The Burning Lady
Identity
- Title(s) – The Burning Lady, The Silent Goddess, The Slayer
- Influence – Assassins, Execution, Murder
- Appearance – A woman clad in dark robes or a flowing full-cloak with a long curved silver sword in her hands; in all variations of Kargârak, she has fiery red hair that floats wildly about her head like flames
Attributions
- Symbol – Fractured Skull
- Focus – A burning weapon
- Color(s) – Gray and Red
- Element – Fire
- Animal – Salamander
Cult
- Center of Worship – Qamar
- Scriptures –
- Leader –
- Priesthood – The Silent Priesthood
- Orders –
- Aspects –
- Touched –
- Holy Days –
- Friends – Zin Vìrāel (sometimes)
- Enemies – Æzàlari, Balaal, Cajir-Jirraz, Caphar, Jædð, Kijam, Qamar, Serephar, Sha’ala, Ta’amah
- Sayings – “No one lives forever”, “All things mean more when they are taken away”, “Death makes all things equal”
Introduction
Believed by many to be an Ortòri goddess (considered a minor deity to the Agâru), Kargârak is worshiped among many different peoples, sometimes uniting enemies to a common cause. Some of the earliest mentions of the dark Goddess are believed to be evident in the Old City stones of Jædð, where followers of Kurs claim her visage appears on the southerly face of the stony plateau. As with all the stones of the Old City plateau, it is difficult to know what faces the ancient stone carvers were really intending to create.
Though fair numbers of Ortor follow Kargârak, her most widespread followers are Yrūn. The only openly standing temple to her was built in the Kingdom of Qamar in 4/1436 ER. A priest of Kargârak promised the King of Qamar that if he should build a temple in her honor, he and his family would be spared so long as the temple remained standing. Though the king’s family line is long gone, the temple remains, for no-one dares raze the building and invoke the Goddess’s wrath. It is equally interesting to note, that over 2,000 years later, no member of a royal family of Qamar has been assassinated.
The Cult
The Priesthood
It is unclear how ranking is established within the Cult, but it is probably related to the importance or rating of one’s repertoire (i.e., killing list).
Priests of Kargârak wear loose-fitting black clothes with silver accessories. Fire-stones are often incorporated into their jewelry and weapons.
Daily Activities
Holy Days and Rituals
Small items of value are often given as burnt offerings to receive the blessings of the Slayer before a “hit”.