Szu'ul
"He Who Ends the Weak"
Summary
Szu'ul is not a philosophical god, nor does he pretend to be. He believes in strength above all, and he believes that strength should be displayed through acts of destruction. When he is angered, he will crush, and when he is joyous, he will slash. If he is ever not upon the battlefield, then the battlefield shall find its way to him, for he is nothing if he is not fighting. The confidante of Mahth, he is also his most loyal customer, as there is no better way to treat oneself than with a brand new weapon. Despots, bullies, and reactionaries all love Szu'ul, as he aids them in keeping others in line without such petty things as charisma, diplomacy, or even intimidation. Power lies in strength, as all other powers bow before it.The Canon and the Way
Szu'ul leaves little ambiguity to interpretation. There exist people both in the Prime Canon and the Green Way who view Szu'ul's words as admirable, though his message of force is hardly ever adopted without complaint as an organizational means. This leads to complications even among his own followers, who often devolve into infighting and bloodbaths. Perhaps the only difference is that, in the Green Way, Szu'ul isn't worshipped but rather learned from. Even the most devout followers of his words often temper them with other deities' wisdom, such as the texts of Rieloch, and thus Szu'ul has a more stable place as an object of worship. Devotion to Szu'ul is especially prominent among Grove-Guardians in blighted or damaged regions, as unquestioning force can often be the best way to sustain nature against its enemies.Symbology
All manner of weapons are the symbols of Szu'ul, but many of them are also symbols of other gods, which complicates his imagery. The fist is his most prominent symbol, but a vertical double-sided axe or warhammer is also common. Still, most of Szu'ul’s followers aren’t exactly worried with such trivialities as symbols, as they’d rather be fighting their enemies than devoting their lives to any manner of worship.Rites and Worship
Szu'ul does not have any holy sites or temples. The existence of them would offend most of his followers, as they imply some greater moral or organizational purpose beyond the rule of force. Often times, though, fight clubs and prisons are breeding grounds for the worship of Szu'ul, and all manner of gangs display at least vocal support for his ideals. Even if their support is *only* vocal, Szu'ul hardly cares - so long as they keep blood running. "Clerics" of Szu'ul tend to be brutes who've managed to maintain their streak of power for long enough without being brought down. They rarely actually study any texts, and they almost never have complex magical powers, so the term is a bit of a misnomer. Sometimes, despots who maintain absolute rule over a settlement or tribe will be devout followers of Szu'ul, and they may be more intelligent in their approach, though their appeal to this deity will always rest purely upon their capability to exert physical force.Holy Text: The First Aggression Principle
Tenets |
|---|
Penances | Strictures |
| ⊕ Subjugate a greater foe. | ⊝ Never kill those who recognize your power. Enservice them freely. |
| ⊕ Exert your will over others - back it by force. | ⊝ Never suffer defeat or intimidation. |
Mandates |
|---|
| ⊜ If given the opportunity - fight - especially among fellow followers of Szu'ul. |
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