Record of Lodoss War Fansite.

Magic: Clerical: Unholy Priesthoods

Falaris, Kardis, Barbas, and Baylos are the most powerful gods of darkness. Falaris and Kardis have the only followings that rival the holy gods, while Barbas and Baylos are only worshiped by secret cults. All these religions are outlawed on Lodoss, and since Marmo is now a duchy of Flaim, the only place to worship any dark gods freely is Raiden. On Marmo, where dark gods once reigned superior, any priests that stayed behind now live as far away from Flaim settlements as possible to continue to worship their evil gods.

The War of the Destroyer's Resurrection decimated the dark priesthoods. Aside from the priests lost in battle and in the fall of Conquera, some left on the exodus, while most others abandoned their religions when Kardis' presence diminished. Once, her following was greater than that of Falaris, but now she has little more than a few cults left to her honor.

Traveling Priests

Unlike in holy priesthoods, unholy priests do not make pilgrimages as youths. Considering that these religions are illegal, few priests are willing to leave the safety of their temples. When unholy clerics do travel, they do so conspicuously and only when necessary.

Love and Relationships in the Priesthood

Followers of the dark gods often regard sex differently than their holy counterparts. Unholy priests may marry just as holy priests, but they are allowed to be more promiscuous. This often means not only casual sex, but the keeping of slaves or concubines. Some sects may use sex or rape in rituals.

Priest of Falaris

Falaris, the terrible God of Darkness, is feared and loathed throughout Lodoss. His cult resides primarily on Marmo, along with other cults dedicated to the other dark gods. There are mostly human priests of Falaris, but many dark elves also follow the dark god. Dark elves see themselves as the chosen "Children of Falaris". A dark elf who is a priest of Falaris may use clerical magic along with their shamanism.

Priests of Falaris must perform horrid rites and bloody sacrifices to their god. Most sacrifices require a human or dark elf to be ritually sacrificed (often female virgins), but the sacrifice of a high elf is extremely well rewarded and can result in spectacular spell casting effects. Goblins and other semi-intelligent creatures are usually not satisfactory sacrifices, but can be acceptable in a pinch. Human sacrifices are often unwilling, but many times, a dark elf sacrifice may be willing if they are a devote follower of Falaris.

Middle and high level priests can begin to learn extremely potent black spells, and have easy access to their dark mentors and unholy tomes from which to learn.

Castle Conquera was once the main temple for Falaris, but after the war, it was nearly destroyed and abandoned by the priests. There are small temples and shrines in the Dark Forest and southern coast of Marmo where priests may find refuge. The largest Falaris temple is now found in Raiden, in a part of the city where few are brave enough to tread.

Uniform

There are no exact uniforms for Falaris priests, but they prefer to wear dark robes in black, red, royal purple, and dark blue. See Garbela's design as an example.

Priest of Kardis

Kardis is the abominable Goddess of Destruction and Madness. Her cult resides alongside the cults of Falaris, but was once more popular and far more powerful than those dedicated to the god of darkness. This was because Kardis was extremely strong and influential on Marmo. However, the Kardis priesthood is dying. When Kardis was sealed by Marfa, nearly all connections were severed to her. She can no longer grant boons to new priests. Existing priests have only the power she originally bestowed them with to spend. Because of this, many Kardis priests have either abandoned her, or became Falaris worshipers.

The main temple of Kardis was located beneath Castle Conquera, which acted as a sarcophagus to the goddess. This is where her resurrection was attempted, and in the aftermath, the temple was destroyed. There is a small temple in Raiden, and a few shrines in the Dark Forest and on the south coast where the remaining priests are now hiding.

Uniform

There is no uniform for Kardis priests, though like Falaris priests, they often prefer dark robes.

Priest of Baylos

Baylos is the dark God of Fire and Fury. Once, Baylos was the noble God of Fire and Justice, but he was drawn to the darkness, and his sense of Justice became twisted, corrupted with evil. Like their god, worshipers of Baylos have a twisted sense of justice as well. Most truly believe they are followers of Justice, the chosen of Baylos, and charged with the responsibility to seek deadly vengeance on all who trespass against the will of Baylos.

The Law of Fire, also called the Book of Baylos, is the chief text for followers of Baylos. It is, in essence, a book of law which lays out complex and excruciatingly detailed rules of right and wrong. Any who violate the slightest law are guilty of trespassing against Baylos, and thus, must be destroyed. The Law of Fire is so strict and precise, practically everyone violates at least one of the laws on a daily basis (be it an ill-spoken word, a joke, or a legitimate crime). Priests of Baylos are granted impunity from many laws, but acolytes and followers must follow the letter of the law. The Law of Fire is considered by most citizens of Lodoss to be a fraud.

Nevertheless, priests and followers of Baylos seek out and destroy those they believe are guilty, and sacrifice them to Baylos as an offering for power. Such human sacrifices are terribly blood. The worship of Baylos is outlawed in Lodoss, but there are cults dedicated to him in several towns and an actual temple in Raiden.

Uniform

For discretion, Baylos priests dress normally, but when performing rituals, they wear blood red robes with flame embellishments.

Priest of Barbas

Barbas was on of the few gods to survive the War of the Gods. Barbas (and a few other gods as well) fled to Crystania where they surrendered their bodies and took form in animals to hide from their enemies. Barbas originally took the form of a great tiger. Though he resides on Crystania, he still has several dark death-cults in Lodoss and Marmo. These cults are few in number, and work in dire secrecy. The worship of Barbas is illegal in most parts of Lodoss.

Priests of Barbas are extraordinarily skilled in necromancy. Fortunately, most priests are not too powerful, but those that are can be extremely deadly enemies.

Uniform

Barbas priests have no uniform robes. During rituals, they will wear black cloaks.

Holy Priests | Unholy Priests

Shamanism | Sorcery | Clerical