Flood of Lies

Heretics of Geryon

Each layer of Hell has its own ruler that represents the purpose of that particular area. We’ve looked at a number of these archdevils, including Barbatos, Dispater, Mammon, and Belial. This week we take to the fifth layer of Hell known as Stygia and try to come up with followers of Geryon, the archdevil of forbidden lore, heresies, and snakes. Presented are three sects you might use in your game.

As always, let us imagine we are sitting at our theoretical gaming table. Our imaginary GM sets out the rules for the game that we will play. In this game, we are to make a follower of Geryon. The character does not need to be a divine caster, just a devotee of The Serpent. What character do you make?

For more information on Geryon

Geryon’s Pathfinder Wiki Page

Geryon’s Archives of Nethys Page

The Oath Bearers

This sect of followers of Geyron seeks to emulate his diabolic followers that man the Library of Oaths in Stygia. Masters of the deal, they seek out the desperate and the lost with honey words of vows to help better their situation; if only they make a promise. These oaths are kept secure in special books that each acolyte binds themselves and are stored in a central library, presumed to be in Abasalom, for safekeeping when full.

Becoming an Oath Bearer is a promise in and of itself. The first oath recorded by each supplicant is their own before becoming a full member. Because each pledge is also recorded in the infernal library in Stygia, divine power is unnecessary when coercing one, but many of this sect’s followers are still clerics. Bards also make up a number of the small group’s membership, but really anyone who can talk a good game has a chance at becoming and Oath Bearer.

The Fetid Water

Every lie told on the material plane becomes a drop of poison that fills the swamps of Stygia. The Fetid Water is a group of assassins who have dedicated themselves to Lord of Filth. Unlike most assassins guilds that have an image to uphold, the members of the Fetid Water more closely resemble homeless urchins living in a sewer than a proper guild. They specifically take jobs where one person betrayed another by breaking a promise and have an odd habit of showing up just when someone wishes a liar dead.

The leader of the cult is a Chelish oracle named AverniusKreuger. Although he has lost his ability to see, he says he has visions of where his assassins need to be. They operate out of the sewers in Egorian but their influence spreads as far as Riddleport in Varisia to the North and Augustana in Andoran to the East. Those few who know about The Fetid Water call them the liar’s death.

The Lost Prophets

Geryon was one of the Asura Rana before becoming an archdevil. Mixing his former life’s love for taking over ruined holy sites and abandoned deific domains with his no positions as the master of all lies, he has become known as the source of all great heresies. The Lost Prophets look to spread heresy on Golarion in the name of their master. They do so by creating completely new deities that fit the needs of those they wish to convert, or by claiming to be a small sect of an existing deity; twisting the chosen god’s dogma until the unwitting congregation is too far gone to do anything about it.

These false clerics are consummate liars with the ability to contort the emotions of their small groups of worshipers. Although a few true clerics of Geryon join the sect’s ranks, sorcerers, bards, and mesmerists make up a large portion of their numbers. Many of the downtrodden folk they claim as a “flock” don’t know the difference between divine intervention and arcane magic.

Like their master, these serpents revel in what is unknown and what is untrue. Who is your disciple of Geryon? What lie has brought them to worship the Source of Lies? Where does their devotion to this Archdevil come from? Let me know in the comments.

If the CRB has helped you take a closer look at those inspired by the divine, please consider showing support and become one of my patrons by donating to my Patreon or making a donation to my Paypal. Looking for more out of the CRB? Then you’re in luck! Facebook, Google +, Tumblr, and Twitter all have a CRB presence. And if you’re as impatient as I am, have the CRB pushed directly to your Kindle with every new post by signing up for Kindle Subscriptions.

Hate Solves Everything

Wrathful of Eiseth

Among the ranks of the infernal are not just those devils formed in Hell, but creatures of the divine who fell with their lord Asmodeus. The Whore Queens followed Lord of Darkness from the lands of light and have made a name for themselves among the male centric hierarchies of Hell. Eiseth is the Whore Queen of battle, revenge, and wrath and I propose to you this week three possible sects to follow her teachings.

As always, let us imagine we are sitting at our theoretical gaming table. Our imaginary GM sets out the rules for the game that we will play. In this game, we are to make a follower of Eiseth. The character does not need to be a divine caster, just a devotee of The Erinyes Queen. What character do you make?

For more information on Eiseth

Eiseth’s Pathfinder Wiki Page

Eiseth’s Archives of Nethys Page

Divinity Hunters

Eiseth uses her infernal minions to war with the celestial realms. On earth the Divinity Hunters war directly against those who serve the good gods in the mortal realm. Trained to hunt and kill clerics and paladins, as well as planar foes bound to the material plane the Divinity Hunters hope to one day sever the connection between the gods of good and their worshipers, by doing away with those who pray to them. They are especially keen to root out all cults of the Empyreal Lord Ragathiel.

