Cult of Varis Tomain
The gnoll cursed as he stumbled again, tripping over his own spear, somehow managing to stab himself in the stomach as he tripped. Chuckling came from behind the wretched creature. "You got no where to run, you rolled the dice of fate, and they clearly did not favor you. So now you pay the price, as all gamblers do when luck turns on them. You just made the mistake of gambling with your life by attacking our caravan. You put these chips on the table, not me. I am merely collecting my winnings."
Seat of Power: Gambler's Paradise, Tiate, Susma
Head of Cult: Champion Tomari Al-xira
Primary Orders: Order of the Dicemen, Order of Collectors
Major Festivals: Lughnasad, 1st of Tigre, Month of Tigre, Festival of Games.
Popular Holy Books: Gambler's 'Tactics', Odds and Odds-making, Hymns of the Gambler
Popular Holy Symbols: Two coins changing hands. A royal flush of spades.
Seat of Power: Gambler's Paradise, Tiate, Susma
Head of Cult: Champion Tomari Al-xira
Primary Orders: Order of the Dicemen, Order of Collectors
Major Festivals: Lughnasad, 1st of Tigre, Month of Tigre, Festival of Games.
Popular Holy Books: Gambler's 'Tactics', Odds and Odds-making, Hymns of the Gambler
Popular Holy Symbols: Two coins changing hands. A royal flush of spades.
Structure
WORSHIPERS
Varis Tomain the Ascended champion is a favored of many, and all when they need a bout of good luck. The patron of gamblers, risk takers, thrill seekers, and of military men and women in desperate and seemingly hopeless situations. The militant arms of this church are varied, but the largest of them are the Dicemen, whom serve both church and country in Susma. On the monastic side, the order of Collectors, handle running the churches, and 'business of the faith. Along with spreading that good word.
HOLY SITES
Gambler's Paradise in Tiate is a lavish, monstrous house of gambling and competition, along with being the cathedral of this Cult. His temples and churches are oft not marked as easily as other faiths, as they are all generally gambling houses or coliseums or arenas. Smaller shrines and chapels are generally just run out of a house by a priest, running little card games, or competitive little games and such for the locals.
PENANCES
Penance for this champion oft involves hunting of vile Restless Dead, or other wildly risky endeavors.
Varis Tomain the Ascended champion is a favored of many, and all when they need a bout of good luck. The patron of gamblers, risk takers, thrill seekers, and of military men and women in desperate and seemingly hopeless situations. The militant arms of this church are varied, but the largest of them are the Dicemen, whom serve both church and country in Susma. On the monastic side, the order of Collectors, handle running the churches, and 'business of the faith. Along with spreading that good word.
HOLY SITES
Gambler's Paradise in Tiate is a lavish, monstrous house of gambling and competition, along with being the cathedral of this Cult. His temples and churches are oft not marked as easily as other faiths, as they are all generally gambling houses or coliseums or arenas. Smaller shrines and chapels are generally just run out of a house by a priest, running little card games, or competitive little games and such for the locals.
PENANCES
Penance for this champion oft involves hunting of vile Restless Dead, or other wildly risky endeavors.
Mythology & Lore
The forging of the world, by the Elemental Children. And the Draconic Wars.
Divine Origins
This faith, as with all the worship of the Ascended, comes from the Draconic Wars, the nine heroes whom united and pulled the seven races together to stand against the Dragons, both sides. By sheer numbers, eventually the dragons fell. But the cost. We know not much of the time. But we do know that none of the nine legends survived the war. Nor did any of dragonkind. Our nine champions ascended into godhood. They were welcomed home by Mother and Father and the seven Children of Creation, the first of each race, the Elemental Children
After the Draconic wars came an age of happiness and enlightenment. Our heroes became gods. So we worshiped, we sang, we prayed. But though it was a boon of an era, a time of great discovery and invention and regrowth.....darkness was to return. Some discovered things that should have been left lost. The darkness and temptation of the Abyss. The Black Mists. Daemons, the worst embodiment of our own desires, talents, dreams, twisted into nightmares, dark twisting abilities and our desires turned to horrifying dark obsessions. The eldest of the beings of creation, the things the Mother of Creation and the Father of Time, blessed unto them, locked away when they birthed the first of each race, the elemental beings, our ancestors. But some discovered lost knowledge and magical rituals....and cults began to form until things reached a boiling point. That is when the Sundering occurred. That is when the Twisted Forms, the Ruinous Powers, The Daemon Lords, once again began storming the gap between our plane and the Abyss. And they've closed the distance. We are entering a new age, an age where faith and strength are our only hope. Chaos, the Abyss has returned to Valerick. We pushed back and recovered, indeed we continue to attempt to advance.....but they will not stop. The Black Mists will not stop. And we must stand fast.
