God of War, Strength
Titles: The First Soldier, The Unbroken
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Pantheon: Global
Areas of Concern: Strength through combat, war, conquest
Worshippers: Kings, soldiers, blacksmiths & arms dealers
Domains: Law, Strength, War, Glory, Evil, Destruction
Subdomains: Tyranny, Competition, Tactics, Blood, Duels, Ferocity, Self-Realization, Slavery, Fear
Favored Weapon: Greatsword
Symbol: A greatsword embedded in a skull
Sacred Animal: Dogs
Sacred Colors: Gold, White
Dogma
Strength through combat, the strong test themselves against one another for the victor to take the other’s strength for their own. Might makes right, and there is no mercy for the unworthy.
The weak are deplorable, but their slaughter does not prove strength in combat. They are to be subjugated and made use to the strong. If anything, killing the weak in combat only proves the weakness of the killer and their cowardice.
Appearance
A swirling mass of blades and metal, Rius’s true form is that of combat incarnate. However, he actually prefers a humanoid form, being his favored people. Nobody makes war like humanoids. Here, he has willed himself into the form of a massive suit of full plate, more often than not wielding a greatsword. All of this is part of his body.
Providence
Rius believes in strength, and does not generally grant boons, but rather opportunities.
Those who have pleased Rius may find themselves visited by an old warrior offering to train them in combat or be challenged by a worthy opponent.
Those that have displeased Rius may find themselves challenged by an opponent that is all but likely to be beyond their strength. This is an opportunity to redeem themselves in Rius’s eyes. Or die.
Servants
The Dogs of War
Rius’s personal war dogs, these servants of Rius most often show up on the battlefield when a routed foe is fleeing. Herding the retreating force like so much cattle, the dogs of war block off a retreat, often ending in the slaughter of the retreating force by their pursuers.
The Iron-Monger
A strange merchant that turns up in a cart full of weapons and armor selling for incredibly discount prices in times of strife. Actually an omen spirit of Rius who turns up in civilizations on the cusp of war, the Iron-Monger sells the gear of fallen warriors to make war anew. Their appearance is variable, often looking oddly like a local general or leader.
Warrior of the Broken Blade
This Herald of Rius wanders the land, armed with a broken greatsword and challenging worthy fighters to a trial by combat. Those who succeed will take on the mantle of the Herald, though none have been known to have done so. Even surviving a fight with the herald is a testament to the skill of the challenger. The blade he wields is the Broken Blade of Rius, a +3 Impact Speed Greatsword. Even though the blade is physically broken, it does not affect its abilities.
Church of Rius
The church of Rius is heavily militaristic and often has chaplains in the military of major kingdoms.
Worshipers
Worshippers of Rius tend to be militaristic in their mindset, and many soldiers pay homage to Rius at the very least.
Lawful Neutral worshipers tend to focus on the god’s sense of honor and aspects of self-improvement
Lawful Evil worshipers tend to have a mindset most close to the god’s, in that of proving strength over others.
Neutral Evil worshipers tend to focus on the subjugation of others and the strength of one above all else.
Obedience
The devout of Rius hold a ritualized maintenance of a weapon or armor in preparation for its use that day.
Clergy
Warpriests are the general clergy of Rius, the faithful show their devotion through martial might.
Temples and Shrines
Shrines to Rius consist of an anvil or grindstone to maintain the tools of war, alongside symbols of Rius.
Performing the obedience of Rius at a shrine to Rius grants a +1 bonus to attack rolls for that day.
The Proving Grounds
A temple to Rius devoted to holding tournaments of martial might. Nearly every day holds a competition, with a yearly one taking place that brings champions from around the world.
The Library of War
Home of the holy text “A Brief History of War”, and maintained by the scholars of Rius. Do not anger the librarians here, they are armed and angry.
The First Battleground
More a legend than a known location, this would be location of the first instance of combat on the world.
Holy Texts
The Tome of Might
This text contains the teachings of countless masters of combat and is kept at The Proving Grounds. Each year, the victor of the tournament is allowed access to this tome and may add their mark to it as well. Grants a +1 to attack rolls and a +1 to damage rolls in the weapon group of the reader’s choice.
A Brief History of War
This massive text contains a multitude of accounts of war from throughout the entirety of the history of the world. Reading from this book grants a +5 to Knowledge (History) checks pertaining to a war. Located in the Library of War and freely available to read there.
Holidays
Proving Day
The day of the big annual tournament at the Proving Grounds, which often sees many smaller such tournaments around the world as well, for those faithful who can’t make it to the big event. Generally a big gladiatorial event that aren’t to the death, though you can find true death matches in the smaller events on occasion.
Organizations
The Crucible
A secret society of warmongers, their name is a reference to their belief that war is a crucible for the strong to be forged. They pull strings across civilizations to sow the seeds of war, so that not only may they profit and prosper from such, but that they may satisfy Rius’s bloodlust.
Chroniclers of War
These followers of Rius are ever so slightly more bookish than many of the others, but their purview is war. Writing down the events of each and every war is their calling, and they maintain the Library of War and in particular the holy tome it contains within.