Mother of Monsters
Titles: Mother of Monsters, Adopter of Outcasts
Alignment: CE
Pantheon: Global
Areas of Concern: Insanity, Monsters, the spurned and outcast
Worshippers: Monstrous humanoids, outcasts, scientists with but a vague grasp of ethics
Domains: Chaos, Charm, Madness, Animal, Scalykind, Community, Evil, Healing, Luck
Subdomains: Riot (ignores special requirement for Urban Acolyte), Love, Lust, Insanity, Feather, Fur, Insect, Entropy, Family, Corruption, Medicine, Curse
Favored Weapon: Light Flail
Symbol: A single fused skull of the heads of a Chimera
Sacred Animal: Chimera
Sacred Colors: Red, Purple
Dogma
Nester and her followers believe in change and embracing differences. That such change and differences are often deadly to those “blessed” by Nester and others is overlooked for the rare positive mutation. Nester genuinely loves her followers and offspring, though her mindset is such that her love is often actively harmful. Not to mention, those who are not her children are more or less considered food. Though for many outcasts that worship her, even this tainted adoration is sorely appreciated.
Appearance
Nester’s true form is an ever-shifting mass of flesh and chaos. Her humanoid form is that of a pregnant humanoid, depending on the observer she appears as a different race, appearing as a rather malformed mirror to those who see her. Various tumorous growths are strewn across her body, which slither about like bugs crawling beneath her skin, as if bearing her terrible spawn.
Providence
Nester’s approval often has the outcome of mutation of either the person, or a monstrous offspring.
Nester’s disapproval tends to show in the sending of her children after the transgressor.
Servants
Nester’s Supplicant
Nester’s “animal” servant, this creature resembles a twisted goblinoid, though it is roughly the size of an average human. Feral and incredibly strong, capable of tearing through flesh and steel with its clawed hands. Rumor has it that particularly devout followers of Nester take on this form through sheer devotion in a time of need, permanently.
Shade of Nester
This swirling mass of entropy can occasionally be found lurking near those undergoing a severe mental crisis.
Nester’s Firstborn
The Herald of Nester, this ancient chimera almost resembles a hydra in that it has numerous heads beyond that of its more common brethren. Rarely shows itself, mainly doing so to protect its siblings, such as when a kingdom aims to wipe out a monster population entirely.
Church of Nester
The church of Nester tends to be an underground organization, often literally. Open worship of Nester is frowned upon in polite society, and organized churches tend to be in the forgotten corners of society, in ruins or squalid places not readily visited.
Nester is a known factor by society at large and her influence considered dangerous in most nations that are “civilised”. Openly displaying holy symbols of Nester has a tendency to lead to hostility. Enclaves of worshippers will often create codewords and phrases to direct their fellows to their meeting grounds.
Worshipers
Those who worship Nester tend to be either insane or desperate. They are often outcasts from society, or of a society that openly celebrates the monstrosities born of Nester.
Obedience
The devout of Nester sacrifice and dissect a small animal to study its workings, pondering upon how the being functions, and how it may be changed. The churches of Nester often have a large mice population for this reason, often experimented upon.
Clergy
Most often Nester’s clergy is comprised of monstrous races, who are spurned by the majority of other civilized races. Occasionally there may be those born with deformities or illnesses that ostracize them from society who ascend the ranks of Nester’s clergy.
Temples and Shrines
Temples of Nester are rare in most kingdoms, and even more rarely openly displayed.
Small shrines of Nester are often used by followers and hidden away. A shrine of Nester is often adorned with bones, and used in the performance of the obedience.
Performing the obedience upon a shrine of Nester confers a +2 Insight Bonus to Knowledge checks to identify living things, and Charisma-based checks with monstrous humanoids
Nester’s Nursery
The birthplace of many of the world’s monsters, this is a pilgrimage site for Nester’s faithful. Many do not go into its depths due to the danger; seeing the terrors of its depths is a mark of honor among Nester’s followers.
Holy Texts
Nester tends to channel her blessings through living things rather than the written word. That being said, there do exist texts written by followers of Nester.
The Book of Fangs
A tome containing an incredible amount of information on monsters, where to find them, and how they work. Written by a vivisectionist follower of Nester and held by the Chroniclers of Beasts. Constantly being edited, updated, and revised by the Chroniclers as creatures are discovered, evolve, or otherwise change. Grants the reader a +5 to Knowledge checks to identify living things. Also applies a +5 to Heal checks regarding these same creatures.
Holidays
Day of the Firstborn
A day of debauchery celebrating the birth of Nester’s first born child. Followers of Nester believe a child conceived during this celebration will be blessed with Nester’s gifts. A child born on this day is similarly blessed, and their mother often regaled with many gifts.
Organizations
Chroniclers of Beasts
An organization that tracks monsters and studies them religiously, quite often literally. Not every Chronicler is aware of the organization’s ties to Nester, but the higher-ups are. This organization is wide-reaching in its membership, from those who are merely curious, to the devout of Nester’s monstrosities.
Tooth and Claw
It is rare that druids honor Nester outright, though a sect of them believe that her monstrous offspring are the pinnacle of natural selection.
Children of Entropy
A sect of Nester that preaches of the monstrosity that lurks within humanoids, and the madness that pulls from within.