ELISHAR
Elishar is a radiant being suffused with positive energy. It appears in many forms: a pulsating globe of light, a humanoid (either gender or androgynous) with brightly glowing silver or gold skin, or a ravid. Like a ravid, Elishar literally exudes life energy, and its mere presence is devastating to undead.Dogma
The followers of Elishar believe that life is the greatest power of the universe—the energy that animates living creatures is a good in itself. All evil and all things that hinder life’s being experienced to the fullest come from Toldoth. Elishar is the source of life and of all things that contribute to life: every natural and supernatural blessing
of health, wholeness, and energy. A hymn to Elishar joyously proclaims:
Seed and source of life and light,
Goal of all our living:
You defend us from the night,
Healing and forgiving.
As our life flows from you only,
Let it be both pure and holy.
The Followers of the Light believe that they are called to spread the life of Elishar through the world, combating sickness and death wherever they find it. They plead with the followers of other religions (whom they believe are misled by Toldoth) to serve the Light. It is a point of doctrine among the Followers of the
Light that Elishar and Toldoth will meet in a cosmic battle at some point in the not too distant future, and Elishar will emerge triumphant. To doubt Elishar’s victory is a major heresy. Elishar’s followers carry the
responsibility of fighting the first battles of that war.
Clerics of Elishar wear vestments of silver or gold while performing their ritual duties. Higher-ranking clerics
often wear holy symbols or crowns enhanced with light spells to give them a radiant aura. Elishar’s clerics are charged to promote life and light by healing the sick and wounded. They also care for the poor, because poverty is viewed as a work of Toldoth, and defend people from Toldoth’s mortal, immortal, and undead servants. Every act of good and compassion, they teach, enhances Elishar’s power and robs Toldoth’s strength. Elishar’s temples are found throughout civilized lands— from roadside shrines to grand urban cathedrals. Most temples are constructed as works of art, inspiring in their beauty and enhanced with careful use of light, continual flame, and daylight spells. Followers gather in temples at least weekly, though clergy conduct services one or more times per day, usually in the morning.
TOLDOTH
The opposite of Elishar in almost every way, Toldoth is a dark creature composed of negative energy. It usually appears as a nightshade (any variety) or a wraith. Most followers of Toldoth are monsters, many are undead, and few are humanoids, though dark cults of Toldoth exist throughout civilized lands.
Dogma
Toldoth’s servants revere the forces of death, destruction, and decay—all the things that sap life and strength from mortal bodies and souls. They crave personal power, many hope for eternal life through undeath, and they look to Toldoth as the source of all they desire. Toldoth is the source of all sickness, suffering, weakness,
and death. The Skotologia, an obscene book of prayers and teachings penned by the lich Dumekkra, includes these words, considered the best summation of Toldoth’s teachings:
“Seek the dark, and give yourself to it. Let it suffuse you, hollow
you out and fill you with its emptiness. Let it own you, and you
find its power in your grasp. You possess the life that survives
life’s extinction, the darkness that remains when the light is
extinguished, the black flame that never stops burning. And
when it has consumed your self, you will be one with it, sharing
all its strength.”
Followers of Toldoth delight in spreading sickness, pain, and calamity through the world, for they believe that they are increasing Toldoth’s power in the world and assuring Toldoth’s success in the final conflict against Elishar. Like their enemies in the church of Elishar, followers of Toldoth look forward to a final conflict between the two deities. They expect to see their patron emerge triumphant—and to be richly rewarded for their part in helping win that victory. Undead followers of Toldoth believe that all life will be extinguished
in Toldoth’s final victory, and that they are the rightful inheritors of the earth—the next step of evolution, so to speak, after mortal life.
Toldoth’s clergy wear robes of deep violet or black during their vile ceremonies. If they are not themselves undead (many are), they wear masks or change themselves with illusions to appear so. Beyond their ritual duties, clerics of Toldoth are busy masterminding evil cults. They direct their minions in the full range of evil activities, from careful kidnappings and sacrifices to random violence and senseless slaughter. Often, their goal is simply evil for evil’s own sake. Every act of evil perpetrated in the world gives strength to Toldoth and robs power from Elishar. In lands that have thrown in their lot with Toldoth—evil kingdoms and the realms of savage humanoids, for example—Toldoth’s dark temples stand prominently with no need to hide. They are
built with black stone and often swathed in spells of darkness and shadow. In lands where Toldoth’s worship is forbidden, Toldoth’sfollowers meet in secret, usually in basements, crypts, or dungeons.
Whether in a temple or in a secret shrine, Toldoth’s worshipers meet by night in total or near-total darkness.
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