Name:Cyric
Portfolio:Murder, strife, intrigue, deception, illusion
Allies: None
Foes: Nearly all gods but especially Kelemvor and Mystra.
Story: Cyric was born as a god during the events of the Time of Troubles. Where he gained followers and portfolios from many old evil gods. His power base is immense and he is one of the three greater powers of evil in Faerun.
Behavior: Cyric is petty, megalomaniacal and self-centered. He enjoys helping a worshipper rise in power through intrigue only to see them fall all the way down again. His favorite libation is the tears of disillusioned dreamers and broken-hearted lovers, which he drinks from a silver chalice encrusted with tiny rubies in the shape of sundered hears.
Aliases and manifestations: Cyric prefers to appear in the dreams of his worshippers as a Bloody wraith or as a poisonous smoke cloud before his enemies rather than sending an avatar. He sometimes manifests as a sudden gloom containing the phantom images of a whirling human skull with black eyes. At other times he sends various undead creatures to do his biddings or show his favor or displeasure. Cyric is not above disguising himself as other deities to gain followers and has done so several times.
Dogma: Cyric's faith believes in control by any means necessary. Force and deception are used to spread his word. He is highly venerated by those of black hearts and evil deeds, from the insane to evil rulers of empires.
Cyricist priests are given the following charge:
"Death to traitors. Death to all who oppose Cyric. Bow down before the supreme power of Cyric, and yield to him the blood of all who do not believe in his supreme power. "
"Fear and obey those in authority—but if they are weak or given to pursuing airy goals of vague goodness, slay them in the name of the Dark Sun. Battle against all clergy of other faiths, for they are false prophets and forces who oppose the One True Way. "
"Bring death to those who oppose the rightful church of Cyric and those who seek to make or keep peace, order, and laws. All rightful authority comes from Cyric, and all other authority must be subverted."
"Break not into open rebellion, for when hosts march, all faiths and gods awaken. It is better by far to fell one foe at a time and keep all folk afraid, uneasy, in constant strife—and under the spreading tyranny of Cyric."
Cyric's abandonment of the portfolio of death and the dead that he had following the Time of Troubles has freed him to embrace much of where his true heart lies—treachery, deception, and strife. Random violence is never as good as violence that serves some greater, more dangerous purpose. Plans and counterplans can twist and turn on themselves, such that a defeat in one area can bring overall victory for the Dark Sun. Any means, any method, any sacrifice or treachery is allowed if it brings about the desired end.
Daily activity: Priests of Cyric are pledged to spread strife and work murder everywhere, in order to make people fear and believe in Cyric. They support cruel rulers with a taste for empire-building, but create intrigue in every land to spread strife without plunging realms into widespread war though. They in fact spend most of their time scheming against each other in an endless struggle between the cabal, each striving to strengthen their own personal power. Cyric is also well known to support this, telling one priest one thing and another something else, to create strife between the two.
Affiliated orders: Has no knightly orders, though he has ordered the establishment of a fighting order "The Company of the Ebon Spur", but the order has yet to find a leader. And the two priest in charge of the establishment cannot agree on the admission standards, and has therefore engaged in several plots to kill each other off, since each believes he is right. Cyric even appeared to them both telling them they were right, to create the strife.
Priestly Vestments:Priest of Cyric dress in black or dark purple robes, both with and without hoods., trimmed with silver. They also wear silver bracers or bracelets, adorned with the stamped skull and sunburst symbol of Cyric, to symbolize their enslavement to Cyric, and some priest paint the symbol on their cheeks or foreheads on the high holy days.
Adventuring Garb: Priests of Cyric are often in disguise and love using illusions to alter their appearance when they can. They dress either to be inconspicuous or to impress, awe and terrify, depending on their assignment. When they are disguised they still try and wear as much protective armor or magic as possible without given themselves away. When dressed to terrify they love black armor with lots of ornamentations that looks menacing such as spikes and helmets in the shape of snarling monsters.
