Zorak Zoran
The Troll God of Death
History
Before Time
Zorak Zoran was a god of Darkness, little-noted for any importance in the early myths where he is at best mentioned as attending his mother, Stygia, or his sister, Xenoiré. He is known to have taken some trolls to wife during Godtime and fathered some Mistress race dynasties, but many gods did this.
Zorak Zoran came into his own when the secret of Death was given to him by Azrael. He threw down Helios and thereby started the Great Darkness during which the forces of Light and Darkness warred continuously. Zorak Zoran attacked Lucifer and stole his Fire powers in return for his life. Lucifer never forgave Zorak Zoran for this, and no Luciferan ever offers healing to a Death-cult Troll. Zorak Zoran fought Chaos with a ferocity unmatched by even Typhon, and was instrumental in halting the growth of the festering evil before the return of the Sun. When Time began, Zorak Zoran lead the Darkness deities in ensuring half the world remained dark was foremost amongst those opposing the Sun's return at all.
Since Time
The god had many followers at the Dawn of Time, but his unmitigated savagery has lost him much support over the years. Still popular among the Trolls, he gains much worship in areas threatened by Chaos. History abounds with jihads launched against Chaos by Zorak Zoran. Each battle is equally likely to end in a great victory or a crushing defeat due to the cult's complete lack of discipline.
Life After Death
True worshippers of Zorak Zoran have no fear of death. They know that when they leave their hacked-up bodies, their souls will pass to Zorak Zoran's fortress in Hell, where they will join his fabled immortal Legions of Death to engage in perpetual warfare against the incursions of chaos.
Worshippers of this god hope that their funeral rite will be a Create Zombie spell. They hold no regard for their mundane shells after death. To be made into a fighting zombie or skeleton, even a ghost is possible, is an additional honour. Zorak Zoran does not forbid resurrection or death divints, but no true follower would consider either. Failing this, this the favoured funerary practice is cannibalism.
Runic Associations
As with all Troll cults, Zorak Zoran has the runes of Darkness and Man, and in this case modified by Death.
Nature of the Cult
Zorak Zoran is the mindless explosion of fear and frenzy against both order and chaos which finds its only justification and satisfaction in unlimited violence. As much as the rest of the world might regret it, this entity is one which helped save the world and whose powers may be needed again.
Socio-Political Position and Power
Zorak Zoran is important in any area dominated by trolls. Elsewhere, cultists, and especially Deathlords, are given a healthy respect born entirely out of fear. Only in Lightbringer dominated towns can people afford to openly ridicule the berserker trolls.
Particular Likes and Dislikes
Zorak Zoran is on good relations with all the non-chaos darkness deities, plus Azrael for teaching him about Death, Typhon for fighting Chaos, and Viking for their mutual love of destruction. He considers Humakt effete and of course all the Light cults are disdained. Particular hatred is reserved for the Lunar cults for their association with Chaos and that they bring light to places that should be dark. Because of the ancient racial hatreds between elves, dwarves and trolls, Faerie and Neibelung are frequently persecuted. The cult's philosophy is rooted in blood vengeance and it has been known for entire clans to annihilate themselves in wars over the death of one member. Though the ducks of Moonbeak hunt trolls with an ardour that cannot be denied, the cult refuses to take them seriously, unlike the other troll cults, and so a great many members of Zorak Zoran have died at the hands of the feathered berserkers.
Organisation
The temples of Zorak Zoran are organised along regimental lines, with a Death Captain in charge of each temple whose duty it is to raise a regiment in case of mobilisation of all worshippers, which has happened more than once. As a rule the temples are independent, but a mobilisation order immediately places all worshippers under the command of the Lord General of Death. Each temple of Zorak Zoran is organised into companies, with a Runepriest or Runelord as captain of each company. The Death Captain, usually a Deathlord-Priest, presides as commanding officer and ceremonial leader. Each Death Priest or Death Lord has a company sworn to his service, so that the size of companies varies greatly, depending on how many Death Priests and Death Lords are available. New Death Priests and Death Lords usually hold second in command positions within established companies until they have faced a battle at that rank, then they are given a section of an old company.
