The Dark Six
The Dark Six and the Sovereign Host are opposite sides of the same coin. If you believe it one you inherently believe in the other; the only question is whether you fear or revere the Dark Six. The principles of the faith are the same: just like the Sovereigns, the Six are with us at all times. They shape the world and speak to those who will listen.
In general, the Sovereigns represent values tied to civilization: Law, community, trade, industry, agriculture, honor in war. The Dark Six embody dangerous concepts: Death, chaos and change, the destructive powers of nature, treachery in battle, dark magic and monsters, passion and madness. Those who worship the Sovereigns fear these things; those who revere the Six embrace them and don’t consider them to be evil. If you’re a barbarian, it’s the Fury who unleashes your rage. If you’re an assassin, you walk the path of the Mockery as opposed to that of Dol Arrah.
| Symbol | Diety | Areas of Influence | Domains |
|---|---|---|---|
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The Devourer, god of nature's wrath | Storm, flood, famine, other aspects of nature’s wrath; also, the sea | Tempest |
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The Fury, goddess of wrath and madness | Wrath, passion, vengeance | War |
 |
The Keeper, god of greed and death | Gluttony, greed, necromancy | Death, Grave |
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The Mockery, god of violence and treachery | Violence, betrayal, dishonorable victory, love of carnage, war | War, Trickery |
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The Shadow, god of dark magic | Ambition, dark magic, corruption | Knowledge |
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The Traveler, deity of chaos and change | Change, cunning, innovation, deception | Knowledge, Trickery |
Tenets of Faith
- As is the world, so are the gods. As are the gods, so is the world.
- The lot of mortals is reverence, obedience, acceptance, and fear.
- Only obedience and reverence are rewarded after death.
Worship
Although worship of the Dark Six is not common, the people of Khorvaire haven’t forgotten that these deities have power over aspects of the world. Although the average peasant reveres the Sovereign Host, few people are so assured that they refuse to offer a prayer to the Dark Six when appropriate. Everyone knows that the neighbours do the same, although none ever speak of it.
Like worshipers of the Host, Vassals of the Six offer prayers entirely as thanks—particularly in gratitude for avoiding misfortune. Prayers are chanted in peculiar cadences that are as important as the words themselves. Requests for the favor of the gods, or ceremonies to ward off their ire, are considered minor rites and are marked by offerings. Offerings need not be valuable, but they must be symbolically appropriate: sacrificing an animal to ensure the suffering of an enemy, or injuring oneself as an offering of pain to bring good fortune in a coming battle.
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