Murphas, Lady of Curses, The Dark Sister

 

 

Symbol: Three joined triangles within a circle

Home Plane: Nine Hells (Maladomini)

Portfolios: Curses, Revenge

Worshippers: Any seeking revenge, Hexers

Worshipper’s Alignment: Any evil

Clerics & Paladins: LE

Domains: Evil, Fate, Luck

Favored Weapon(s): Dagger

 

Description:

 

Murphas is depicted as a ravishing young woman with pale skin and long, black hair. A silver belt of skulls circles her waist, and a black cat circles her feet or stands in her shadow.

 

History/Relationships:

 

Murphas grudgingly serves Sestihaculas, siding with him a few years ago when Zhormallion attempted to unseat him. She was rewarded by the Serpent Lord with Zhormallion’s powers, making her an intermediate goddess. Her powers waned again when Zhormallion was fortunate enough to discover a plot to destroy the Serpent Lord and use it to buy indulgence. Murphas blames (correctly) her sister Serenca for this turn of events and has initiated a holy war. The malice she wishes everyone is multiplied a hundred fold against her sister.

 

Dogma:

 

There is no luck except bad luck. Good luck is earned by those who are ambitious enough to make their own. Bad luck is the weapon by which one advances over one’s foes. Curse those who offend you. Savor their pain and make them fear you. Fear is power. Let your presence threaten with potential ill fortune; the unknown fear is the most powerful of all.

 

Clergy and Temples:

 

Most lands refuse open support of Murphas’ temples. However, her worship can be found in all major cities, for those wishing to avoid bad luck offer her prayers and coin. Recently, a full temple opened in Zeldon, led by the drow priest Atropos. This unusual precedent is assumed to be some kind of infernal experiment. It is the fear of many other churches that it will even marginally successful. Clerics of Murphas dress in black. The favored weapon of the lady is the dagger, and all Murphans know its use. Most also learn something about poisons and happily combine the two. Murphans are known to become successful assassins, well capable of handling the business of revenge. Murphans pray for spells at sunset when the day dies and darkness swells. Little is known about organized Murphas worship, since it never happens in open view. It is said to involve the chanting of litanies, the breaking of glass, and sacrifices on an alter of broken glass.

 

Special Abilities:

 

Murphan priests gain additional special abilities as they progress in their dedication to the Dark Sister. Unless otherwise specified, these powers are supernatural abilities usable at will by the caster only.   Curses cast by Murphans are considered as being 2 levels higher for purposes of all variable effects.  Spells which break or remove curses suffer a -2 penalty in their effectiveness.

 

3rd level – bane (1/day)

5th level – bestow curse (1/day)

9th level – fumble (1/day) – All creatures in a 30 ft. radius must make a Will Save or become extremely clumsy, suffering a –4 to Dexterity, a 50%

                    chance of dropping any held object, and the effects of a grease spell if moving. A Successful Save incurs only a – 2 to Dexterity. The effect

                    lasts one minute per caster level or until dispelled or countered with remove curse or break enchantment.

 

Prayers Sacred to Murphas:

 

Murphas makes special prayers available to those who revere her.

 

Rituals:

 

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

 

The Evil Eye -- This power allows the recipient to curse once per day with a glance. If the victim fails a Will Save, it suffers a –4 on attack rolls, saving throws, Initiative and skill checks until the curse is broken. This ritual drains 1000XP from the recipient and costs 1000gp to perform.

 

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