Cosmological Views
As with all followers of the Ascended, they believe that Mother of Creation and Father of Time gave birth to seven children, the Elemental Creators, the first of what would eventually become Valerick's seven 'civilized' races, though none know what the Tieflings used to be before the Abyssal taint crippled and twisted the very fabric of their race. But it is believed the world was forged by these seven. They used their own energy and elemental power to forge a companion being. Their other half. And so our species began, each of our species.....However, the twisting began at that moment. long forgotten powers, ancient, thought dead beings of chaos and blood and slaughter, they followed the trail of energy, and at the moment of forging, insured they tainted the world, and these partners the Children of Creation built for themselves. These tainted mirrors slowly lost control to long forgotten beings, monsters, nightmares. And they twisted and twisted, and brought that infection with them. It manifested in goblins, kobolds, giantkin, mind flayers, all manner of other monster and beast.
But this is our world, and we are here. We cannot falter, for where can we turn. So we will stand strong against the madness. We will not falter. We will take our world back. We will stand against the darkness, the insanity, the madness, the sin, the excess. So stand strong!!! Take heart!!! Our ancestors care for us and shield us from on high!!!
But this is our world, and we are here. We cannot falter, for where can we turn. So we will stand strong against the madness. We will not falter. We will take our world back. We will stand against the darkness, the insanity, the madness, the sin, the excess. So stand strong!!! Take heart!!! Our ancestors care for us and shield us from on high!!!
Tenets of Faith
A Gambler's Ideals:
1. Always hedge your bets. insures you stay in the game
2. Be bold when you feel you've an advantage
3. Remember, no risk, no rewards.
4. Read the situation. Everyone has tells.
5. Be bold, once you've made a choice, be bold, be committed.
6. If the rules say you lose, change the rules.
1. Always hedge your bets. insures you stay in the game
2. Be bold when you feel you've an advantage
3. Remember, no risk, no rewards.
4. Read the situation. Everyone has tells.
5. Be bold, once you've made a choice, be bold, be committed.
6. If the rules say you lose, change the rules.
Ethics
Ethically, this faith is a bit loose, but one key thing is they aren't materialistic. Its not greed, nor even lust that drives them. Its more a measure of what one can accomplish. A question of mortal limitations. They preach to see what can be acquired from life. A measure of what can be accomplished. Many feel this priesthood runs....uncomfortably close to the Abyss in some of their teachings, but the difference is they do not preach to take. Nor even to earn at any cost, law and morality be damned. They preach to work within that framework, and see what your mind is capable of. Its a lifelong exercise to keep the mind sharp.
Worship
The pursuit of wealth, influence and power. That is how one worships Varis Tomain. Offerings of value left at his altars, any time you come in contact with one. It is a barter, using his magic. He expects value in return. Also always follow the Gambler's Ideals.
1. Always hedge your bets. insures you stay in the game
2. Be bold when you feel you've an advantage
3. Remember, no risk, no rewards.
4. Read the situation. Everyone has tells.
5. Be bold, once you've mad a choice, be bold, be committed.
6. If the rules say you lose, change the rules.
1. Always hedge your bets. insures you stay in the game
2. Be bold when you feel you've an advantage
3. Remember, no risk, no rewards.
4. Read the situation. Everyone has tells.
5. Be bold, once you've mad a choice, be bold, be committed.
6. If the rules say you lose, change the rules.
Priesthood
The priesthood of Varis Tomain dress garishly, a boldness of look to match the bold attitude of the gambler within each of them. A small charm on a signet ring, depicting two gold coins changing hands, the detail on the ring exquisite. If not for that ring, indeed even with the ring, a priest would not be most peoples' first guess as a profession for any individual of this priesthood. Always follow the Gambler's Ideals.
Granted Divine Powers
Blessings are minor manifestations of divine will, not even discernible from good fortune without the Holy Visions talent. If you are a priest following this lore you gain full access to all six of his blessings listed below.
Blessing of Charisma
Range: 6 meters
Target: 1
Duration: 6 rounds
Your target gains +10 Fellowship
Blessing of Evil
Range: 6 meters
Target: 1
Duration: Instant
You can immediately sense if your target has dark twisted and evil intentions, though specifics do not occur to you.
