Avelygyd

(The following setting is exclusive to S:PL canon and is based on the event chain orchestrated by DM Pincushion across 2023-2024. Anyone is welcome to create a character based on this setting, and their character is free to know all information on this wiki page unless explicitly marked as 'DM dark' or otherwise. Prospective Clerics and Warlocks who worship or are bound by Avelygydian entities must request permission to be playable.)

Avelygyd's Ancient Capital...

Introduction

Welcome to the Wiki Page for Avelygyd, an apocalyptic setting where the remnants of a once-grand civilization now teeter on the brink of oblivion. Once steeped in ancient traditions, noble lineages, and mystical intrigue, Avelygyd has been ravaged by the cataclysmic forces unleashed by the dreaded Beast of Plenty. Now, the rich tapestry of this civilization's history, culture, and the tumultuous events that shaped its fate lie in the hands of those who survived its downfall.

A potential character from this desolate setting begins as a refugee in the Planes, whether arriving with fleeing merchants and peasants into the Outlands, or as an errant noble, penniless and powerless, to seek sanctuary amidst the chaos of Sigil.

Rediscover and reestablish your culture and people amongst the planes, or abandon your history in favor of a new life in Sigil. Explore the secret history of your destroyed home, delving into the history of the ancient nobility and their blood relics, and the arcane secrets which linger amongst the survivors.

Will you forge a new destiny amidst the ashes of the old, or succumb to the weight of a world torn asunder by forces beyond mortal comprehension?

Nobility

(Make a mention that noble PCs from major noble families need to be approved by the team.)

Religion

The Kingdom of Avelygyd possessed a unique faith. Their state religion changed frequently, with the entire kingdom seamlessly adapting (at least publicly). Old religious iconography was discreetly replaced whenever a new religion took hold. Despite this, other faiths persisted in hidden temples, their worship declining over time. The state religion typically changed with the Marquis/Marchioness of Faith, though the last Marchioness, Varquesse, maintained her house's faith in the Flayed Martyr. Public places of worship were non-denominational and lacked prominent relics. This peculiar system, attributed to Celestine, had unknown origins. Interestingly, the gods themselves lacked true names, held power only within Avelygyd, and clerics' powers were restricted outside the kingdom. The pantheon itself was fluid, with deities categorized as 'mounted' (former state religion) or 'unmounted'.

The Burning Martyr

Name: The Flayed Martyr

Alignment: LN

Symbol: A flayed man, hanged upside down, burning alive.

Domains: Fire, Law, Light, Protection, Retribution

Description:

Once, the Flayed Martyr was a vengeful god, its followers clinging to the principles of fair and just punishment. Corporal retribution ruled supreme, symbolized by the chilling image: a flayed man, suspended upside down, consumed by flames. This gruesome visage served as a stark reminder – transgression brought fiery consequences. Fire, in the eyes of this deity, wasn't just cleansing; it was the ultimate executioner, ensuring swift and uncompromising justice for the vilest criminals.

However, beneath this stern exterior lurked a complex protector. The Flayed Martyr was also seen as a guardian, particularly of children and the innocent. Their purity was sacred and untouchable. The god demanded they be safeguarded at all costs, their innocence a shield against the encroaching darkness of wrongdoing. This duality, of retribution and protection, painted the Flayed Martyr as a deity of unwavering righteousness and fierce devotion.

The people once held the Flayed Martyr dear, its faith often challenging the rule of nobility. Ironically, monarchs too often chose it as the reigning faith. After all, it was best to keep one's enemies close, their claws metaphorically blunted by their own god's fierce pronouncements of justice.

The Grinning Sage

Name: The Grinning Sage

Alignment: TN

Symbol: A pair of blue lips, smiling toothily, with one golden molar.

Domains: Knowledge, Fortune, Temptation, Luck, Wealth

Description:

The Grinning Sage, a neutral deity of insatiable curiosity, once held the relentless pursuit of knowledge as the highest virtue. This ever-grinning god embodied the boundless joy of learning, celebrating every revelation and discovery as a triumph of the intellect. Followers found enlightenment not only in accumulated wisdom but also in the act of exploration and inquiry itself.