The Divinity Hunters careful pick who might join their ranks. They search for people dissatisfied by the churches of the good gods and offer them an outlet to feed their wrath. They especially seek out the young and impressionable so they can train them in a secret monastery somewhere in Isger. Anyone can do battle for Eiseth but those trained by the sect itself usually become warpriests, anti-paladins, inquisitors, and rangers.

The Black Wing Division

Although it seems counter to the orderly nature of Hell many of Eiseth’s followers are plagued by anger issues. Would they not have means to channel this rage they would become no better than savage barbarians. A group of female devotees – each with unparalleled beauty to match their rage – have formed a subsect within the Hellknight, Order of the Nail. From Korvosa, these female warriors do battle against the savage tides of Varisia, personified by the tribes of the Shoanti.

Members of the Black Wing divisions are usually chosen internally from the Order of the Nail. Occasionally the group will find a woman believe belongs among their ranks from outside the Hellknights. They will guide this perspective member through the process of becoming one of the feared knights before inducting her into The Black Wing Division.

The Descriers

Although Eiseth has a hatred for the heaven’s in general the only deity she despises on a one on one level is another denizen – or former denizen – of Hell. The Infernal Due Lorthact betrayed her and for that she hunts him down. She has determined he is not in Hell and has begun scouring the other realms. Her Descriers are a mortal sect that searches for him on Golarion, usually be uncovering sects dedicated to The Unraveler and torturing them for information.

The sect is mostly groups of hunters and trackers, whether that be through the dark forests or the urban streets. Many are also skilled interrogators and torturers who use their talents to squeeze information from the cultists the capture. Investigators, rangers, hunters, inquisitors, and rogues are the most common members of this group.

Even the orderly nature of Hell needs a way to display its unholy wrath. Who is your disciple of Eiseth? Why have they chosen to dedicate themselves to The Erinyes Queen? Where does their devotion to this Whore Queen  come from? Let me know in the comments.

If the CRB has helped you take a closer look at those inspired by the divine, please consider showing support and become one of my patrons by donating to my Patreon or making a donation to my Paypal. Looking for more out of the CRB? Then you’re in luck! Facebook, Google +, Tumblr, and Twitter all have a CRB presence. And if you’re as impatient as I am, have the CRB pushed directly to your Kindle with every new post by signing up for Kindle Subscriptions.

Fear of the Unknown

Corrupters of Barbatos

We’ve looked at many of the powerful beings of hell in our exploration of the lesser deities of Golarion. This week we look at the ruler of the first level of hell. A being who ranks just under Asmodeus but is not himself a devil. He is a powerful divine agent with many names including The Mistletoe Monk and The Wiseman of the Wilds. This week we look and Barbatos, the Archdevil of animals, corruption, and gateways. I present to you three possible sects of The Lord of the First.

As always, let us imagine we are sitting at our theoretical gaming table. Our imaginary GM sets out the rules for the game that we will play. In this game, we are to make a follower of Barbatos. The character does not need to be a divine caster, just a devotee of The Bearded Lord. What character do you make?

For more information on Barbatos

Barbatos’s Pathfinder Wiki Page

Barbatos’s Archives of Nethys Page

The Truth Peddlers

One of Barbatos’ many names is the Iron Hierophant. He is known to trade prophecies with one of the Whore Queens of hell. How he gains these insights is unknown. The Truth Peddlers follow in his footsteps as diviners of the highest order. They operate around Avistan and are well known for the accuracy of their predictions, although few know of their true purpose or master.

The Truth Peddlers are oracles, diviners, and witches with potent divination ability. They work their clients by either purposefully withholding information while suggesting there is something there. Or they will give so much information as to overwhelm a supplicant’s sensibility. They do this because they know that knowledge or lack thereof corrupts, and they watch as those who come to them do whatever it takes to find knowledge denied, or survive dire portents given.

The Grievers

Babratos works the souls of those who take their own lives in hell, tricking them into sacrificing another soul for their own freedom. The Grievers are The Keeper of Lost Children’s mortal agents who work the still living loved ones of the deceased. They make promises of a soul freed to be re-judged by Pharasma and in the process corrupt the soul of the grieving as well as the soul they get the bereaved to taint for them.

The Grievers are the ultimate connivers. Socially adept clerics, inquisitors, bards, and rogues all find a home among these ultimate conmen. Many who joined the sect have loved ones who took their own lives and their corruption is becoming a member.

The Carrion Birds

This sect takes its moniker and imagery from their lord’s dominion over birds that consume the recently dead. Most members use the raven as their symbol as it is Barbatos’ favored animal. These wildmen take delight in showing the civilized how dangerous a life without order can be, bringing the full brunt of the power of nature to bear against cities and towns. When animal attacks in the region are on the rise The Carrion Birds are very likely the cause of the disturbance.