Centres of Power and Holy Places
The centres of power lie wherever the Death Lords and Death Priests take their gangs, but by far the highest concentration occurs on the northern borders of the Trollands near Moonguard (once a troll city). Another concentration is found in the shattered ruins of Trollcastle. There are no true holy places. Cultists view the state of transition from Life to Death as the only thing of religious meaning.
Holy Days and High Holy Days
The High Holy Day of the cult is Freezeday of Deathweek, Darkseason. On that day they like to challenge lone Humakti to single combat, and then gang up on him for an easy kill. On this day they use all their spells and expend themselves in great berserk furies which occasionally kill themselves as well as many innocents. Other Hold Days are the Freezedays of Deathweek of the other seasons. If near a temple, a Zorak Zoran worshipper is expected to leave an offering each Freezeday.
Laymembership
Dark trolls, great trolls, mistress race trolls, men, dragonewts, beastmen and baboons are all welcome to join this cult. Only exceptional trollkin are permitted. Elves and dwarves are forbidden, as are all creatures tainted by chaos, including cave trolls and ogres. To join, the applicant must pass a test of (STR+CON)×5⁄2%. Laymembers must join the company of a particular priest or lord and be ready to fight for him if called. A member is expected to have, and maintain, a mace, maul and sling. He must also have a month's rations ready to take with him at a moments notice. Lay members sacrifice one point of POW each holy day, and make an offering of money or kind on Freezeday of each week. Each lay member may live in an enclave of the temple, which is fortified and guarded day and night. His dependents are also taken care of in these enclaves, even if they are trollkin.
A once per week market lets worshippers obtain supplies at reduced rates. The market is usually run by a Death Priest special company member. Lay members are taught all smashing weapons at half price, as well as medium shield. They may also have STR training at half price, plus the skills of set ambush, camouflage, climbing, jumping, and set trap. Lay members can also serve the regiment in ways other than fighting and can learn armouring and cult weapon making at full price, and are made part of the Death Priest's special company for that purpose. Lay members may purchase half price Bludgeon, Darkwall, Extinguish, and Fanaticism; double cost Bladesharp. No other spells are taught.
Initiate Membership
A prospective initiate must be at least 75% in one of the weapon skills and one of the non-weapon skills shown above. He must be ready to be promoted to an NCO position within the company, and must pass a test of (STR+CHA)×5⁄2%. If the lay member is not a true troll or is a trollkin, and fails the initiation test then he may find himself torn to pieces and eaten. The initiate is expected to sacrifice two points of POW each Holy Day, and one point each Freezeday. The initate may act as an NCO for his company and be on call for special missions. He is also obliged to work bodyguard details and generally protect the community. The initiate has the same priveleges of the enclave and the weekly market as does a lay member. In addition to the lay member skills, the initiate is also trained in oratory and brew poison at half price. Initiates may learn all spells available to lay members, and additionally, they may learn Demoralise, Detect Enemy, Dullblade, Fire Arrow, Fireblade, Ignite and Protection at half price. They are forbidden to learn Light and Lightwall, and must forget these spells if already known. They may also sacrifice for all reusable cult special runemagics on a one-use basis.
Runelord Membership - The Death Lords
The Zorak Zoran Deathlord is expected to be the embodiment of that bloody minded deity. They are leaders of charges and reivers of foes, and they show no mercy. Their prisoners are sacrificed and their hearts eaten. He who opposes a Death Lord must conquer or die horribly. Requirements for this status are 90% in mace or maul, and three of the following - oratory, sling or thrown rock, any one shock weapon (with or without shield parry), set ambush, riding, and one other skill of a non-thief and non-sage type. The candidate must also have 15+ POW and CHA and pass a test of (STR+CHA+ 1 per 100s donated)×5⁄3%. The Death Lord must look to the welfare of any followers, as long as they can follow, and never to retreat in the face of a foe unless so commanded. They must never willingly cooperate with Faerie, Humakt, Neibelung, or Helios worshippers and, at the very least, refuse to deal with any Lunar worshippers they meet. Further, no troll may use Iron, and so Death Lords of the cult wear Lead. The Death Lord's company attend their commander. A Death Lord receives a tithe of the proceeds of the company's market. The company will always protect its Death Lord.
