Daudri

The Deathbringer (By Khivans)

*"You've entered the domain of the Darkener, Underkin. You will find no mercy here, for you stand before their children, and we condemn your unfettered necromancy. And though you are a powerful necromancer indeed, your magics pale in comparison to those of the Cold One's devoted. And thus, in Daudri's name, we sentence you to die." -* Said by a Drow Company Captain to an Underkin Necromancer leading a northward expedition. The expedition was wiped out.

## General

Daudri the Cold One is a God of death, darkness and magic that once wandered the Khivan continent before crossing the seas and settling down in what would become the Black City in Northern Varnia. Daudri is, in a way, the ancestor God of the Drow, as they were the one who changed these Elves to better suit their subterranean lifestyle, but they did not directly create them and are thus not really regarded as such. They are, however, still worshipped by the Drow and the Khivan Empire as their primary deity and by all other folks of Kranos as the God of Death. Daudri's name is usually invoked at funerals, and the deity has taken up the mantle of "Protector of Souls" in an act of empathy for the mortals that worshipped them. Followers of Daudri are often inspired to do whatever they can to combat undeath to protect the souls of the dead.

## History

Daudri is among the most enigmatic of the Gods when it comes to their material plane history. No one knows exactly when Daudri emerged, making it impossible to determine which generation of Gods they belong to. Regardless, it is known that Daudri fought in the War of the Firstborn to protect Kranos, though most of whatever records there are indicate that the Cold One was initially hesitant to fight until the extraplanar threat began to raise the dead. Once the war had been won, Daudri is said to have wandered all of Khiva's lands, including those beyond the mountains in the West. Whatever happened beyond the mountains, Daudri headed due East in pursuit of a single goal: the destruction of the Archivist. After crossing the seas and entering the Archivist's domain on Tempest Island, they killed the Archivist and made themselves at home in the Black City the Archivist's followers had constructed. It was here that they took pity on some of the first elves underground and turned them into Drow, thus becoming the Drow's "Darkener". Daudri themselves eventually retreated underground, abandoning the Black City. There they lived among their Drow subjects, until they, just like all the Gods, inexplicably abandoned Kranos.

## Worship

Daudric worship is prominent across Kranos, but particularly popular within the Khivan Empire and among Drow everywhere. Their worshippers tend to be tenders of the grave, priests, and vehement enemies of necromancy and undeath. Daudric temples function in a typical way, and most worship is similar to that of most conventional Gods. However, the destruction of the undead, maintenance of cemeteries, support of those left behind and pursuit of magical power are considered practical ways of worshipping the Cold One. As such, the Khivans founded the only Blood Hunter Order of Ghostslayers in Kranos, which is based in the Khivan Capital.