Argan Argar
o h Reason for Existence Argan Argar Argar is the God of Surface Darkness. His cult acts as a mediator between trolls and surface folk, granting access and understanding of the Darkness rune to those not born of it. His cult performs many important functions for trolls unavailable elsewhere including such civilized amenities as languages, peaceful inter cultural trade, and making coinage. He is worshipped by those trolls who must deal with outsiders, and by human merchants merchants who trade with trolls. Argan Argar is a god of Darkness and a son of ight. !hen "elm died and went to Hell, many deities #ed to the surface. $ne of the leaders of those that #ed was %entha, Goddess of ight. Shortly after coming to the surface, %entha birthed Argan Argar && 'rst&born, natural leader of the dark gods on the surface of the world. Argan Argar was active during the Darkness, aiding anyone who called upon him, whether elf, man, or beast&man. (ut he was always most friendly to trolls, who love the shadows. During the Darkness, Argan Argar con)uered con)uered *odril, 're& god of the deep earth. He forced that steaming deity into humiliating chains of shadow, and had him build the immense +alace of (lack Glass. he followers of Ar Argan gan Argar are are skilful in promoting promoting friendship, as be'ts be'ts the followers of the god of Surface Darkness. Argan Argar promises his followers that they will become part of his mother-s wispy train of immortal darkness which sweeps across the world each night and moves magni'cently through the netherworld each day. f his followers are honoured enough servants in this train, they will be granted a better station in their ne/t life, perhaps even being
allowed to barter in choosing their own parents.
Social Position Argan Argari cultists rarely have a position of direct in#uence amongst any human clan or tribe, but are almost always respected as trustworthy traders and diplomats. hey may hold positions of greater respect or in#uence within roll roll clans, but primacy is always given given to the roll roll mother mother Goddess, 0yger 0yger *itor. *itor. he 0ingdom of ight ight in the north of 0ethaela 0ethaela was the only attempt attempt by Argan Argari to have a domain on the surface world. his persisted for much of the 1irst and Second Ages under Argan Argar-s son and avatar, he $nly $ld $ne, until his defeat and death at the hands of (elintar, the +haraoh. he +alace of (lack Glass was shattered and now only dust and shards remain in the haunted lands, centred on he arpit, where he $nly $ld $ne was slain. Since the fall of the 0ingdom of of ight, there there has been no centralized place of worship for the cult and there e/ists no religious head. High +riests may command lesser priests, but even then, the lessers may negotiate or barter a right to their freedom of activity. he cult still provides provides many useful teachings to its adherents, be they human or troll alike. he bolg for e/ample e/ample was invented by Argan Argan Argar and is the sole coinage used by the cult to pay trollkin mercenaries. he bolg is uni)ue as a coin, for it is designed for use as a sling&stone as well as handy cash. he bolgs are used by trollkin and trolls by biting down on the mass of change and twisting it in the mouth while holding onto the money with the hand, thus forming the pellet. his feat is generally impossible for other races to duplicate. (olgs are nominally worth 234 of a clack each. roll&hating people and races usually will not accept bolgs as money. Spears, the usual weapon for armies of trollkin, were 'rst introduced by Argan Argar, fresh from his con)uest of *odril. rollkin and worshippers of Argan Argar are the only trolls likely to be found wielding spears. n some troll areas, the spear is the symbol for Argan Argar. Argan Argar-s ceremony day is !aterday Argan Argar-s high holy day is !aterday of Harmony week in the Dark season.
olo Likes and Dislikes Argan Argar Argar is a friend to all who would be friendly with him. All the deities of the normal world who would wish to share and trade and talk with him are welcome in his camp. he 5ult accepts the necessity necessity of keeping thralls, especially trollkin, trollkin, who cannot be trusted with their own freedom. hey do not believe in e/cessive e/cessive cruelty to them however, when it is not warranted or alternative methods may be utilised. Argan Argar, Argar, like all right thinking Gods, hates 5haos, especially that evil which would disguise itself as a friend and betray the social contract which trade relies upon. He has a dislike for "elm and his worshippers for chasing his ancestors out of the !onderhome, !onderhome, but understands and accepts that his e/istence is due in part to "elm-s decent into Hell. here e/ists e/ists a certain enmity with with the followers of *odril, *odril, who still remember remember the shame in#icted upon the *ord of 6olcanos by Argan Argar and the theft of his spear. 1ollowers of the +haroah are also widely distrusted for their 7aster-s sin of slaying he $nly $ld $ne.