Runepriesthood - The Death Priests
Death Priests act as chaplains for their companies and also command them. They may train in their cult weapons of mace, maul and sling up to their DEX×5%, and may train their DEX and STR. When they achieve Chief Priest level - over 15 points of reusable Runemagic - they may take leave from their priestly duties to prepare themselves for Death Lord status. A Death Priest candidate must satisfy the usual criteria for priest, including the ability to read/write darkish at 80%. This last must be learned at a Xenoiré temple, so no price reduction is possible. A Death Priest candidate must have been an initiate for at least two years. The Death Priest has the same restrictions and benefits as a Death Lord.
Runespell Compatibility
Death Priests have access to all standard one point spells, plus Dismiss Elemental I, II and II and Multispell I, II and III. They may also summon small shades as their elementals. They also have access to the following cult special Runespells.
One Point Spells
Create Ghost: Range: 40m; Duration: instant; Non-Stackable; Reusable
Binds the spirit of a sacrifice into the area as a ghost. The priest must successfully engage the spirit in one round of spirit combat. The victim
need not volunteer.
Create Skeleton: Range: 40m; Duration: instant; Non-Stackable; Reusable
Animates dry bones into a skeleton with skill levels at DEX×5%.
Crush: Range: touch; Duration: 15 mins; Stackable; Reusable
Adds 10% to the chance of hitting and 1d3 to the damage bonus. Usable only on shock melee weapons. The weapon takes on a black sheen when so
treated.
Fear: Range: 160m; Duration: instant; Non-Stackable; Reusable
Allows the caster to attack one victim as the initial attack of a shade with a POW equal to that of the caster. Battlemagic POW can be stacked
with this spell to punch through countermagic.
Two Point Spells
Berserker: Range: 80m; Duration: 15 mins; Non-Stackable; Reusable
Can only be cast upon a willing cultist. Functions as Fanaticism, Vigour and Countermagic II and is compatible with Shield, Strength, etc. The
recipient cannot be demoralised and must make an INT roll to stop fighting before the spell expires. If there are no foes within sight, a berserker
will attack friends, mounts, trees, etc. (See Moonbeak). The spell is double strength versus chaos.
Create Zombie: Range: 40m; Duration: instant; Non-Stackable; Reusable
Animates dry bones into a skeleton with skill levels at DEX×5%.
Seal Wound: Range: 160m; Duration: 15 mins; Non-Stackable; Reusable
Applied to a weapon, any damage done cannot be healed magically or regenerated except naturally.
Subservient Cults
Spirit of Reprisal - Hell Roar
The cult of Zorak Zoran relies on its members to carry out its retribution against offenders within its ranks. These offenders are usually slain and their brains sacrificed to Hell roar and Zorak Zoran. The spirit has INT 18 and POW 30, but does not engage in attacks itself. It acts as a defensive screen for any Zorak Zoran party which has gone to right the wrongs done by offending members. It engages in spirit combat with any spirit sent against a Runelevel member of the party thereby defending them against this dangerous form of attack. The spirit's name comes from the sound it makes. Offenders will begin to hear a whistling sound when the party sets off to right its wrong. The noise grows until shortly before the attack it is the sound of the roaring winds of gloom and darkness which shroud the underworld. Amid such noise the party will attack the offender.
Amanstan
This spirit of fire houses the magic which Zorak Zoran stole from Lucifer during the Great Darkness, and is the source of the fire battlemagics of
the cult. It is also the source of the cult's ability to summon salamanders of any size. This ability of Darkness to overcome Fire is unique to
Zorak Zoran, and makes his cult very impressive to other Darkness forces and trolls. However, the effort is strenuous, for members must sacrifice an
extra point of POW for each Fire Runespell sacrificed for. Thus a priest must expend three points of POW to get a Summon Medium Salamander spell.
