Xoryn: Lord of the Gathering Dark

[Noctournys]

Here is the faith of Xoryn, as i would like to present it for use in the world of Dasaria. Id like everyone who is interested to read and give feedback, particularly where details conflict with something already laid down... but here we go:

Xoryn (Lord of the Gathering Dark, the Night Terror, the Living Shadow)
God of Darkness

Portfolio: All aspects of evil, including war, disease, death, destruction, and many others.

Xoryn is a deity who represents evil in several lands outside of Dasaria (mostly, very far from Dasaria). He has many aspects, to represent the varying faces of evil, and is worshipped by many, though not all for the same reasons. Oft times, people will offer a quiet prayer to Xoryn to stave off his ire, as well as more open worship.
Unlike in many lands, Xoryn is the only evil god in the pantheon generally revered in those lands where his worship is strongest. This wasn’t always so – At one time, 8 other dark gods populated the pantheon with Xoryn. Over time, all were either subsumed by Xoryn or destroyed in wars between the gods. Xoryn now stands alone in his native lands – the only god of darkness. Faced with an overwhelming portfolio, Xoryn appears as different aspects of himself to different people – almost as if he were different gods. Some attribute this to his subsuming other deities, and some hold that Xoryn Is quite mad, and that each “aspect” of Xoryn is, in fact, a separate personality. The chilling truth is that Xoryn is quite sane (as these things go, at least, who can comprehend the mental state of a god?) and has chosen to present different aspects to the world for reasons only he knows or understands.

Xoryn as an entity has little care for a beings alignment to law, chaos, or neutrality, so long as they follow the tenets of darkness. His varying aspects may (or may not) be more attuned to one path. Unlike some deities, Xoryn’s differing aspects are often worshipped differently from one another and may have their own, separate sect’s devoted to them. Relations between the various sects may or may not be cordial at any given time, and at times, it wouldn’t be inconceivable for two priests of Xoryn who worship different aspects to fight or otherwise be at each others throats.

Though in other lands there is an organized Temple of Xoryn, none such has (yet) made its way to Dasaria. Within each temple, a statue will be present for each aspect of Xoryn, with the statue of the aspect most revered in that particular temple held in a special place of honor in the center of the temple. Though the Temple, as a whole, is a conglomeration of the worshippers of all of Xoryn’s aspects, each individual temple tends to follow one aspect more than the others, and there is a fair degree of infighting amongst the Dark God’s worshippers.

There is a single true temple to Xoryn on the continent that is home to Dasaria, recently established (less than 2 years ago) by an expedition from across the sea. Named Blackfall Keep, this fortified temple complex is secreted in a mountainous region that is fairly far from Dasaria. The exact location of this new fortress is kept secret (for obvious reasons). This expedition was sent to establish a foothold in this new land that can be used as as a safehold while the temple extends it’s influence and settles in for the long fight.

Elsewhere on the continent that is home to Dasaria, worship of Xoryn is rare and not well established. Rumors abound of agents and priests sent to the far corners of the lands to spread the faith… possibly even to establish new temples and bring the dark faith to new peoples.


The Past

Organized worship of Xoryn started nearly simultaneously in all lands and cultures, if not all for the same reason. In the distant past. , Many cultures called the deity XVIN, a name in many ancient tongues that means “evil” or “darkness”. In the past several hundred years, most lands have seen the name Xoryn come to the surface and be accepted as the deity’s true name. While calling the god XVIN is not incorrect, most priests of Xoryn would be…. Shocked to hear the name uttered aloud. Xoryn worship spread with civilization: where there are people, and kingdoms, and empires, there are those who seek to empower themselves at the expense of others, who seek to destroy the current order and replace it with theirs, or who just plain don’t care about their fellow beings.

The Present

In its homeland(s) the Church is a well established presence. Opposed by many goodly faiths, the followers of Xoryn wage a battle for the hearts and minds of followers and the power and glory of their diety. Recently (about 5 years ago) an expedition from the Kingdom of Doraemyr found itself on the shores of the continent that is home to Dasaria. Agents of the Temple were abour this expedition, and spread out to gather information as they could. When the expedition returned home to Doraemyr, the agents of Xoryn brought tales of a land rife with conflict, with Kingdoms fighting and at each others throats, and old faiths innocently secure in their power – in short, a land ripe with opportunity tor the Temple of Xoryn.

