The Festering

The Festering is what lies in the deep crevices that hid from the light. God of Corruption, decay and depths. Not many of its followers are known about until they have rooted themselves deep. A blight on the natural order and life, existing to just prevent and twist life in a downward degraded form.

## History

Not much of The Festering’s existence is chronicled in annals of known history. What is certain is that the god is one of the first gods to lay claim on the mortal plane, if it’s cultists are to be believed it may be older than all other gods. Although it has been inactive for most of known existence, high priests believe their god is the last remnant of a dead universe. While most others say The Festering was birthed from the first decayed corpse, the remnants of the great manticore the Volga slew. This beast now known as the Rotgeist gave the god a physical form from the dead flesh, as more decay consumed the more it grew.

## Relationships

The Festering concerns itself little with matters outside of its own domains. Focused little more on anything but its own preservation by spreading corruption and decay, followers think nurture the god. Putting little value in the politics of other gods until it intrudes upon what belongs to the Great Blight. Considered aloof and spiteful but not adventurous, leaving spreading influence to its followers. Very few gods care for or like The Festering’s existence

## Home

The Festering’s divine realm is known as Deep Garden, its exact location is known by only the high priest devoted to it. A location filled with lush poisonous yet simultaneously rotting vegetation amongst the cavernous shifting labyrinth that makes up this home. The extent to the size of this grotesque place is an endeavor not worth figuring out, as most who can say know of it say it could go in forever. Broken up into two vague portions of upper and lower.

## Appearance

The manifestations of The Festering are ever changing, but usually follow one of three shapes each having been chronicled by the cults worshipping it. The Molsn, Foregenga and Nithing.

### Molsn

Considered the depiction the Festering has taken to portray man and masculine traits. Manifesting as a towering swollen Ratfolk with a hulking mass of fungal bone growths erupting from underneath the sickly mutant flesh. Considered the most combative and aggressive of the three known manifestations.

### Foregena

The parallel form to the Molsn as the other interpretation of the form the mortals call female and femininity albeit through the gods twisted sight. A colony of large maggots and slugs working in tandem, connected by one mind. Taking the vague resemblance of a female humanoid form, typically depicting some seeming form of elf. Another known name for this being is the Worm Mother, while not as destructive as the others, Considered the best at spreading influence out but the strength of corruptions is however second to the final type. Areas around the manifestation will have an increased growth rate to the vermin population for moths if not years.

### Nithing

Many of the true worshipers believe this is the Festering’s most true and base form. A gigantic mass of sludge and liquid stone. A miasma of disease obscure the air around it. Just witnessing it is considered a blessing, making your form cursed with corrupted vigor at the cost of one's mind, a price well worth it. Often the true final goal to many cults devoted to it. Its mere presence may cause irreparable damage to the local habitat, as plagues ravage the area and mutations multiply at unnatural levels.

## Church of The Festering

The Festering’s church remains scattered and focused more in small sects of worshipers. Rarely interacting with another sect due to their inherent isolationist nature. Sects exist both above and below, some considered benign, some malicious. While some branches belonging to it have very aggressive ambitious to spread the god's domains.

### Worshipers

The vast majority of The Festering's worshippers are Clerics, Druids, Monks, and Witches, however there are still a significant number of Antipaladins, Warpriests, Shamans, Oracles, and Paladins within their ranks. Additionally, a good portion of their followers are Drow, Duergar, and Ratfolk, due to their inclination towards the underground; Troglodytes, in particular, are known for their role as priests for the Festering. Bearing the mark of the Festering, even good-natured worshippers are shunned and feared by others, as the Festering's followers are largely considered cultists or fanatics

### Clergy

Priests and acolytes wear loose ragged gray cloth with web like green meshing, choosing to wear just enough to be considered decent. Done to display off deformities and scarring blessed to them, a badge of honor. The preferred material is either spider web or a fungal sheet, but many cults often use fresh skins that have been dyed and stained or rotting pelts.

### Temples and Shrines

Many of the temples dedicated to the blight remain deep underground or in dark depths. Modeled in the fashion of a maze or castle dungeon, while some resemble botanical gardens. Kept with a low light of only glowing fugus and worm, the ground usually covered in filth if one of the many cavernous temples.

### Holy Texts

Although no true holy texts exist for all cultists of the Festering, any that could be considered are often mad scribbling and etchings. However the closest thing that could be considered is known as.

#### *Sacraments to the Deep Growths.*

A series of rituals and proclamations written by the first recorded Urpriest of The Festering: Arkopepht.

##### Symbol

The Festering's symbol is typically made from materials available around during its creation. The details change ever so slightly each time but some core parts remain consistent. Three triangles representing mountains one in the center and the others behind. Underneath it resides dripping pools of ooze, often with Maggots creeping out from the base.