The Three Fathers

The reign of the Three Fathers has marked and marred the history of the north forever. Their takeover was quick and calculated. Many think that the machinations of their seizure of the north had been crafted long before the War of Awakening that weakened and stretched the conquered kingdom's resources and power. Others believe that some leaders willingly gave them power in exchange for mercy or riches. One thing is definite, however, the Three Fathers were beings of evil and with their ascension came the death of hope for a long while.

Life went on under their watch, however it was oppresive and without light. The prescence of their dark magics almost seemed to seep the life from the north, and they often used their subjects as objects of amusement, to teach lessons, or to break them down under their will. They were helped by a growing cult, followers that would lay their lives down for their masters, who served as the eyes and ears to squash rebellion and the light of hope wherever it dared flared up.

The Fathers were evetually challenged by a group of rebels known in history as Manus Populi. One by one they purged the north of their prescence and drove out legions of their followers, killing any they could. When the Fathers fell, the north was free again, ready to pick up the pieces.

Snuff the candle,

silence the lark.

Beware, beware,

Three Fathers dark.

## Abigor, the father of blood.

A vampire infamous for his violence and use of necromancy to turn the fallen into undead soldiers for his army, Abigor ruled over the human city of Aldenor. He invaded the city and turned the royal family into his thralls, taking the throne for himself. Abigor was unafraid to kill or maim those who spoke out against him, taking regular prisoners to feed off of, evening bathing in their blood from time to time. He ran the city and kingdom under martial law, controlling the borders, instituting a curfew, and held public executions of his opposition, raising them to add to his ranks.

Abigor started his life a lesser noble from the southern border of the northern realms. His wealth was not substantial but his family owned a bit of land and were comfortable. It is said that the members of his house were cuthroat and conniving, each wanting to take the mantle as head of house. His siblings constantly fought and bickered. It was when their mother died that the conflict boiled over, but it was Abigor who rose as the unlikely victor. Abigor had been secretly conferring with dark spirits of the Shadowfell. They twisted his spirit, taking his soul in exchange for supernatural power. At a dinner with his family to settle the estate, Abigor slayed each of his siblings, leaving him the singlle heir to his family's

wealth. It was after this that he expanded his fortune using his dark guile and cunning. He began exerting his influence over the nearby town, even taking some of the folk to feed from. Eventually the town rose up and attacked Abigor's estate and the vampire fled with some of his loyal attendants, vanishing into the night.

It is unknown when Abigor joined the coven of the Three Fathers. he vanished from history for years before emerging during the takeover of the north. During the campaign of Manus Populi, Abigor was killed in Aldenmount's castle when his heart was pierced with silver and his body burned.

Abigor is often worshipped by death and sacrifical cults and is seen as the patron of vampires.

#### **Sigil.**

An obsidian chalice overflowing with blood.

#### **Depiction.**

Abigor is a pale man with black hair combed neatly wearing twisted black armor. He’s often depicted covered in blood or feeding from a heart.

## Agares, the father of tears.

A master of fear, illusion, and manipulation, Agares exerted his influence over his territories in insidious ways. Hardly even seen in the land, Agares would use his magics to twist and mar people's dreams, creating perfect nightmares that played on a person's darkest horrors. He claimed the countrysides and Halfling nation of Redcrest. It was said he was always watching, having infected the hearts and minds of the people there, and the evil was so omnipresent and oppresive that the fields and farms of the land went sallow and dead. There was an air of haunting about the area, and not even wildlife would venture near. Under his influence and urgings people would often go mad or become so fearful that they refused food or drink until they wasted away. Spirits and ghosts were born from these deaths, adding to Agares' power.

Agares' origins are unknown and shrouded in mystery. Myths and folktalkes claim that he was the son of a hag from the Witchwoods, or he was a boy born and raised in the infamous Coldiron, an asylum and prison off the cold northern shores of the east. But these are largely conjecture, tales spun from Agares' affilitation with ghosts, ghouls, and nightmares.

When Manus Populi faced Agares they came upon a land that was consumed with fear. Agares used the madness of his subjects against the heroes, and even tested their own sanity. The rebels eventually were able to find Agares' hiding place, a small cabin deep in Redcrest woods where they struck him down.

Cults and fantatics obsessed with spirits and ghosts devote themselves to Agares, and he's even a popular source of power to some hags. Murmurs around Redcrest and the Witchwoods say that Agares isn't actually totally dead, having kept part of his soul hidden away so that he could still sow fear across the land.

#### **Sigil.**

A gaunt face with hands covering their eyes in fear.

#### **Depiction**

Agares is shown as a slender figure, face covered in a shroud of white and doning in chains across his body.

## Adriel, the father of seed.

Handsome Adriel who took the elven lands of Il'thray as his own due to their beauty and majesty. Adriel's takeover was more subtle. Disguising himself as a member of the elven court, he manipulated the royal family and eventually struck when he enthralled enough members that his authority would not be questioned. Even the captain of the elven army begged for his attentions. Adriel's influences and magics are said to be as thick and sweet as perfume, but held a corruption in it. When his power was cemented, Adriel began to use his potent seed to craft indescribable and terrifying monsters. His most prominent creation was the chimera, a fearsome merging of several creatures into a monster. This habit earned Adriel the second reputation of being a father of monsters. He took many others as lovers, using their union to create more children, which he would use as his own army throughout Il'thray.

Adriel prayed on people's pleasures, even the secret ones. He promised all that they wanted in exchange for devotion, and it worked. He was able to deliver, but his subjects were trapped in a vicious cycle of excess and denial, leaving them animalistic and consumed with want. He enjoyed making others beg, want, and plead. Ritualistic orgies would be performed in his court, and those who survived his reign claimed that during these rituals some would be consumed and eaten in fits of ecstasy.

The father of seed made their way to Cirine from the Yuan-Ti continent nation of Nyhris before the war. Adriel was said to have settled in the courtesan city of Seyune for some time before being banished for using cursed magics on his clients and those around him. Mercenaries were sent after him but he was hard to track due to his ability to shift and conceal his shape and face. No mercenary ever returned.

The battle against Adriel tested Manus Populi the most. Adriel's mastery of people's inner desires, his ability to manipulate, made ally turn on ally, weakening their defenses and resources. The battle churned and both rebel and father grew bloodied, but it was clear Adriel would not relent. It was the Druid, Crysantha who finally stepped up when Adriel was at his weakest. and to banish him from the north, shifted planes to the Abyss, but Adriel would not go quietly. Lashing out, Adriel dragged Crysantha with him as the druid grew weary and was taken with him. Silence fell, and Manus Populi mourned, but the last battle had been fought, and they had won.

Adriel is worshipped by erotic cults, some of which lay with monsters themselves as a way show fealty and submission to Adriel.

#### **Sigil.**

A monster's open maw with a forked tongue.

#### **Depiction.**

Adriel was said to be quite handsome with rusty bronze skin, silver hair, and slitted eyes colored like fire. He often wore a half-mask around his nose and mouth depicting a large mouth with many fangs.

1. ↑ *An excerpt from a popular children's*
*folk ryhme, post-reign.*