Solsek-Ro
(God of Destruction &
Fire)
The
Burning Prince
Great
Emperor of Destruction
Lord of the Heavenly
Infernos
Symbol: A bright,
intricately intertwined glyph known as the “Flame of Entropy”.
Description:
The
entity known as Solsek-Ro has many guises, which is not surprising given his
chaotic nature, but he is usually depicted as “the
Maelstrom” a large, swirling mass of flames and chaotic wind from which heat
and intense light emerge, or less commonly as a fierce, and powerful
taurok, wearing a suit of red-yellow half-plate covered with crests and spikes.
His eyes are pure red, with small fires flickering from them, and he leaves
prints of flame wherever he steps. Solsek-Ro wields a mighty halberd and leads
legions of his fallen faithful to battle
in the afterlife.
Worship:
The
followers of Solsek-Ro; (The Flametouched); believe in the raw, unbridled
power of fire. Fire created the world and in fire it shall be one day consumed.
True aggression is the only way for one to obtain what is desired. Power is
gained through superior force. Followers of Solsek-Ro have little fear. They are
bold, brash, say what they mean, and do what they say. Social graces are
something they neither possess nor desire. They demand the respect of their
peers, and more often than not, earn it as well.
Solsek-Ro
is a popular deity for many fighters throughout the known lands, particularly
among the Varghani (as deserts are holy to him), and some orcs along the
Emerald
Coast
. He also receives prayers from people seeking retribution when they’ve been
wronged.
Those
who seek true elemental power through fire worship Solsek-Ro, and thus many
sorcerers turn to the fiery embrace of the Burning Prince.
Solsek-Ro
has more of a following in the warmer, southern countries such as Avongar,
although there are a few Rhile barbarians that openly worship him.
Temples
:
Temples
to Solsek-Ro resemble large strongholds
constructed of reddish stone. At the center of each temple (in its sanctuary) is
the “Eternal Flame,” a fire that is a symbol of the faithful’s dedication
to Solsek-Ro. If this fire is ever extinguished, the temple must be razed and
then rebuilt elsewhere. The principle
temple
of
Solsek-Ro
is currently found in the city of
Shesada
on the continent of Avongar.
Clerical
Raiments:
Though
there are no formal rules on what clerics must wear, many of the faithful
adorn themselves in robes or vestments of red; high priests do likewise, though
their attire features gold trim. Clerics of all ranks usually wear gold
ornamentation, and most will seek to have their armor colored red as well.
Holy
Days and Times:
For
the faithful of Solsek-Ro, the holiest of days is Fiery Night (Sun’s Height
1st). On Fiery Night, the Flametouched hold ceremonies honoring
Solsek-Ro and his gifts and are granted increased spellcasting ability. Solsek-Ro’s
clerics pray at Highsun for their spells.
Relationships:
Solsek-Ro
has little interest in the workings of the other religions, except when their
agendas interfere with his own. The Burning Prince views the rest of the
pantheon with little interest, though he reserves a dislike for Daghdha,
whose tendency towards creation and preservation are diametrically opposed to
his own inclinations.
Essence
of the Faith:
•
From fire did the world emerge and to fire shall it one day return.
•
Order is your enemy, as it dulls the mind and imprisons passion.
•
Fear is your ally, cause fear among your enemies through the holy act of
devastation.
•
Destruction and devastation are inevitable in all things – we are nothing more
than instruments for what has already been preordained.
Factions
and Orders:
There
are three major orders of Flametouched in Solsek-Ro’s service: the Winds of
Flame, a large group, feared and respected throughout Avongar; the
Maelstrom, a clan of orcs that is the smallest of the three orders, found
along the Emerald Coast in Gharakaag; and the Riders of the Red Wolf, the
dominant Flametouched clan among the Rhile barbarian nation.
Game
Information:
Allowed Alignments:
Chaotic-Neutral,
True Neutral, Chaotic-Evil and Chaotic-Good
Domains:
Chaos,
Destruction, Fire, and Spell
Favored Weapon:
Halberd
"Maelstrom"
Holy Day Powers:
The Flametouched are granted an allotment of spells as if they were two levels higher than they actually are (example: A 3rd level cleric with WIS 13 normally has a spell array of 4/3+1/1+1; on their holy day, the cleric’s spells run 5/4+1/2+1/1+1). All spell effects based on level are still as the cleric’s actual level (using the previous example, if the cleric casts detect law, the duration would still only be limited to a maximum of thirty minutes, not fifty). Additionally, clerics of Solsek-Ro gain fire resistance 5 (if they already have fire resistance from some source, it is increased by 5)
Notes:
The Flametouched awe Undead as an evil cleric. However, they cannot control them. Instead, they destroy Undead, as would a good priest. Undead destroyed by Solsek-Ro burst into flames and are utterly destroyed
Divine Gifts for Laity:
Once per month, characters with this god as their patron may do one of the following: Cast the spell flare, or add a +4 sacred bonus to a saving throw versus any one spell (they must choose one or the other, not both; but they need not make the same choice every month).
On their holy day, lay worshippers of Solsek-Ro may cast burning hands.
Common Prayers:
All set for the kindling of your sacred fire, we hymn you, O Prince,
with our verses, invoking your powerful wrath.
In your praise, O Prince, who incinerates highest heavens, we compose
our song, eager to obtain your divine treasure!
Rig Veda 5.13.1-2. VE, P. 853
This prayer, known as the Circle of Fire, is
most commonly uttered by traveling or adventuring priests of Solsek-Ro at
Highsun each day as the conclusion to their daily spell preparation.
[Say today's date]
The day of my Lord, when his Divinity returns to me.
When living my free will, and with all the power of
my spirit, I choose to live my life in free communion with the Lord of the
Heavenly Infernos with no reservations.
I will live my life with passion and freedom,
beginning with myself, and continuing with all those I encounter.
I will incinerate all creation, as the symbol of my
communion with the Great Emperor of Destruction.
To the eternal happiness of my soul.
Hymn
to Solsek-Ro commonly chanted by faithful warriors before entering battle.
Come, blessed Solsek-Ro, bull-faced god conceived in fire, lord and master,
many-named destroyer of all.
You delight in raging infernos and in holy
devastations, as you howl throughout creation, O roaring and frenzied prince.
Armed with Maelstrom and wrathful in the extreme, you
are honored by all the gods and by all the men who dwell upon the world.
Come, blessed and wrathful god, and bring much joy to
all.
A Prayer to the Fire God
Prepare an altar in fiery colors, with
sparkling objects to catch the candlelight. In the center, place three
candles, orange, red and gold. As you praise each of the gods attributes in
turn, light a candle, and sit silently, receiving his messages and blessings.
Blessed be the god
of creativity Solsek-Ro, bright god of devastation.
Teach me to bear the fires of change, the furnace that tempers my blade,
and makes me strong.
Be with me as I blaze my trail.
I light this candle in fiery offering to you, Solsek-Ro, god of fire.
Blessed be the god of transformation, Solsek-Ro, Courageous One, the
molten core of the world.
Teach me to enter the hereafter without fear, and to emerge without
regret.
Light my path with your torches.
I light this candle in fiery offering to you, Solsek-Ro, god of fire.
Blessed be the god of faith Solsek-Ro, Constant One, god of hearth and
temple.
Teach me the lessons of commitment and contentment, service and
celebration.
Warm me within and without.
I light this candle in fiery offering to you, Solsek-Ro, god of fire.
