Kurgess
As healthy competition is your meal, so is fairness and honor your wine, for one without the other is dry and bitter indeed. —Catalog of Champions
The Strong Man
Kurgess, the Strong Man, was once a mortal of peerless physical prowess. As legends of his sporting victories and his noble death spread across the Inner Sea region—and even other planes—athletes began looking to Kurgess as a role model, and competitions were often dedicated to him as the embodiment of honor and athleticism. Shortly thereafter, Cayden Cailean and Desna raised Kurgess to godhood, crowning him with deific powers. Why they did this remains up for debate, but more than a few scholars whisper that Kurgess might actually be the two deities’ half-mortal son. He stands as patron of and inspiration for all who engage in physical challenges.
About 300 years ago, Kurgess was merely a strapping farm boy from Taldor, and his mortal life is well-documented. Born to unknown parents, Kurgess was abandoned as an infant upon the doorstep of a Taldan couple who took him in. His extraordinary strength manifested before he even reached puberty—by the age of eight, he could pull a sleigh loaded with his brothers and sisters back and forth across a field all afternoon. One day, Kurgess spotted a traveling merchant on the road who had gotten his carriage stuck in a ditch. The selfless youth shook hands with the stranger before disconnecting the carriage from its train and heaving the entire vehicle out of the ditch unaided. Impressed by the boy’s wondrous brawn, the merchant extended an offer: Kurgess could join him in his travels, and together they would roam Taldor, with Kurgess competing in contests of strength and speed. By the time Kurgess turned 20, he was packing stadiums with peasants as well as aristocrats eager to see the so-called Strong Man best time-honored champions at their own games. Unfortunately, Kurgess’s vast talent and good-natured sportsmanship earned him the jealousy and bitterness of many of his more unscrupulous rivals.
Kurgess’s final act as a mortal took place at the third annual Raptor Run in Taldor’s capital of Oppara. Before the competition, Kurgess’s enemies laid down a vicious trap for the Strong Man and any competitors unfortunate enough to be riding alongside him. Kurgess caught wind of the scheme and sacrificed himself, crashing his chariot onto the trap and saving the other athletes. When the clerics pronounced the gladiator dead, the entire city mourned for the champion, and Kurgess became a martyr.
Cayden Cailean and Desna certainly lifted Kurgess from legend to godhood; what other feelings they have toward the Strong Man are debatable. Theologians and some priests of Kurgess speculate that at least one of them is Kurgess’s parent, but the gods themselves have remained silent on the matter; still, adherents of Kurgess are welcomed with open arms in temples to Desna and Cayden Cailean alike. If the rumors about Kurgess’s parentage were true, it would certainly explain the Strong Man’s godly might as a mortal and the deities’ decision to help raise their son to divinity.
As a Taldan mortal who made frequent trips to nearby Qadira, Kurgess found many good games and even brief love affairs with members of the Cult of the Dawnflower; members of the two religions similarly find much to enjoy about one another, as they share a common cause for good. Milani’s devotees do not care as much for the games and sports to which Kurgessans commit their lives, but respect their comrades’ dedication to self-sacrifice and helping others. Both faiths are common in areas where they are persecuted; by combining their efforts, these worshippers stand a far better chance of spreading their messages and overthrowing their oppressors.
Kurgessans cannot tolerate worshippers of destructive gods such as Norgorber or Rovagug, and rarely ally with their adherents. When working together is unavoidable due to an important common goal or exceptional circumstances, Kurgessans begrudgingly justify their unfortunate partnership by subtly showing off their strength and besting comrades in light-hearted contests in order to show the superiority of their god.
Exodor: Legend has it that Kurgess found his magnificent steed, Exodor, in the Taldan highlands east of Zimar, and he tamed the wild stallion by living in the wilds alongside him through the winter. The golden-maned horse is a glorious sight with or without a rider, and Exodor is trained for combat as well as jousting and racing. Worshippers of Kurgess can also call upon Exodor’s celestial descendants using spells such as summon monster II.
