Barasogoth, the Capricious

"Who needs reasons? I'm a god!"

- Barasogoth to one of his churches

Barasogoth, also known as He Who Changes Fate and The One-Armed Joker, is the orog god of fertility, mirth, and alcohol. He is most well-known for his involvement Aohiri’s many wars, changing the outcome for the sake of excitement and change. He embodies freedom in its purest state, yet this results in him often ignoring the concerns of those that follow him. Because of this, he isn’t well-liked among the gods despite having incredible use in warfare.
The portfolios of orc gods are not as varied as other cultures, as their values focus on basic necessities, the propagation of life, and warfare (to amass power on the Prime Material). It was Bhaglbrov that changed that, focusing on personal pleasure and camaraderie. The worship of Barasogoth is thought to have made Bhaglbrov the happiest settlement on Lithia. Though its denizens are loud, rather sloppy, and lax, they’re agreeable and skilled at diplomacy, having avoided wars since Bhaglbrov’s founding.
When appearing as an avatar, Barasogoth appears as a green-skinned orog, bearing a fluffy black beard and soft red eyes. Though he is commonly seen with a keg of ale, Prostesan orc tribes and Louistan settlements depict Barasogoth with a gong. Because of this, ceremonies in Barasogoth’s name begin and end with the sound of a gong.

Barasogoth's Influence

Barasogoth is best described as the joy parties bring, the impulse that drives the drunk, and the unpredictability tomorrow brings. Though his actions may cause unfortunate futures for those he influences, Barasogoth is much like a fey in that his actions are not malicious but rather mischievous. He behaves the way he does to show his followers that life is not always as cruel as it seems. However, his good intentions get drowned out by his devil-may-care personality. Those that worship him cannot help but be swept up in the chaos he sows.
It is because of him that war never plays out as one expects. Barasogoth dislikes predictability, so whether his worshippers ask for it or not, he changes the tides of war to alter the expected outcome. In this way, Barasogoth could be considered a god of fate, as the future is always uncertain if he is the one writing it. Orc and orog soldiers may pray to Barasogoth in the hopes he will see their war and grow weary of the odds.
In Barasogoth's mind, mortal life is too short in the grand, cosmic scheme of things, so why spend it high-strung? Live for every waking moment and spend it in the highest of spirits. Create moments worth remembering, and if possible, have others sing your name uproariously as they drink themselves sick in taverns. Barasogoth's hedonism seeks nearly any opportunity.

Worshipping Barasogoth

Worshippers of Barasogoth come from all avenues of life, as he has attracted both the fortunate and the downtrodden. The fearful pray to him to steal away their worries, and the brave pray for him to even the odds of war. Barasogoth’s name is commonly heard around festivals and parties following the coronation of new kings, as he is attracted to any and all forms of excitement. Barasogoth encourages his followers to take leisures whenever they can and make the world move for them instead of the other way around, to seek out companionship and lasting relationships, and to strive for the betterment of individual lives.
Contrary to what his involvement in them would imply, Barasogoth is not particularly interested in warfare. He sees it as a waste of time everyone could be spending imbibing alcohol, and the spike in prayers he receives seems to be the only motivator he has concerning wars. Even worse, it is no secret to other gods and his worshippers that Barasogoth views warfare as a game, not as a means to an end. He is just as content with meddling in it as he would be watching from afar.

Myths of Barasogoth

Most myths of Barasogoth come from the orog god himself, so many of his followers tend to take his words with a grain of salt. The myths seen here are more or less verbatim.
Bogardt the Drunk. Show Spoiler

“There was once a man named Bogardt the drunk, and by the gods could he drink! You wouldn’t know this, but he made a living out of hitting the hardest drinks at every tavern in Prostesa! ‘Dragon Piss,’ the funny lads called it, a sickening brew that got the veins moving! He circled Prostesa, starting from Bhaglbrov and headin’ clockwise around the continent, and the more he drank, the less he wound up rememberin’! Eventually, he drank at every tavern twice, then three times, and he found himself back at Bhaglbrov, where he drank an entire keg of the stuff and died then and there! Drow lady brought him back as a bulldog. That’s how I met her.”

Bethalonian Whimsy. Show Spoiler

“You know the four heads of Bethalon? One of them’s a duergar by the name of Luvrik von Alegarht. Ain’t he a sight for sore eyes? I met him down on his luck in an alleyway. He said that he’d seen a catfish at one point and made a bet that he couldn’t possibly win. You know what that bet was? Luvrik goes, ‘Well, he said that if I could steal a kiss from a god, then he’d give me the means to rule a quarter of Bethalon itself! But I don't know any god personally, and Deep Duerra's not interested in a sap like me.’ And you know me, I’m always the avatar type, and I swear I’m some ghost in Bethalon. But I decided to help the guy out. Now rumors are circlin’ that he’s cheatin’ on his wife! Can’t a man help out a pal once or twice?”

Divine Symbols & Sigils

Symbols - The Creator Deities by Levodoom

Divine Classification

Intermediate Deity (Formerly)
Quasi-Deity (Currently)

Alignment

Chaotic Neutral

Honorary & Occupational Titles

He Who Changes Fate
The One-Armed Joker
 The Capricious

Cleric Domain
 Life; Peace; Tempest; Trickery

Barasogoth's Goals

Barasogoth prides himself on having almost no motivations at all. He influences the mortal world simply for the sake of doing so. Whatever comes of Barasogoth’s meddling is of no concern to him, just as long as the outcome that would have happened does not. To him, it is not the means, it is the results. He enjoys having an intimate connection with the Prime Material, having once been mortal himself and seeing it as an escape from the responsibilities that naturally come with being a deity. Because of this perspective, one of his few motivations is to protect the Prime Material at all costs. This does not mean he needs to concern himself with events such as civil wars but that if a great calamity were to occur, he would be one of the first to respond and battle it back.

Divine Relationships

Something unspoken and that often slips under the public eye is Barasogoth’s relationship with the Goddess of Reincarnation, Ayatuu. The story Barasogoth often tells his followers after church hours begins in one of two locations: Bhaglbrov, where Ayatuu was reincarnating the soul of a man that died of alcohol poisoning (attempting to follow Barasogoth’s “word”), or the Meadow of Sorrow, where Ayatuu had scolded him for disturbing the lost souls of the great Titan Siege. Regardless of the circumstances, Barasogoth claims it was love at first sight, though listeners will understand it was definitely a one-sided relationship, as Ayatuu showed no interest. It was this first love that resulted in Barasogoth’s expulsion from the orc pantheon, as he was shown nothing but hatred and disgust from his peers. Still, he lives to capture the love of the Reincarnation Goddess someday, yet it may be a pipe dream.
There are numerous other gods that Barasogoth considers good friends. He is the only god in the Prostesan pantheon that openly fraternizes with the four primordials from Aohiri’s ancient age. Though the primordial brothers have a tumultuous relationship with one another, Barasogoth has helped them reconcile (though they remain chilly towards each other), and Louistas has seen fewer wars in response. Though he is not a primordial, Barasogoth was deemed an honorary primordial brother.