Osryx, Bearer of Plague and Famine
Many and powerful are the evils of this world, and the great gods of destruction and chaos more powerful than all. From titanic might, unfathomable riches, magical powers beyond mortal understanding, and secrets that can unravel the nature of the world, the enemies of the The Empire are legion. Compared to such indomitable might, Osryx and his gifts seem small and insignificant in comparison, for what is a disease, against an army of titanic behemoths of slaughter ? That is where you would be mistaken, for Osryx humbly holds the honor of having killed the most mortals in the history of Nainoxia.
Unlike most evils that plague the world, Osryx has a tiny presence of mortals and other servants, and his cult is tiny and unorganised, bearing very little power. From his desolate home in the Demiplane of Decay he extends his will to the material plane through old artifacts and buried places of worship left over from the Age of the Divine. Even the most thorough Inquisitors cannot find the ruins of a church buried beneath their city, or a magical broach a child found by the river, and brought to her house. This impersonal nature is what makes Osryx the most insidious of all, for he seeks not to corrupt nor to be worshipped, but just to spread ruin in the lands of men.
The most useful tool against the ruins of the Plaguelord are the blessings of the lady of life, Vitaria, the antithesis of Osryx. Her priests can fill the lands with life, and cure the ill, so that they undo the blessings of Osryx, for a time, but unless the heart of the corruption is ripped off, it will only come back stronger.
His presence was first felt during the begining of the Schism, where massive clouds of diseased insects spewed forth from his lair in the Demiplane of Decay, and into the Material Plane. During that time, his champions sought to spread their contagion as much as possible and plant the artifacts of their lord wherever they could. Hidden in ancient crypts, long sealed and dormant, or trapped in forgotten temples, they sat for centuries, building up their influence on the land, before spewing forth a tide of disease that spreads through the lands like a cancer.
There is nothing armies can do against a plague, the most powerful champions can be laid low by a disease that kills them from within. Huge cities can fall to anarchy and ruin from a widespread blight, and no walls or arcane spells can aid against the drying of the lands. Our only weapon is our faith in the gods, and the hope that none of us would be so depraved as to give our souls to the Lord of PlaguesHigh Inquisitor, Maximillian Vor
Unlike most evils that plague the world, Osryx has a tiny presence of mortals and other servants, and his cult is tiny and unorganised, bearing very little power. From his desolate home in the Demiplane of Decay he extends his will to the material plane through old artifacts and buried places of worship left over from the Age of the Divine. Even the most thorough Inquisitors cannot find the ruins of a church buried beneath their city, or a magical broach a child found by the river, and brought to her house. This impersonal nature is what makes Osryx the most insidious of all, for he seeks not to corrupt nor to be worshipped, but just to spread ruin in the lands of men.
The most useful tool against the ruins of the Plaguelord are the blessings of the lady of life, Vitaria, the antithesis of Osryx. Her priests can fill the lands with life, and cure the ill, so that they undo the blessings of Osryx, for a time, but unless the heart of the corruption is ripped off, it will only come back stronger.
History
Before the Schism, very little is known about Osryx and his place in the divine hierarchy. Due to his slow and patient nature, he did not have a significant presence in the Holy Crusade, and did not carve out many lands for his worshippers at the time of the Age of Divinity. It is thought that he has always resided in the Demiplane of Decay, and has not physically left his lair.His presence was first felt during the begining of the Schism, where massive clouds of diseased insects spewed forth from his lair in the Demiplane of Decay, and into the Material Plane. During that time, his champions sought to spread their contagion as much as possible and plant the artifacts of their lord wherever they could. Hidden in ancient crypts, long sealed and dormant, or trapped in forgotten temples, they sat for centuries, building up their influence on the land, before spewing forth a tide of disease that spreads through the lands like a cancer.
Notable Appearances
While not personally present, Osryx has had a very large impact on the history of the Empire, especially from the eyes of its peasants.- The Great Famine of 417, which brought the Empire to its knees, as the breadbasket of the Empire, the Hagenmyth Duchy, saw two consecutive years with near no harvests, and disease spread rampantly through the lands. It led to mass riots and unrest, and many joined actions by the Church of Vitaria and Inquisition. Many villages and hamlets were burned to the ground in the attempt to eliminate the cause, and the unrest got so bad that it eventually led to the uncovering of the necromantic schemes of Dracon I Lionel, and his eventual deposition.
- Deutille Marsh, a large swamp that blocks easy access to the Villeurgene River and Marineux River, cutting off most of the Roslin Duchy from easy trade. The swamp is famous for its diseases and deadly poisons, being infested with Rot Flies and other creatures of Osryx. It is thought by many, that deep within this place must be a hidden temple or artifact to the plague lord, but so far none have been found.
Header Art Credit: George Vostrikov
Divine Classification
Deity
Current Location
Species
Realm
Church/Cult
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Lord of Pestilence, Father of Disease, Plaguelord, Bringer of Famine, The One Who Wastes
Children
Aligned Organization
