Erythnul
Title(s)
The Many, The God of Slaughter, Lord of Savagery
Alignment
Chaotic Evil
Symbol
A red blood drop or a bestial mask that represents Erythnul's ever-changing visage, symbolizing the chaotic and brutal nature of his worship. Followers often carry this symbol as a totem or brand it onto their skin.
Domains
War, Chaos, Destruction, Death
Followers and Clergy
Erythnul's followers are typically drawn from the ranks of violent and savage beings, including gnolls, trolls, ogres, and bugbears, as well as barbaric humans who revel in chaos and bloodshed. His worshippers often live in warbands or tribal groups that thrive on raiding, looting, and sowing fear. The clergy is composed of bloodthirsty warriors, shamans, and war priests who incite their followers to acts of extreme violence. Clerics of Erythnul adorn themselves with trophies from their kills, such as bones, teeth, or blood-stained garments, and often wear war paint or tattoos that mimic his shifting features. The hierarchy within his faith is based on sheer strength and the ability to instill fear, with the most brutal individuals rising to positions of power.
Worship Practices
Worship of Erythnul is a violent and chaotic affair, often involving blood sacrifices, battle rites, and frenzied dances around roaring bonfires. His followers celebrate moments of slaughter, such as the aftermath of a successful raid, with blood-soaked rituals that include chanting, the consumption of raw meat, or the offering of slain enemies. Important times for worship are during eclipses or blood moons, as these celestial events are seen as omens of great carnage. Combat itself is a form of worship, and many followers will enter berserk rages on the battlefield, believing that the shedding of blood honors Erythnul.
Character and Doctrine
Erythnul embodies the raw, unrestrained brutality of combat and the primal urge for violence. He teaches his followers to embrace chaos, reject mercy, and spread terror wherever they go. His doctrine glorifies bloodshed, encouraging his worshippers to sow panic and revel in the suffering of others. According to Erythnul, only the strong survive, and the weak exist solely to be slaughtered. His teachings inspire warbands to raid and pillage with no regard for morality or honor, considering fear and brutality to be the truest expressions of power.
Manifestations and Interventions
In battle, Erythnul’s form shifts continuously between different monstrous shapes—human, bugbear, troll, ogre, and gnoll—embodying the fearsome nature of each. His spilled blood is said to transform into savage creatures that continue the slaughter in his name. When he manifests, his eyes burn with a fierce light that spreads terror to all who meet his gaze, causing even the bravest warriors to falter. Erythnul’s interventions often come in the form of frenzies that grip his followers, spurring them to greater acts of violence, or through supernatural occurrences on the battlefield, such as sudden storms of blood or the appearance of monstrous creatures.
Divine Relationships and Stories
Erythnul has few allies among the gods due to his chaotic and destructive nature, but he may find temporary common cause with deities of war, chaos, or evil, such as Hextor or Gruumsh. Even then, these alliances are fleeting and fraught with betrayal. Myths about Erythnul often involve his battles against other gods or his destruction of entire civilizations that sought to bring order to the chaos he thrives in. Stories also tell of his blood spawning entire tribes of monsters, and his laughter can be heard on the wind during times of great slaughter.
Sacred Items and Symbols
Erythnul’s sacred items include blood-soaked weapons, skulls taken from fallen enemies, and masks or amulets depicting his shifting, bestial visage. His followers often fashion crude totems from bones, claws, or the flesh of their victims. His symbol of a blood drop is frequently used in blood rituals or painted on war banners to invoke his power. Weapons used in particularly brutal acts are sometimes considered sacred and kept as relics or offered in sacrifice during important rituals.
Temples and Shrines
Temples to Erythnul are often little more than fortified camps, bloody altars, or cavernous lairs where sacrifices can be made. His shrines are usually found in places marked by violence, such as ancient battlefields, raided villages, or the dens of savage beasts. They are typically adorned with bones, bloodstains, and other grim decorations that honor the god's love of slaughter. Some shrines may consist of crude stone pillars marked with the symbol of the blood drop or feature a bestial mask to signify his presence. These sites are used as rallying points for warbands or as places to make offerings before going into battle.
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