Membership Requirements Lay Member *ay 7embership into the 5ult is relatively simple and involves listening to a story about Argan Argar Argar by one of his wandering priests, who will e/plain his history and the 5ult-s aims and goals. he priest will then be given a donation, usually about 4 clacks worth, unless the potential supplicant can clearly a8ord more. 5ontinued membership re)uires re)uires that the *ay 7ember continue donating to the 5ult each week, a similar amount of goods or coin that it took for them to 9oin. he *ay 7ember must must 9oin in the seasonal seasonal sacri'ces and give up the the usual number of magic points in these rituals of !orship Argan Argar. *ay 7embers may pay purchase training from the cult and may trade freely with all other cult members. hey also gain access to the cult skill -(argain-. *ay 7embers may learn Spirit 7agic up to level :. Initiate
5andidates for nitiation must have been *ay 7embers for at least a ful season and be in good standing with their +riest. hey will be tested on the cult-s e/pectations and must donate a minimum of :; pennies worth of pro't they have made in trade themselves. hey will then swear loyalty to their +riest for the duration of their nitiate status, or the priest-s lifetime, whichever comes 'rst. nitiates are promised protection protection by their priests. his includes at least one sincere attempt to rescue, resurrect resurrect or avenge the nitiate, should they be captured or killed. nitiates may leave the 5ult without penalty if they are ever ignored in this way by their +riest. hey must have at least least 4;<= in two of the following following skills • • • •
(argain $rate 1ast alk Speak >Any? *anguage
nitiates must give 2;< of their trade based income to the cult. nitiates gain access to further cult Spirit magic and also purchase training in cult skills for half price. hey must sacri'ce sacri'ce a point of +$! to 7aran&Gor 7aran&Gor.. hey may sacri'ce +$! +$! to gain Divine magic from 7aran&Gor. 7aran&Gor. his magic will be spent until prayed for again during Sacred ime or the cult High Holy day. hey may pray for and and potentially receive receive aid from Divine Divine ntervention. nitiates may learn Spirit 7agic up to level @. Acolyte As an nitiate gains e/perience and their prowess as a communicator communicator and merchant increases, increases, they may 'nd themselves drawn towards a closer connection with Argan Argar. Argar. ot all members feel the compulsion to further their divine connection towards Acolytes or full +riesthood, preferring preferring instead their less stringent observations as merchant nitiates. hose who do, 'nd themselves able call on a greater share of divine power, but in e/change must ful'l some of the duties of a +riest when they are not available, and act as their trusted trusted agents in matters of faith or merchant enterprise. hose wishing to come come Acolytes must must
pass a test of worthiness, set by their +riest. hey must also have at least 4< in four of the following skillsB • • • • • • • • • •
(argain $rate 1ast alk Speak >Any? *anguage Cead3!rite >Any? *anguage Human >or roll? *ore valuate Darktongue Devise Spear Attack
hey must devote devote :;< of their trade based income to the cult and must must continue to follow the dictates of their +riest. Acolytes are e/pected e/pected to attend all the yearly and seasonal Holy Day ceremonies, along with leading or assisting in weekly worship services. hey may be called upon to lead worship when no +riestess is present, teach cult skills, perform divinations or other cult rituals. Acolytes may not become Shaman or Sorcerers, unless otherwise stated. Acolytes can get 2;; hours of free training per year in cult skills, if a trainer with suEcient skill is available. Acolytes gain access to Ceusable Divine magic for their 5ult-s 5ommon Divine magic. hey may regain their spent Divine magic spells each week, by casting the !orship Argan Argar spell at an appropriate shrine, temple or holy place on 1reezeday. Special and Associated 5ult Divine magic remains either one&use or is regained on High Holy Days3Sacred ime. ime. Acolytes may learn Spirit 7agic up to level F. Rune Priest Cune Cune +riests of Argan Argar are masters at getting along on the surface world. 1or trolls, they are worldly and sophisticated and some are even acceptable by human standards. Human members members of the cult are often somewhat trollish, but are still )uite civilised. t is infact, the human cult members who educate their troll cult brothers on the ways of the surface world. Cune Cune +riests are the magical representatives of their god their function is to e/ert his power onto the mundane plane and act as spiritual leaders for cult members. hey may nitiate new members and take them on as subordinates through vows of friendship. At this rank, they are also free of their own obligations to their initiating +riest.
o o become a Cune Cune +riest, the candidate candidate must have ;<= ;<= in : of the following skillsB • • • •
(argain $rate 1ast alk Speak >Any? *anguage
and ;<= in three of the following skills • • • • • •
Cead3!rite >Any? *anguage Human >or roll? *ore valuate Darktongue Devise Spear Attack
hey must have a total total of +$! and cult Divine Divine magic e)ualling 2I= heir duties include leading worship worship ceremonies, ceremonies, performing performing Sacred ime ime rituals to strengthen and renew the cult, teaching cult spirit and divine magic, collecting tithes and ordaining new nitiates into the faith. Cune Cune +riests, with their deeper links to their God, can learn more powerful versions of cult spirit magic than nitiates or Acolytes. Cune +riestes may gain an Allied Spirit from Argan Argar. his will often be a Shade, which the +riest has captured through use of the 5ommand Shade miracle, awakened and bound to his service. he Allied Spirit will have its intellect awakened >JDF? and it will act as a normal familiar3allied spirit, able to learn and cast spells. Cune Cune +riestesses may regain their spent Divine magic spells each week, by casting the !orship Argan Argan Argar spell at an appropriate shrine, temple or holy place on 1reezeday. his includes Special and Associated 5ult Divine magic. Cune Cune +riestes may learn Spirit 7agic up to level I.
Magic Spirit Magic • • • • • • •
Detect 7agic Glamour 7indspeech +rotection ronhand Speedart 6igour
Forbidden Spells Glow *ight *ightwall *antern • • • •
Divine Magic • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
!orship Argan Argar /tension Divination Dismiss 7agic Heal !ound Soul Sight Spirit (lock 7indlink !arding 5ommand Shade Summon Shade 5reate Shadow Dark !alk Safe Suppress Aether
Gorakiki +rovides K Speak with nsects %iola Lmbar +rovides K urn (low
