Retch
The Son of Hadar, The Fury From The Deep, The Great Breaker and Maker, Devourer of Lands, The Rage of Agathys, Father Nature, The Whirling Storm, the Lightning King, The Dread Ocean Lord (a.k.a. Retatakan Whirlwind)
Retch is a Travesty representing Power. He is instrumental in the creation of The Putric Isles, and is often depicted as a great Kraken the size of a large island. He is said to be a manifestation of the Elemental Plane of Water.
His violent nature makes him popular choice for Tempest, Doom and Apocalypse Domain Clerics. He has also been known to make pacts with mortals, creating Fathomless Warlocks.
Divine Domains
While Retch's main domains are power, hubris and storms, he is also considered to oversee Destruction, Water, Oceans and Octopuses.
Artifacts
Retch, as a Travesty representing destruction, does not create many artifacts, as to do so would be against his nature. However, several artifacts have come to be associated with him regardless.
Perhaps most famous of these artifacts is the Tome of Crawling Depths, a mysterious spellbook that is said to allow the reader to communicate directly with the deceased Retch. It was dictated by Retch to his ally, the Travesty Cthothlast. It is said that Cthothlast keeps the original copy of the Tome as a keepsake of their friendship, and that Cthothlast will once again bestow the book upon Retch when he is returned from the dead.
Retch is said to have wielded a trident named Wave in his early days, and even used it to remove Kal Crist's eye to form the Crystal Ball of True Seeing. He once used this trident to create powerful storms to barrage the world with, but, after Retch's death, Wave was seized by Surm Tutdrug and sealed away within The Soulforge.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Like many of the Beacons and Travesties, Retch can appear in many forms, depending on who he is interacting with. In the Human religions, Retch has only ever been seen in one form, an enormous Kraken. However, it is also stated that Retch's arms are infinitely long and are used to 'reach the heavens and tear it from its perch'.
To The High Elven Pantheon, he is known as Retatakan Whirlwind, and takes the form of an Elven man with huge unnatural eyes, and a cloak embroided with shipwrecks.
In The Modern Wood Elven Pantheon, Retch appears as a frenzied tornado of shining shrapnel. He also appears as a spirit storm, and is made up of four aspects; Father Nature, The Whirling Storm, the Lightning King and The Dread Ocean Lord. He is paid tribute to ensure calm seas before departing on a voyage.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
There are many writings on Retch, due to his incomparable impact onThe Putric Isles, however, none shed much light on his origins. While it is known that he is the son of Hadar, an Elder God, the exact circumstances of his birth or his creation are a mystery. Some say he was formed in order to whelm a great storm that tore the realms apart, while others say that he was made to become Hadar's avatar on the mortal plane.
What is concrete, however, is his impact on the world. There are several Clever Folk records of Retch, many of which detail destruction and disasters that follow in his wake. The earliest of which occurred in 45SA, in which a Clever Folk scholars noted that a nearby island appeared to 'shift and stir, with black tendrils that formed hurricanes with every slow twist of its boneless limbs'.
Years later, in 124SA, a great storm dubbed Ratchia by the Clever Folk ravaged the Southern coast of Sarkic Elgris, causing untold destruction. Locals state they witnessed 'a monstrous animal, like a giant squid, laughing in the tempest'.
Towards the end of the Scientific era, he was spotted several more times. Although unconfirmed, the destruction of Blacklight Castle in 294SA was said to be Retch's doing, as records indicate that Retch had torn apart the Castle in a blind rage.
It is also said that he participant in K'Niff's war against Time, but which side he fought on is unclear. The most famous appearance of Retch was also his most recent, in 336SA, where he finally destroyed the entire continent of Sarkic Elgris into the The Putric Isles as it is today. This is detailed in The Legend of the Bitter Pill and resulted in the disappearance of the Clever Folk and Retch's death. However, legends states that Retch will rise again when the time is right, a sentiment that fills many Putrian's heart with dread.
Gender Identity
Like the other The Beacons & Travesties, Retch has no set gender, appearing in many forms and guises. However, he is known as the son of Hadar, so is often referred to as a male.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
The motivations of a Travesty are unknowable and imperceptible to mortal understanding. However, Retch's actions in regards to The Murky Path may shed some light on his motivations.
Retch is said to appear in The Marshes Betwixt in order to tear Spirits from the Path by force, particularly if they linger in life for too long. His realm of the Marshes, The Whirling Wastes is said to be almost entirely underwater, and Spirits who wander there are torn limb from limb by endless tsunamis. Worshippers of Retch often perform ritual suicide when they reach the age of 50, viewing it as shameful to reach old age without dying in violence.
Relationships
History
Together, Retch and Zemer Epsh created the Storm Giants.
Divine Classification
Travesty
Religions
Alignment
Chaotic Evil
Current Location
Species
Realm
Spouses
Siblings
Children
Sex
None
Presentation
Male
Eyes
Black
Hair
None
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Grey
Height
Varies
Weight
Varies
Aligned Organization
Related Myths
Ruled Locations
Comments