Danok

The Red God

Identity

  • Title(s) – The Many, The Multiple, The Red God
  • Influence – Evil, Possession
  • Appearance – The appearance of the Red God is a matter of great secrecy within the Cult

Attributions

  • Symbol – Three faces (horror, agony, ecstasy)
  • Focus – Any item with three faces
  • Color(s) – Red
  • Element – Earth, Fire
  • Animal – None

Cult

  • Center of Worship – Prydàlas Danok
  • Scriptures –
  • Leader – Oracle Neft
  • Priesthood – The Many, Pryr Dànok
  • Orders – Minions of Danok
  • Aspects – NA
  • Touched –
  • Holy Days – Feast of Screams, Feast of Calling, Feast of Waking, Feast of Rising
  • Friends – None
  • Enemies – Oð
  • Sayings – “Join us.”, “Danok embraces all who seek him and destroys those that turn away.”

Introduction

Within the heart of the Theocracy of Danok’s rugged landscape a massive red stone block rests upon giant pillars, pushing them deep into the earth. No-one is sure how the block was brought to that place, or where it was moved from. Some have said that the stone was hewn from “mountain-heart”. The Dwürden would contest this theory, having never succeeded in forging tools that could hew the most sacred of stone. Others have claimed that it was carried by a hundred ships from the shore of some distant world. Whatever the truth, the stone is a wonder to behold for those few that have dared near enough to see it. It is said that the temple is surrounded by five towers and that in each tower a prayer is sung and that the song never stops. When the one marêç (muezzin) is finished another joins him in harmonic refrain before taking up the unholy duty.

“The deepest roots of man are evil. The black blood of dark Tereð rushes through his veins. It gives him breath and desire. Some tell that by nature, man is a good creature; this is both lie and evidence. Men of good dreams composed virtues, fashioning the idea of the virtuous man. This offered ideal is a lie. To be ideal one must know and embrace truth. The truth is that man is a base creature. His roots drink the black blood so that he may survive. His nature is selfish. He helps others only when he in turn is helped or rewarded. This is survival and it is proper. Were man a good creature, he would not need to create virtues by which to judge his fellow men. He would not need to create a map by which to live. It would be instinct. Therefore, man’s evil should not be shunned, for it is his capacity to survive and provide for his own.”

The Cult

The Many are easily spotted in any Oðári crowd by their bright red robes and shaven heads. They stand on street corners telling the weary city-folk of a better life in the southern land of Danok. They exclaim that like those they preach to, they too were once trapped under the soulless weight of unending toil and sunless skies. Heads turn and ears listen as they tell of green mountainsides, affordable homes, and a chance to start again outside the yoke of the Dekàli serfdom. Such words are treasonous to be sure, but no one lifts a hand or word to silence them. The city is overburdened and a few more emigrants would hurt nothing…

The dogma of the Danóki cult is much more murky. Adherents of Danok are known as the Many. All members of the Cult belong to this group. The Many are taught that Danok is a gracious god but terrible to behold. The Red Scripture explains that his terrible mien has nothing to do with his nature but is merely an artifact of viewing the divine through the disfiguring Veil. The fact that Danok makes himself known to his followers is a sign that his love for the Many is so great, that he is willing to push through the Veil to be closer to and to protect his followers. Danok is gracious because he does not give commandments of the Many and is pleased when his followers are happy and prolific. Perhaps the most sinister promise of Danok is that those that are blessed (i.e., “Called”) are given the chance to become One from Many.

Only the Pryr Danok are aware of the many blood sacrifices required by the Red God.

The Priesthood

The faithful of Danok wear red robes and keep their heads shaved.

Rank within the Many is determined by the Fire of Danok, a divination that tells how important a particular adherent is to the Cause. Unknowns within the Multiple who “shine brightly” are sometimes catapulted into ranks of importance without indoctrination.

Daily Activities

Holy Days and Rituals

Danok requires Yrūn sacrifices and many of them. Many spell rituals require sacrifices, usually involving large wide iron bowls.

Places of Worship

The largest center of worship for Danok is the North Coast temple (i.e., the Red Temple).