Harrow
by Marco Dalmonte(Aravjiuk)
Patron of the Diaboli, Lord of Illusion, Patron of Dreams
Level, Alignment, Sphere: 10th (Temporal), CN, Thought
Symbol: a small trident enveloped by a red spiked tail
Portfolio: diaboli, illusion, deceit, dreams and nightmares, favour the ascension of the Nightmare creatures to immortality
Worshipped in: Hule, Nightmare Dimension and wherever diaboli can be found
Appearance: a 6' tall diabolus (red-skinned hairless humanoid with spiked tail, pointed ears, vertical eyelids, long nose, forked tongue, three-fingered hands, cloved hooves and two small horns protruding from his forehead) wearing a black robe embroidered with silver non-geometric shapes and holding a trident in his right hand. He often sports a malicious smile that makes him look mischievous and diabolical.
History: LIKELY THEORY: Harrow was a diabolus in the Nightmare Dimension eight centuries ago. After much practice and study, he became a talented sorcerer and an expert illusionist. His life was completely upset when a dimensional breach opened in his tower and he got sucked in another dimension by a more powerful mage, who held him as his slave. When he recovered from the trip, he found himself bound to the will of the first Master of Illusionism, an hakomon living in the Ethengar Steppes. Exploiting Harrow's knowledge, the hakomon Sinjad Virayana was soon able to subjugate a few Ethengarian tribes to his will and to summon other creatures from the Dimension of Nightmare to do his biddings. When the hakomon finally died after a conspiracy orchestrated by other envious Khans together with Harrow's own help, Harrow was finally free and he began to wander across the World Known, looking for a way home. His adventuresome endeavours all around the world eventually attracted Korotiku's attention, who saw a great opportunity for testing if a creature that did not hail from the Multiverse could attain immortality. Therefore Harrow began his path of the Epic Hero and at the end of the V century AC he became an immortal in the sphere of Thought after accomplishing many epic deeds in the Hulean region.
He afterwards succeeded in luring away from Eiryndul's worship a small group of elves living in the Dark Woods, and he sided with Loki using his new followers to help his protégé Hosadus uniting the Sanctified Lands of Hule. This act obviously caused him the eternal enmity of Eiryndul (his main antagonist for the title of Lord of Illusions) as well as the reprimand of his patron Korotiku, who did not foresee nor understand Harrow's move to ally with his most hated enemy, Loki.
One of the last plots he was involved was Pharamond's attempt to create new immortals by sponsoring creatures not coming from the Multiverse and hindering the immortal candidates of Mystara. Since they broke many immortal laws with their mischievous plan, they were discovered and sanctioned by the Council of Hierarchs for their crimes (see module IM3).
Personality: Harrow is very interested in sponsoring other immortal candidates from the Nightmare Dimension to form a clique of immortals with common goals that could change the current policy of the Immortal Hierarchies. During the last centuries he extended his cult to several areas of Mystara, introducing himself as the patron of illusions and cleverness (with many followers in Hule under the name of Aravjiuk, thanks to Bozdogan's approval of his cult), and as patron of dreams in general (since dreams and nightmares are tied to his dimension of origin). He is still an ally of Pharamond (who is still interested in exploiting the Nightmare Dimension for his own goals), and a loyal supporter of Loki's interests in Hule (whom he helps with his intrigues regarding Hule, despite Korotiku's disapproval). He has a secret liaison with young Kythria (whom he thinks to have charmed and beguiled with his wits and cleverness) and that is part of his constant war against Eiryndul (since Kythria is his protégé and lover too) to humiliate him and become the true Lord of Illusions. Korotiku has not yet understood the true motives behind some of Harrow's choices, so he oversees the immortal's actions to uncover his treacheries and prevent any damage to his sphere.
Patron: Unknown [Likely: Korotiku]
Allies: Pharamond, Kythria, Loki
Enemies: Eiryndul, Korotiku
Classic D&D Stats:
Followers' Alignment: Neutral or Chaotic; Clerics must be Chaotic
Favoured weapon: dagger (allowed all bludgeoning weapons)
Clerics' skills and powers: bonus general skills Disguise and Deceive
D&D 3E Stats:
Domains: Thought, Chaos, Deceit, Illusion
Preferred weapon: dagger (any type)
Sources: IM3, WotI