RYTHNUL

(THE MANY) 

Lesser god, CE (N) - Ugliness, Hate, Envy, Malice, Panic, Slaughter 

Erythnul, know as "The Many," is the deity of capricious malice, hate, envy and panic. His followers include humans and humanoids as well, for Erythnul is said to greatly reward his faithful servants for their fickleness and wicked deeds. Erythnul stalks all battlefields in order to strike fear and rout whenever possible. 

This deity appears as a seven-foot-tall, brutal-looking man. He is rubicund of complexion, hirsute, and muscular. Erythnul has mad, darting eyes of dull green color, which are horrible to behold. He is typically clad in red fur garments and russet-dyed leather. He carries a huge stone-headed mace. The head of this weapon is pierced so that when Erythnul swings it the mace gives off a shrieking whistle. 

The keening from Erythnul's stone-headed mace has been known to send those bearing it fleeing and screaming in fright, until they pass out from exhaustion. 

When Erythnul engages in combat, his visage mutates, flowing in form from human to gnoll to bugbear to ogre to troll. This denotes his special power to generate servitors from his blood. If Erythnul is stabbed or cut in battle, the following creatures have been seen to spring forth from his spilled blood: 

- Human fighters armored in red metal and wielding footmen's maces. 
- Gnolls clad in red lacquered armor and wielding morning stars. 
- Bugbears adorned in plates of red enameled iron and wielding flails. 
- Ogres wearing pelts and hides of red fur and hair and wielding huge clubs. 
- Trolls whose coppery skin is unusually tough, and which fight with their natural weapons. 

Erythnul also can spread fear through his eyes. He can assume the shape of a human, gnoll, bugbear, ogre, or troll at will. Erythnul otherwise has all of the powers typical for a lesser god. 

Clerics of Erythnul dress in rust colored garments. Ceremonial robes are often white spattered with blood. Masks include stylized visages for each of Erythnul's five aspects. Most places of worship of Erythnul are bidden. Most towns and cities have a small cult of his followers amongst the denizens of the local thieves quarter. Many gnolls, bugbears, ogres and trolls worship this deity. Services include shrill reed instruments played in discord, gongs, and drums. Major rites include fire and a sacrifice.