Achaekek

Achaekek (pronounced Ack-aye-keck) is the god of assassins and the patron god of the Red Mantis assassins, who are a group that operate all across Trayst but only have an official presence within Duthgar. His symbol is a pair of mantis claws depicted as if in prayer.

The Mantis god has thwarted those seeking divinity numerous times throughout recorded history. The most famous instances include the slaying of Tulgan at the World Crown and the destruction of Burdroud in the Tusk Mountains in 4212 SU.

## Relationships

Achaekek is said to defend the gods from those who wish to overthrow them or who want to attempt to become a god themselves. For this purpose, he is slightly more accepted than some of the other evil gods by the good and neutral ones. Sometimes, people who appear to be gaining too much power are warned to watch themselves so they don't attract his attention, while some of those who worship The Seen and Unseen gods openly pray for Achaekek to strike down gods who they think are false to try and offend the followers of those religions.

It is believed that Achaekek has free reign to venture anywhere he wills within the The godly Plane in order to prevent the gods from just raising up new demigods at will. The Red Inspection use this belief, along with their understanding that the need to destroy people who are messing with the balance of the gods outweighs even the temples' rights to defend people seeking asylum, to justify their claim that there is no place beyond their jurisdiction.

## Temple to Achaekek

Achaekek does not actively seek followers. He is mentioned rarely in religious texts, normally only in reference to his interactions with other gods, but does appear in the ancient Book of Maan and A history of the Torments Rebellion as a slayer of gods. Clerics of Achaekek are themselves assassins; even if they lack expertise, they do retain some level of healing skill, if only to keep themselves or other assassins in the fight.

Achaekek is occasionally worshiped by some ruthless druids and rangers who wish to emulate his efficiency in killing. Druids of Achaekek focus on vermin and often have a giant mantis as their animal companion. They forsake all links to friends or family in order to draw themselves as close to Achaekek as possible. As outsiders, they often serve as investigators or even assassins of traitors to the faith.

While the largest public temple to the Mantis God is the Pagoda of the Mantis in the Fire Ward of the city of Tarcheck, the centre of the faith is the heavily guarded and well hidden Crimson Citadel, the headquarters of the infamous Red Mantis assassins, located deep within the Croshine Mountains. The Midnight Maze, standing on the Holy street of Temple District in Old Vashton, is another public temple to Achaekek. Here, if a client wants, an assassination victim can be captured alive, brought to the temple, and dropped within the maze, where they are told that if they can escape they will live (though no one has ever accomplished this feat). This is a service that the Red Mantis offers if you want the target to die in fear and desperation.

Pelor actively opposes the work of Achaekek, disliking his nature of hiding in the darkness and considering the murder of people to be evil, and Pelor fights to stop all evil. While Achaekek claims that Pelor's attempts to stop him are little more than insignificant annoyances and that it is beneath him to work against Pelor, in reality Achaekek does seek to disrupt the work of Pelor and fights to weaken his hold on the mortal plane.

### Clergy

There are three branches to the faith of Achaekek: the Red Mantises, the Red Inspection, and the Red order.

### Red Mantis Assassins

The Red Mantis assassins secretly venerate He Who Walks in Blood. They use the Mantis God's persona and tactics as a model for their behaviour and organization. The Red Mantis seek to emulate their patron's role by never targeting a rightful monarch, just as Achaekek doesn't kill the truly divine. They see the murder of monarchs as blasphemous and abhorrent, considering them the anointed agents of the gods in the mortal world.

Leading the Red Mantis are the Vernai, also known as the "High Killers", from the Crimson Citadel. These 13 women are themselves led by the Blood Mistress, a figure considered to represent the Mantis God's will on the material plane.

### Red Inspection Order

The Red Inspection hunts down and punishes anyone who is trying to ascend to godhood. Their number has dwindled in the last few centuries as there have been few attempts to ascend or become a lich (which is the more common method for attaining immortality), but necromancy is more closely monitored/quelled.

### Red Order

Unlike the Inspection or the Mantis, the Order is less focused on trying to achieve a particular goal. Instead, they try to maintain the faith and funnel requests and possible initiates to the other two branches of the faith. The members of the order make every effort to keep themselves unassociated with any crimes but they outwardly work on buying and gathering weapons, armour, and herbs for potion/poison making.

### Titles

Leader of the Faith Red Mantis = Vernai = No names

High Priest = Achearun ...

Head Priest = Thespidae ...

Priest = Empulis...

Acolyte = Brother ... (male and female)

Leader of the Faith Red Order = The Razi = Razi Member ...

High Priest = Achearun ...

Head Priest = Red Priest ...

Priest = Deacon ...

Acolyte = Brother ... (male and female)

Leader of the Faith Red Inquisition = Inquisitor General ...

High Priest = Achearun ...

Head Priest = Red Priest ...

Priest = Inquisitor...

Acolyte = Brother ... (male and female)

## Realm

It is said that Achaekek has forgone the acquisition of land within The godly Plane, though perhaps his territorial gains are as stealthy as he is and are hidden even from the other gods.

### Planar allies

Zyrruthys, Achaekek's herald, is a huge, intelligent mantis that enjoys destroying villages of blasphemers. Often confused with Achaekek himself, Zyrruthys never asks for payment when summoned to perform this task.

## Artifacts

The *Mantis Blade* is a unique minor artifact sacred to followers of Achaekek.