Marpitus, the Severed Chimera: Villagers on the border between Taldor and Qadira still celebrate the mortal Kurgess’s defeat of the mythic chimera Marpitus, which plagued farmers and travelers in the region for decades. Legend has it that Kurgess wrestled with Marpitus until the early morning hours, when he finally bested the beast and cut off its serpent-headed tail before landing the killing blow. When Kurgess ascended to godhood, he dredged up the soul of Marpitus from the underworld to act as his divine servant. The spirit of the Severed Chimera is still missing its venomous tail, and Kurgess’s divine magic has ensured the tempestuous guardian serves his followers faithfully.
Watcher Surmios: This unique astral deva is a loyal servant and friend of Kurgess. It was Surmios who witnessed Kurgess’s grand self-sacrifice at the Third Running of the Raptors and led the champion’s soul to Nirvana. When Cayden Cailean and Desna elevated Kurgess to godhood, Surmios stood by the Strong Man’s side and vouched for his nobility and worthiness. The angel even accepted the honor of plunging his celestial sword into the chest of Kurgess’s petitioner spirit to mark the beginning of the Strong Man’s existence as a god. Now, Watcher Surmios descends to the mortal realm to assist and encourage followers of Kurgess as they pursue righteous causes or attempt to overcome impossible obstacles.
About 300 years ago, Kurgess was merely a strapping farm boy from Taldor, and his mortal life is well-documented. Born to unknown parents, Kurgess was abandoned as an infant upon the doorstep of a Taldan couple who took him in. His extraordinary strength manifested before he even reached puberty—by the age of eight, he could pull a sleigh loaded with his brothers and sisters back and forth across a field all afternoon. One day, Kurgess spotted a traveling merchant on the road who had gotten his carriage stuck in a ditch. The selfless youth shook hands with the stranger before disconnecting the carriage from its train and heaving the entire vehicle out of the ditch unaided. Impressed by the boy’s wondrous brawn, the merchant extended an offer: Kurgess could join him in his travels, and together they would roam Taldor, with Kurgess competing in contests of strength and speed. By the time Kurgess turned 20, he was packing stadiums with peasants as well as aristocrats eager to see the so-called Strong Man best time-honored champions at their own games. Unfortunately, Kurgess’s vast talent and good-natured sportsmanship earned him the jealousy and bitterness of many of his more unscrupulous rivals.
Kurgess’s final act as a mortal took place at the third annual Raptor Run in Taldor’s capital of Oppara. Before the competition, Kurgess’s enemies laid down a vicious trap for the Strong Man and any competitors unfortunate enough to be riding alongside him. Kurgess caught wind of the scheme and sacrificed himself, crashing his chariot onto the trap and saving the other athletes. When the clerics pronounced the gladiator dead, the entire city mourned for the champion, and Kurgess became a martyr.
Relations with Other Religions
While other gods associated with strength such as Cayden Cailean and Gorum draw worshippers similar to those of Kurgess, the Strong Man’s faith is unique in that its adherents prize sportsmanship and good games above revelry or the rush of battle. Irorans share Kurgessans’ appreciation for physical mastery and the thousands of hours of training that go into such pursuits, but that’s where their similarities end. Irori’s monks disdain Kurgess’s commitment to what they see as frivolous games, and Kurgessans regard Irorans’ dedication to neutrality as an obstruction to the pursuit of a satisfying and virtuous life.Cayden Cailean and Desna certainly lifted Kurgess from legend to godhood; what other feelings they have toward the Strong Man are debatable. Theologians and some priests of Kurgess speculate that at least one of them is Kurgess’s parent, but the gods themselves have remained silent on the matter; still, adherents of Kurgess are welcomed with open arms in temples to Desna and Cayden Cailean alike. If the rumors about Kurgess’s parentage were true, it would certainly explain the Strong Man’s godly might as a mortal and the deities’ decision to help raise their son to divinity.
