Zerathos

Zerathos, known as the Herald of Oblivion, commands the chilling realms of entropy, oblivion, and the void within the pantheon of the Old Ways. As a deity embodying the ultimate end of all things, Zerathos represents the inexorable decay and dissolution that awaits the universe. His presence evokes a profound emptiness, attracting those who are disillusioned with existence or who seek to understand the deepest mysteries of nothingness. Zerathos is both feared and revered as a figure of inevitable destruction, his followers embracing the stark truths of entropy and the void as fundamental forces of reality.

Appearance

Physical Description: Zerathos is often depicted as a void-like entity, his form an ever-shifting mass of shadows and emptiness. His eyes, if visible, appear as deep, empty voids that draw in the light around them.
Symbols or Attributes: Associated with motifs of dissolution and decay, such as crumbling ruins or fading lights, symbolizing his domain over the process of ending and oblivion.
Preferred Manifestations: Zerathos typically appears in places of desolation or during events marked by endings, such as the death of stars or the abandonment of cities, manifesting as a chilling whisper or a cold, unseen presence.

Followers

Common Followers: Philosophers of nihilism, doomsayers, and those who have lost all hope. His acolytes often include astronomers who look into the void, and mortals who have faced the absolute limits of despair.
Preferred Followers: Cult leaders who preach the end of days, scholars obsessed with the nature of the universe's demise, and anyone who feels drawn to the concept of the void.
Worship Style: Worship of Zerathos is solemn and minimalistic, often involving meditation on the emptiness and temporary nature of existence.
Temples and Shrines: Temples dedicated to Zerathos are sparse and austere, located in remote or abandoned places that reflect his themes of neglect and oblivion. Shrines are often no more than a simple, darkened chamber or an open space under the night sky.

Teachings

Core Tenets or Dogma: Embrace the inevitability of the end, understand the role of decay in the cycle of existence, and find peace in the void.
Ethical Stance: Promotes a detached view of life and its fleeting nature, encouraging followers to accept the ultimate fate of all things.
Taboos: Disdains attachments to material existence and abhors the denial of inevitable entropy.

Abilities

Divine Powers: Mastery over forces that erode and end existence, the ability to hasten decay, and to spread a sense of nihilism and despair.
Blessings: Followers might receive insights into the nature of the cosmos, resistance to fear of death, or the emotional detachment necessary to cope with the truths of oblivion.
Curses: Those who oppose or deny his influence may find their environments or themselves aging or decaying prematurely, or their endeavors might inexplicably falter and fail.

Myths and Legends

Creation Myth: Arisen from the remnants of creation's first failure, Zerathos was formed from the void left behind, an embodiment of the universe's inevitable return to nothingness.
Major Myths: The Disappearance of Althoria, a tale where an entire realm faded into oblivion due to its people's hubris, forgotten even by history.
Relics and Holy Artifacts: The Cloak of Ends, a relic believed to render its wearer invisible to fate, allowing them to move through disasters unscathed.

Relationships

Allies among the Pantheon: Occasionally aligns with deities of death and destruction, though he remains largely aloof, his nature making him a solitary figure.
Rivals or Enemies: Conflicts with deities of creation, life, and perpetuity, who strive against his influence and seek to delay the end he heralds.
Relationship with Mortals: While many fear him, scholars and existential seekers may find a strange comfort in his teachings, using them to gain perspective on life's transient nature.

Influence

Historical Influence: Zerathos’s presence is felt in cultures that have experienced decline or catastrophic endings, influencing their philosophical and existential views.
Current Influence: Continues to affect those contemplating the futility of existence, often during times of great crisis or when societies face existential threats.
Prophecies: Central to dark prophecies that foretell the eventual cold end of the cosmos, where his power will manifest fully, leading to a universe devoid of life and light.
Zerathos’s profile underscores his enigmatic role as the deity of entropy and oblivion within the pantheon of the Old Ways, highlighting his influence on the philosophical and existential dimensions of existence. His teachings provide a stark but profound perspective on the inevitable dissolution that defines the universe.

Title(s)
Herald of Oblivion, The Void's Echo
Domain
Entropy, Oblivion, Void
Alignment
Lawful Evil
Symbol
A black hole surrounded by shattered stars.

Divine Classification

Malur

Religions

• Old Ways