Plans were hatched in Darkhaven to send an expedition to this land as soon as possible – and not a small one, but an expedition in force, to found a new Temple from which to spread the faith of the Lord of the Gathering Dark. Opposition was expected, so plans at an all-out military invasion were pushed aside – the Temple, while it seeks glory for Xoryn, has nenver subscribed to open conquest by the Temple itself. It will urge tyrannical kings to conquer in His name, but the Temple has no desire to take on all of the pressures of ruling lands as well as administering to His other business. Hardly fools, however, they knew that the gods of these lands would not take kindly to an interloper on their home ground – conflict was inevitable, even welcomed – so the expedition was given over to the hands of the Knights of the Searing Flame to lead.

Agents of all of Xoryn’s aspects would be part of the expedition, of course, but heavy favor was given to those aspects to which open conflict and war were second nature. In the end, the expedition counted nearly eight thousand men and women. The Knights of the Searing Flame and their armsmen (lay worshippers of The Destroyer) made up nearly half the force, with the Knights of the Ebon Flame and their men at arms another third, and the rest split up amongst camp followers and priests of the other sects. Command of the force was given to Emmond Tyrnael, Knight-Commandant of the Searing Flame.

Preparations for the expedition took nearly 2 years, and when they were ready, a great fleet sailed for the distant shores. After landfall, the army of Xorynites moved deep into a mountainous region somewhere to the north and west of Dasaria and founded Blackfall Keep. From this epicenter, agents of Xoryn have slowly spread out. Quietly spreading the word of Xoryn’s coming, and working to undermine the other faiths fo the land. Contact with Darkhaven is maintained with magical means, and higher functionaries can avail themselves of magical transport back and forth, but Emmond Tyrnael retains the overall command on this side of the ocean. Agents of the Talon have already infiltrated far into many lands, and work progresses on turning Blackfall Keep into a truly mightly bastion of Xoryn’s power.

After the establishment of Blackfall Keep, many priests were dispatched out across the lands of this new land. It is possible, even likely, that one or two of these wandering priests has wandered as far as Dasaria. What comes of them in that embattled land has yet to be seen.

[Noctournys]

The Priestly Orders

The Destroyer
The most readily accepted aspect of Xoryn in civilized lands, The Destroyer is a war god, devoted to strength, prowess, and carnage. As the Destroyer, Xoryn teaches that his children must be strong, and that change, necessary to the advancement of life, comes through battle, conflict, and carnage. Fervent priests of the Destroyer may resemble anarchists, trying to bring chaos and change to everything. These fanatic priests, however, are the exception, not the rule – most priests of the Destroyer are disciplined, structured, and devoted. All will be brought to ashes, so it may be reborn, for the glory of Xoryn.

Worshippers Alignment: Any evil, though they tend to be Chaotic (zealots) or Lawful (“true believers”)
Clerical Domains common to worshippers of “The Destroyer”: Evil, War, Protection, Strength, Chaos, Travel
Affiliated Orders: Knights of the Searing Flame, an order of Blackguards devoted to spreading the fires of destruction and renewal. This order of knights theoretically answers the hierchy of the Temple of Xoryn, though often, local chapterhouses pay little heed to the local priesthood.

The Conqueror
Another more accepted aspect of Xoryn, The Conqueror is the face of tyranny, absolutism, and merciless “justice”… the rule of ‘might-makes-right’. Worshipped, or at least prayed to, by men and women of power, tyrants, kings, and other rulers. The Conqueror is often worshipped or prayed to in secret, especially by those willing to seek his favor in an upcoming campaign or stratagem. Priests dedicated to The Conqueror are rare, as there is usually little need to proselytize or preach the beliefs of the Conqueror… those who pray to him know full well that it is they ask.

