Well, "complete with clerical and patron information" is something that's going to take a little longer than I had planned.
I have to detail ten new clerical spells along with the patron information, so I will have to break this up over a few posts and a couple of days. Zu-Jarris has proven to be a bit of a difficult god, as it turns out. No wonder He is forbidden in Shanthopal!
Anyway, here is where I am so far:
Zu-Jarris (The Night Blade, Lord of the Tainted Cup, He Who Breathes Death Through Keyholes)
Demi-Power (in Shanthopal)Alignment: Neutral
Portfolio: Assassins, Poison, Traps
Symbol: A Blackened Dagger.
Clerical Raiment: No special raiment; clerics of Zu-Jarris do not call attention to themselves with specific clothing.
Organisation: In the City of Hu-Rashoi, far to the East, there is said to be an open Temple of the Night Blade, wherein folk may come to drink the poisoned cup, or to give the names of their enemies to Zu-Jarris’ priests. Apart from this Temple, there is no open organisation dedicated to Zu-Jarris. Instead, each cleric or worshipper knows, at best, 1-5 others who follow the path of the assassin god. Instructions are passed through these cells of worshippers, or through omens from the Lord of the Tainted Cup Himself.
Clerics of Zu-Jarris can be recognised by Eastern thieves who follow the Path of the Assassin though the use of secret hand-gestures and phrases that identify themselves. A cleric of Zu-Jarris need not make these signs if he chooses to remain incognito.
Places of Worship: Apart from the Temple in Hu-Rashoi, there are no official places of worship for Zu-Jarris. He is often worshipped by his devotees over the still-warm bodies of those they have assassinated in Zu-Jarris’ name. Note that this does not mean those murdered, slain in passion, or slain in combat for personal gain or glory — only those slain on the behest of another, as an act of assassination. Those who wish His favour or wish to honour Him sometimes carve a symbol of a dagger in some out of the way place, make a quick prayer, and then hurriedly leave.
Zu-Jarris is often given offerings by those who believe they may be targeted by Eastern assassins. These are usually wealthy and powerful men, and they sacrifice animals (usually sheep, cattle, horses, and camels) to He Who Breaths Death Through Keyholes in hopes that the sacrificial victims’ blood will satisfy Zu-Jarris. In some cases, human sacrifices have been known to occur. These are usually performed in some private location, with burned incense and invocations to the God of Assassins, begging him to accept the sacrifice.
Those who would sacrifice to Zu-Jarris are wise to abase themselves, as it is said that He abhors the prideful. Some believe that spending money on public works is pleasing to Zu-Jarris, and may turn his attention away. In this case, the place of penance or of charity also becomes a place of worship (or appeasement).
Details of Power: There is no Power or God known in Shanthopal who is more mysterious than Zu-Jarris. No one can say what the God of Assassins looks like, for he is never seen in His own guise. Although worshipping Zu-Jarris is illegal in Shanthopal, his name is still called upon by Eastern assassins, and He is given offerings by those who would avert His attentions.
Associations: Zu-Jarris associates with all the Eastern gods, to some degree, as He and or His agents carry out their divine wills. Whether a god serves Law or Chaos is of no matter to Zu-Jarris. Ages ago, He assassinated the gods themselves on behalf of their rivals, but now there is an uneasy truce among the Eastern gods not to call upon Zu-Jarris to eliminate other Powers. Mortals, of course, are fair targets.
Whether a god is of the East or the West makes no difference to the Night Blade, either, and He has been making inroads in the West. There are rumours that some of the Western gods, who have no pact limiting their use of Zu-Jarris, have paid Him honours…but these rumours are difficult to confirm, as no one can be said to have any certain knowledge of Zu-Jarris’ deeds or contacts.
Allies: Zu-Jarris has no allies, save those who would be his clients.
Foes: Zu-Jarris has no foes, save those who are his targets. Sometimes clients and targets overlap.
Holy Days: The Dark of the Moon. On nights when the moon is dark, devotees of Zu-Jarris may commit any profane act (but not sin) without fear of censure (in fact, they are commanded to), but may perform no assassination until the first sliver of the first moon appears. This outlet is important both the the clerics of Zu-Jarris, whose discipline is otherwise unrelenting, and for their targets, who are allowed to breathe freely for at least one night each month.
What is Sacred: Assassination. The act of clever and stealthy killing, where the victim is unaware he has been assassinated, and the act appears to be from some other (natural) cause. Specifically, the act of sublimating personal desires to meet the needs of one’s client through as gentle and untraceable an assassination as possible. Few assassins experience the highest sublimities of the sacred, and few of those who do experience them often.
What is Profane: Weakness of the body, the spirit, or the mind. Acting from desire without thought. Carnal passion. Amassing more wealth than one needs. Seeking personal revenge. Crass murder. Botching an assassination, or committing a poorly realised assassination. Being discovered.
What is a Sin: Sharing the secrets of your cell of worshippers. Allowing a target to live through pity, fear, greed, or similar weaknesses. Letting your client know who you actually are. Failing to make good on a contract to assassinate because you pursue another opportunity, or because you give up. A cleric of Zu-Jarris using his Lay on Hands ability on anyone who is not a member of his cell of worshippers.
Omens:Details of Clerics: Assassin’s Path: Clerics of Zu-Jarris gain some abilities which are similar to those of thieves following the Path of the Assassin. A cleric of Zu-Jarris can perform the following functions as a Chaotic thief of two levels below his clerical level: Backstab, Sneak Silently, Hide in Shadows, Disguise Self, and Handle Poison. Thus, a 3rd level cleric of Zu-Jarris gains these skills as per a 1st level Chaotic thief. These are divinely granted abilities, however, and the cleric must make a Spell Check (with the bonus from Table 1-9 factored into this instead of a normal skill check), and risks disapproval. Even when the cleric makes a Backstab attempt, he uses his spell check for the attack roll (and can gain a critical hit or suffer both disapproval and a fumble).
Luck: A cleric of Zu-Jarris does not Turn Unholy. Instead, this cleric adds his Luck modifier to the skills gained through the Assassin’s Path.
Spells of His God: Level 1 (Roll 1d10): (1) Darkness, (2) Detect Evil, (3) Detect Magic, (4-5) Mark Target+, (6) Paralysis, (7) Resist Cold or Heat, (8) Second Sight, (8) Unseen Strike+, (10) Word of Command.
Level 2 (Roll 1d7): (1) Banish, (2) Curse, (3) Divine Symbol, (4) Hold Target+, (5) Lotus Stare, (6) Poisoned Blade+, (7) Seek Target+.
Level 3 (Roll 1d6): (1) Call to Mark+, (2) Mask of Zu-Jarris+, (3) Sleep*, (4) Speak With the Dead, (5) Spiritual Weapon, (6) True Name.
Level 4 (Roll 1d4): (1) Knock*, (2) Invisibility*, (3) Poisoned Breath+, (4) True Strike+.
Level 5 (Roll 1d5): (1-2) Righteous Fire, (3-5) Touch of Zu-Jarris+.
* Treat these spells as the Wizard spells of the same name. The cleric does not suffer corruption or patron taint. The cleric has a -2 penalty to all spell checks on these spells.
+ New spell
Turn Unholy: Clerics of Zu-Jarris do not gain this ability.
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