Tomes of Ruin

The Tomes of Ruin are the sole religious texts of the Devout of the Disfavoured God, the church of Atharon. They are a collection of three books, each with a different name, location, and owner, and each serving their own unique purpose. The three books that are comprised by the tomes of ruin are the Tome of Doubt, the Tome of Loathing, and the Tome of Anguish. When brought and used together, it is said that the books could cause even the most well-built empires to topple.

Tome of Doubt

The Tome of Doubt is the first of the three Tomes of Ruin. With the exception of its holder and followers of Atharon, the tome instills doubts in those that read or hear its words. The words of the tome are enchanted magically to sever the connection a person has with the gods; Acolytes lose their magic, clerics lose their touch. They sow distrust, both in the divine, as well as in others that one meets. After reading from the tome, if one has not devoted themselves to Atharon, they find it incredibly difficult to trust another person.

Tome of Loathing

The Tome of Loathing is the second of the three Tomes of Ruin. Similarly to the other Tomes, this tome's words are magically enchanted. For those who do not follow Atharon and are not in possession of the tome, reading or hearing these words instills a sense of hatred for others. The hatred stems from already-existing doubts, emotions, or nagging thoughts, heightening them and causing an individual to shut themselves off, or lash out at the people around them. In the past, this tome has turned disagreements between politicians into full-fledged wars.

Tome of Anguish

The Tome of Anguish is the final book of the Tomes of Ruin. Upon reading or hearing the words of the tome, any individual who is not a member of Atharon's church or otherwise devoted to him loses their hope, their will to live. They become a shadow of their former self, losing the desire to do anything, no longer finding happiness in things that once brought them joy. While the other Tomes turn a person against others, this one turns them against themself. The mortality rate among people who have seen or heard the tome's words is alarmingly high.

Resisting the Tomes

The Tomes are incredibly dangerous to read from, due to their mind-altering effects. Members of the Paragons of Balance, church of Atharon's foil, Lillon, are able to use their connection to their goddess and the practices she has taught them to resist the influence of the Tomes, and sometimes even cleanse others of their influence. However, the latter does require a willing participant, and due to the nature of the tomes, those who have been affected often are not very open to treatment. Though rare, it is possible for others to resist the influence of the tomes, even after having read or heard their words. This is done through incredible mental fortitude, great communication, and a good support system. Most, however, do fall prey to the words of the tome, feeding into the chaos that Atharon wishes to cause.