Worshippers Alignment: Any. Many goodly or neutral people will pray to the Conqueror or offer him a silent prayer to keep away his ire on the eve of an important battle or decision.
Clerical Domains: Any appropriate to a cleric who serves Xoryn, though especially Law and Strength

The Talon
Like the hand of an unseen thief stealing from your pouch or an unseen hand striking discreetly from the shadows, The Talon is the patron of thieves, miscreants, and spies of all kinds. Nearly anyone in those professions will find themselves offering a prayer to the Talon on the eve of an important job, to keep his ire away if nothing else. Priests of the Talon are common enough – they tend to care for a local thieves or rogues guild, or other band of miscreants. The Talon is also the aspect of those who keep or wish to keep secrets, and many people will offer a quick prayer to The Talon in the hopes of pulling off a lie or keeping a secret from a loved one.

Worshippers Alignment: Any. Most thieves, be they good aligned, or not, will offer a prayer or plea to The Talon before making a score or attempting a bit of skullduggery.
Clerical Domains: Any appropriate to a cleric of Xoryn, with an emphasis on concealment, movement, and divination.
Affiliated Orders: most thieves guilds count among their memberships priests of the Talon. In larger cities, the thieves guild(s) will tithe to and support the local temple. There is an order of priests known as the Talon's Claws, who are the seekers of secrets and the master of spies and information gathering. Little is known to any but the eldest priests of Xoryn about these men and women, they report only to the High Priest of Xoryn (the Talon) himself, in lands far from Dasaria.

The Gatherer
The gatherer is the aspect of Death – Xoryn, in this aspect, is the god of death, dying, and murder. Not the god of the dead, responsible for the care and dispensation of souls in the afterlife, but rather the primal force of death, bound to bring all things to the afterlife. The Gatherer is also often associated with disease, especially great pestilence. The patron of murderers for hire, necromancers, and death cults, The Gatherer is a grim being often depicted in the traditional “Grim Reaper”. Priests of the Gatherer are common enough amongst the “evil” citizens of the world, and are often madmen who hunger for death, destruction, and desecration.
Priests who worship the Gatherer are the poor stepchildren of the priesthood of Xoryn, looked down upon as fanatics or madmen obsessed with death. The Gatherer also often receives prayers from any person wishing to stave off his ire and keep themselves or their loved ones from the icy grasp of Death.

Worshippers Alignment: Any, though most, if not all, direct worshippers of the Gatherer are evil. Anyone can (and often does) offer a silent prayer to keep the ire of the Gatherer at bay.
Clerical Domains: Any, but all priests of The Gatherer should have the Death domain.
Affiliated Orders: Many, though most are small or obscure. The Order of Mysteries is an order of priests devoted to learning the mysteries of death, and the Brotherhood of Bone is an order of dark priests who have turned themselves into liche’s of immense power to further serve the Gatherer. The Knights of the Black Hand, an order of Blackguards and other dark-hearted warriors, serve the Temple as fanatical, passionless killers upon the battlefield. Garbed all in black, and silent even when taking deadly wounds, they are a fearsome sight to behold on the field of battle.

The Serpent
The Serpent is the sign of corruption, lust, and forbidden knowledge. Also called the Temptress, this aspect of Xoryn often appears as a female form, called by some Xaryss. Often invoked by those seeking help in corrupting another, those seeking forbidden knowledge or pleasure, or those on their way to a discreet liaison with a lover, worship of the serpent is common in highly civilized areas and less common the further away from high society and large cities you get. Priests of The Serpent are sly, devious, and charming individuals, leading wayward people to the worship of Xoryn.

Worshippers Alignment: Any evil, or chaotic neutral.
Cleric Domains: Any appropriate to a priest of Xoryn.
Affiliated Orders: None to speak of.

The Flame
The Flame is the aspect of Xoryn relating to all dark emotion, especially hatred and anger. Priests of the Flame are uncontrolled, unbridled children of their passions, utilizing the power of their own emotions and anger to serve Xoryn’s will. They preach the path of hate, anger, and giving in to your dark emotions. Followers of the Flame are angry, passionate, hate filled destroyers, spreading flame, destruction, and heartache among the people of the lands. Seldom worshipped by lay folk, The Flame is usually invoked by people seeking revenge, and is usually involved in crimes of passion.

