Cthos: Difference between revisions
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|laity= The laity of Cthos are typically composed of executioners, assassins, butchers and guardians. They have no official duties within the Church, as the inner secrets are considered forbidden to all but members of one of the Orders. | |laity= The laity of Cthos are typically composed of executioners, assassins, butchers and guardians. They have no official duties within the Church, as the inner secrets are considered forbidden to all but members of one of the Orders. | ||
|priest_req = The priests of Cthos are of two divisions: the Moritae, who are the Vowed priests of the Church, and the Pastors, who are the monks of the Church. The Church of Cthos is a secretive sect composed of ascending Orders, each Order having a greater responsibility and level of secrecy than the last. After three years of service in each Order, the Priest (or potential Priest) must undergo a test to determine if he has learned what is needed to ascend. Those who succeed ascend to the next Order; those who fail may never again take the test, and often elect to become monks or depart the Church altogether. The First Order, that of the Quill, concentrates on the retention of knowledge about the Church. The Second, that of the Shepherd, concerns itself with animal husbandry, including the slaughter of animals. The Third, the Serpent, teaches medicine. The Fourth, that of the Nightshade, is the first in which an individual may take a Vow of Priestcraft and teaches the student about the death of mortals, including knowledge of poison, fighting and disease. The Fifth is the Order of the Sword, where Priests learn the proper ways to execute criminals. The Sixth Order, that of the Axe, teaches the mysteries of the afterlife. The teachings of the Seventh (the Plume) and Eighth (the Dragon) Orders are so secret and difficult to obtain that only a handful of Priests can ever expect to achieve this level of knowledge about the Church. The Pontifex of the Church is always of the Eighth Order. A Ninth Order exists, but no known mortal has ever attained this level of power. It is rumored that a Priest of the Ninth Order does, indeed, exist, and he secretly issues forth commands to those of the Eighth Order according to the mysterious will of the deity. | |priest_req = The priests of Cthos are of two divisions: the Moritae, who are the Vowed priests of the Church, and the Pastors, who are the monks of the Church. The Church of Cthos is a secretive sect composed of ascending Orders, each Order having a greater responsibility and level of secrecy than the last. After three years of service in each Order, the Priest (or potential Priest) must undergo a test to determine if he has learned what is needed to ascend. Those who succeed ascend to the next Order; those who fail may never again take the test, and often elect to become monks or depart the Church altogether. The First Order, that of the Quill, concentrates on the retention of knowledge about the Church. The Second, that of the Shepherd, concerns itself with animal husbandry, including the slaughter of animals. The Third, the Serpent, teaches medicine. The Fourth, that of the Nightshade, is the first in which an individual may take a Vow of Priestcraft and teaches the student about the death of mortals, including knowledge of poison, fighting and disease. The Fifth is the Order of the Sword, where Priests learn the proper ways to execute criminals. The Sixth Order, that of the Axe, teaches the mysteries of the afterlife. The teachings of the Seventh (the Plume) and Eighth (the Dragon) Orders are so secret and difficult to obtain that only a handful of Priests can ever expect to achieve this level of knowledge about the Church. The Pontifex of the Church is always of the Eighth Order. A Ninth Order exists, but no known mortal has ever attained this level of power. It is rumored that a Priest of the Ninth Order does, indeed, exist, and he secretly issues forth commands to those of the Eighth Order according to the mysterious will of the deity. | ||
Revision as of 19:36, 5 August 2014
Lord of the Underworld, it is silent Cthos that sits in judgment over the dead from the Palace of Nugarath, sending the souls of the faithful to serve their deities and the hypocritical or faithless to their final doom. Though Cthos' clergy isn't particularly massive, it is fairly pervasive, as Cthos' executioners serve significant roles in the judicial processes of most urban areas. Though worshipers of Cthos tend to be fairly dark and morose, at best, worship is accepted in most regions as a necessity, particularly since most of his priests and worshipers consider themselves professionals, above such petty concerns as vengeance and hatred.
