Endrigoth, Ratlord

 

 

Symbol: Rat

Home Plane: Nine Hells (Minauros)

Portfolios: Rats, Disease, Famine, Lycanthropes (Wererats)

Worshippers: Wererats, Vampires, Evil Humans

Worshipper’s Alignment: Any evil

Clerics: LE

Domains: Animal, Evil, Shadow

Favored Weapon(s): None

 

Description:

 

Endrigoth is depicted as a humanoid with a rat’s head, claws, fur, and tail. His eyes glow an evil red. He is normally depicted surrounded by a sea of vermin.

 

History/Relationships:

 

Endrigoth is a unwilling subservient of the Serpentlord. The most powerful among them rules, and right now, that is not Endrigoth. Any plans of a coup have cooled since the unsuccessful attempt of the Spiderlord a few years hence. Endrigoth forms short-term alliances with the other lesser Chtons, but they all distrust each other too much to form lasting alliances as they vie for control of the hells. Endrigoth competes with Galadan for the allegiance of wererats and with Jarrek for allegiance of vampires. These confrontations always sit on the brink of escalating but never do. Keeping his foes from ever cooperating keeps him safe in the struggle for power. Endrigoth hates Cernan and strikes at him only when it is both safe and advantageous to do so. Recently, Myk has begun making overtures to Endrigoth to join forces in using his children to spread disease and suffering. It is speculated that the rapid spread of Gravescourge in the northlands may be the first fruits of their unholy alliance. If this is true, the Ratlord may gain enough support and power to confront Galadan and/or Jarrek, and if successful there, would have enough power to wrest control of the Chtons from the Serpentlord.

 

Dogma:

 

Being beneath the feet of others is not being less. Wander the darkness; learn their secrets, Breed and prosper on their cast off bounty. Strength comes in numbers. Conserve your own resources and prepare your army until you can overwhelm your foes. Disease and suffering are left in your wake. Feed on the fear you inspire; it is every bit as sweet as a king’s repast.

 

Clergy and Temples:

 

Temples of Endrigoth are not seen above ground. In the cities and areas where they do exist, they can be found deep in the bowels of sewers. Only worshippers are adept at navigating the maze of tunnels to the temple, others get hopelessly lost or happen upon the temple by accident and seldom escape with their lives. Priests of the Ratlord are a mixture of human, lycanthrope, and vampire. Each forms something of a sect within the overall church structure and deals with different aspects. Humans tend to work more above ground building contacts and connections, recruiting and bringing in wealth. Lycanthropes dwell in the sewers, spying and recruiting. Vampires bring their powers to bear to remove foes and charm worthwhile contacts into a more cooperative state. These sects compete but never war with each other, as the Ratlord’s church is built upon law, not chaos. This is not to say that infighting does not exist, and successful powerplays are rewarded.

 

Special Abilities:

 

Priests of Endrigoth gain additional special abilities as they progress in their dedication to the Ratlord. Unless otherwise specified, these powers are supernatural abilities usable at will by the caster only. Priests radiate a sanctuary effect which prevents them from being harmed by rats. Priests may take Climb, Hide, and Swim as class skills.

 

3rd level – May take Sense Motive as a class skill.

5th level – cat’s (rat’s) grace (1/day)

7th level – Can control rats with a turn undead roll

9th level – summon swarm (rats) at double effects (1/day)

 

Sacred Prayers of Endrigoth:

 

Endrigoth makes special prayers available to those who serve him.

 

Rituals:

 

Endrigoth makes several rituals available to those who please him. They are detailed below. Bestowance of the rituals requires at least one high priest of Liranan be present unless otherwise stated.

 

Filth’s Bounty -- The recipient gains a +2 bonus on all Fortitude saves. This ritual drains 1000xp from the recipient and costs 1000gp to perform.

 

Form of the Favored -- The recipient may wild shape (1/day) into a giant rat. The ritual drains 2000XP from the recipient and costs 5000gp to perform.

 

There are many stories of horrible curses cast as rituals by assemblies of Endrigothan clergy. There are, however, no established records.