Worshippers Alignment: Any evil, usually chaotic, and sometimes invoked by people taken up in crimes of passion or extreme anger.
Cleric Domains: any appropriate to an evil priest, especially Chaos and Evil
Affiliated Orders: the Knights of the Ebon Flame, an order of knights templar and blackguards, are used as shock troops on the battlefield by the Temple. Feared for their unflinching hatred and wrath on the battlefield, entire armies have been known to flee at the sight of a company of Ebon Knights in their red and black armor riding to meet them on the field.



XVIN, the Night Terror
also Xvyn, Xy-Vyn.
The ancient name for Xoryn also holds his most primeval aspect: XVIN, the Night Terror, is an aspect of primordial fear and terror, the abject terror buried deep in the minds of everyone alive. The symbol of ancient evil and corruption, this name and aspect is now rarely directly invoked (for the most part because few remember this aspec). There are almost no priests of XVIN left, as almost all have altered their worship to that of the more cosmopolitan Xoryn, but those few direct priests of the Terror and feared and respected among the priests of Xoryn as fearless, unimpeachable, and unshakable conduits of Xoryn’s will in the world. Thoroughly evil, priests of the Terror are driven to perform their god’s dark bidding in the world.

Worshippers Alignment: Any evil, though most direct worshippers of the Terror are Chaotic Evil, dedicated to bringing their god’s will to the lands of the living.
Cleric Domains: A priest of the Terror should have the Evil domain, and any other domain other than good is appropriate.
Affiliated Orders: None. Priests of the Terror are so few and far between, they barely register among the numbers of the Temple of Xoryn.


There are many other, lesser aspects of Xoryn, and all have at least some followers, however rare or few and far between. Especially around Dasaria, where there is no organized Temple presence, priests and open worshippers of Xoryn are quite rare.

[Noctournys]

The Church

The Temple of Xoryn is a large, populous organization, filled with miscreants and other dark hearted individuals. Unlike many churches, the Temple is spread out, not heavily centralized, with individual (local) High Priests given a lot of leeway to do as they will. Given the fact that relations between the various factions who serve the different aspects of Xoryn can be rather fractious at best, this policy has allowed the temple to spread and flourish.

Individual temples of Xoryn are more fortified chapterhouses than places of mass worship, since most cultures aren’t too happy to have a temple of Xoryn just hanging about on the countryside. In large cities, temples are often located underground, and usually supported and aided by the local thieves guild(s).

The general organization of the Temple is hierarchal, with a Grand Templar in overall control of the temple and all of it’s endeavors. The Grand Templar is selected from among the ranks of the Lords Templar, the heads of the individual sects who serve the various aspects of Xoryn. The Knights Commandant’s of the various Knighthoods who serve the Temple also sit on the Black Council, though they a Knight can never attain the rank of Grand Templar unless he is also a priest ordained in one of the orders of the Temple (rather rare). This body of priests is collectively known as The Black Council. The Black Council serves as assistants to and the check to the power of the Grand Templar. A full majority vote of the Black Council can remove a sitting Grand Templar, and the internecine fighting of the Council is probably all that has prevented the Temple from flourishing any further.

Below the Lords Templar are the local High Priests. Each major geographical or political area has a local High Priest, assigned, at least in principle, by the Grand Templar and the Black Council. The High Priests are the day to day decision makers of the Temple, assigning their adjutant priests duties and deciding how Xoryn can best be served in their “parish”. The various affiliated orders (with a very few exceptions) to the Temple report to the Temple at this level; the local chapterhouses of the various Knighthoods are (at least theoretically) under the command of the local High Priest, and the priests who head the other orders (such as the Order of Mysteries) also report to the High Priests.

In general, great deference is given to a local High Priest, even by members of the Black Council, when they are visiting that High Priest’s territory. All lesser priests are expected to make themselves available to the local High Priest when passing through his lands unless on business for another High Priest or the Black Council, and even then are expected to offer any service that does not contradict their other orders.

Below the High Priests in rank are the Senior Priests, known also as Darkbringers. Below the Darkbringers are the lay priests, the lowest ranking member of the full priesthood. At the bottom are the temple initiates, called Darkchildren, who are not yet full priests of Xoryn and are usually directly attached to a senior priest as an understudy and servant.

