ERULL

(THE REAPER) 

Major god, NE - Death, Darkness, Underworld, Covert Activity 

The dreaded Nerull is the Foe of all Good, Hater of Life, Bringer of Darkness, King of All Gloom, Reaper of Flesh. He is the deity of all those who seek greatest evil for their enjoyment and gain.  
Nerull appears as a skeletal figure. His body is a dull, rusty-red color. His skull-like head is adorned with thick strands of black-green "hair." Nerull's eyes also are of lambent green the color of verdigris, as are his teeth and taloned nails. With cowled cloak of rusty black and staff of red-veined sablewood, Nerull stalks the many planes - particularly the Prime Material when it is shrouded by night. This horror will cut down any living creature encountered, and send an undead monster howling off to its doom should it be of lawful bent. The staff Nerull bears is a magical scythe, which only he can employ. At his whim a huge blade of red-hued force appears at the tip of the shaft - the Life cutter. 

This scythe is particularly dangerous to creatures, which draw energy from or are of the Positive Material Plane. It can strike even creatures, which are astral, ethereal, or gaseous. Even undead creatures are drained of their negative energy. Nerull also is fond of carrying and using such evil magic items as a necklace of strangulation, hag of devouring, rug of smothering, etc. He employs them, as would an assassin, silently, from behind. 

Nerull has the ability to summon three demodands (q.v.) of greatest strength, and will do so at any time their aid or services are perceived as useful to him. These demodands will instantly obey Nerull, or attack obvious foes, for although they hate him, their fear of his power outweighs all other considerations. 

Nerull also can create a large clump of blackness, from which shoot forth tendrils, which grope and search for any living thing within their considerable reach. Their touch causes almost certain death, and corrosive injury if the victim survives. These tendrils can be destroyed only by holy water, blessings, or by having their evil dispelled. 

Nerull can travel any of the lower outer planes, the Astral and Ethereal Plane, and the Elemental and Prime Material Planes as well. However, most of the time he does not venture from Tarterus save to wreak havoc oil the Prime Material Plane. He can fly merely by so desiring, so he not only tends to travel alone but seldom uses any form of steed. Magical darkness or various clouds, which obstruct vision, do not do so with regard to Nerull. 

Many humans of evil nature and some humanoids as well, pay homage to Nerull. Assassins and thieves often regard this deity as a patron. In wicked lands, temples and cathedrals of Nerull are openly operated. In other places the rites of Nerull are conducted in subterranean shrines and sacred vaults. His clerics dress iii rust red or blackish-rust garments, carry staves, and somewhere hear the unholy skull and scythe symbol. All of Nerull's clerics are trained to use sickles as weapons. Prefects and superiors are trained to fight with scythe-like polearms similar to hook-fauchards. 

The worship of Nerull is done in full darkness. The litany is ghastly, being of death and suffering. Human sacrifice is common. Altars are of rusty-colored stone. Service pieces are usually of copper and malachite.