Erythnul

The Many

• Intermediate Deity
• Symbol: A half-demon, half-boar mask
• Home Plane: Pandemonium
• Alignment: Chaotic Evil
• Portfolio: Hate, envy, malice, panic, ugliness, slaughter
• Worshipers: Barbarians, fighters, rogues, looter, outlaws
• Domains: War

The deity of slaughter, Erythnul (eh-rith-null), is a terrible sight to behold. He usually appears as a human with knotted muscles and a blocky frame. His skin is mottled and ruddy, almost as though blood oozes from his pores. In battle he wields a two-handed morning-star and his features change between human, gnoll, bugbear, ogre, and troll. This mutable form is reflected in his title, The Many. His weapon has a perforated stone head that makes frightening sounds whenever Erythnul swings it.

Dogma

Erythnul is a brutal deity who delights in panic and slaughter. In civilized lands, his followers (including evil fighters, barbarians, and rogues) form small, criminal cults. In savage lands, evil barbarians, gnolls, bugbears, ogres, and trolls commonly worship him.

Erythnul admonishes his followers to shed blood for its own sake, to covet what is not theirs, and to destroy anyone who would deny them anything. He further urges them to bring ugliness and strife to pleasant locales.

To take something away from someone else — especially from a rival — is an exalted act in Erythnul’s eyes. Foes who cannot be killed should be maimed, and that which cannot be stolen should be destroyed.

Clergy and Temples

Erythnul’s clerics favor rust red or bloodstained garments. They are cruel, sadistic, and hateful. They maintain a low profile in most civilized lands. In savage areas, members of the priesthood are known as bullies and murderous tyrants. They love to deface beautiful things and to disfigure attractive people.

Anyplace where great bloodshed or a spectacular act of cruelty has occurred is considered a holy site and an excellent place for a temple dedicated to Erythnul. In the countryside, Erythnul’s followers build squat, unsightly fortresses in places where battles, ambushes or massacres have occurred. In urban areas, Erythnul’s temples are usually hidden in seedy sections of cities, preferably on sites where horrible crimes have happened.

Avatars

Erythnul’s avatars look just like he does. He sends them to spread fear and death, mostly for his own amusement.