the penalties become harsher.     The priest's holy symbol is required as the divine focus for the spell.FOMENT UNRESTEnchantment (Chaos, Evil)Level: Clr 5Casting Time: 1 hourComponents: V, S, M, DFArea of Effect: SpecialDuration: SpecialTarget: SpecialSaving Throw: See BelowDescription: A priest of Kirok uses this ritual to assist in the overthrow of a non-priest leader.  At the completion of the ritual a blood sacrifice of a person loyal to or related to the leader is made.  The leader must then make a charisma based will save against the DC of the spell.  If the sacrifice is a parent, wife, sibling or child of the leader the priest receives an additional +4 to the DC.     If the leader fails his save the ritual is successful.  The people being led will begin to challenge the leader's authority.  Resistance will develop that will lead to open rebellion.  The priest casting the spell will receive a +4 profane bonus to all charisma based checks with the people affected.  These effects will last until the next new moon of Lunak.  The reemergence of Lunak will end all benefits of the spell.     Materials:  This ritual must be performed under the open sky near a natural water source.  The clan's basalt dagger must be used to complete the sacrifice.</blockquote>

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