Arh-Tolth

**Arh-Tolth** is the god of Alchemy and Technomancy. Nowadays, the Alchemists of Dirz worship him.

## General

Arh-Tolth is a mysterious being from another world, a god or perhaps just a god-like being. For unknown reasons, he possesses an eternal feud with Vile-Tis.

## Utopia of the Sphinx

It was Arh-Tolth who equipped the Utopia of the Sphinx with their superior technology and was worshipped by them as a craftsman.

## Alchemists of Dirz

The Arh-Tolth rule the realm of the Scorpion with an iron hand and hold the highest rank in the hierarchy of the realm. In a word, they decide the fate of thousands, enforcing the almighty will of the nation's founding god. The Neuromancers are always connected to the spirit of their deity Arh-Tolth. They constantly feel his contempt for mankind, his constant hunger for destruction and eternal contempt for the arch-enemy Vile-Tis. Only the suffering of their victims can give them a little relief and satisfaction for a brief moment. The vicars are feared and respected, they have decision-making power over the lives of the Clones and the True-Born and obey only the orders of the priests themselves. If one of the heads of the Syhar nation has doubts about one of his subordinates, a vicar is put in charge of supervising that person. A terrible period of surveillance begins. His every move is reported to the mentates for a period that can last for months. Because of this surveillance apparatus, many of those under surveillance immediately feel a renewed desire to win.

Knowledge of the interaction of body and mind is the domain of the priests of Arh-Tolth. Their mastery of the body's functions is so great that they are able to trigger incredible physical changes through the power of their will alone. At the same time, the priests of Arh-Tolth are not interested in the suffering of the individual. The end justifies the means. Thus, under the effect of one of their miracles, the skin becomes permeable to their own blood, which comes to the surface of the skin like sweat. This film solidifies into a fine scarlet layer that is flexible and resistant. Plunged into the spiritual abyss by this transformation, the target becomes a wild animal addicted to bloodlust.

From time immemorial, the Companions of Agony have accompanied the priests of Arh-Tolth on the battlefields, attracted by the suffering of the dying. Companions of Agony are a demonstration of the will of Arh-Tolth upon Aarklash. They heap pain and despair for him, both on the battlefields and in the innermost ziggourats of Syharhalna. A considerable number of scholars from all lands and peoples have tried to understand these strange beings. No one has yet succeeded, however, and the mystery surrounding them remains complete.

### Priestly ritual of Arh-Tolth

During the ritual insertion of a priest, both middle fingers are removed. A sallyar, a masculine handle made of the finest leather, is inserted on the right hand. On the left hand, a sanyar is inserted. This feminine grip collects the energy of the body. Both new prostheses are covered with replica human flesh. This is to prevent sand from entering the grips and thus desecrating the sacred attributes. Only the Magon has the privilege of being equipped with two sanyars.

### The Kiss of the Desert

The existence of a clone is often as short-lived as the life of a fish on land. Nevertheless, it happens that a particularly resistant clone attracts the attention of the priests of Arh-Tolth. This clone must then receive the kiss of the desert... and survive it. The body is soaked with chemical test substances that stimulate the metabolism in the test person's body. Once the metabolism thus stimulated has reached its ideal level, the clone is subjected to further special treatments, all of which are intended to ensure that the absorption of certain combat drugs is improved. Feared and respected among his peers, if he survives the treatment, he will achieve a new status in the society of alchemists...

## Sources

* RagNarok background volume
* Additional card: The Companion of Torment
* Miracle Card: Blood Cloak
* Miracle Card: Stroke of the Brain
* Spell Card: The Kiss of the Desert
* Additional Card: The Emminences of the Ahr-Tolth