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PHARASTUS – The Dark Lord


Status:  1st Generation Elder God

Level:  90000

Avatar:  Barint


The Lord of Darkness, supreme evil one, daemonlord, these are just some of the guises under which this deity operates. Malicious and purely evil beyond comprehension, this author of death and destruction is a liar and a deceiver. His talents are more formidable than those accorded to any other being; even Marnarka. Indeed Pharastus is Evil incarnate. The greatest and most fair of Ome-te Llest’s creations he is pictured as the most handsome man sometimes with horns on his forehead. Despite his beautiful form there is always a deep sinister awe around him and his portraits somehow have a feeling of unease should the looker gaze upon it for too long.


Pharastus or as he is known by his elder name, Nayme has existed in the universe since its creation from Ome-te Llest.  Before Pharastus there was only Ome-te Llest (Elvish- The One) it was Ome-te Llest who made the Elder Gods. Pharastus’ followers would have you believe that he was the first of Ome-te Llest’s creations. Ome-te Lest spoke unto them profounding to them the themes of music that were to become the Truth song; and they stood before him, and he was glad. But for a long while they sang only each alone or but a few together while the rest listened. Each of these young creations only comprehended part of Ome-te Llest’s wishes but as they sang they began to comprehend and understand, and their union and harmony grew.


At last it came to be that Ome-te Llest called them all together and declared unto them a mighty theme, unfolding to them things greater and more wonderful than he had yet revealed; and the glory of its beginning and the splendour of its end. Amazed his creations bowed before him and were silent.


Then Ome-te Lest said unto them ‘Of the theme that I have shown unto you, I now command you to sing my Truth song and since I have kindled the flame unperishable within you ye shalt make your own wishes be apparent by adorning this theme. I will sit and hearken, and be glad that through your Song beauty will be awakened.’


Then the gods sung like countless singing choirs, beginning to fashion the theme of Ome-te Llest with endless interchanging melodies woven in harmony that pass beyond our description. Thus it was that the void was not the void any more but filled to over flowing, and the echo of the music went flowing into Ae and filled it with strange places and conceptions.


Ome-te was pleased and sat and listened but there was one who had his own imaginings as to how Ome-te Llest’s theme should be and thus Pharastus sought to change the theme to his own accord by sewing dissension and chaos. The Gods tried to stop Pharastus’ ripples of chaos and were successful at first. But eventually Pharastus’ ripples became waves, then torrents of chaos that perverted all the music that was around.


Ome-te Llest spoke ‘Mighty are my creations and mightiest amoungst them is Pharastus, but be it known that I am the master and all shalt hearken and obey me. Pharastus I command thee leave my court for the depths of the void and there let your music harm no more. My children that remain here I give thee governorship of Eä and ask you to look after it while I watch from afar. Pharastus know that you shalt not see my theme and your banishment shalt stop thy corruption happening again.’


It was here in the dark cold timeless void on the very edge of creation and limbo he waited but he was happy because out of his revolt against Ome-te Lest came the desire that gave birth to Evil.


Eventually Pharastus was found by Ro’Azarkh the great God of Fire who was wandering past Se (the only one who could stand the flames) on a quest to explore the uncharted realms. Pharastus was able to deceive the great god by transforming himself into the form of a young child and encouraged him to carry him back to Bifrost and care for him. For this great deed of compassion Pharastus cursed Ro’Azarkh with a terrible curse that would plague him for all eternity and at the allotted time would allow Pharastus to ultimately achieve his dream of domination over all? Pharastus has in his time effected the lives of the entire pantheon, and his transgressions are too great to mention in this document. However his more sinister deeds include the breeding of creatures to serve his needs and further spread his domination on Eä. His wars cost countless lives and incalculable damage and have almost ended in utter cataclysm. His most heinous crime, however, is the legacy of Evil. Pharastus’ incarnation leaves a bequest that includes a legion of wars, numerous twisted races, and a host of terrible daemons and monsters, all the most evil of being such as the Balrog or Nolon can be traced to his ire. Worst of all, he pollutes the world with painful sin that shall vex Eä until the end of the count of time.


Pharastus is hated by nearly everyone, including the gods and his purpose is the total destruction of the known world and its rebuilding in his image. Even Ro’Azarkh, who adopted Pharastus as his son now rejects him.


Pharastus’ passions are many and mighty, and they conjure all that is evil. His insatiable aim is to deceive all men as to the true nature of the Gods and so to bring them to hate them all, especially Marnarka (his worst enemy), and then for them to love himself instead. With each triumph, each acquisition, he strives for more. By these means he entices all his mortal followers with promises of power and wealth. Sooner or later though he comes for their souls and leads them into a hell of which he is overlord, where they spend the rest of their deaths in great pain and torment.


Pharastus often takes a double-edged view to his own activities, convincing himself that his intention to kill and terrify all is of the highest good, while simultaneously wriggling with glee at his own delicious evilness.


He prefers to assume a terrifying guise whilst manifesting and will appear to individuals as their worst nightmare. This in itself may not be just a physical form, he could just as well appear as a great mound of flesh grubs over his intended victim then communicate via telepathy. He is also able to assume the most beautiful of forms in order to deceive and entice.


He has massed around him the most evil sentient creatures to control his legions of daemons and hordes of chaos. He is the patron of all evil and can take many forms. It is said that at the end of the universe, Pharastus will rise up and devour everything in flames.


SYMBOL







Pharastus’ symbol is that of a stylised winged Daemon but other facets of his worship have their own symbols.


WORSHIP

Pharastus is worshipped under many guises, with many different facets and it is impossible to detail them all here. It is sufficient to say that human sacrifice, summoning daemons and murder all form part of his worship. He is worshipped extensively by the Drow, but has followers within every race.


Every Priests ambition is to take the Flight into Darkness and join Pharastus’ legions. Every Priest knows that they must be judged worthy by Pharastus in order to take the blessed step into daemonhood. Therefore, every act performed by the Priest will be done in order to meet approval by Pharastus and the final prize of joining the Dark Lords forces when his chains are finally broken and he once again walks on Eä.


TEMPLES

There are no human temples to Pharastus, although makeshift shrines can often be found in dark secret places, where the priesthood perform their evil rites and sacrifices. The only temples and shrines to Pharastus are built and tended by the Drow. They are places of absolute terror. They are crafted from the living rock and boast sculptures that are extremely uncomfortable for the eye to view. Around the chambers it is not uncommon to see terrible hieroglyphs detailing torture and suffering. His temples are always dark and where lit it is usually with magma or magical darkfire.


HOLY DAYS

The sixth day of the eighth month is sacred to Pharastus, indicating the day he was brought from behind the sun to wreak havoc upon the known world. The winter equinox is also sacred. Mass sacrifice and slaughter usually accompany the celebrations on these holy days.


FRIENDS AND ENEMIES

Pharastus hates, and is hated by, everyone. The only time that this is not the case is when his cult is masquerading as something else so as to avoid detection. Pharastus’ chief enemy is the cult of Marnarka, the wind lord.


CULT REQUIREMENTS

Requirements for entry to the cult vary from individual cult to cult. Some require elaborate deception, some mass slaughter. Pharastus’ preferred weapon is the dagger, dripping with poison so his priest must have the ability to use this weapon and some form of poison knowledge.


STRICTURES