As a Taldan mortal who made frequent trips to nearby Qadira, Kurgess found many good games and even brief love affairs with members of the Cult of the Dawnflower; members of the two religions similarly find much to enjoy about one another, as they share a common cause for good. Milani’s devotees do not care as much for the games and sports to which Kurgessans commit their lives, but respect their comrades’ dedication to self-sacrifice and helping others. Both faiths are common in areas where they are persecuted; by combining their efforts, these worshippers stand a far better chance of spreading their messages and overthrowing their oppressors.
Kurgessans cannot tolerate worshippers of destructive gods such as Norgorber or Rovagug, and rarely ally with their adherents. When working together is unavoidable due to an important common goal or exceptional circumstances, Kurgessans begrudgingly justify their unfortunate partnership by subtly showing off their strength and besting comrades in light-hearted contests in order to show the superiority of their god.
Realm
Kurgess resides on the plane of Nirvana, in an endless expanse of plains and rolling grasslands called Kurgess’s Field. While strangers to the realm may find it eerie, natives tread the solemn grounds with reverence and respect. Massive circles of orange clay dot the region—sprawling arenas carved into the ground so wanderers can rest or challenge one another to good-natured bouts. Mortals who end up in Kurgess’s Field after death happily congregate in otherworldly urban centers that host sporting and gaming festivals every day, where the sun always shines onto the countless coliseums, hippodromes, and stadiums made of iron and gold.Planar Allies
Kurgess has many dedicated and loyal servants on Nirvana. The following otherworldly servants of the Strong Man can be called via planar ally or similar spells.Exodor: Legend has it that Kurgess found his magnificent steed, Exodor, in the Taldan highlands east of Zimar, and he tamed the wild stallion by living in the wilds alongside him through the winter. The golden-maned horse is a glorious sight with or without a rider, and Exodor is trained for combat as well as jousting and racing. Worshippers of Kurgess can also call upon Exodor’s celestial descendants using spells such as summon monster II.
Marpitus, the Severed Chimera: Villagers on the border between Taldor and Qadira still celebrate the mortal Kurgess’s defeat of the mythic chimera Marpitus, which plagued farmers and travelers in the region for decades. Legend has it that Kurgess wrestled with Marpitus until the early morning hours, when he finally bested the beast and cut off its serpent-headed tail before landing the killing blow. When Kurgess ascended to godhood, he dredged up the soul of Marpitus from the underworld to act as his divine servant. The spirit of the Severed Chimera is still missing its venomous tail, and Kurgess’s divine magic has ensured the tempestuous guardian serves his followers faithfully.
Watcher Surmios: This unique astral deva is a loyal servant and friend of Kurgess. It was Surmios who witnessed Kurgess’s grand self-sacrifice at the Third Running of the Raptors and led the champion’s soul to Nirvana. When Cayden Cailean and Desna elevated Kurgess to godhood, Surmios stood by the Strong Man’s side and vouched for his nobility and worthiness. The angel even accepted the honor of plunging his celestial sword into the chest of Kurgess’s petitioner spirit to mark the beginning of the Strong Man’s existence as a god. Now, Watcher Surmios descends to the mortal realm to assist and encourage followers of Kurgess as they pursue righteous causes or attempt to overcome impossible obstacles.
Holy Books & Codes
The following work of text features prominently among Kurgess’s canon.
Catalog of Champions: This exhaustive record contains a preamble on the philosophy behind sportsmanship and noble competition, as well as names the winners of a variety of contests, physical tests, and sporting events held around the Inner Sea region and beyond. Along with the champions’ names, each entry includes the rules of the sport, mythological stories behind the sport, and the time, weight, or act one must best to claim a spot on the list of champions. While normally recorded on vellum scrolls, several versions of this ancient record are inscribed on the stones of notable coliseums such as Valknar Gladiatorial College in the River Kingdom of Tymon and the pillars that line the Lionsgate district in Oppara.
