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Zorak Zoran

By James Frusetta, Jeff Kyer and Stephen Martin

Note! This is a fan contribution. The information may be contradicted by official material.

Zorak Zoran is the troll god of Hate and Vengeance, the mindless explosion of fear and frenzy against both law and chaos, which finds its only justification and satisfaction in unlimited violence. As much as the rest of the world might regret it, he is one who helped save the world, and whose powers may be needed again. Zorak Zoran is one of the most popular troll wargods.

Entry Requirements: Open to dark trolls, great trolls, and exceptional trollkin. A prospective initiate must have a mace, maul, or similar weapon skill and Close Combat of 16 or more (which effectively bars most trollkin), and must impress a Death Lord. The initiate must swear a blood oath to serve and obey their Death Lord. Occasional Death Lords will allow individuals of other races (even humans!) to join, though the worshipper has to be strong and mean enough to survive in the cult, not an easy task for most races.
Physical Abilities: Ignore Pain, Mace and Shield Fighting, Maul Fighting.
Mental Abilities: Ambush, Intimidate Follower, Mythology of Zorak Zoran, Sense Foe.
Virtues: Cruel, Fearless, Vengeful
Affinities: Combat (Break Through Shield Wall, Break Weapon, Crushing Blow, Fight to the Death, Hate Blades)
Darkness (Command Living Shadow, Command Scorpion, Enchant Lead, Hate Light, Stygian Armor, Terrifying Aura)
Hatred (Blood Vengeance, Command Ghost, Make Ghost, Make Zombie, Rage of Hatred*)
* Rage of Hatred is Berserker Magic (see the Keywords chapter of Hero Wars).
Secret: Poisoned Wound (Acts as a mystic strike when used in conjunction with an attack using a mace, maul, or other blunt weapon; in addition to contest results, if the target's APs are reduced to 0 or below he suffers a permanent -1 Hurt and takes an additional such wound for each full -10 AP inflicted. These Hurts cannot be healed without appropriate Otherworld magic).
Worshippers: Troll warriors, other Darkness races, and occasional fanatical humans.
Sacrifices: Zorak Zoran requires that his worshippers sacrifice living creatures. Captured enemies are preferred, and devotees often eat the hearts of defeated foes. Sacrificial victims are tortured and burned alive, or simply slaughtered in an orgy of blood and violence. The sacrifices are then eaten. If no captives are available, unworthy or weak worshippers, unwary trollkin and, if necessary, food animals are offered.
Manifestations: Zorak Zoran is carved as an old three-eyed troll. In one of his hands he holds a mace and with the other he makes a magical gesture. Maces and skulls are sacred to Zorak Zoran; they and giant scorpions are the favored embodiment for divine companions. His presence can also be felt in the Inner World whenever a person seeks vengeance at any cost, when a worshipper exhibits mindless rage and violence, in unquenchable hunger, and in the death of Zorak Zoran's special foes.
Other Side: Zorak Zoran commands the Immortal Legions of Death from his Lead Fortress on the Bloody Plain which lies deep in the Sixth Hell of the Troll Underworld, a place of eternal conflict. Zorak Zoran's followers leave behind their mangled bodies and join these battles after death, keeping back Chaos and Light and preparing themselves for glorious battles in the next life. Their bodies are often animated as zombies to help defend his holy places.
Other Connections: Zorak Zoran works fairly well with all Darkness Deities, and has a very close relationship with Xiola Umbar. His relationship to the Karrg's Sons of Kyger Litor is very trollish. Sometimes hostilities break out between the two factions and one will be forced to leave the community. Zorak Zoran has special hatred for Humakt, and all worshippers of Light and Sky deities (especially Yelmalio) are special foes. Mostal and Aldrya are also hated for misdeeds committed in the Godtime. Zorak Zoran mastered many demons during the Darkness, and devoured their souls to steal their powers.
Disadvantages: Zorak Zoran devotees terrify most normal people, even other trolls. They must fight their enemies wherever they find them, and would rather die than retreat or show fear. They must show no mercy, and must kill their opponents or die trying. Death Lords must have their own band of followers, and often come into conflict with the local Kyger Litor hierarchy. Even non-troll worshippers may not use iron, but may use enchanted lead weapons and armor. When an initiate becomes a devotee he must give up all animistic worship, and must sacrifice all of his fetishes to Zorak Zoran.

