The Ruinous Powers

Truly the darkest and most vile of all deities to exist. These beings not only believe in evil but in corrupting everything and joining it with the Void. Those who worship these gods have often truly lost their humanity and given their souls over to beings that see them as nothing more but fodder for their goals. What's scariest is that people embody these deities almost constantly, powering them no matter how good they truly believe to be.
The Void is a place of dreams and nightmares, where effect need not follow cause; within its bounds anything is possible. Here there are no physical laws akin to those that dominate the mortal world. Within its confines hopes and fears become real, and reality is reborn as fevered hallucination. Gravity, shape, space and reason — all are in flux and utterly mutable to the will of the Ruinous Powers. Few mortals are capable of perceiving the Void in its true splendor, for the living mind recoils from its otherworldly landscapes. Thus, no two visions of the Realm of Chaos are exactly alike, and are often contradictory. If there is anything that can be called the truth, it is this; the Void is but a mirror reflection of the misery, pain and horrors of the material world, created in its current form by the destruction and suffering made by the mortal races.


Many claim to have spoken to one or more of the Powers, but most are seemingly driven mad by their experiences. It is believed that the Ruinous Powers call out to those who they feel can be easily corrupted, such as bloodthirsty warriors or scheming wizards. Often times the Powers offer just that, more power, but at a sinister price. Those who accept bargains with the dark gods are often twisted and mutated into horrid minions of the gods, quickly forgetting about all personal goals and hopes.
The Ruinous Powers have never fully manifested unto the Material Plane. In their place they send powerful agents and avatars, each of which has caused massive destruction on a planetary scale. The Ruinous Powers are currently the only known deity-level powers that are believed to not be the direct creation of the Twin Gods Garenthar and Kormund, but they are the creation of the mortal children of the realms.
It is currently believed that the Void was forever locked shut by the Glade Guardians during the Battle of Alvendar, never allowing them to manifest physically in the Material Plane. This does not however mean that their influence wanes. It is still very commonly believed that each of the Ruinous Powers whisper in the darkness, pulling mortals into their fold and spreading their toxic corruption across Korrisia. Because of their presence becoming more known after the Glade Guardians, the mortal kingdoms of Korrisia actively seek out and hunt agents of the Powers, to ensure a foothold is never gained.

The Four Gods

The Ruinous Powers are mainly four deities, each created from the raw wants, needs, and vices of mortals. Each are Chaotic Evil.

Karneth, Lord of Blood

Portfolio: Anger, Violence, Carnage, War
Embodies: Courage, Glory, Strength

Tzeeneth, Lord of Change

Portfolio: Sorcery, Change, Manipulation
Embodies: Ambition, Knowledge, Hope

Nurgleth, Lord of Decay

Portfolio: Disease, Destruction, Decay, Death
Embodies: Desire to elude death and live on

Slaaneth, Lord of Pleasure

Portfolio: Pleasure, Passion, Decadence
Embodies: Desire, Greed, Lust, and Indulgence

Minor Ruinous Powers

It is unknown whether or not these deities still exist nor if they affect the Material Plane. Many name them as outlaw or renegade deities, even the four prime powers deem them as enemies to be destroyed.

Necoho, The Doubter

Embodies the opposition to all religion itself, seen by many as a heresy.

Zuvassin, the Undoer

Embodies the want to undo all things that others have attempted, one who seeks to spoil.

Malal, the Renegade

Malal is the patron deity of evil beings who have redeemed themselves to good. Oathbreakers or those who have betrayed others, but seek to right the wrongs are blessed by this deity.

Type

Religious, Pantheon

Alternative Names

Chaos, Chaos Undivided

Demonym

Ruiner