Several modes of address are accepted among the temple: referring to someone by their rank is always appropriate, if not cosmopolitan. The Grand Templar is also often referred to as His/Your Dark Grace, and His/Your Dark Eminence. A member of the Black Council can also be addressed as His/Your Excellency and Dark Councilor/Councilor. A High Priest is usually called by his proper title, or referred to as His/Your Holiness, Most Holy, and the simple title Darkness. (used as prefix to a surname, “of course, Darkness Moriel”). Lower ranking priests (senior priests and lay priests) refer to each other and are referred to by their superiors as Templar. (“Ahh, Templar Moriel, good to see you well”). Temple Initiates are referred to simply as Initiate, or sometimes, servitor.

The Knights of the affiliated orders are referred to by traditional feudal titles; “Sir” for a male Knight and “Dame” for a female Knight. This title is used as a prefix for a name, usually followed by either the knights full name or surname. (ex. “Sir Jesse Blackrose”, or,Sir Blackrose.”) Several dialects pronounce “Sir” as “Ser” (both are correct). There are other, individual ranks, though they rarely play into day to day address, they will covered below.

Holy Days
There are few directly holy days for the Temple. On the day of winter solstice, the Grand Templar (and each local high templar) lead their followers in worship of the Dark God. A day of solemn prayer to Xoryn is followed by a night of debauched revelry celebrating the glories of Xoryn and the bounty to be had in his service. In some area’s, where the Flame is ascendant, these parties can resemble orgies as much as celebrations. There are no other greatly significant holy days celebrated by the Temple, though local temples may have days of remembrance about particularly grand achievements or victories.

Priestly Vestments
The Temple of Xoryn is rather open minded about what it’s priests wear, especially when they are out in the field. Each priest is expected to have a formal black robe and hood to wear to the Solstice day prayer and on any occasion in which they are called to the High Temple and into the presence of the Black Council or the Grand Templar. Each different sect also has “official colors” that it’s priests are expected to wear, though in what fashion (on their armor, clothes, or however) is up to the individual priest.
Priests of the Destroyer wear black and gold, and are fond of wearing heavy armor nearly at all times.
Priests of the Conqueror wear black and silver, and are also fond of wearing heavy armor, though they also tend to have a set of fine city clothes for when they spread the Conqueror’s will among the rich and powerful of civilization
Priests of the Talon tend to blacks and gray’s, the better to blend in with the dark of night, which is their primary time of work. When they attend temple services, they wear a formal robe in black, grey, and blue, and always attend hooded.
Priests of The Gatherer wear black, black, and more black. Formal temple robes for Gatherers include a white highlight of runes or metal, and a white hood, in complement to their black robes.
Priests of the Serpent wear black or grey and green, usually a dark, putrid green similar to decaying foliage.
Priests of the Flame wear black and red, and tend to either one of two wardrobes: militant priests wear heavy armor at almost all times; city priests, who tend to worship Xoryn more as the bringer of hidden desires and passions, tend to wear dresses and fine clothes and also tend to have orange as well as the black and red.
Priests of XVIN, the Night Terror, wear whatever they please, generally dark in nature and menacing to behold. They are so few and far between, they have little of a cohesive front to maintain, and tend to be very individualistic.

Places of Worship
The primary temple of Xoryn is located in a land far from Dasaria (across the sea), and is known as Darkhaven. It is the residence of the Grand Templar and Black Council, and is a fortified citadel built into an imposing mountain. The temple complex extends well into the mountain itself, and perhaps even into the depths of the underdark. More a small, insular city, Darkhaven has never been successfully besieged by any enemy, and while it’s location is not exactly a secret, it isn’t common knowledge either.

[Noctournys]