This sect is made up of druids, shaman, hunters, rangers, and witches. They use their connections to the natural world to drive the land itself into a frenzy. Members of the sect are often cultivated since birth. The sect will steal babies and small children, leaving them in the wilds. If they survive, their bestial nature allows them to fit well within the sect.

The Lord of the First faithful are cruel bordering on bestial. Who is your disciple of Barbatos? Why have they chosen to dedicate themselves to The Bearded Lord? Where does their devotion to this Archdevil come from? Let me know in the comments.

If the CRB has helped you take a closer look at those inspired by the divine, please consider showing support and become one of my patrons by donating to my Patreon or making a donation to my Paypal. Looking for more out of the CRB? Then you’re in luck! Facebook, Google +, Tumblr, and Twitter all have a CRB presence. And if you’re as impatient as I am, have the CRB pushed directly to your Kindle with every new post by signing up for Kindle Subscriptions.

Catch a Tiger By The Toe

Devotees of Ose

On the second level of hell, outside the grand city of Dis, resides the master of the infernal forges. A creator of great weapons for the forces of hell, this being seeks to harness chaos to bring about order. Devils are creatures of pure order yet today’s divine being has the domain madness and the subdomain insanity, both of which can be consider chaotic. Today we look at how to reconcile that in three possible sects for Ose, the Infernal Duke of betrayal, doom, and obsession.

As always, let us imagine we are sitting at our theoretical gaming table. Our imaginary GM sets out the rules for the game that we will play. In this game, we are to make a follower of Ose. The character does not need to be a divine caster, just a devotee of The Duke of Claws What character do you make?

For more information on Ose

Ose’s Pathfinder Wiki Page 

Ose’s Archives of Nethys Page 

The Chaos Tempered

In the lands of Ustalav the horrors that roam the land drive many to the brink of insanity. DrHershawKlempt believes that the souls that have seen the worst and broken can be the best defenders of order on Golarion. Working in one of the handful of asylums in the bleak country of terror he finds those with broken minds and attempts to put them back together again -- just enough to be of use to his master, the Infernal Duke, Ose.

The Chaos Tempered is Dr. Klempt’s secret army of nut jobs and wackos that work toward stemming the tide of chaos in Ustalav. Just as his master seeks to use a protean device of pure chaos as an ultimate weapon, Dr. Klempt sees the chaotic minds of this patients as a method to  fight the horrors from the planes of chaos on the face of Golarion. The sect members come from all walks of life, their only connecting factor is Dr. Klempt. Many do not even understand whose will they truly serve.

The Locked Gauntlet

When work becomes obsession that is when Ose makes his way into the hearts of those who toil. As the master of the forges on the second level of hell, the Duke of Claws has a special place in his twisted soul for those who use the forge to create on Golarion, especially those who forge weapons. The Locked Gauntlet is a small sect of smiths who obsess over creating the greatest weapons known to man.

This group is active within the land of Cheliax and only has about a dozen or so members. Not just any smith is chosen to become one of Ose’s creators of devastation; only those whose hearts are closed to all but the single-minded act of creating increasingly more powerful weaponry are asked to join. Many Cheliaxian smiths venerate the Duke of Claws but few get his attention.

The Hidden Tigers

Many think of Ose only as the master of the forge and the creator of doom, but betrayal is also included among his areas of concern. The Duke of Claws is if nothing else a patient being. Like his sacred animal the tiger, he knows how to lie in wait for the right moment to strike. The Hidden Tigers take this to heart as a sect of secret agents hidden among foreign  governments awaiting the moment that their betrayal will cause the most strife.

The sect works out of Cheliax as agents of her Royal Majestrix Queen Abrogail II. Although the Queen knows nothing of their activities as to allow for plausible deniability, it is believed that members of this sect have infiltrated many of the major governments around Avistan. They pose as senators in Andoran, major domos in Taldor, and supposedly even members of the Gray Gardeners in Galt. They all await their moment to pounce and once again help expand the reach of the Chelish Empire.

Forged in betrayal and tempered with obsessions are those who follow Ose’s path. Who is your disciple of Ose? Why have they chosen to dedicate themselves to The Duke of Claws? Where does their devotion to this Infernal Duke come from? Let me know in the comments.

If the CRB has helped you take a closer look at those inspired by the divine, please consider showing support and become one of my patrons by donating to my Patreon or making a donation to my Paypal. Looking for more out of the CRB? Then you’re in luck! Facebook, Google +, Tumblr, and Twitter all have a CRB presence. And if you’re as impatient as I am, have the CRB pushed directly to your Kindle with every new post by signing up for Kindle Subscriptions.