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Zorak Zoran

By Sarah Newton

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

Zorak Zoran is 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, Zorak Zoran helped save the world, and his powers may be needed again. He is part of the Cosmic Balance, and is the most popular Wargod of the trolls, who achieved the near-impossible in stealing the powers of the Fiery Death from the Great Enemy, and who now uses that very weapon on behalf of Darkness to wreak revenge upon his foes.

In early myths he is little-noted. At best he is mentioned as attending his sister, Xiola Umbar, or his friend, Kyger Litor, in the Darkness of the Underworld. Zorak Zoran came into his own, however, when Death was discovered within the depths of the Underworld. Watching, Zorak Zoran conceived a passion for the new power, and followed it like a shadow until he saw and grasped the opportunity which made his name known throughout the heavens, seizing Death and cutting down Flamal, beloved of the world, to bring on the Great Hunger and deepen the Lesser Darkness.

In the Darkness Zorak Zoran fought and wounded Yelmalio, son of the Sun, at the Hill of Gold, and stole his Fire powers. Later he feuded with Orlanth as well. The theft of Fire, however, was perhaps Zorak Zoran's defining act, for to Trolls, Fire and Death are the same; in stealing Fire from Yelmalio, Zorak Zoran became the Darkness who gained control of Fire and Death, and who now wields it against all the foes of his kind. In him, Fire and Death and Darkness are joined; he is Fire and Death and Darkness incarnate.

When Chaos entered into the cosmos along the same route of jealousy, fear, and death which had been pioneered by Zorak Zoran, Zorak Zoran led in the struggle against Chaos and grew to be favoured by many trolls who fought alongside him. He was instrumental in halting the festering growth of evil before the return of the Sun and at that time earned his title of Lord God of the Demons of Death.

Zorak Zoran's dislike for Humakt is well-known. He also has no love for Light or any sky deity. Because the Red Moon includes chaos, and has the effrontery to shed Light where the Compromise decreed there would be no Light, the Red Goddess has been another one of Zorak Zoran's targets since her apotheosis. Mostal, father of dwarfs, and Aldrya, mother of elves, are old enemies of Zorak Zoran, dating from wrongs committed in Godtime.

Entry Requirements:	Dark trolls, great trolls, men, and beast men, plus exceptional trollkin. No Aldryami or Mostali.
Physical Abilities:	Ignore Pain, Intimidate, Torture, Flanged Mace & Shield Fighting, Trollmaul Fighting.
Mental Abilities:	Mythology of Uz, Mythology of Zorak Zoran.
Personality :	Crazed, Bloodthirsty. Also Hate Elves, Hate Chaos, Hate Mostali
Affinities:	Lead Death's Legions (Induct Corpse, Induct Spirit, Summon Shade, Command Death's Legionnaire, Rally Troops) Hate (Battle Rage, Howl of Fear, Maul Elf, Vanquish Dwarf, Smite Chaos) Vengeance (Crush, Open Wounds, Seal Wounds*, Bludgeon Soul, Mark for Retribution, Remember Ancient Wrongs)
Special Feat:	Wrest Salamander from Amanstan**
Secret:	Burn With Death (affinity - gained from the Hill of Gold Heroquest). The Zorak Zorani bursts into deep, dark red flame, incarnating the Fire that is Death. His very presence burns his foes, but also those of the Uz around him. He may self-immolate to such an extent that he lays all around him waste, and himself perishes. Feats: Burn Foe, Lay Waste, Burn Everything, Fire Devours All.
Worshippers:	Troll generals and warleaders, berserk warriors in troll lands. Some non-Troll warleaders in non-Troll lands.
Other Side:	Zorak Zoran's Fortress in the Underworld, where the immortal Legions of Death engage in perpetual warfare.
Other Connections:	Zorak Zorani can gain Darksee spirits from Kyger Litor, Face Chaos spirits from Storm Bull, and Healing Trance spirits from Xiola Umbar. Anti-Orlanth hero cults and subcults of Zorak Zoran provide feats such as Eat Wind.
Disadvantages:	Psychopathic troll butchers. Often unacceptable even in troll society.

* Special Note: The Seal Wound feat prevents wounds from being healed magically.
**Special Note: Amanstan is the spirit of fire which houses the magic Zorak Zoran stole from Yelmalio during the Great Darkness. It is the source of the Salamanders of the cult.