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. |
|