Blessing of Flame
Range: 6 meters
Target: 1
Duration: 6 rounds
Your targets weapons are lined in flames, gaining bonus fire damage=WPB
Blessing of Law
Range: 6 meters
Target: 1
Duration: 6 rounds
Enemies must make an Average (+10) Cool test to attack your target as shame wells within for considering violence. If they fail they must choose a different target, or a different Action.
Blessing of Fortune
Range: 6 meters
Target: 1
Duration: 6 rounds
Your target's next failed test, may be rerolled. The reroll must stand
Blessing of Wit
Range: 6 meters
Target: 1
Duration: 6 rounds
Target gains +10 Initiative
Along with the basic blessings, each deity offers true divine powers to their faithful. These are called miracles by most, and that term is actually fairly accurate. These powers require a Pray skill test to manifest.
Miracles of Varis Tomain
Charming Smile "With a twist, and tip, smile and a wink, they'll be putty in my hands. A grin, a giggle, a twinkle in the eye, all my charms undeniable."
Range: 1 Meter
Target: 1
Duration: Instant
Your target gains an immediate +WPB degrees of success to be applied to their next conversational skill check. Can not stack on itself.
Information is Currency "You show me yours, I'll show you mine. Let's compare notes, see how they align."
Range: Fellowship meters
Target: 1
Duration: Fellowship Bonus Rounds
Bartering with Varis, you come to be rewarded for your loyalty to the faith. You divinely gain one piece of knowledge about people and your surroundings within the spell range. The information must be directly relevant to your goals, it will not be useless information. For every +2 SLs you ascertain another piece of information.
Varis' Silver Tongue "Silver tongued dancer, won't you guide me. Silver tongued angel, please dance with me."
Range: Fellowship Meters
Target: 1
Duration: Willpower Bonus Meters
You whisper, with magical intent, a stream of advice in the form of a prayer upon the wind. Carried by Varis' grace, your target temporarily rolls any Fellowship test, or Fellowship based skill test as if they were you.
A Gambler's Delight "Second chances, a gambler's delight. Because with stacked odds, why would you feel anything but alright?"
Range: Willpower meters
Target: 1
Duration: Special
You mutter a quick prayer to Varis, asking for some help in good faith. Your target gains a reroll point. This special point only lasts til end of the day, then it disappears. Once used it doesn't come back. It can be used on any roll, at any point, but once used, the reroll must stand. For every +2 SLs you may choose another target. You can target yourself. Cannot be used on the same target more than once a day.
Most Convincing Performance "Follow me follow me, follow my lead. And we will razzle them, dazzle them and get what we need."
Range: Willpower meters
Target: AOE
Duration: Fellowship Bonus rounds
You give an eloquently worded, conniving and well spoken speech, painting a complete picture as to what you and your companions will do to your foes, if they continue this foolishness. Your speech is also a prayer, and Varis answers your call. All enemies that are capable of understanding you (so language matters) must attempt a Cool test at (-20). Should they fail, they take your threat quite seriously, and attempt to flee
If the Rules say we lose..change the rules "i dont care about your rules, you can't make me bow. I'll do what I want, it's my time now!"
Range: Willpower Meters
Target: AOE (allies)
Duration: Fellowship Bonus Rounds
For the duration of this Miracle, you and your allies in range gain (+2 SLs) on ALL tests they roll. This Miracle can only be used once per day.
Special Rule: Will of the Gods. This is the opposite of Wrath of the Gods. If on your Pray roll or other cast check, roll 01-05% you not only get the obvious massive degrees of success, but your god smiles their favor upon you. In Varis Tomain's case, as with them all, this manifests in one of two ways.
Knowledge is Power: Your power functions with all the assumed degrees of success. On top of this, you hear the whispers of your lord more clearly than you ever have. He offers you some brilliant insight. You may divinely gain the answer to questions equal to your WPB.
Blessings of a Gambler: Your power functions as you rolled. On top of this, for rounds equal to your Fellowship Bonus, you and all allies whom are bearing witness, immediately reroll any failed tests or checks.
If this event comes to pass however, you are magically shredded temporarily from being a conduit of direct magical influence and energy of your deity. You are at -10 to your next attempt to manifest a Miracle.
