Deceivers

The **Deceivers**, also known in antiquity as the **High Pantheon**, and in some modern-day cults as the **Fallen Ones**, are sleeping beings that were worshipped in the form of dragons by a significant number of Morgaeans, specifically the people of the Adamantium, thousands of years ago. Legend holds that it was the Deceivers who initially taught mages how to use magic. The Archfiends are awakened Deceivers, tainted by fiends.

## Background

The true nature of the Deceivers is unknown. The Deceivers are not creators and even the people of ancient Adamantium attributed the creation of the world to a Watcher-like deity, although by a different name.

The Ministry teaches that, when the Watcher turned his back on spirits, some of them grew jealous of the living. Those powerful enough whispered to the living in dreams claiming that they were the true gods, the creators of the world, and the living should bow down before them. Eventually, the living summoned them through the Veil. In the mortal realm, these spirits took the form of dragons, winged beasts that ruled over the land. The living started to worship them instead of the Watcher, an act recognized as the "Original Sin". In fury, the Watcher cursed the Deceivers, imprisoning them in underground tombs where they would slumber for eternity.

Some accounts suggest that the Deceivers began whispering to humanity from the Golden City in **-2800D**, three hundred years after the arrival of humans in Morgaea. They taught magic to the dreamers of the Oremeni tribes, and these dreamers became the priests and kings of their people. Originally, the Oremeni tribes worshipped fallen heroes reborn as dragons, and with dreamers as their leaders, they began to instead worship the dreamers' gods, also as dragons.

Scholars assume that the Deceivers must have been real at one point, but most agree that they were *actual* dragons of a magnitude not known today, and impressive enough to frighten ancient peoples into worshipping them. Some do even claim that these dragons slumber as a form of hibernation, not as a result of the Watcher's wrath.

The Tome of Ouhgan, the sacred Orcimar scripture, explicitly says that "the Deceivers were like unto dragons, as the first human kings were like unto ordinary men".

### Worship in the Adamantium

Legend maintains that the minds of the Deceivers continued to roam the Dreaming like any other dreaming individuals' mind would, and they were able to contact Oremeni dreamers once more. Honorary Archon, Proteus accredited his discovery of blood magic in **-1595D** to the Deceiver Vemon and established the first temples dedicated to the Deceivers to show his gratitude. Dragons became equated everywhere with divine power.

Four centuries later, in **-1195D** Carinius founded the Adamantium and established the magisterium from the priesthood of the Deceivers. In the days of the Adamantium, the Deceivers were revered by most citizens as the **High Pantheon**, with temples and priesthoods dedicated to their veneration, such as the acolytes of Vemon, who swore oaths of silence in homage to their lord. Each god had an Apostle, and they were called the Seven Apostles. Holidays were popularly celebrated in tribute to the Deceivers, namely the Feast of Xurteus, which spanned twelve full days.

During this period, the Deceivers communicated directly with their worshippers, issuing explicit commands and instructions. There was also an equivalent of the Holy Tome for the Deceivers, though it has since been lost to time.

### Downfall

In **-395D** the Seven Apostles physically entered the Golden City, an act recognized as the "Second Sin". The Ministry holds that they did so at the behest of the Deceivers to open "the unreachable gate" in exchange for "power and glory beyond all reckoning". The City turned black and the magisters were cast out as the first fiends, inadvertently causing the First Scourge.

While the Ministry insists that the fiends tainted Deceiver Vemon and turned him into the first Archfiend, some ancient lore says it was Vemon who created the fiends and not the other way around.

In the aftermath of the event, all of the Deceivers suddenly stopped communicating with their followers. The First Scourge led to a crisis of faith across the Adamantium, shaken at the devastation their own god relentlessly championed. Several temples were razed by betrayed believers, killing priests to the Deceivers as retribution for their unheeded prayers. Finally, during the Transfiguration that followed Archon Anadrius' conversion in **-160D**, worship of the Deceivers in the Adamantium was forcefully replaced with the monotheistic worship of the Watcher. Those remaining faithful to them were slaughtered in a terrible bloodbath.

However, even to this day, there are rumors that some cults remain, still secretly devoted to who they refer to as the **Fallen Ones**.

## The Deceivers

The Adamantines worshipped seven Deceivers, known collectively at the time as the **High Pantheon**. The first, and chief, Deceiver was called Vemon, the Dragon-God of Magic.

### Vemon

Vemon, the Dragon-God of Magic, was the most powerful among the Decievers. The early human kingdom of Phabetis is said to have completely vanished in **-1610D** for losing favor with Vemon. Legend says that he destroyed the city for turning away his Apostle during a celebration of the winter solstice. Only a path and bare rock remain, as the city and its inhabitants were buried in volcanic ash.

Archon Proteus claimed that Vemon personally taught him blood magic in **-1595D**. And according to Lamentations 6, Proteus used his powers to aid King Antorius of Oremenia in defeating the Ghiesh. When Antorius turned his gaze towards the Anamene, they turned to worship of the Deceivers to resist his attacks.

According to Lamentations 14, Vemon was the first of the Deceivers to convince his followers to reach the Golden City, and it was his apostle that recruited the other six apostles of the remaining Deceivers.

According to the Ministry, after the fall of the magisters in **-395D** (800 AE), the first fiends burrowed into Vemon's underground prison and the Deceiver was corrupted and transformed into the Archfiend, launching the First Scourge. Some ancient lore says it was the other way around, however: it was Vemon who created the fiends and led them against Morgaea, not the fiends who created the archfiend.

