Garrotongue, Father of Lies, Old Poisontongue

 

Symbol: An upright dagger dripping venom

Home Plane: The Abyss

Portfolios: Assassins, Lies, Poison

Worshippers: Assassins, Tyrants, Alchemists, Healers

Worshipper’s Alignment: Any

Clerics: CE

Domains: Death, Evil, Poison, Trickery

Favored Weapon(s): Dagger, Garrote

 

Description:

 

The true form of Garrotongue is unknown. In religious texts, he is depicted as a cloaked male figure. He is said to appear in any form required to spread lies and poison life.

 

History/Relationships:

 

Garrotongue has no permanent allies. He survives through stealth and striking by surprise. He acquired a following of drow during the Aesthetkin Wars and pulled even more influence from the poison portfolio from Raistrick when he was banished. It is said that he bestows spells to some of Raistrick’s followers still who believe the Hatemonger grants them. Garrotongue vies with Phantos for control over the powers of deception. Garrotongue takes great delight in thwarting all plans of Galen and causing distress to followers of truth, but his primary foe is Rahab. Garrotongue slew three children of Rahab; though their names are lost to history, it was the beginning of a holy war which has continued to the present day. The two gods fought on the plains of Stygios, and Rahab was victorious. Garrotongue was said to be slain. Legend says Garrotongue created the Echo Rift in his death throes and remains buried beneath it. The veracity of this legend is suspect since some power grants spells in Poisontongue’s name. It is far more likely that Garrotongue staged his death, the ultimate lie, to give Rahabites a false sense of security.

 

Dogma:

 

Death comes for us all. Life is an illusion, a lie. To master death is to hold true power, To master poisoning is art, but to master poisoning with the tongue is perfect evil. Foster your ability to kill to perfect yourself for that final moment. The great irony of life is that it kills itself. Aid it at every opportunity.

 

Clergy and Temples:

 

Garrotongue maintains no public temples; his faithful are known also as Impostiers. On occasions where the public sees an impostier (such as All God’s Day), he/she is always in disguise. These public events are opportunities for the bold to hire future hits and to purchase poisons and antidotes. The worship of Garrotongue thrives beneath the public face of most major cities. Impostiers work within assassin’s guilds, and often within city and national governments to promote strife through lies. Those seeking the wisdom of The Father of Lies are found by his faithful. Surviving such a meeting is another story altogether. Impostiers pray for their spells at midnight in a place where all light has been banished. Worship services include the poisoning of creatures, human sacrifice, and self-poisoning to develop a resistance to venoms. High level Impostiers almost always begin the prestige class of assassin, although some pursue the mastery of alchemy and poison brewing.

 

Special Abilities:

 

Impostiers gain a +2 competence bonus on all Saving Throws against poisons. Impostier priests gain additional special abilities as they progress in their dedication to the Father of Lies. Unless otherwise specified, these powers are supernatural abilities usable at will by the caster only.

 

3rd level – suggestion (1/day)

5th level – falsehood (1/day) – The priest can lie freely without detection by spells 4th level and lower. Duration is 10 minutes per caster level.

7th level – poison (1/day)

9th level – Stenbold’s Strangler (1/day)

 

Sacred Prayers of  Garrotongue:

 

Garrotongue makes special prayers available to his faithful.

 

Rituals:

 

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

 

Dark Charisma – The recipient is granted a permanent +1 divine enhancement to Charisma. The ritual costs 5000xp to perform and 10,000GP. It may be stripped at a whim by Garrotongue; the costs are not restored.

 

False Scribe’s Blessing – The recipient gains a +2 competence bonus on forgery checks. The ritual costs 5000xp to perform and 10,000GP. It may be stripped at a whim by Garrotongue; the costs are not restored.

 

Secret Blade – This ritual grants the recipient the power to hide a weapon as if he were wearing a Glove of Storing. The power is usable once per day and lasts for 1 hour per level. The ritual drains 2000xp and costs 5000gp.

 

Serpent’s Tongue – The recipient gains a +2 competence bonus on all bluff, diplomacy, innuendo and perform checks. The ritual drains 1000xp from the recipient and costs 5000gp to perform.