Alphaks
by Aleksei Andrievski(The Roaring Fiend, Destroyer of Old Alphatia, the Last
Emperor)
Intermediate Power of the Abyss, CE/Empyreal of Entropy, C
PORTFOLIO: Destroying Alphatia, destruction, violence, rage
ALIASES: al-Fakish (Ylaruam), Athaksha (Sind), Veleketer (Hule)
DOMAIN: Abyss/170/Doomgaard
DATE OF ASCENSION: 750 BC
SPONSOR: Thanatos
ALLIES: None
FOES: Alphatia, Ka, Koryis, Razud, Orcus, Demogorgon, al-Kalim,
Djaea, Kagyar, Set
SYMBOL: A skull with horns against a background of fire shaped like
a phoenix
WAL: CE, NE, CN
Alphaks was the last Emperor of Old Alphatia in the time before its
destruction. In a debate between the Followers of Air and Fire,
Alphaks took the side of the flame wizards, and thus caused a major
civil war that devastated Old Alphatia. He was banished and in a
couple of centuries attained Immortality.
The Church
CLERGY: Priests, avengers
CAL: CE
WEAPONS: Standard, plus dagger, whip, scourge
ARMOUR: Any
MAJOR SPHERES: All, Chaos, Combat, Elemental Fire, Healing (reverse
only), Necromantic (reverse only), Summoning, War
MINOR SPHERES:
GRANTED POWERS: Control undead, backstab as thief of equal level,
Cause Light Wounds once per day
BONUS PROFS: Fiend Lore
DOGMA: Alphatia Must Be Destroyed. These words pretty much sum up
Alphaks' dogma. However, he is not averse to destroying other
things in the process, and is known in several cultures as a
destructive, violent demon. Although Alphaks scored a minor victory
when Alphatia sank in 1009 AC, it is nonetheless soured by the fact
that he had little to do with it, and that Alphatia was restored in
the Hollow World.
DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES: Priests and avengers of Alphaks secretly act
towards the ultimate goal of Alphatia's destruction. They do this
by various minor (or not-so-minor) acts of sabotage and corruption
against the Alphatian people. However, Alphaks lacks the skill of
careful, long-term planning, and so his followers cannot expect any
grand plans from him. In other countries, followers of Alphaks
engage in random acts of unthinking destruction.
IMPORTANT CEREMONIES/HOLY DAYS: 28th of Kaldmont is notable as the
Day of Dread and the day when Alphatia sank beneath the sea. It is
also considered to mark the destruction of Old Alphatia. Followers
of Alphaks strive to make their acts particularly destructive on
this day, in order to properly honour their patron.
MAJOR CENTRES OF WORSHIP: Alphaks is secretly follower by some
discontented Alphatians and especially rabid Thyatians. Alphaks'
major temple is located on a fog-shrouded isle of Alphaks' Volcano,
off the western coast of Alphatia. It is maintained by the Black
King (CE hm M20) and the Black Queen (CE hf P20). Its fate after
the sinking of Alphatia is unknown; it is quite possible that the
island survives, and its rulers will continue to work mischief in
the remnants of the Alphatian Empire. Alphaks is also known in
other countries. He managed to sneak a group of his followers into
Glantri; most of them are nosferatu and are led by Prince Morphail
of Boldavia. Their goal is to destroy the Alphatian-descended
people of the magocracy. The Ylari know Alphaks as al-Fakish, lord
of evil and violence, who demanded human sacrifices to his idols.
With the coming of al-Kalim, his worship has dwindled, although he
has helped the Ylari to defeat their Alphatian overlords; he still
hopes to gain Ylaruam for himself, and his followers still kidnap
people for use as sacrifices. In Sind, Alphaks is known as
Athaksha, demon of violence and rage, and patron of rakshasas. And
in Hule he is Veleketer, patron of the Chaos Legions and the Holy
Berserkers.
AFFILIATED ORDERS: The Children of Veleketer is an elite military
force in the service of the Master of Hule. It consists solely of
avengers of Alphaks (Veleketer), whose skill at unparalleled
destruction is such that the Master does not even use them unless
he wishes to leave no trace of his target (not even ruins or
remains). Alphaks has no other affiliated organisations since his
worship is illegal everywhere else.
PRIESTLY VESTMENTS: When it is safe to do so, priests of Alphaks
wear black robes decorated with horned skull and flame motifs. In
their rituals they carry a black leather whip or a scourge, which
is often soaked in oil and ignited. Avengers don black armour with
a horned skull etched on the breast.
ADVENTURING GARB: In most places, adventuring priests of Alphaks do
not usually advertise their religion in any way. In Hule, they
display a horned skull symbol on their breast.
Special Spells
Flamewhip (Conjuration, Elemental Fire)
Level: 4
Sphere: Elemental Fire
Range: 0
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 5r+1r/lev
Casting Time: 7
Area of Effect: 1 whip
Saving Throw: None
This spell requires a whip or a scourge as its material component.
When it is cast, the whip bursts into flames. It can be used as a
weapon or to ignite flammable materials. The priest must make an
attack roll with a +2 bonus; the whip does 2d8 points of damage
with a successful strike and is considered a +2 magical weapon. The
whip can strike a creature up to 30' away, extending and retracting
as needed; anyone between the priest and his target can easily
sidestep the whip, though. Priests and avengers of Alphaks are
immune to the damage and any protection against fire applies for
other targets. The flamewhip can be given to other followers of
Alphaks, who will be unharmed by holding it if the priest desires.
The whip is consumed when the spell ends.