In the course of the First Scourge, Vemon was slain multiple times, to no avail; he would always return. Some people saw it as proof of his divine power. Vemon was finally slain by the Grey Order at the Battle of Silent Steppes in **-203D** (992 TE) when, by way of some miracle, they discovered a way to kill Vemon for good. Following his defeat, Vemon's remains were sent to Greyhold.

Led by Vemon, the First Scourge was unparalleled in its devastation, and is remembered in history as the longest and bloodiest Scourge in recorded history. Vemon's fiendish horde very nearly overran Morgaea and annihilated its people; the arrival of the Grey Order was what turned the tide of the war, and even then it took the sacrifice of many Rangers to slay Vemon and drive back the fiendish hordes.

### Patemis

Patemis, the Dragon-God of Freedom, was awakened in **1A05** (1199 AE) by the fiendish hordes, and rose as an Archfiend of the Second Scourge. He was slain at the Battle of Alepool in **1A95** (1289 AE) by the Ranger of the Grey Korryn. According to Lamentations 16, like the other Deceivers, Patemis endorsed the Seven Apostles' attempt to reach the Golden City, and spoke to his apostle, telling them to join in the endeavor.

Patemis represented freedom. The ancient Adamantium associated the constellation Kios with him. Also, the holiday of Vainalis was originally dedicated to him, although in modern Morgaea it is referred to the moon Vaina. This holiday is accompanied by wild celebration, the wearing of masks, and naming the town fool as ruler for a day. In Lysadore, Vainalis lasts for a week or more, while a week of fasting follows. Vainalis is celebrated at the beginning of Novaria.

### Biamut

Biamat, the Dragon-God of Fire, was the third Deceiver to be corrupted by the fiendish hordes, becoming the archfiend of the Third Scourge. The ancient Adamantines associated the constellation Biamut, traditionally depicted as a man engulfed in flames, with him. According to Lamentations 16, like the other Deceivers, Biamut endorsed the Seven Apostles' attempt to reach the Golden City, and spoke to his apostle, telling them to join in the endeavor.

Biamut was awakened and tainted by the fiendish hordes in **3A10**, incurring the Third Scourge. After fifteen years of conflict, he was slain at Hunteron by the combined armies of the Grey Order, Maudet, and the Adamantium in **3A25**. It's said that the blade used to kill Biamut broke into three pieces, and was refashioned into three identical daggers, each called the Thorn of the Deceivers.

### Xurteus

Xurteus, the Dragon-God of Stars, was the fourth Deceiver to be corrupted by the fiendish hordes, incurring the Fourth Scourge. According to Lamentations 16, like the other Deceivers, Xurteus endorsed the Seven Apostles' attempt to reach the Golden City, and spoke to his apostle, telling them to join in the endeavor.

There was a holiday in the Adamantium dedicated to Xurteus back in the times when the Deceivers were still widely revered called "Xurtealis", but this holiday is now known as Summerday and is celebrated as the beginning of summer, a time for joy and, commonly, marriage. It is celebrated at the beginning of Meyar. The ancient Adamantines also associated the constellation Servanti, depicted as a man in chains, with him.

Xurteus was awakened in **5A12** by the fiendish hordes and rose as an Archfiend to lead the Fourth Scourge, completely overwhelming Lysadore, and laying siege to the capital of Netheren. Xurteus attacked the Rangers of the Grey as they withdrew from Venadrad, killing Ranger-Commander Shakir and the entire Lysadoren royal family.

In the Battle of Ayesmare, in **5A24**, a combined army from Maudet, Netheren, and the Freemarks, under the banner of the Grey Order, defeated Xurteus' horde, while the Archfiend was slain by the elven hero Erenod.

### Nystria

Nystria, the Dragon-God of Beauty, is the only Deceiver considered to be female. The fiendish hordes have not yet discovered Nystria, meaning the old dragon still slumbers somewhere beneath the surface of Morgaea. According to Lamentations 16, like the other Deceivers, Nystria endorsed the Seven Apostles' attempt to reach the Golden City, and spoke to her apostle, telling them to join in the endeavor.

There was a holiday dedicated to Nystria back in the times when the Deceivers were still widely revered called "Nystralis", but this holiday is now known as Wintersend and is dedicated to the Watcher. It is celebrated at the beginning of Febrion. The ancient Adamantines also associated the constellation Bellanatas, depicted as a beautiful woman, with her.

### Kyraos

Kyraos, the Dragon-God of Mystery, is a Deciever not yet discovered by the fiendish hordes, meaning the old dragon still slumbers somewhere Manaeath the surface of Morgaea. According to Lamentations 16, like the other Deceivers, Kyraos endorsed the Seven Apostles' attempt to reach the Golden City, and spoke to his apostle, telling them to join in the endeavor.

The current Institution in the City of Adamantium was once a Temple dedicated to Kyraos. In ancient Adamantium, it was thought that the waters of Lake Lontan carried the blessing of the Dragon-God of Mystery, and the constellation Elusia was associated with him. Ministry scholars also believe that Kyraos was most likely the Deciever the Anamene people started worshipping to reisist Oremeni attacks in Lamentations 6.

### Solune

Solune, the Dragon-God of Night, is a Deciever not yet discovered by the fiendish hordes, meaning the old dragon still slumbers somewhere Manaeath the surface of Morgaea. According to Lamentations 16, like the other Deceivers, Solune endorsed the Seven Apostles' attempt to reach the Golden City, and spoke to his apostle, telling them to join in the endeavor.

The ancient Adamantines associated Solune with the constellation Tenebrial, called "Shadow" in the common parlance. However, as Tenebrial is traditionally depicted as an owl rather than a dragon, some scholars have speculated that Tenebrial originally represented the elven god Morthil.