Issek of the Jug
Issek, revered as a deity of tranquility, embodies the virtues of strength and endurance, offering solace to those burdened by adversities like poverty or physical afflictions. He is associated with the Waters of Peace, drawn from the sacred Cistern of Cillivat. His earthly departure was marked by the agony of the rack.
The teachings of Issek were once promulgated by Bwadres, a well-meaning yet ineffectual elder. Under his stewardship, the faith in Issek waned, its influence dwindling towards obscurity. It was not until Fafhrd, as Bwadres’ acolyte, reimagined Issek of the Jug that the deity's following surged.
In Fafhrd's poetic renditions, Issek frolicked among wild creatures and confounded monarchs, enduring vivid torments unscathed while expounding on fraternal compassion through flawlessly rhymed, eloquent discourses. Fafhrd's portrayal depicted Issek not merely succumbing on a rack but shattering seven before meeting his demise on the eighth. In his final act, he miraculously freed himself, transformed his torturer's brass insignia into a splendid emblem of the Jug, and then transcended the mortal coil.
Issek's veneration climaxed when Fafhrd, in a twist of fate, manifested as Issek's avatar, heralding a supposed rebirth that captivated the masses. Thereafter, Pulg, a schemer, commandeered Issek's church, leveraging it for his malevolent gains and overshadowing rival sects. The church experienced a fleeting resurgence, boasting grand temples and a burgeoning clergy, until its downfall on the third anniversary of Issek's "resurrection." The ambition of Pulg to usurp the Lankhmar pantheon led to divine retribution: the obliteration of Issek's sanctuaries, desecration of his temples, and the extinction of his priesthood.
Despite this, Issek of the Jug maintains a modest presence in the Godsland, ever attentive to his follower.
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