Portfolio:Murder, strife, intrigue, deception, illusion
Allies: None
Foes: Nearly all gods but especially Kelemvor and Mystra.
Story: Cyric was born as a god during the events of the Time of Troubles. Where he gained followers and portfolios from many old evil gods. His power base is immense and he is one of the three greater powers of evil in Faerun.
Behavior: Cyric is petty, megalomaniacal and self-centered. He enjoys helping a worshipper rise in power through intrigue only to see them fall all the way down again. His favorite libation is the tears of disillusioned dreamers and broken-hearted lovers, which he drinks from a silver chalice encrusted with tiny rubies in the shape of sundered hears.
Aliases and manifestations: Cyric prefers to appear in the dreams of his worshippers as a Bloody wraith or as a poisonous smoke cloud before his enemies rather than sending an avatar. He sometimes manifests as a sudden gloom containing the phantom images of a whirling human skull with black eyes. At other times he sends various undead creatures to do his biddings or show his favor or displeasure. Cyric is not above disguising himself as other deities to gain followers and has done so several times.
Dogma: Cyric's faith believes in control by any means necessary. Force and deception are used to spread his word. He is highly venerated by those of black hearts and evil deeds, from the insane to evil rulers of empires.
Cyricist priests are given the following charge:
"Death to traitors. Death to all who oppose Cyric. Bow down before the supreme power of Cyric, and yield to him the blood of all who do not believe in his supreme power. "
"Fear and obey those in authority—but if they are weak or given to pursuing airy goals of vague goodness, slay them in the name of the Dark Sun. Battle against all clergy of other faiths, for they are false prophets and forces who oppose the One True Way. "
"Bring death to those who oppose the rightful church of Cyric and those who seek to make or keep peace, order, and laws. All rightful authority comes from Cyric, and all other authority must be subverted."
"Break not into open rebellion, for when hosts march, all faiths and gods awaken. It is better by far to fell one foe at a time and keep all folk afraid, uneasy, in constant strife—and under the spreading tyranny of Cyric."
Cyric's abandonment of the portfolio of death and the dead that he had following the Time of Troubles has freed him to embrace much of where his true heart lies—treachery, deception, and strife. Random violence is never as good as violence that serves some greater, more dangerous purpose. Plans and counterplans can twist and turn on themselves, such that a defeat in one area can bring overall victory for the Dark Sun. Any means, any method, any sacrifice or treachery is allowed if it brings about the desired end.
Daily activity: Priests of Cyric are pledged to spread strife and work murder everywhere, in order to make people fear and believe in Cyric. They support cruel rulers with a taste for empire-building, but create intrigue in every land to spread strife without plunging realms into widespread war though. They in fact spend most of their time scheming against each other in an endless struggle between the cabal, each striving to strengthen their own personal power. Cyric is also well known to support this, telling one priest one thing and another something else, to create strife between the two.
Affiliated orders: Has no knightly orders, though he has ordered the establishment of a fighting order "The Company of the Ebon Spur", but the order has yet to find a leader. And the two priest in charge of the establishment cannot agree on the admission standards, and has therefore engaged in several plots to kill each other off, since each believes he is right. Cyric even appeared to them both telling them they were right, to create the strife.
Priestly Vestments:Priest of Cyric dress in black or dark purple robes, both with and without hoods., trimmed with silver. They also wear silver bracers or bracelets, adorned with the stamped skull and sunburst symbol of Cyric, to symbolize their enslavement to Cyric, and some priest paint the symbol on their cheeks or foreheads on the high holy days.
Adventuring Garb: Priests of Cyric are often in disguise and love using illusions to alter their appearance when they can. They dress either to be inconspicuous or to impress, awe and terrify, depending on their assignment. When they are disguised they still try and wear as much protective armor or magic as possible without given themselves away. When dressed to terrify they love black armor with lots of ornamentations that looks menacing such as spikes and helmets in the shape of snarling monsters.
I prefer walking towards the east..