Zehir

Death comes in many forms, but the worst is one born of disease. It creeps its way into the body and slowly corrupts it until it can longer function, at which point it begins to kill itself. Its agonizing and terrible, causing boils to surface on the body, the eyes to go blind, or the flesh on the body to fall off. Behind this, though, exists a god to spread its vile influence. Zehir, God of Diseases and Darkness, and his reign is a terrible one. Zehir was born in the desert of the Absaros. In a small village, in a dark cave, he grew. While many of the Yuan-Ti were typically born looking more human, Zehir was born with a body and head of a snake. Alongside three of his brothers, they emerged from their eggs, strong of body and mind. Zehir was clearly the strongest of the four of them, his size was immense and his mind sharp. The moment he first stepped before his people, he was revered as a God. Even the current chief could not help but bow before his might. His ascension was absolute, and none could match his might. At his side, serving as both his confidants and his generals were his brothers. The first was Acedec, the Fearless. He served as the warrior that lead the Yuan-ti in battle, bring victory in Zehir’s name. The second was Wamunec, the Unseen. His skill with stealth were unmatched and the intelligence he gathered was invaluable and allowed Zehir to outsmart his enemies. The last of the siblings was Karstec, the Arcane. His grasp of magic served as both a tool to crush their enemies, as well as a tool to divine secrets. Art first, they operated small, simply seeking to grow their numbers and expand their territory. Eventually ambition took over and they began their expand to human settlements. Normally, tyrants choose to crush their enemies before they subjugate them. Zehir, however; was no typical tyrant. Instead, he utilized his mind and defeated his enemies in a different way. His grasp of various poisons gave him the ability to have the people he sought to conquer come to him. He first sent Wamunec to douse the peoples food stores and water supplies in a poison of his design. Then he had Karstec appear, along with other Yuan-Ti, to preach of the great god Zehir, who could cure their ailments and save their souls. Many of the people swore loyalty to this new god, praying to him to save his people. Finally, Acedec was sent to kill any who choose to fight back or resist. Zehir was a fair god, choosing to bless some of the humans they conquered with privileges, but they were never made equals to the Yuan-Ti. He built statues in his honor and temples to him and his brothers. The people offered sacrifices and prayers, asking Zehir to save them from the plagues of the lands. Zehir, being the benevolent god he was cured them and saved them from their fates, never revealing it was he who first poisoned them. For a hundred years he reigned, his power growing more and more. Eventually, though, his secret was found out when a group of mercenaries were hired to protect a village near the edge of Zehir’s territory. They captured some of Wamunec’s men and found Zehir’s poison. They brought this before the Sultan of Absaros, stating that the Yuan-Ti had been behind the terrible disease that plagued the desert. An offensive was mounted against the Yuan-Ti, mercenaries from all over the continent were hired to aid in the battle against the Zehir. Word reached Zehir and he was furious. His anger was felt all throughout the Yuan-Ti people, and they prepared for war. They suited their slaves in robes of the, now, Cult of the Serpent and used them to fight on the front lines. The devotees were unbending and fought to their final breath in service to Zehir, but being untrained, they fell quickly. Some were captured, but their devotion was unbreakable. They would poison themselves is taken alive, refusing to betray their god. They believed that death in service to Zehir would bring them to be reborn as one of his people and they would live forever in the kingdom of the snake. The battle between the Sultan and Zehir was a long one, spanning nearly fifty years of constant blood shed. Eventually, though, a group would rise to help end the plague of the snake. They flew a banner of a crimson dragon, and they were powerful. Leading the other mercenary groups, they pushed the Yuan-Ti back to their ancestral home. In a final, all out assault, they laid siege to the kingdom of serpents and battled them to the bitter end. First to be defeated where his three brothers. Powerful mages of the Crimson Dragons battled them, the warriors holding back the foot soldiers. The brothers were trapped in an amber like crystal, completely removed from the battle, and exposing their brother to their assault. Zehir, however, was no weakling, and single handedly began to push the Crimson Dragon soldiers back. His defeat, however, was inevitable. Once the Champion and her sister, along with the champions lover and his brother, fought Zehir, he was finally defeated. Assault from the sister and the lover came in the form of powerful magic. They cursed him and made him vulnerable. The Champion and the brother attacked with their weapons, cutting away at his flesh. Eventually an opening was made, and in one clean arc of her mighty axe, the Champion removed Zehir’s head from his body. With a dying word, he cursed them all, swearing that his brothers would revive one day and hunt down their descendants, and with that, the battle was over. Zehir awoke, his body reformed. He found himself at the foot of a mighty staircase leading to a throne. Upon that throne was a man, dawned in ebony armor, the likes of which he had never seen before. Looking upon the man, Zehir’s heart was gripped in fear, his body paralyzed. He had never felt like this before when he professed godhood. The man sat silently on his throne, and after what felt like an eternity, spoke. “Zehir, Serpent King, I have seen your work with both kingdom and poison. Your might was absolute, but you failed to see one thing. You are not a god, and just like any mortal, your hubris was your undoing.” Zehir became enraged by these words, and fighting hard against the fear gripping him, he spouted back, “I was a god. Look upon my people. See how they worship the very ground I walk upon. My reign was absolute and my word was law.” The man, his demeanor unchanged, spoke once more, “Power does not make one a god. While our powers are immense, we do not work for foolish praise. No, our job is to govern with absolute authority, and that is what you lacked. You believed yourself above the possibility of failure, and for that you were defeated. I, however, wish to give you that which you once sought. Your prowess with the afflictions of mortals is unparalleled, and I wish to give you power over them. If you accept my offer, I will make you the God of Disease and Darkness, and from your throne you will work to maintain the laws of affliction and control its role in the world.” For a moment, Zehir thought. He did not, at first, believe the man. At first glance he was human, but the more one looked, the more he seemed divine. His presence was immense and his aura overwhelming. Zehir gathered all the courage he could and spoke, “I will serve as you wish, but I ask of one thing. Spare my brothers from the fate that befell me and I will serve you loyally.” The man heard these words and responded, “I shall do as you ask Zehir. I swear, as Abbadon, God of Destruction, that I will keep your brothers from harm until the day comes that they rise once more. However, once this happens, their fate belongs to them. Should they perish once more, it will be due to their own failure.” Zehir thanked Abbadon and upon taking his hand, ascended to godhood and took his seat as the God of Disease and Darkness. Now he governs over the laws that bind afflictions, bringing order to their madness and guiding alchemist who study them, should they choose to create or combat them. It is said that his brothers lay dormant, trapped in their prison of stone until the day would come that they would be freed to avenge their brother once more.