Basic Information
ALIGNMENT:
Neutral Evil
GENDER:
Male
TITLE(S)/ALIASES:
- Pestilence
- Stryke
- Blackheart
PRIMAL ENERGY:
Black / Blue
PORTFOLIO:
disease, evil, hunting, rot
DOMAINS:
REALM:
Rugha enjoys hunting helpless prey throughout the Beastlands and never stays still long enough to establish anything more substantial than a temporary lair.
SYMBOL:
a black bow
FAVORED WEAPON:
Thorn of Plagues (longbow)
FAVORED ANIMALS:
carrion-feeders, rats, vultures
FAVORED MONSTERS:
Green dragons, gas spore, violet fungus,
FAVORED COLORS:
green
Distinctive Characteristics
Personality: Rugha is the god of the chase, of poachers and hunters, of disease and carrion. He is the bringer of death, the malevolent deity who feeds on the corpses of those slain in battle who are not claimed by the Valkyries. Rugha delights in spreading disease and does so with a relish, using his black bow to fire invisible arrows of disease at helpless mortals.
History: The Vulture seduced the orcnea deity Boornik into traveling with him, learning how to hunt and kill. He used the young god’s discovery of the elven deitiess Artemis Rallathil to ambush and slay her. He then fled, leaving Boornik to the impending wrath of the husband and son. The two and Boornik have sworn vengeance on Stryke.
Description: The Vulture manifests his avatar as a four-armed man of indiscriminate age and height. He is dressed as a woodsman, but in greens and blacks, and carries a giant black bow. He is fair-skinned with short-cropped black hair, but he has no eyes in his eye sockets; instead, there is an ever-flowing stream of pus and rot.
Manifestations: Omens from Rugha often take the form of illnesses or an unexpected storm.
Kinships
Allies: The Suqra pantheon, Kurtulmak, Cegilune, Lloth, Abbathor, Roykyn, Mrrshaulk
Opponents/Rivals: The Allin pantheon, Piper, Drendari, Luthic, Sunnis, Boornik, Diancastra, Rillifane Rallathil, Solonor Rallathil, Aerdrie Faenya, Garl Glittergold, Eachthighern, Verenestra
Relationships: Rugha frets beneath the heavy hand of Xoac, but wishes to please him whenever possible. Rugha, though haughty and arrogant, is an ingratiating sycophant when Xoac is near. Stryke is friendly with the Weaver aspect of Shekinester but is despised by the other two aspects.
The Church
none
Dogma: The weak and infirm were created to be exploited. Death is the true power, the great equalizer, and the lesson that waits for all. If it falls to you to drive home the point with the tip of an arrow, so be it. The Vulture works upon you from within, and weakness and wasting are his strengths. Let all living things learn respect from Rugha, and pay homage to him in fervent worship and in valuable goods. If they do so, intercede for them so that Rugha will not claim them – this time.
Core Worshippers: Assassins, druids, healers, rogues, those suffering from disease and illness.
Clerical Alignments: NE, N, CE, CN
Clergy Titles/Structure: Clerics of Rugha are called cazadors. Unlike most priests, cazadors are seldom interested in invoking their deity. Instead, they spend most of their efforts in performing rites designed to sate their deity so he will stay away and leave their communities alone.
Clergy Special Duties & Restrictions: Cazadors cannot cast spells that heal hit points; instead, all healing is converted to necrotic damage.
Clergy Special Power: A cazador is resistant to disease and poison and makes saving throws against either at advantage. If the cazador expends one use of his channel divinity ability, the next spell that he casts that gives the target disease or deals poison damage makes that effect resistant to magical healing
Holy Days: Cazadors hold ceremonies every 12 days, where they pray and give offerings to Rugha to spare themselves or loved ones from death, disease, wasting illnesses, and the like. Visitors are welcome to come. Younger members of the faith busily sell poisons (for eliminating vermin of course), antidotes, and medicines during the festival, assisted by senior clergy who diagnose conditions and prescribe treatments in return for stiff fees.
Chosen: none
Shadows of Dakaron 