Amanstan means Stoeln Fire
.
Associate Cults
Azrael
Zorak Zoran's original mentor is still fond of the berserker despite the destruction wrought upon the lesser mortals by the Destroyer. Zorak Zoran gives Azrael many souls and so the Death God offers his protegé the following spell.
Sever Spirit: Range: 160m; Duration: instant; Non-Stackable; Non-Reusable; 3 pt
Upon a successful POW vs. POW roll, acts like a bludgeon to smash the spirit of the target from his body, breaking the cord that ties body and soul.
Otherwise the target takes 1d6+1 to his CON.
Typhon
The Storm God offers his fellow Chaos fighter the following spell.
Counter Chaos: Range: 160m; Duration: 15 mins; Non-Stackable; Reusable; 2 pt
Protects the recipient from the effects of any chaos feature possessed by an opponent.
Stygia
The Troll-Queen is very proud of her warrior son (even if he cannot cook!). She offers the following spell.
Darken: Range: 160m; Duration: 15 mins; Non-Stackable; Reusable; 2 pt
Creates a 60m radius pool of darkness around the recipient, giving the effect of a dark moon-less night. It cancels out Sunbright and the
area effect of Moonbeam. It demoralises imps and salamanders and increases the power of a Fearshock attack by 3 points. It adds
10% to the recipient's defence.
Viking
The human and troll berserkers share identical attitudes to existence. For his comradeship, Viking offers the following spell to Zorak Zoran.
Defend: Range: 160m; Duration: 15 mins; Stackable to 4 pts; Reusable; 1 pt
Provides two points of shimmer per point stacked. It is double strength versus Chaos.
Xenoiré
Zorak Zoran is always close to his gentle sister and Xenoiré gives her brother the following spell.
Regeneration: Range: touch; Duration: 15 mins; Non-Stackable; Reusable; 2 pt
Causes the recipient to begin healing all damage, short of dismemberment, at the rate of 1 hit point per minute. It can be used to regenerate limbs,
but only at the expense of the spells reusability.
Wraithe
Originally a close friend and possible kinsman, though now sundered, Wraithe offers the troll Death God the following spell.
Command Spirit: Range: 160m; Duration: 15min; Stackable - no limit; Reusable; 1 pt
Upon a successful POW vs. POW roll, the caster gains complete control over one disembodied spirit. The spirit can be ordered to attack a person,
answer questions concerning the local Spirit World or the real world if it is aware of it, or simply to leave the caster alone. This spell also
works on summoned ancestors and spirits of reprisal. Stacking doubles the duration per point stacked. Each casting ages the caster one year
regardless of the points stacked.
Miscellaneous Notes
Dress
Runelevel and initiate members of Zorak Zoran prefer clothes which are dominantly blood-red. Their distinctive weapon is the flanged mace.
Zorak Zoran in Trollcastle
Trollcastle was the trolls' attempt at civilisation, built of lead in the Great Darkness. It was ruined by the Light Gods and Chaos, and subsequent attempts to rebuild it have failed. It is now a debatable ruin inhabited mainly by strange chaotic creatures, cave trolls and Poonin trollkin. Diehard trolls spearheaded by Zorak Zoran fanatics still dream of rebuilding the citadel and frequent forays into the rubble, as punitive cleansing missions, are reported to bring great remuneration in the form of lead ingot.
Discipline in the Ranks
While Zorak Zoran is a military god, with great emphasis on bracery and fighting, his companies do not tend to be well organised. Everywhere but within the temple, they are known as gangs, fo rthey have no particular order to their marches and attacks. Some disciplined Zorak Zoran units are known, but they are exceptional. Troll and other race units of Zorak Zoran make headlong mass attacks. Long sweeps to the flanks are not their style. But for frontal charges or storming a line, these fighters cannot be beaten, and can only be matched with difficulty.