Blessing of Charisma
Range: 6 meters
Target: 1
Duration: 6 rounds
Your target gains +10 Fellowship
Blessing of Evil
Range: 6 meters
Target: 1
Duration: Instant
You can immediately sense if your target has dark twisted and evil intentions, though specifics do not occur to you.
Blessing of Flame
Range: 6 meters
Target: 1
Duration: 6 rounds
Your targets weapons are lined in flames, gaining bonus fire damage=WPB
Blessing of Law
Range: 6 meters
Target: 1
Duration: 6 rounds
Enemies must make an Average (+10) Cool test to attack your target as shame wells within for considering violence. If they fail they must choose a different target, or a different Action.
Blessing of Fortune
Range: 6 meters
Target: 1
Duration: 6 rounds
Your target's next failed test, may be rerolled. The reroll must stand
Blessing of Wit
Range: 6 meters
Target: 1
Duration: 6 rounds
Target gains +10 Initiative
Along with the basic blessings, each deity offers true divine powers to their faithful. These are called miracles by most, and that term is actually fairly accurate. These powers require a Pray skill test to manifest.
Miracles of Varis Tomain
Charming Smile "With a twist, and tip, smile and a wink, they'll be putty in my hands. A grin, a giggle, a twinkle in the eye, all my charms undeniable."
Range: 1 Meter
Target: 1
Duration: Instant
Your target gains an immediate +WPB degrees of success to be applied to their next conversational skill check. Can not stack on itself.
Information is Currency "You show me yours, I'll show you mine. Let's compare notes, see how they align."
Range: Fellowship meters
Target: 1
Duration: Fellowship Bonus Rounds
Bartering with Varis, you come to be rewarded for your loyalty to the faith. You divinely gain one piece of knowledge about people and your surroundings within the spell range. The information must be directly relevant to your goals, it will not be useless information. For every +2 SLs you ascertain another piece of information.
Varis' Silver Tongue "Silver tongued dancer, won't you guide me. Silver tongued angel, please dance with me."
Range: Fellowship Meters
Target: 1
Duration: Willpower Bonus Meters
You whisper, with magical intent, a stream of advice in the form of a prayer upon the wind. Carried by Varis' grace, your target temporarily rolls any Fellowship test, or Fellowship based skill test as if they were you.
A Gambler's Delight "Second chances, a gambler's delight. Because with stacked odds, why would you feel anything but alright?"
Range: Willpower meters
Target: 1
Duration: Special
You mutter a quick prayer to Varis, asking for some help in good faith. Your target gains a reroll point. This special point only lasts til end of the day, then it disappears. Once used it doesn't come back. It can be used on any roll, at any point, but once used, the reroll must stand. For every +2 SLs you may choose another target. You can target yourself. Cannot be used on the same target more than once a day.
Most Convincing Performance "Follow me follow me, follow my lead. And we will razzle them, dazzle them and get what we need."
Range: Willpower meters
Target: AOE
Duration: Fellowship Bonus rounds
You give an eloquently worded, conniving and well spoken speech, painting a complete picture as to what you and your companions will do to your foes, if they continue this foolishness. Your speech is also a prayer, and Varis answers your call. All enemies that are capable of understanding you (so language matters) must attempt a Cool test at (-20). Should they fail, they take your threat quite seriously, and attempt to flee
If the Rules say we lose..change the rules "i dont care about your rules, you can't make me bow. I'll do what I want, it's my time now!"
Range: Willpower Meters
Target: AOE (allies)
Duration: Fellowship Bonus Rounds
For the duration of this Miracle, you and your allies in range gain (+2 SLs) on ALL tests they roll. This Miracle can only be used once per day.
Special Rule: Will of the Gods. This is the opposite of Wrath of the Gods. If on your Pray roll or other cast check, roll 01-05% you not only get the obvious massive degrees of success, but your god smiles their favor upon you. In Varis Tomain's case, as with them all, this manifests in one of two ways.
Knowledge is Power: Your power functions with all the assumed degrees of success. On top of this, you hear the whispers of your lord more clearly than you ever have. He offers you some brilliant insight. You may divinely gain the answer to questions equal to your WPB.
Blessings of a Gambler: Your power functions as you rolled. On top of this, for rounds equal to your Fellowship Bonus, you and all allies whom are bearing witness, immediately reroll any failed tests or checks.
If this event comes to pass however, you are magically shredded temporarily from being a conduit of direct magical influence and energy of your deity. You are at -10 to your next attempt to manifest a Miracle.
Type
Religious, Holy Order
Deities
Related Professions
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