The Warlock

The Goddess of Undeath

There have been variations of this deity in history- small versions worshiped in obscure places, but they are almost universally worshiped today as Vanar, the goddess of undeath. This is a deity with strong historical context. Originally they were a neutral god of secrets and undiscovered magic. They were worshiped primarily by the elves for a thousands of years, and only adapted into the common pantheon and among humans after their fall from grace (just before The Event). The realm of the undead- the shadowfell- is a relatively new concept in modern E'ahnna, only discovered about 3000 years ago. Before this time most creatures from that dark place were not found in the material realm, except the occasional restless ghost. This goddess is directly responsible for the creation of liches, zombies, ghouls, skeletons and other physical undead that now plague the world. Vanar offers great power to her worshipers but also demands much in return- often 'gifts of the living' or sacrificed lives which add to the pool of souls trapped in the shadowfell. Luring the living directly within the shadowfell is also considered an offering to her.

Vanar of the Common Pantheon

Domains: Knowledge, Arcana, Death
Portfolio: Power, Ambition, Undeath, Contracts, Shadow, Profane Magic
Alignment: LE
Alias/s: The Queen of Shadows
Symbols: Begonia, Skull & Book
Vanar of the common pantheon is a goddess of profane or taboo magic, including necromancy. She is often considered the Mother of the Undead. Her mortal enemy is Vundath who believes that some arcane secrets should remain secret for the safety of all mortals. She subscribes to the idea that it is not their job as keepers of the weave to decide what magic is “allowed” and believes in disseminating all knowledge to the masses- for the right price of course. She is a patron for the ambitious and those who do not accept death as inevitable. Vanar is known for making contracts and deals in exchange for knowledge and power. Many liches attain their status due to manipulation from Vanar. She is incredibly bitter about being scorned by the other gods for her worldview, and as a result, seeks to spread undeath across the world. She was banished to the plane of shadow, which she corrupted into the shadowfell and she now rules there and builds up her power. As it’s ruler, she often lures people to this place by enticing them with arcane gifts, and after corrupting them, unleashes them into the world to target her enemies- most often followers of Ilazran, Vundath, Danha and Helora who especially abhor the undead.

Vanar of the Elvish Pantheon

Domains: Knowledge, Arcana, Death, Trickery
Portfolio: Ambition, Undeath, Contracts, Shadow, Profane Magic
Alignment: CE
Alias/s: Destroyer of Death
Symbols: Serpent and Black Star
Vanar is well known as one of the most notorious of the elvish deities and she has sort of become an all encompassing scapegoat for most unfortunate events that occur. Originally, she was a goddess of the arcane- especially diviners. She was a deity of hidden knowledge and magic, secrets, and the ambition to seek them out, and she was symbolized by the cunning but hard-to-read serpent. Whereas Vundath (her twin brother in many stories) was the keeper of the Weave of magic, Vanar was a facilitator of the knowledge of how to use it. She was charged with keeping magic too dangerous for mortals hidden and sharing where it was beneficial. Her cults were known for the intensity of her worship and the great lengths they would go to please her in hopes for her arcane gifts. Eventually, consumed with her own pride, she became more lenient about what was ‘too dangerous’ to share. She disclosed with her followers knowledge of the school of Necromancy, which became what they called “Vanar’s Gift”, and used to its full extent. This happened during the great wars between elves and the human mageocratic kingdoms that were arising to the south of Astrithyr.
The first liches came to being as a result- elves who would not rest until the war was won and elves the victors. The world was thrown out of balance, the rules of life and death bent and broken, immortality achieved by several. Undead armies were risen. Control of them was lost in many cases. This lapse in judgment on Vanar's part infuriated the other gods who sough to punish her and her morbid angry followers. To avoid their wrath she whisked herself and her cults to the only place the gods would not dare follow- The Plane of Shadow. Still the damage was done and the knowledge out in the world for anyone to find. There, in the shadow plane, they laid low, waiting for the day when they would return too strong to be destroyed or punished. Over the many years she corrupted and shaped the plane of shadow to suit her- creating the shadowfell and her followers were utterly corrupted- becoming Shadow Elves (shadar-kai). She became the patron deity of undeath, dark magic, and secrets.
Occasionally Vanar will extend her influence into the material world, luring potential underlings into the shadowfell by enticing them with arcane gifts and secrets. Likewise her agents are sometimes sent into the material realm to weaken her enemies and their clergy. She wages a constant war against the deity Sinarah who has been tasked by Danha and Ceralae to track her down and contain or kill her. She also wages a war with Vundath as she longs to have full control of the weave of magic herself so she can corrupt it.

TEMPLES OF THE WARLOCK
The largest temples to The Warlock are located in the following places.

• Monastery of the Black Rose (Kardath)
• Ilzhara (Va'Sehir)

Worshipers

Worshipers of Vanar are most often elves & drow who practice the arcane arts or shadow elves who live in the shadowfell. Most are of a darker persuasion morally speaking- people who are more than happy to practice dark arts, necromancy, and willing to do great harm to others in pursuit of their own ambitions. Shadow sorcerers and way of shadow or long death monks often worship her. Wizards and artificers (particularly from Va'Sehir) are more likely to worship her in their hunt for more arcane knowledge and power. Though she is called The Warlock, its actually not that common for warlocks to be her worshipers unless they have made a pact with being that hails from her realm or resides in one of her courts- generally pacts of the Undead, Undying, Hexblade, or her greatest rival, the so-called Raven Queen (a former worshiper and consort who turned on her and is now a demi-god also residing in the Shadowfell). There are actually even some bards with an affinity for spirits and the undead who worship this dark goddess.
On-Brand Worshipers

• Artificer: All
• Bard: College of Spirits
• Cleric: Arcana & Death Domains
• Druid: Circle of Spores
• Monk: Way of Shadow & the Long Death
• Paladin: Oathbreaker
• Rogue: Phantom
• Sorcerer: Shadow Magic
• Warlock: Hexblade, The Undying, The Undead, & The Raven Queen
• Wizard: Necromancy
• Cloistered Scholar Background
• Sage Background
• Acolyte Background