Jövnhast

Cult

Of all the deific figures in A'therys, perhaps the strangest is the enigmatic Pact-Maker, Jövnhast. He is an ancient and mysterious creature, known to perform ritual oaths and bargains with mankind, though he is not a god and none know from whence he originated. He is commonly associated with all manner of pacts, rising to power, falling from grace, sorcery, merchants, and mercenaries. Many have met him over the millennia, but few remember their time in his presence.

## History

It is said that Jövnhast has been bartering with mankind since before even the establishment of law at the time of the First Calling. He has been known to offer promises of wealth, influence, sorcerous powers, and arcane secrets, and he seems to have no limit of these things to trade away. However, when dealing with Jövnhast, the price is always high, and the Pact-Maker shows no mercy for those foolish enough to approach without means to pay. The careless may quickly find themselves making a more dangerous bargain than they expected. Also worth noting is that some pacts seem to be related, as though he is playing a game with the people of A'therys which he always ultimately wins. None can know Jövnhast's true end goal, save for himself, so humanity will likely need to wait until he chooses to play his hand.

The method in which Jövnhast chooses to contact mortals who seek him is always the same, though there are few who remember the ordeal. The Pact-Maker cannot be found, no matter how thorough the search, and will only appear to those in whom he takes an interest. The excedingly rare accounts of those who can remember describe their meeting as a dream: awakening from slumber not at home, but in a well-lit and finely-appointed banqueting hall, a deep and jovial voice beckoning from the only doors in the room. As soon as the threshold is crossed, the once-bright room darkens as age and chill claim the previously cheery atmosphere. Jövnhast, from behind a veil of darkness, offers up his deal, with the situation fully under his control. After the pact is made, Jövnhast seems to remove all memory of his encounter with the mortal, leaving only a few with their recollections for reasons known only to him.

## Appearance

Jövnhast, secretive as he is, has never been viewed outside of his meeting hall. Most who meet with him, or at least those who keep their memories of the encounter, are incapable of seeing the souce of his disembodied voice behind the dark and gloom. There was at least one instance, however, of a man who kept his memory and somehow managed to glimpse the figure of the Pact-Maker. Shortly after recounting his experience, a mysterious death claimed him; most consider it the hand of Jövnhast silencing a loose end. Regardless, the man spoke of darkness receding, casting a dim light on an ancient throne at the end of a hall. On the throne sat a skeleton, apparently human, speaking with the voice of Jövnhast though it remained utterly motionless. The bones were clothed in tattered regalia, rich hues long since faded to brown and gray. On the head of the grinning skull was no mask, for the Pact-Maker is no god, but instead a tarnished crown inlaid with clouded gemstones. If this is truly the form of Jövnhast, it casts further doubt onto what he actually is, and where his immense power comes from.

*Originally written by OccidentalAnvil for the more official A'therys wiki*