Cthos tends to be extremely neutral, both in mortal and entital politics, but his greatest enemy is Tethys, goddess of undeath. It is only when opposing the clergy of Tethys (and her undead minions) that Cthos' own followers fight with an often devastating, blind religious zeal.
| Cthos |
| God of the Underworld |
| Descriptive Info |
| Gender: Male |
| Avatar: Carnifus of the Blooded Axe, Aochobar the Damned, Hela, Cthoroc |
| Consort(s): None |
| Allies: Lord Ptharos, God of Air and Good (grandfather); Baelthor, God of the Earth; Aridnus, God of Judgment (father); Britomaris, Goddess of Thieves; Kratos, God of War; Ladon, God of Work; Majestas, Goddess of Law (aunt); Meliboea, Goddess of Justice; Paelemona, Goddess of Fate; Podarge, God of Destruction; Tisiphone, Goddess of Vengeance; Zelos, God of the State. |
| Foes: Tethys, Goddess of the Undead (mother); Abaris, Goddess of Magic (half-sister); Clementia, Goddess of Mercy; Orchus, God of Luck |
| Spiritual Info |
| Rank: Major |
| Nature: Intermediate |
| Ethos: Agathocacological |
| Major Influence: Death and the Underworld |
| Minor Influence(s): Executioners, assassins, mystical secrets |
Symbols
The main symbol of the Church of Cthos is of a white skull superimposed over a crossed red axe and a shepherd's crook. Nightshade and other poisonous plants are significant to the Church, as is the Yew tree (most altars to Cthos are constructed of this tree). Mullein is a significant symbol of the pastors of the Church, while Foxglove is significant to the Moritae. Myrrh is significant to the Makatielites as a protective herb against undead. Bloodstone is the most significant stone to the followers of Cthos, and most magical items created by the Church have at least one such stone imbedded in it.
Dwelling Place
The Palace of Nugarath on the Ethereal Plane.
Servants
Makatiel, the Guardian of the Underworld, is his most powerful lieutenant, though he is also served by Saint Teravar the Good, Saint Antheus the Gray, and Ditis Carnifex the Damned.
Doctrine
No information available on the doctrine of Cthos
Mission
No information available on the mission of Cthos
Geography
No geographic information available on Cthos
History of the Church
No historic information available on Cthos
Organization
No information available on the Organization of the Church of Cthos
Garments
During religious ceremonies, priests of Cthos wear elaborate black, white and gray robes that cover every inch of their bodies (including a mask over their faces). Those who are currently operating in their capacity as executioner (in those regions where such is legal), wear black leather armor and a black executioner's mask. Monks tend to wear long, gray robes and gray mask. Whatever the occasion, each priest and monk must prominently wear the symbol of his Order, carved out of Yew.
Religious Practices
No information available on the religous practices of the Church of Cthos
Customs
The followers of Cthos obey the Tome of Saint Antheus, which dictates the proper means to send mortals and animals to their deaths and the exacting means by which they must do so. Furthermore, each Order of the Church has a specific Rule that must be obeyed while the adherent is a member of that Order. These Rules not only detail what the adherent is to do in his day-to-day life, but also provides the necessary test for ascension from the previous Order.
Taboos
Followers of Cthos are forbidden from attempting to curb the natural aging process. Though their practices are usually considered dark, they are also forbidden from being cruel to those who must be killed, even if they are merely butchers killing lambs for meat. This rule is so extreme that an executioner who fails to quickly kill the criminal to which he was assigned must refrain from his duties for a period of nine days while he fasts and repents of his sin. Thus, followers of Cthos never execute someone by hanging, stoning or pressing, or any method other than a sharp axe.
Priests and monks of Cthos are forbidden from discussing the practices and Rule of their Order. Doing so is considered a capital offense by the Church (though in those regions which do not recognize this power of the Church, offenders must be ritually "executed" by means of excommunication).
