Mallius (MAL-lee-oosh)
Malliush Kuvmalnath: The Keeper / Judge of the Dead
Mallius is one of the most powerful of the Lords of Fire. He is the patron of the dead and ruler of the Usokufa. Many of communities across the deserts of Sunside have tithed their worship to him to secure safety in the afterlife. Outside of the Usokufa itself, Mallius' strongest congregations are along the Stonesky and particularly at Greengate, where much of the community has been tithe-bound to him. This worship has channeled itself into mallius tethered godling for many centuries.
Historically, Mallius' strength was nearly enough to rival that of the Holy Caldera itself, until the events of the Stonesky Riots and the rise of Impetine which saw a shift in loyalties and tithes away from Mallius and to Impetine and her ally Porculso.
Historically, Mallius' strength was nearly enough to rival that of the Holy Caldera itself, until the events of the Stonesky Riots and the rise of Impetine which saw a shift in loyalties and tithes away from Mallius and to Impetine and her ally Porculso.
Divine Domains
Mallius is seen as the master of death and the afterlife across the dominion of the Fire Lords.
Divine Symbols & Sigils
His worshippers often decorate their homes with carvings and imagery of stylised skulls and bones. Architecture and furtniture are carved with these motifs, and simple everyday items such as candles are often shaped this way. Devout followers will often wear jewelry of skulls, such as necklaces, pendants, brooches and rings. While some find this macabre, these images are treated in an almost casual humour by those who follow him.
Tenets of Faith
- The body is just a temporary shell for the soul
- Once dead, the soul-less body is to be re-used to serve the living
- The soul is immortal and there is an afterlife of bounty for those souls who prove their worth
- A soul's worth is shown through deference and duty to the Keeper of the Dead
- Unworthy souls are cast into the desert to wander forever as ghosts
Followers of Mallius believe that unless they prove their worth through lifelong devotion and service, then they will be found wanting.
Physical Description
Identifying Characteristics
Mallius stands nine feet tall, and is powerfully built, but not overweight like some of his brethren. His horns are atypically small compared to most Fire Lords and their Devilkin descendants. His skin looks like polished gold and his eyes glow pure white.
He is almost always seen wearing his golden armour, forged with intricate detail, and the visage of many stylised skulls acroos his shoulders and chest. About this he wears many layers of flowing silk skirts and robes.
He is almost always seen wearing his golden armour, forged with intricate detail, and the visage of many stylised skulls acroos his shoulders and chest. About this he wears many layers of flowing silk skirts and robes.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Origin
Like all the Lords of Fire, Mallius began his existance as an avatar of The Elder God, Ghul Drazul. This oocured in the forgotten ages of the deeptime, long before even the Emanicpation of the Elderkin. The Avatars of the gods were more like primal forces back then, taking on physical forms at will to hunt and feed on their prey.Like his master, Mallius was banished during The Cosmic Defiance that saw the liberation of the Elderkin. This imprisonment was secure for many ages, until the zenith of the Golding Wars.
The magics that were unleashed during The Destruction allowed many of the Avatars to escape their prison, and Mallius was chief among them. He was one of the first to entrhall terrified survivors of the cataclysm, and in bonding with them he took on the mortal form he still has. Death was a common threat in the first few hundred years after The Mortugurra Incursion, and Mallius quickly took on the mantle of 'Keeper of Death' to secure and grow his following. He was the first Lord of Fire to generate a Godling and then tether it.
It was also during this time that Mallius and his followers experimented with the magics that would one day be used to power the factories of the Usokufa, and many believe that the Soulhusk Chimeras were the results of his early experiments.
It was also during this time that Mallius and his followers experimented with the magics that would one day be used to power the factories of the Usokufa, and many believe that the Soulhusk Chimeras were the results of his early experiments.
by Midjourney
Dominion and Fall
By the time the Holy Caldera founded The Gleaming City, Mallius was already second only in power to the three, and they were eager to bring him into the fold. The First Contract, Tazhqorthir was signed by Mallius as the city's foundations were being set. The Usokufa were already feared up and down the Godswollen River and Mallius continued to gain followers.The Holy Caldera were concerned at his growing power, fearful that he might challenge their rule of the Gleaming City. The other Lords were not strong enough to challenge him, and some believe that much of the turmoil that followed was manipulated on purpose by the Holy Caldera in an attempt to reduce Mallius power
The Fire lord Kholkosi was one of Mallius strongest allies, and his death at the hands of a mere Dek bearer has long been thought suspicious, and rumours abound that Tasido Diamond was aided by those far more powerful. Kholkosi's death was a blow to Mallius in itself, but the subsequent machinations of the Caldera, Lumin Serat and Fire Lord Porculso during the Stonesky Riots saw further erosion of Mallius followers with the rise of Impetine.
Mallius saw all this as a betrayal of the highest order and he plots revenge upon those who wronged him.
Morality & Philosophy
Mallius' arrogance and disregard for the suffering of mortals is even more pronounced than any other Fire Lord. Everyone and everything are tools to further his own power. He knows he is not really the god of death. He has no care for whether there is an afterlife or not. The only life that counts is his, and he is immortal.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
He follows the edicts of the First Contract purely out of self interest. Mallius has no desire to see his former master, Ghul Drazul, released from his imprisonment. He wants to see himself in control of the Holy Caldera, and for his opponents to be made to serve him.
Vices & Personality flaws
Mallius is cruel. He takes pleasure in the suffering of others, and uses fear as a tool for domination. His followers everywhere fear his judgement, and any who step out of line are quickly put to better use as Bodyservants by his Usokufa.
Current Location
Species
Ethnicity
Realm
Church/Cult
Age
Immortal
Children
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
Founded Settlements
Ruled Locations
He is quite a character to dislike. A power-hungry egomaniac, I would call him. Nonetheless, an interesting character for sure. Need to think if I shouldn't make some of my gods more bad ... Or add some adversaries for them, because the dynamic you are describing sure sounds interesting.