Amanstan

Subcult of Zorak Zoran

Amanstan contains the fire powers that Zorak Zoran gained when he ambushed Yelmalio at the Hill of Gold and devoured his heart. He allows Zorak Zoran worshippers access to and control of fire powers, something most other trolls are unable to do.

Although Amanstan is a spirit, he does not have shamans. Instead, devotees of Zorak Zoran who worship Amanstan are the equivalent of "sacred chiefs." They teach initiates how to integrate the fire spirits controlled by Amanstan. They gain a spirit ally that is essentially identical to a salamander (see Anaxial's Roster), and which can be manifested in a fiery body when the devotee wishes. Other fire spirits are drawn to the ecstatic Amanstan ceremonies, and can be fought and integrated by the Zorak Zorani.

Entry Requirements: Amastan is only open to initiates and devotees of Zorak Zoran. Prospective members must survive an attack by the officiating devotee's Spirit Ally to be accepted.
Physical Abilities: Resist Fire.
Mental Abilities: Amanstan Tradition Knowledge, Sense Fire Spirit Nearby, Spirit Combat.
Traditional Spirits: Fire Spirits (Typical talents include Blazing Slingstone, Flaming Weapon, Start Fire, Walk Through Flames)
Secret: Ambush Yelmalio (Allows the Zorak Zoran worshipper to use a Quest Challenge* in the Inner World to steal any type of fire power from a Light, Sky, or Fire God worshipper. The ability rating of the ability wagered must be at least as high as the ability rating of the fire power sought).
* See the Otherworld Magic chapter of the Narrator's Book.
Worshippers: Fanatical Zorak Zoran initiates and devotees in Dagori Inkarth and Guhan, occasional worshippers in other troll lands.
Manifestations: Zorak Zoran's victory over Amanstan is reinforced whenever a troll extinguishes or devours a fire, and in the scars Zorak Zoran's worshippers receive from flames.
Other Side: Amanstan is a captive flame in Zorak Zoran's fortress in the Sixth Hell, near the Forest of Lights.
Disadvantages: Zorak Zorani who worship Amanstan are feared by other trolls even more than they would be otherwise. Many trolls view them as betraying the race by using evil powers. An initiate who leaves one Death Lord to follow another who worships Amanstan, may find himself attacked by his former compatriots.

Lord Master of the Demons of Death

Subcult of Zorak Zoran

During the Great Darkness, Zorak Zoran conquered many demons, devouring them so that he gained their powers. The names, powers, and deaths of these demons are remembered by his worshippers, who sacrifice parts of themselves (or their foes) to gain access to these powers. A few of the conquered demons are known in all troll lands, and their special abilities are available to all Zorak Zoran worshippers. Each troll land also remembers one or more special foes, unknown anywhere else, who provide special magics only to them. Thus, in Dagori Inkarth worshippers of Zorak Zoran remember his conquest of Corlum, the Worm of Destruction, and can send Crushing Coils to crush the life out of their foes.

Entry Requirements: This subcult is open to initiates and devotees of Zorak Zoran. The specific demons conquered (and thus feats available) are different in each troll land; a sampling is provided below. Worship of each demon requires that specific sacrifices be made -- Agados requires that the worshipper sacrifice his own (or a captive's) eye, etc.
Feats: The following feats are widespread among worshippers of Zorak Zoran:
Blind Foe (from Agados, the Eye Eater)
Crushing Pain (from Gadoz, Xiola Umbar's Foe)
Darkmight (from Durik Gol, the Dancer in Darkness)
Hate Sky (from Toram, the Sky Demon)
Make Skeleton (from Xixitic, the Bone Horror).
Secret: Conquer Demon (Allows a character in any Otherworld to ignore the Alien World modifier * when using any ability against a demon.)
* See the Otherworld Magic chapter of the Narrator's Book.
Worshippers: Occasional Zorak Zoran initiates and devotees in all troll lands. Worship is more common when captives are available to sacrifice.
Disadvantages: Zorak Zorani who worship the Demons of Death are often required to sacrifice parts of their own body or soul to gain the demons' magics. Over time, this can seriously weaken the worshipper.

 Latest revision: 26 Feb 2001, new
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