Affiliated Orders

Knights of The Searing Flame
An Order of Knights dedicated to The Destroyer, the Knights of the Searing Flame hold to the tenet that only through organized, regimented, and orderly destruction can The Destroyer’s goal of ongoing warfare and chaos (and therefore, renewal and growth towards strength and domination) be achieved. They are regimented, determined, and rather honorable in their own fashion. Capable planners and formidable warriors, the Knights of the Searing Flame wear the vestments of a priest of the Destroyer, usually with orange or red added to the mix. The Knights of The Searing Flame have the highest number of Knights-Templar (knights who are also priests) of all of the various Orders that serve the Temple of Xoryn. The ranks of the knighthood are very traditional. The Order is led by a Knight-Commandant, the most senior of the Order and usually selected by trial by combat from amongst the ranks of the Knights-Commanders. A Knight-Commander is a senior and well respected Knight of the Order, and is the commander of a chapterhouse of knights or of a field army. Below a Knight-Commander in rank is a Knight-Captain, usually the commander of a small unit of Knights or, sometimes, the commander of a group of knights not populous enough to have their own chapterhouse and thus live in the local Temple. The next lowest rank is a Knight-Lieutenant, a proven knight who has served loyally for several years or performed great deeds in The Destroyer’s name. The lowest ranking Knight of the Order is a Knight-Companion, the rank which a Knight achieves when he passes the Trials and joins the Order. Below this rank is that of a Knight Bachelor. Which is the rank attained by a squire when he passes the trials into Knighthood but has not been yet accepted to the Order. Below this rank are the Squires, who serve a given Knight as something of an apprentice warrior in the ways of the Order. Eventually, most squires are deemed worthy by their Knights and tested for knighthood themselves, though there is an equally large contingent of squires who have served a single knight loyally for years and have no desire for Knighthood.

The Knights of the Searing Flame have a fairly good relation with the hierarchy of the Temple, and often support other sects as well as those who follow the Destroyer. They are disciplined, ordered, and fearless in combat. They know the better part of valor, and are not zealots who waste men in combat.

Knights of the Black Hand
An Order of Blackguard Knights who serve The Gatherer. They are less formal than many other Knighthoods, having only 3 ranks among them, and are uniformly grim zealots who are pitiless, remorseless combatants who live to bring Death to the opponents of the Gatherer. Silent and pitiless, garbed from head to toe in black, the Black Hand are sent in to teach lessons to the enemies of the Temple, and used as shock troops on the field of battle. The ranks of the Black Hand are as follows: They are led by a Knight-Commandant, appointed by the Lord Templar of the Gatherer from among the ranks of the knights. The next rank is Knight-Commander, followed by Knight-Companion. The Black Hand does have squires, though this position is used more to test applicants than anything else. Any squire who proves promising is almost always accelerating through his training and into the Knighthood as soon as possible.

Knights of the Ebon Flame
Servitors of The Flame, the Knights of Ebon Flame are zealots of the first order: fanatics who seek to bring the vengeful flame of Xoryn to all of the unbelievers in the world. The Ebon Flame is an only slightly regimented order of Knights, just enough discipline to remain together and cohesive on the battlefield. Deployed into the worst fights, the Ebon Flame has a reputation in almost all lands as being a horrible opponent to face across the field of battle – sometimes inspiring enemy units to flee in terror at the sight of a company of the Ebon Flame riding to the field in their scarlet and black armor. The Ebon Flame is led by a Knight-Commandant, chosen from among the Order’s Knight-Companions. Knight-Inquisitors serve outside the normal chain of command, acting as lone agents and priests among the people. Knight-Initiate’s, the lowest ranking members of the Order, are usually young men and women who are found at a moment of dark rage and initiated into the Flame’s service. Though they have a high rate of attrition, there are always more young mend and women in the world who feel wronged and will take up the Flame’s cause.

The Talon’s Claws
A legion of spies, miscreants and thieves who serve the The Talon, and the Temple, as agents in the world, gatherers of information, and assassins and procurers of goods. They report only to the Black Council and the Grand Templar, and often do not even identify themselves to other worshippers of Xoryn, even their own Talonites. They operate above the law of the Temple for the most part, and do as their master and the Black Council wish. They are lead by the First Claw, a priest of the Talon who’s identity is known only the Black Council and the Grand Templar. Not even his own subordinates know his true identity. The First Claw is served by several aide’s, called Razorclaws, who direct the other agents to do his bidding. There are only two other ranks: Claws and Least Claws, senior and junior members, respectively. All other ranks are handed out on an as-needed basis by the First Claw or the Razorclaws. Little else is known about this organization, for the Claw’s keep their secrets well.

[Noctournys]

If that works out (nothiing that violates already established setting too much) ill work on writing up a short piece of fiction detailing the landing of the expedition and the beginings of Blackfall Keep.