Zagan, The Crown of Ruin, Sovereign of Decay, The Tyrant Plague
Portfolio
Tyranny, disease, decay, corruption, suffering, chaos.
Symbols
A crumbling crown atop a decaying scepter, symbolizing the inevitable collapse of power through corruption and decay.
A thorned wreath encircling a skull, representing the entwined nature of tyranny and suffering.
Zagan manifests as a grotesque and warped figure, his body riddled with festering sores and unnatural growths. His skin is cracked and oozing, emanating a foul stench that permeates his surroundings. A crown of twisted thorns rests upon his malformed head, its sharp points digging into his diseased flesh, symbolizing the pain and corruption inherent in his rule. His eyes burn with chaotic malevolence, and his twisted scepter drips with the essence of decay. Zagan’s voice is both commanding and sickly, instilling dread and submission in all who hear it.
Zagan is a malevolent and domineering deity, delighting in the suffering and despair of those under his influence. He thrives on the chaos and destruction wrought by tyranny and disease, finding joy in the breakdown of societies and the fall of rulers corrupted by power. Despite his chaotic nature, Zagan is methodical in his approach, infiltrating the hearts of power structures and spreading his influence like an incurable plague. His tyranny is not born of desire for order but as a means to spread suffering and destruction.
Zagan was a god of harsh trials—illnesses meant to strengthen the soul. But as the Primordial War dragged on, he grew bitter. His teachings were ignored. So he infected both sides—celestial and primordial—with plagues no prayer could cure. His mercy became tyranny. When he crowned himself with a rusted halo and proclaimed that only he could decide who would live or rot, he was exiled from the pantheon. He laughed and carried the disease with him.
Desires and Motivations
Zagan seeks to spread tyranny and disease, revel in the suffering and decay that follows his influence, and corrupt power structures to serve his chaotic will. Zagan wishes to witness the collapse of societies under the weight of tyranny, spread disease to destabilize nations, and impose his malevolent rule through fear and suffering.
Zagan is said to have been born from the first act of betrayal between a ruler and their people, his form taking shape from the festering hatred and corruption that followed. As mortals turned on one another for power, his influence grew, spreading both physical disease and the sickness of tyranny. Legends claim that Zagan was once a god of prosperity, twisted into his current form by the collective greed and cruelty of mortals.
Zagan resides in The Pestilent Court, a decaying palace built atop a festering swamp. The air is thick with the stench of rot, and the land is riddled with disease-ridden waters that infect all who enter. The palace itself is a crumbling fortress of grandeur, its once-golden halls now blackened and crawling with vermin. At the heart of the Pestilent Court stands The Throne of Thorns, where Zagan oversees the slow collapse of all who enter his domain.
Zagan’s followers are tyrants, plaguebearers, and those who seek to control others through fear and suffering. The Tyrant’s Dominion is a secretive hierarchical cult that operates in the shadows, infiltrating governments and power structures to spread Zagan’s influence. These individuals wield disease and manipulation as weapons, ensuring their god’s reach extends into the heart of mortal society. They thrive on the corruption of power and embers infiltrate positions of authority, spreading disease and tyranny to destabilize societies. The Plague Sovereign is the leader of the cult, a cunning and malevolent figure cloaked in the trappings of power. The Plague Sovereign commands the clergy, orchestrating rituals that invoke physical and societal decay.
Allies and Rivals
Drucrass- Their mutual love for destruction and chaos often leads to collaboration, with Zagan’s tyranny paving the way for Drucrass’s bloodshed.
Nersherass- Zagan values Nersherass’s greed-driven manipulation, which provides fertile ground for tyranny and decay.
Sheavael- Her pursuit of justice and order opposes Zagan’s reign of tyranny and chaos, making her a staunch adversary.
Elaeskinae- Her nurturing and restorative nature directly counters Zagan’s desire to spread disease and destruction.
Vile Relics
The Thorned Crown
A cursed crown that corrupts its wearer, granting immense power at the cost of their sanity and morality.
The Scepter of Decay
A rotting scepter that spreads disease and rot with every touch, serving as a tool of destruction and control.
Zagan’s influence is seen in oppressive regimes, pandemics, and the collapse of once-prosperous civilizations. His presence can be felt wherever rulers grow corrupt and disease ravages the land. Those who invoke his name often find themselves trapped in cycles of suffering and decay, their ambitions turned against them as they succumb to his influence.
Legends and Tales
The Tyrant’s Fall
A story of how Zagan corrupted a benevolent ruler, turning them into a tyrant who ultimately destroyed their own kingdom.
The Plague Sovereign’s Ascension
A myth of how Zagan granted a mortal ruler the power to spread disease and enforce tyranny, solidifying his hold over their land.
The Rotting Kingdom
A cautionary tale of a kingdom that fell to ruin after its leaders embraced Zagan’s gifts, becoming a haven of decay and suffering.
Blessings and Curses
Tyrant’s Grip
Grants mortals the ability to dominate others, bending them to their will through fear and intimidation.
Pestilent Boon
Bestows immunity to disease while enabling the bearer to spread sickness with a touch.
The Crown’s Weight
Corrupts mortals with an insatiable thirst for power, leading to their eventual ruin.
Plague’s Mark
Inflicts mortals with an incurable disease that spreads to all they come into contact with.
Divine Hierarchy
Zagan is a Greater Deity, his dominion over tyranny and disease granting him significant influence in times of upheaval and suffering. His chaotic and destructive nature ensures his presence is both feared and reviled, even among other deities.
Zagan can manifest the Thorns of Domination, spectral thorns that bind and control the minds of mortals, forcing them to enact his will. With his Pestilent Touch, he can spread disease and decay, weakening entire populations.
With the Crown of Ruin, his presence corrupts the hearts of leaders, turning them into tyrants who destroy their own societies.
Zagan’s worship thrives in times of political instability and pandemics, his cult exploiting fear and chaos to expand his influence. While his name is often cursed, his power is undeniable, and his presence remains a dire threat to any who value freedom and health.
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