However, the Grinning Sage's teachings held a dark edge. It encouraged knowledge acquisition at any cost, often promoting morally dubious actions in the pursuit of enlightenment. The Church fractured between cautious scholars advocating ethical knowledge seeking and ambitious individuals who believed all knowledge, regardless of consequence, was worth having.

The Grinning Sage enjoyed a few stints as the State Religion, typically seen as a harmless choice – so long as the leading Faith tempered their beliefs. A rare occurrence, to say the least.

The Voiceless Sentinel

Name: The Voiceless Sentinel

Alignment: LG

Symbol: None

Domains: Law, Good, Protection, War

Description:

The Grey Sentinel, a deity of unwavering law and goodness, once embodied the vigilant protector. This divine figure stood firm as the silent embodiment of order and righteousness. Unlike other deities, the Grey Sentinel wasn't represented by an image, but rather by a profound silence – signifying humility and selfless service.

Followers of the Sentinel were unwavering in their devotion to justice and benevolence, often dedicating their lives to the highest moral standards. The deity served as a beacon of hope in dark times, reminding the faithful of integrity and the need for balance and order.

Paladins, Clerics, and other devotees took a vow of silence, never speaking again – some even cutting out their tongues. This symbolized their apolitical nature, acting only to maintain the Realm. Their sole master was the Sentinel. Such dedication, however, meant they often remained silent when others called for help, only acting in the direst circumstances.

The Grey Sentinel frequently graced the position of State Religion. For monarchs of generations past, a silent Marquis or Marchioness advocating for the Sentinel was a useful political tool. After all, a silent leader is easily controlled – unless, of course, they earned the Sentinel's silent disapproval.

The Duchess of Thorns

Name: The Duchess of Thorns

Alignment: CN

Symbol: A silver goblet, covered in thorned roses

Domains: Chaos, Lust, Generosity, Healing

Description:

The Duchess of Thorns, an unpredictable goddess of raw passion, once reveled in unrestrained desire. Her teachings encouraged followers to explore their deepest wants, break free from societal chains, and embrace life's thrilling chaos. Her influence ignited forbidden passions, empowered social rebels, and stirred the human spirit.

However, this chaotic goddess held a surprising paradox. Beneath the surface lurked a deep well of compassion, a capacity to heal wounds both physical and emotional. The Duchess was known to bless those in need, a balm for the scars of life's hardships.

Her brief stint as the State Religion, however, was a disaster. It ignited a bloody Civil War that nearly tore the Kingdom apart centuries ago, a testament to the Duchess's power and the perils of unchecked chaos.

The Green Knight

Name: The Green Knight

Alignment: NG

Symbol: A tree with red leaves, bleeding from its bark

Domains: Nature, Good, Healing, Travel, Trickery

Description:

The Green Knight, symbolized by a magnificent tree adorned with bleeding red leaves, once represented the delicate balance between nature's beauty and civilization. Druids and rangers particularly revered this deity, and it only enjoyed a single, controversy-averse stint as the State Religion.

However, a darker secret lurked beneath the surface: the Order of Leaves, a hidden cult allegedly linked to the assassination of the very monarch who championed the Green Knight. Their motives remain shrouded in mystery, leaving a legacy of distrust among the nobility. The Green Knight's churches and the Order's rumored continued existence fueled suspicion and uncertainty, casting a long shadow over this enigmatic faith.

The Eyeless King

Name: The Eyeless King

Alignment: LE

Symbol: A Black Crown

Domains: Law, Evil, Nobility, Tyranny

Description:

The Eyeless King is a malevolent deity embodying ruthless order and tyranny, symbolized by the foreboding and authoritative image of a black crown. His dominion centers on the absolute rule of nobility, drawing followers who are enticed by his unrelenting power and who eagerly pursue the merciless quest for dominance.

Surprisingly, the Eyeless King's followers often lean toward revolution rather than loyalty to existing monarchs. Monarchs, they argue, rarely possess the absolute power they desire, and the Eyeless King's Church is one of the few entities that consistently challenges the authority of any State Religion that does not bear the Eyeless King's banner.

Their enthusiasm reached a peak when King Arystid the Mad finally selected a staunch advocate of the Eyeless King to lead the Faith. However, this alliance was short-lived, lasting a mere six months before the monarch severed the chosen Marquis's connection with the faith in a drastic and abrupt manner. They have worked from the shadows since.

