The Destroyer

The God of Disasters

The Destroyers has always had a place in mythology among most cultures. Nature can be unforgiving and disaster can strike unexpectedly and fatally. People have always needed something to blame these events on, be it a volcano eruption, famine, or plague. No one can honestly say what came first, this deity, or its worshipers. There are some who do not believe this deity actually exists- at least not in a form most would recognize as such. When mortals are born with strange elemental powers many point to this deity as the possible source, but short of this there are few stories of champions of this deity actually wielding it's divine power. They are a deity worshiped out of fear, a deity to placate. They encompass the full extent of nature's wrath and they are the harbinger of mass death- and yet- many cultures still view them as a neutral entity. They strike both the good and the bad, the lawful and the chaotic; they are on no one's side and they have no agenda. Some prefer a gentler view of this deity as a natural and necessary balance in the world.

Mohrzak of the Common Pantheon

Domains: Nature, Tempest, Death
Portfolio: Disaster, Plague, Extinction, Wildfires, Earthquakes, Tsunami & Flood
Alignment: CE
Alias: The Great Destroyer
Symbols: Monkshood, Smoking Mountain
Mohrzak is a controversial deity as old as humankind, originally worshiped by orcs and adopted by human barbarians. This is a deity of power and destruction- especially elemental power. Fierce storms, volcanoes, earthquakes, and plague are all attributed to this deity. He is the bringer of destruction but also new beginnings. Where and when he will strike is known to no one- not even his devout followers. Mohrzak is also said to be the father or creator of the legendary Tarrasque, which in ancient times, would rise from the earth periodically and wipe entire cities off the map. Followers of Mohrzak believe this creature to have been bound somewhere by the gods of law and order and seek to release the Son of Mohrzak (sometimes called the Herald of Mohrzak ) to punish the world. Cults of this god tend to be full of outcasts and those embittered by the world who wish to see society crash and burn. Others see this god as a neutral arbiter of chaos working just as fate requires, even if the results are tragic. They are a necessary evil to balance out creation with destruction.

Zal Trianar of the Elvish Pantheon

Domains: Nature, Tempest, Death
Portfolio: Natural Destructive Fire, Lightning, Ice, Wind, Water and Earth
Alignment: CE
Alias: Nature's Wrath
Symbols: Flames and Lightning Bolt
Zal Trianar is the only deity of the elvish pantheon of an evil persuasion who is not worshiped exclusively by the drow. Zal Trianar is the deity of natural catastrophes and their followers are few. Worshipers of this deity tend to be of two mind sets: Doomsday cults who wish for the end of civilization or those who live in dangerous areas who pray to him for mercy. He is largely hated and feared by most elves, save for druids and sages who understand that natural disasters can be necessary and are just as part of the natural world as anything else. Disasters can cleanse, make room for new things, reduce over-population, and have other positive long-term effects. It is said that when Ceralae created the world she fashioned the Twins, Elyra and Arthfael, to watch over the land and sea respectively. They protected their domains and created many things for it, but were loath to destroy or kill any part of it. Out of necessity, Ceralae brought to them a third sibling- one who was cruel enough to do the dirty work necessary for a balanced world- Zal Trianar (as well as Sinarah to shepherd souls to and from the afterlife). Optimists like to think that Zal Trianar works directly under Ceralae- that though he delights in his work he only strikes where fate itself demands him to. Pessimists prefer to think of him as an uncontrollable wildcard who strikes without rhyme or reason or prejudice. Either way, in most myths he is deeply hated by both Elyra, whose realm takes the brunt of his damage, and Arthfael who loses his grasp over the weather when Zal Trianar decides to take control of it.
Most of Zal Trianar’s worshipers live on coasts predisposed to tsunamis or bad storms, in the shadow of volcanoes, or above active fault lines. They keep alters and pray for mercy for their villages and families and often make offerings of various kinds in hopes to appease him and keep his temper in check. Others worshipers belong to dark cults who, for one reason or another, hope for his coming destruction. This could be marginalized people who seek revenge on the societies they didn’t fit into or individuals who think true peace and serenity can only be obtained when there is nothing left but the wilds- that civilization is naturally too corrupt to work in a way that actually benefits the people who make it up.

Mohrzak of the Orcish Pantheon

Domains: Nature, Tempest, Death
Portfolio: Plague, Wildfire, Storm
Alignment: CE
Alias: The World Fury
Symbols: Flaming Tree
Mohrzak of the Orcish Pantheon is greatly feared by most orc tribes, but others of a more chaotic spirit actually worship them in the hopes they will bring down destruction on their enemies. They pray to this god so that they might bring plague into the ranks of rival warriors and fire and storm to destroy those strong enough to oppose them. If one of their own comes down with a terrible contagion they are even expected to infiltrate rival clans specifically to infect them before they die. Most worshipers belong to hostile barbaric tribes whose goal is to conquer- usually followers of Bhagra. One of their signatures is to burn down the towns and farms they pillage in Mohrzak's honor. Certain Barbarians who are born with innate storm-like powers are heralded as their "chosen champion" and usual enjoy a high position of power in a given tribe. Similarly there are druids among these tribes who are gifted by this god the power to control wildfire spirits. They see any gift of elemental power as a sign that a given individual has this deity's favor.

TEMPLES OF THE DESTROYER

The largest temples to The Shepherd are located in the following places.

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Worshipers

The Destroyer does not have a huge host of worshipers, being a pretty dangerous god and all, and the few they have are generally worshiping out of fear. These folks may live in the shadow of a volcano or along a particularly stormy coast. They may live in a dry area prone to wildfire. They pray to this god of destruction for mercy. He is not known for sparing their own. There are others who actively worship them to encourage their destruction- usually against their enemies. These worshipers are almost always barbarians and tribesmen intrenched in competition with rival tribes or settlements who hoard local resources. There are a number of druids and rangers who actually worship this deity as well, as they are a deity of natural forces and therefore necessary. You cannot have life without death, nor creation without destruction. Some genasi, sorcerers or clerics as well as select barbarians, are given innate destructive powers of nature and see themselves as walking avatar's of this deity's destruction. Others may seek out how to wield these raw elemental powers themselves, becoming misguided monks, artificers, wizards, or warlocks. Then there are the doomsday cults. These folks, usually bitter and human, want to rain down destruction on the civilized world out of their own bitterness at not fitting in well or some other petty grievance. The reason is not always petty, but it almost never warrants wishing a natural disaster on a group of people who can have a multitude of different worldviews. These doomsday cults often think they are worshiping the Destroyer when they are actually worshiping The Beast who would destroy them right along with everything else.  


On-Brand Worshipers:

• Artificer: Battle smith & Artillerist
• Barbarian: Wild Magic, Berserker, Zealot, & Storm Herald
• Cleric: Tempest & Nature Domains
• Druid: Wildfire
• Monk: Way of the Four Elements
• Ranger: Swarm Keeper
• Sorcerer: Wild Magic and Storm Sorcery
• Warlock: Great Old One
• Wizard: Evocation
• Acolyte Background
• Outlander Background
• Tribe Member Background
• Hermit Background