Adventures in Arcadayn
Demon Cults
By Tim Emrick

The gods of Arcadayn include five demonic deities. All five are hated and feared throughout most of the known world, so their cults must usually operate secretly. Demon cults are explicitly illegal in the Krithian Empire and the Kingdom of Visala. The Hidden Lore (Demon Lore) skill may give further information about these cults.

Hadira is the goddess of darkness and the night, and is depicted as a black giantess with several arms. She is the patron of those who do evil under the cover of darkness, especially those who employ magic. Insects and arachnids are sacred to her, and spiders are her most common symbols. Her worship is always clandestine, even in areas where other demon cults flourish in the open. Likewise, her Holy Days are unknown.

Shulkor is the evil god of death and arch-enemy of Tovanira (see the Celestian Church). He is the lord of those practicing the necromantic arts. The Prince of the Undead is depicted as a giant winged skeleton or rotting corpse wielding a scythe. His head is skeletal, with long curving horns; his symbol is any horned skull. A few small cults operate semi-openly in Riversmidst and Lis, but most are secret cabals. His Holy Day is Samhain, the autumnal equinox.

Zukuvor [pictured at right] is the god of serpents, poison and lies. He is most often depicted as a monstrous snake with fanlike wings, a man's face and a beard made of snakes. His symbol is the snake or naga. He delights in corrupting others into serving his will under the deception that they do good. Zukuvor's cult is strongest (or at least most visible) in the Hold of Lis. His Holy Day is Year's End. The other two demon-gods, Mefira and Mukor, are children of Hadira. They are minor gods of illness and misery--Mefira of insanity, Mukor of physical plagues--and because few mortals truly wish to serve these two gods, they lack the organized cults that the other demons gather. However, from time to time, insane fanatics will spread illness in these gods' names, sometimes allying with another demon's cult. Mefira is depicted as a leprous hag; her symbol is a white hand. Mukor takes the form of his symbol, the rat, or else a rat-like man. Demon Priests are not available as PCs.

Return to Religions of Arcadayn.

Return to the Arcadayn index. | Return to the Game Room. | Return to the Lair.