The Heir of Light

Name: The Heir of Light

Alignment: CG

Symbol: A six-fingered hand, holding four severed fingers

Domains: Chaos, Good, Envy, Suffering

Description:

The Heir of Light is a deity of chaotic benevolence, symbolized by an intriguing and unsettling emblem—an out-of-the-ordinary six-fingered hand gripping four severed fingers. Representing the goodly and the displaced, the Heir of Light is particularly enigmatic.

The myth goes that the Heir of Light was the son, or brother, or father of another unknown deity who was betrayed, and mutilated out of false punishment. As such, he now represents those who have been wrongfully treated and seek recompense. An envious and strange religion, the Heir's advocates are typically failed gamblers, second sons, and unappreciated souls.

He was chosen as State Religion for one generation under mysterious circumstances; the Marquis selected by the monarch was expected to choose a different Mounted God altogether, but opted to choose the Heir of Light. The monarch could do nothing but seethe at the choice -- seethe, and contest the possibility of war.

The Patterned Fool

Name: The Patterned Fool

Alignment: CN

Symbol: A Jester's hat, with more Jester's hats on its tips

Domains: Chaos, Joy, Gluttony, Thirst

Description:

The Patterned Fool is a whimsical deity, a patron of boundless revelry, and is symbolized by a playful and eccentric emblem—a Jester's hat adorned with an array of additional Jester's hats on its tips. This enigmatic entity attracts followers who are captivated by the sheer unpredictability of existence, finding solace in 'chaos for the sake of chaos.'

Cruel and kind in equal measure, the Patterned Fool's faith stands as one of the more distrusted, yet oddly popular, belief systems. Bards and drunkards frequently invoke the Patterned Fool to inject excitement into their nights, and this deity rarely disappoints. Whether it's bestowing endless riches upon a random individual or snatching away their loved ones, both outcomes are deemed equally deserving punchlines to the Fool's cosmic joke.

The Fool has no Clerics, but instead has 'Merrymen'. They are scarcely tolerated wherever they go, but are mostly left unharmed, despite their silly behaviours -- no man, peasant or King would dare harm one directly.

The Fool has never been chosen to represent the Faith, and nor has any of his merrymen ever had any interest in such a role.

Celestine

Name: Celestine

Alignment: N/A

Symbol: The Coat of Arms of House Celestine

Domains: Law, Good, Nobility

Description:

The worship of Celestine is often regarded as more of a clandestine 'cult' than a recognized religion, as it simultaneously venerates the royal bloodline and the angelic figure of Celestine himself. Officially disavowed by the reigning monarch, yet discreetly supported during times of unpopularity, this unique 'religion' exists in a curious liminal space.

In this faith, traditional Clerics and divine servants of Celestine are non-existent, although persistent rumours suggest that a select few may have possessed such abilities in the past. Public worship of Celestine is officially banned, but it persists as an underground loyalist movement of notable significance. The tenets of the Churches within this faith vary widely, reflecting the complex nature of its beliefs and practices.

In essence, the worship of Celestine blurs the boundaries between royal devotion and angelic reverence, remaining a mysterious and unconventional religious movement that quietly endures despite official disapproval.

The Beast of Plenty

Name: The Beast of Plenty Alignment: CE Symbol: A pot-bellied peasant, grinning Domains: Evil, Hunger, The Unknown

Description:

The Beast of Plenty is a malevolent creature of insatiable appetite and unrelenting malevolence, symbolized by a grotesque emblem—a pot-bellied peasant with a sinister grin.

Said to be banished to wander Avelygyd by Celestine himself, the very creature -- or one of many -- which the angelic entity cut down before his unification of the Kingdom. Not a true deity, nor a demon or fiend, it is said that the Beast is the very essence of cruelty, cursed to walk amongst us.

Rumours say that House D'jere, a minor yet ancient bloodline dispersed around the Kingdom, still reveres the Beast. Biding their time, waiting for their Master's return to full power. Regardless of these rumours, House D'jere remains influential and wealthy enough to avoid inquisition on the topic. There are few who openly worship the Beast, and those that do are viewed as madmen, better left for dead than treated with.