Morgath
Morgath is the self-appointed master of chaos and evil. Of all the gods, he is the most prone to violence and insanity and the quickest to anger. He is a lord of retribution but cares nothing for justice. He is filled with an abiding hatred for all things fair and noble. When Morgath appears to men, it is usually in some ethereal form, his true shape being unbearable to behold. He is never portrayed, but rather symbolized by the Durangash, a black circle on a field of brown, surrounded by an irregular black border.
Morgath is best known as the master of the undead, who are governed by his chief demigod, Klyss. Morgath is believed to have 13 true names and it is deemed the greatest folly to utter any of them aloud.
Practiced
In present-day Harn, the faith is largely confined to Rethem and Tharda. Worship of Morgath is particularly prominent in Golotha but even there his followers are not numerous. Elsewhere, his clergy are covert. In Kanday, Kaldor, Chybisa, and Melderyn, the worship of Morgath is punishable by death.Divine Symbols & Sigils
- Number thirteen
- Black Sphere
- Colors brown and black
- Brown robes
- Hyadak (Hideous masks)
Leadership
The Vynkhadur (Pope) resides in the Azeryani city of Meokolis.Structure
Khidarmur (High Priest)
Khala (Priest)
Most temples have twelve Khalas, each appointed by the Khidarmur. Each Khala has specific responsibilities:
Longai (juniour acolyte)
Khala (Priest)
Most temples have twelve Khalas, each appointed by the Khidarmur. Each Khala has specific responsibilities:
- Khala-Agash is the Guardian of Treasures controlling the temple’s finances.
- Khala-Bukrin is the Master of Archives is responsible for the temple's library and temple relics.
- Khala-Gekesa is responsible for relations with government authorities.
- Khala-Longai is the master who oversees the training of the junior acolytes.
- Khala-Kenat-Retsa is the master who presides at Kenat-Retsa rituals.
- Khala-Khida is the master who oversees the temple's day-to-day operations.
- Khala-Morvrin is the Guardian of the Unlamented Dead, responsible for the temple crypt and the undead within.
- Khala-Naman is the Master of Judgement who presides over internal temple courts.
- Khala-Nyardath is the Master of Ritual who presides over the ceremonies of the degrees of Nyardath.
- Khala-Shadryn-Vars is the Master of Low Ritual who presides over all ceremonies held for the laity.
- Khala-Sungai is the master who oversees the training of senior acolytes.
- Khala-Zhada is the Master of Discipline, responsible for temple security and spy networks.
Longai (juniour acolyte)
Public Agenda
The Order of the Lord of Chaos has four long-term objectives:
- Promotion of principles of Chaos and Evil.
- Harvesting souls to be fed to Bukrai.
- Create undead armies to serve the whim of Morgath.
- Seek the destruction of all established governments and a return to a world where each man is measured by his abilities, not his birth.
Assets
In The kingdom of Rethem:
- Major temple in Golotha - the seat of the Primate.
- Effective control over the city of Golotha by having majority control of the Heptarchial Council.
- Shrine of Aekluhaya or Balsha’s Shrine- It is rumored that the undead remains of the Prophet Balsha haunt the shrine.
- Extensive business investments.
- Generous revenue from worshipper donations and blackmail.
- Major temple in Coranan,
- Some support in the Senate,
- Extensive business investments,
- Moderate revenue from worshipper donations and blackmail.
- Access to the cities under city cisterns.
- Extensive funds from the sale of a property.
History
The church formed from a wandering band of necromancers and cultists, around 250 BT. They founded temples in the mountains of Azeryan and slowly and carefully grew the church into an unappealing death cult.
By 100TR, the church took on a more hedonistic doctrine, which did boost popularity; however, it slowly became a conflicting muddle, filled with heresies. By the 6th century, it badly needed to be reformed.
The most successful and dramatic heresy took place on Hârn when the Prophet Balsha argued that the afterlife's misery could be eased by exchanging the immortal soul for undeath or the thirteen lives. The Council of Murshel convened in 591 and revised its doctrine, combining old dogma with Balshanism. The many Clerical Orders were violently consolidated into a single organization, the Order of the Lord of Chaos, creating the modern church, which has, for the most part, remained unchanged since that date.
Demography and Population
Significant temples can be found in the City of Coranan in the Thardic Republic and in the City of Golotha in Rethem. Minor temples and shrines are distributed throughout both of these countries, and clandestine temples and covens are hidden within the other kingdoms.
Tenets of Faith
The Shadryn-Vars (Low Ritual)
The Morgathian church holds masses are held on the 26th of each month. These consist of lengthy, canted prayer, and some form of blood sacrifice. A human is preferred. If a human is unavailable, an animal may be substituted. The primary purpose of this ritual is to instill a sense of awe and terror.
The Kenat-Retsa (Low Ritual)
Supplicants train for 13 days in ritual and dogma, and during the next mass, they are given a test. If they pass, they join the congregation and able to participate in church services. They are considered "the Wreaker’s Flesh" or lay worshipers of Morgath).
The Degrees of Nyardath (High Rituals)
On the 13th of each month, these thirteen ritual ceremonies are restricted to the priesthood only.
The ritual, or degrees, become more difficult and complex than the last. They also become progressively more dangerous as some rituals involve summoning and control of undead, demons and the Shadow of Bukrai.
The first twelve degrees are divided into groups of four groups of three rituals, the Shadath, Huldath, Amaldath, and Varedath.
Although not mandatory Human sacrifice is common to the first twelve degrees. Human sacrifice is mandatory for the Thirteenth ritual called Ukrandath. Such a sacrifice is believed to attract Morgaths attention and feed the Shadow of Bukrai.
Ethics
Morgathianism is not an attractive religion. It is
difficult to take much comfort from a faith that preaches
“all are doomed to eternal torment in the afterlife,”
although this is counter-balanced with the notion of living
in worldly excess until death. Morgathian philosophy
encourages the acquisition and exercise of ruthless power
for its own sake, particularly among its clerics. Clerics
of Morgath inspire fear whenever recognized; they are
known to practice ritual human sacrifice.
Worship
The church of Morgath is unified and always mercilessly crushes heresy and dissent. Temple edicts, rules, and laws are absolute. However, interpretation of them can be subjective and a useful weapon for those brave enough to use them.
Morgathian temples are always very dangerous to both the participants as well as a casual worshipper. Ruthless ambition, power blocks, and treachery are the expected, with the weak cast aside in favor of the strong.
All temples are equipped with torture chambers, sacrificial chambers, vaults filled with undead, large archives, and death traps. The Shadow of Bukrai permeates these temples.
Priesthood
Clerics or Morgath wear mostly black and brown.
Their ritual dress includes hideous masks, partly to terrify,
but mainly to hide their identity.
Granted Divine Powers
Political Influence & Intrigue
As Morgathism is far from a popular Religion, the church relies on fear, spies, informants, blackmail, intimidation, and the corruption of local government officials and leaders to maintain political power. Very few are willing to challenge this church, those that do often disappear and suffer a fate worse than death.
Sects
“Tormentor of the Unlamented Dead,
Master of the Principle of Evil, Lord of
the Gulmorvrin, Wielder of the Shadow,
Wreaker of Chaos.”
Master of the Principle of Evil, Lord of
the Gulmorvrin, Wielder of the Shadow,
Wreaker of Chaos.”
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Location
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