Verata

God of Murder Verata (a.k.a. The Red Shepherd)

Verata's favorite prayer is said to be the sound of a murdered mans last, wheezing breath, as it leaves their body. Shortly after that moment assassins, bandits, and other unsavory types frequently beseech him for his favor and pray for continued success. Indeed, even some truly embittered soldiers pray that they may have the strength to vanquish their hated rivals at the next skirmish, as is the way of those who no longer fight for the glory, just for the satisfaction of taking the life of an enemy.
Through this and other ways does Verata gain prominence, as he sees the mortal struggle as a fascinating game. The Red Shepherd marvels at the depth of mortal desire, the uncertainty of tomorrow, and the lengths to which mortals will go to obtain that uncertain tomorrow. Will the street urchin finally strike down the neighborhood menace so that he will live in peace? Will the serf kill his master so that he stops stealing from his subjects? Will that psychopath down the street kill today simply for the fun of it? Whatever happens, Verata's gaze is fixed at the bloody end.

Divine Domains

Greater Domains

Murder, Corruption

Shared Domains

Depravity, Ambition

Holy Books & Codes

How Deep, the Silence - Written by an anonymous hand, the author alleges being given the task of writing this literary work directly by Verata himself.

Divine Symbols & Sigils

A black chalice in front of smeared blood
A Red Shepherds Crook

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

When encountered, Verata uses the form of a handsome man at the peak of physical prowess. Usually, he uses what passes for a human body but augmented to stand ten feet tall. Naturally, his strength and speed is much greater than even his enhanced size suggests, but is rarely in a position where exerting it is warranted.

Facial Features

His face is very angular, with high cheekbones, and in some lights it even resembles that of a predator like a wolf or snake. When employing a humanoid appearance, he typically has a well-groomed beard that connects to a mustache.

Identifying Characteristics

There are peculiar scars that demarcate his presence, regardless of the form he takes. Two vertical slashes, one on each of his each crossing perpendicular to his eyelids perfectly centered over where his pupils would rest. Should he transform into any creature, those markings will persist.

Special abilities

Transformation: Verata can transform into any beast, his favored forms are wolf, snake, and crow.
A Protection from Good spell is in permanent effect within a 100ft radius around his avatar.
He can sense when his name is uttered across space and even dimensions.

Apparel & Accessories

He is usually encountered with a long red jacket, embroidered with white chain motifs along the seams. A pair of black boots and breeches, and some muted jewelry. He does also wear a halo of sorts; red shards suspended around the crown of his head. It is unknown what effects it imparts, if any.

Specialized Equipment

While he has acquired many artifacts over the millennia, his two most prized possession are his grail and his dagger.

The Well of Sorrow :

One might assume that the Gods own drinking cup is a mundane cup, yet, it is one of his most powerful artifacts. Many stories surround this grail, most of them come from the deity's cults who use lesser replicas in their ceremonies. The replicas share the abilities of the original, though to a much lesser extent. Among its most common uses are in initiation rituals. One must spill their own blood into the cup, recite an oath, and drink from it. Verata's finds the ritual to very entertaining as it is a clear affront to the "cycle" that most other gods of nature and life hold so dear. However, it has numerous effects:

1. The performer is thereby placed under a geas to complete whatever task is given to them. There may or may not be a time limit depending on the nature of the agreement.
2. The very life of the petitioner is under the beck and call of the current owner of the grail. As if they are under the effects of a Dominate Person spell.
3. Spells cast from the owner to the petitioner are more effective.
4. If the petitioner wishes to free themselves, they must undergo the ritual again, but must also add hemlock to the mixture, if they survive, they may go free. If not, they continue in service in death, potentially until they are put to rest. Sometimes, this is never achieved.

Additionally, both the original and the replicas are used as powerful spellcasting foci, and they replace certain components of spells with blood and other reagents. Naturally, the original is more powerful than any of the replicas could ever hope to be.

The Last Whisper :

Named after the last words of dying mortals, the Last Whisper is a legendary blade. Though diminutive in size compared to other godly weapons, many rightly fear its potency and capacity to inflict great harm. Verata is fond of frequently letting it fall into mortal hands as the swath of destruction it leaves behind is often difficult to fathom. Sometimes it finds its way into the hands of an exemplary assassin, other times a gutter thug with a penchant for wanton violence. As the saying goes, let the knife do the work.
Occasionally, Verata walks the prime disguised as an old shepherd; he does this as another one of his many insults to the gods of Life and Order. While under this guise, his dagger takes the form of a red shepherds crook with a dark wood grain pattern. Regardless of the form, it should be considered deadly.

Mental characteristics

Gender Identity

Variable, though mostly male.

Sexuality

Variable

Divine Classification

God

Alignment

Lawful/Neutral/Chaotic Evil

Realm

The Crimson Steps

Church/Cult

The Shepherds of the Night

Honorary & Occupational Titles

Father of Murder, The Promiser, Lord of the Crimson Spire, He at the Precipice, and many more.

Circumstances of Birth

He was born at the moment the concept of violence came to a sentient mind.

Current Residence

The Precipice (Fortress)

Gender

Variable, though male most frequently

Eyes

Glowing Red

Hair

Long, slightly curly black hair streaked with some red.

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Full-bodied olive

Height

8'10'' - 10'8''

Weight

350 lbs.

Known Languages

All languages are known to Verata

Ruled Locations

• The Crimson Steps