Church of Darthman

The **Church of Darthman** is the organization dedicated to worshiping, as well as furthering the influence of the deity, Darthman. Generally speaking, they are a cruel and power-hungry group of individuals who worship their deity under a strict hierarchy.

## Dogma

### Beliefs

The church of Darthman believes in subservience and submission within their hierarchy, with junior members bowing, kneeling, or even kissing the feet of their superior, depending on their rank. Superior members are to be followed and obeyed at all times. The rules in the church are of the utmost importance, but those from any other lands or faith are entirely meaningless.

Darthman's authority and divinity are revered above all else. According to his priests, Darthman is to be feared by his faithful and even more feared by the unfaithful. It is the duty of every member of the church of Darthman to *"spread (his) fear"*.

### Attitude

Darthmanite priests take great pride in their ability to control their actions and avoid succumbing to emotional outbursts. Their outward demeanor is cold and thoughtful, they think carefully before they speak, often preferring sarcasm and "witty banter" rather than overt hostility.

## Activities

The overarching goal of Darthman's clergy is the charge of seizing or manipulating their way into power in every nation, city-state or freehold in all of Eden, to bring them under his influence. Using emotionally manipulative tools such as fear, hatred or greed to sow conflict, war and chaos allows the Black Hand to maintain control over lands too distressed to maintain stability. To this end, priests and followers are encouraged to commit acts such as torture, political infiltration or inciting mayhem with subtlety, cruelty and overall, fear.

## Organization

The church of Darthman attracts a great number of wizards as well as the typical clerics.

### Titles

* High Imperceptor: Serving as the apex in the hierarchy of Darthman's church, this leader is the supreme servant of the Black Lord.

* Dreadmaster: A title granted to the priests of Darthman who held highest authority within the land they reside in.

### Knightly Orders

* Knights of the Black Gauntlet: An order of black knights and helmed horrors from the dominion of Divlyi led by Lady Knight Imperceptor Jhessail Greycastle.

## Rituals

Rituals of Darthman are to be performed whenever ordered by senior clergy members and held no correlation to any seasonal shifts, marks on the calendar or specific holy days. They are held either outdoors at night, or in a space of darkness, such as darkened chambers, caves or ruins with only dim lighting. A Black Alter is prepared; consisting of a plain stone block which, if obsidian is unavailable, would be painted black or draped in black fabric. To accompany the altar is either a floating, stone *Hand of Darthman* or, failing that, an empty black throne facing its direction.

Services includ rhythmic chanting, the rolling beating of drums and the sacrifice of an intelligent creature's life. To prepare for this life to be given to Darthman, the oblatory life is to be demeaned and tortured until they show him due fear.

## Temples

### Notable locations

The largest temple of Darthman is the Black Lord's Cloak in the dominion of Divlyi. It is led by the self-appointed *Dread Imperceptor* Kabbarath Telthaug.

## Equipment, spells and relics

### Dress

Clergy of the church of Darthman dress in black and are sure to always remained armed. For ceremonial purposes, the priests adorn black armor draped in blood-red capes while mages don ceremonial black robes that had been affixed with illusion spells to present shimmering black stars or blood spilling out.

The prestige and rank of the individual Darthmanite is evident by the craftsmanship of their armor or robes.

When on a mission outside their temples, the priests keep in their armor and mages wear more appropriate, although similarly themed, traveling robes. No member of the church would adorn vestments that would hamper their attempts of subterfuge or infiltration, if it is so needed in their service of Darthman.