Catalog of Champions: This exhaustive record contains a preamble on the philosophy behind sportsmanship and noble competition, as well as names the winners of a variety of contests, physical tests, and sporting events held around the Inner Sea region and beyond. Along with the champions’ names, each entry includes the rules of the sport, mythological stories behind the sport, and the time, weight, or act one must best to claim a spot on the list of champions. While normally recorded on vellum scrolls, several versions of this ancient record are inscribed on the stones of notable coliseums such as Valknar Gladiatorial College in the River Kingdom of Tymon and the pillars that line the Lionsgate district in Oppara.
Holidays
Worshipers of Kurgess celebrate the following holidays.
Carnival of Kurgess: Named after the Strong Man, the Carnival of Kurgess is a week-long competition of gladiatorial games and contests held on Widowmaker Isle in the Shackles once every 2 years. While most of the matches are not to the death, the mortality rate of contestants is still high due to the brutal nature of the events and the contest’s magnificent grand prize—the title of Mayor of Widowmaker Isle. The celebration of this holiday is a point of contention for some Kurgessan priests, who find the carnival organizers too bloodthirsty for their tastes.
Running of the Raptors: Also known as Raptor’s Run, this event is held each year in the streets of Lionsgate in Oppara. Participants must race through the emptied roads dodging obstacles and hurdles while being chased by a freed pack of raptors. The mortal Kurgess died to save the other participants of the third Running of the Raptors, so this event bears special significance for the Strong Man’s Taldan disciples. Adherents use the occasion to celebrate Kurgess’s life as well as his mission; in recent years, Kurgessans who win the event have started giving their winnings to poor or fledgling orphanages around Taldor.
Carnival of Kurgess: Named after the Strong Man, the Carnival of Kurgess is a week-long competition of gladiatorial games and contests held on Widowmaker Isle in the Shackles once every 2 years. While most of the matches are not to the death, the mortality rate of contestants is still high due to the brutal nature of the events and the contest’s magnificent grand prize—the title of Mayor of Widowmaker Isle. The celebration of this holiday is a point of contention for some Kurgessan priests, who find the carnival organizers too bloodthirsty for their tastes.
Running of the Raptors: Also known as Raptor’s Run, this event is held each year in the streets of Lionsgate in Oppara. Participants must race through the emptied roads dodging obstacles and hurdles while being chased by a freed pack of raptors. The mortal Kurgess died to save the other participants of the third Running of the Raptors, so this event bears special significance for the Strong Man’s Taldan disciples. Adherents use the occasion to celebrate Kurgess’s life as well as his mission; in recent years, Kurgessans who win the event have started giving their winnings to poor or fledgling orphanages around Taldor.
Relationships
Symbol
Edicts
compete to your full potential, claim victory or accept defeat with grace, seek always to better yourself, encourage others to strive toward their own potential for greatness
Anathema
cheat at honorable contests, dishonor those who have lost or failed (including defeated or slain enemies), engage in reckless or needless destruction or bloodshed
Areas of Concern
healthy competition, sport, and physical development
Favored Weapon
javelin
Domains
ambition, might, truth, zeal
Divine Ability
Strength or Constitution
Divine Font
heal
Divine Skill
Athletics
Divine Classification
God (Ascended)
Species
Ethnicity
Church/Cult
Spouses
Siblings
Cayden Cailean
(divine patron)
Desna
(divine patron)
Children
Gender
Male
Aphorisms
Kurgessans frequently call upon the strength of their god in contests as well as battles, and the following aphorisms succinctly represent their ethos.The heat of sports, the winds of Nirvana: Kurgessans ascribe many of the body’s natural responses to physical exertion to a divine connection with sites on Nirvana, home of the Strong Man’s domain. Perspiration is a cooling fog rolling across Kurgess’s Field, a quickened pulse comes from the pounding of waterfalls at the Skyward Cliffs, and an increase in body temperature signifies that one is channeling winds from the Dreaming Sun Volcano.
I always fight again: A bitter defeat is only the end of one’s journey if one allows it to be. Even Kurgess occasionally lost a match (though the circumstances of such losses were always dubious), and had it not been for his final defeat, he would have never risen to godhood.
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