Crom
(Deity)
| Title(s) | The Steelsworn, The Undying, The Eternal War |
|---|---|
| Symbol | A weapon that has killed a worthy opponent |
| Domain | War, Steel, Death, Loyalty, Strength, Warriors, Fighters, Soldiers, Swords |
| Power level | Deity |
| Status | Alive |
| Alignment | Chaotic |
| Worshippers | Those crazy enough to worship him are called CROMites |
| Temple | Battlefieds and Banner Temples (A CROM banner planted in bloodied earth) |
| Pantheon | Undead Pantheon |
| Weapon of Choice | Swords |
| Classes | Clerics, Paladins |
|---|---|
| Restrictions | You may not use healing magic |
| Boons | Recover from death once per day. Bonus to swords. Killing an enemy heals you. Ability to revive recently fallen. |
CROMites are known to be a little off, mad or downright terrifying. For every CROMite develops a certain obsession which disturbs the unfaithful to CROM. This obsession could take the form of the need to consume blood, to hoard skulls, to melt down weaponry of slain enemies to make jewelry, tattoos for every worthy kill or filing of the teeth and many many more.
To be a follower of CROM is to seek battle, as nothing in this world can bring a CROMite as much pleasure as combat. After every worthy battle, CROMites add to their banners in some way, banners which when planted act as places of worship to a CROMite.
A CROMite can also fall into a Blood Rage, turning them into monstrous killing machines, however a ritual performed by a cleric or priest of CROM is required for them to break free from it completely. However there exist tales of CROMites overcoming their rage themselves.
"To follow CROM is to invite madness and rage into your heart." - Common Skonald saying.
Origin
CROM was once a simple barbarian warrior hailing from the lost parts of Skonald. In his youth he joined a party of adventurers, making his way south all the way to the deserts of Shareem. He fought for glory, riches and as time went on for the thrill of the kill. This bloodlust grew so much that three berserker priests of Skonald were sent to track him down and seal his rage. Glutter the strong, Skrull the resourceful and Ulthar the undying found CROM in an ancient black pyramid in the western ash deserts of Shareem, here he and his party battled a serpent cult as they raised their dreaded snake god from the underworld.
Glutter and Ulthar went to aid the barbarian, using their magics to fuel the might and rage of the party, yet Skrull seeing a vision in the embers of a knocked down brazier instead left his fellow priests. Legends say he foresaw what would happen next, for the beserker magic of Skonald so freely channeled into the barbarian made him go mad. The snake god was torn from the inside out by him, his party ripped apart by his own hands... and the priests offered alive in the ritual circles of the cult, not to the dead snake god but to god of rage and war the priests followed. Their god accepted the sacrifice, and the rage that the berserker priests always strove to control was unleashed.
Now fueled by the maddened power of his god he started conquering. Tribes, cities, kingdoms and even empires fell to the Barbarian King who grew ever desperate for more bloodshed, making him resemble a demon more than a man. Eventually he made his way to Skonald, a burning Lovia left in his wake. But the kingdoms of Skonald would not fall as easy. The chieftan kings banded together, armed by various weaponry and machines of war acquired by Skrull, who spent the decades after leaving the pyramid preparing for this invasion.
Even if the hordes serving CROM outnumbered the Skonald defenders a thousand to one, it was through cunning (and magic items) that the invaders were driven back. In a bout of insanity CROM cut his way through till he reached the berserker priest in order to slay him. But a trap was sprung as he moved into a circle of sealing. The raw power of rage he abused for so long were finally locked away.
The only problem was, that even if CROM could finally think clearly.. Skrull now faced a sane CROM who was absolutely....
LIVID...
The two battled for hours until Skrull finally landed a single hit on CROM, the axe who claimed this wound then ignited and detonated. CROM died instantly in the explosion, flesh ripped off the bone. But a few minutes later he got up. Skrull held up his holy symbol to turn this undead but nothing happened. CROM merely laughed and informed the priest, that he a mere mortal has slain the god or rage. The priest was powerless, yet much to CROM humiliation... still beat the new fledgeling demigod in combat (again, thanks to magical items). Every time CROM almost killed Skrull, the priest would heal himself... an action that spawned his hatred for healing magic But before the final blow could be struck CROM used his new found divine magic to break the seal of rage. Energised anew, CROM defeated Skrull but instead of killing the priest he forced Skrull into his domain. Legends say the Skrull still fights in the blood pits of CROM to this day, denying the god of war the satisfaction of victory.
Even with the rage pulsing through his body, CROM kept his mind.... and disappeared.
He reemerged when Frostwhisper swept across the world, using his magic and might to battle the hordes. It is debated if it was Bremus, Otar, Caleb or CROM who killed the Lich... but the CROMites know, that if he didn't... he most likely did most of the damage anyway
Restrictions
- You may not use healing magic
Boons
- Once per day if you were to hit 0 HP you recover 1d4 hp.
- +2 To hit and damage with bladed weapons
- Killing an enemy heals you for 1d6hp.
- At level 4, once per day you can revive anyone who has been slain in less than an hour, they are returned with 1d4 hp.