PPI: Desire  SPI: Betrayal, Lust, Misery Areas: Adultery, Hedonism, Seduction, Malice Aliases: The Witch, The Shrew, Heartbreaker Allies: Garalax, Fyrre, Maldread Foes: Anthor, Celenia, Hesneen and Mahacto Symbol: A heart being ripped apart. Holy Book: Malefactus Curs (Evil Curses) Outer Realm: Calsenadra Wor Alignment: Any

Ajoetis is the goddess of desire, seduction, lust and betrayal. It is through her that lovers quarrel and adultery finds its roots. She is the force that drives apart lovers and tears apart families and drives a wedge between long held friendships. But she is not always the one to instigate betrayal as it is also within her to bring pay back to those that betray others. But no oath is sacred and nothing should come between a person and what they most desires. It is Ajoetis that makes the desire of the moment more important than the long held belief. Ajoetis works on the lust and greed in everyone to tempt them away from their true path and after that which has captured their eye.

The Church of the Broken Heart (The Church of Ajoetis)

CLERGY:	Cleric, Specialty Priest (Seductress) and Villains (Warrior Seducers).
CLERGY ALIGN:	N, CN, NE, CE

Dogma and Beliefs:

    Ajoetic people believe that life can only be experienced properly if you are able to know the ups and downs, the heights of ecstasy and the depths of depression. A need to go after what you want, what you most desire at any moment, regardless of the problems they may cause promises the most likely ability to find pleasure. And is it not the reason life was placed in the cosmos and given the ability to know what it is experiencing to pursue pleasure. But the price of this is to feel misery. Neither is acknowledgeable without the other. The Ajoetic seeks to sate their desires whenever possible and then deal with the repercussions of their actions or find another to blame later.
    It is possible to enjoy the heights and live out the lows without hurting another but most true followers of Ajoetis do not care for anyone but themselves. They are greedy, lustful, amoral and seek only their own pleasure. Almost all are selfish even if not evil and would betray their own mothers to attain their current goal or fulfill their own personal desires.
    Though most deny it, and few accept it, almost everyone at one time or another will give up a prayer to Ajoetis in a time of want or desire. Greed and lust are strong emotions and everyone succumbs to them once in a while. The world is full of temptation and seduction and they are not always found in the manner most would think. The man thirsting after a long trip is seduced by the taste of a cold ale, and the hungry may be enticed by the smell of food. Men and women are tempted by the shape and beauty of the opposite sex and even the purest may be seduced by a need for more power to defeat their enemy. It is at these times that Ajoetis may step in and answer a prayer where another god would ignore it.
    Ajoetis really needs no temples, and so they are rarely built. Her temple is the heart of every feeling being that has even the smallest impulse to fulfill their desire. To know any kind of pleasure, confidence, satisfaction or love is to also know its opposite and this is where Ajoetis builds her temple, in the misery and envy, lust and greed that grows in even the purist of souls. They may not be her willing worshipper but they cannot ignore what Ajoetis provides without giving up on that which they do want. When one's desires are for the best of intentions, still Ajoetis gets her bit of that worship and prayer and so has power. Her insidious hold on almost every feeling being keeps her in her godly power even without great temples or a structured religion.

Physical Manifestations:

    Ajoetis has three aspects that equally appear in Kyranath. They represent the multiple faucets of her character. One is a beautiful young and nubile maiden, the desire of every young heart and innocent abandon that brings heart ache and misery through envy. Another is the mature woman, experienced in the ways of the world, the temptress or still beautiful wife that brings pleasure or lust and envy of others and whose beauty causes jealousy and mistrust. The third is the crone, ugly and wizened, that holds secrets that only can be known by age. She is the symbol of misery and betrayal, left to grow slower and older by a husband, envious of youth and no longer wanted or desired.

Alters and Idols:

    The alter of Ajoetis is a large flat stone the size of a bed. It is used for ceremonial and ritual sex acts dedicated to the goddess. At times there is also sacrifice of animals or even the participants of the sex acts as offerings, depending on the needs of the worshippers.
    Because of the more desirable features of the youth and seductress, these images are more apt to be found as idols of Ajoetis. Many worshippers hide their idols in the features of Celenia and pass the idol off as one of hers. But such idols always slyly hide features that are more seductive than the simple Celeniate maiden and only discernible by knowing eyes.

Major Centers of Worship:

    Ajoetis has no temples in the lands of Thardferr though there is a few in other parts of Kyranath. She finds surprising popularity amongst the elven people who feel they have been regularly betrayed and wish some retribution. The elves worship at small hidden shrines within several of their larger enclaves. The gnomish and halfling folk also delight in worshiping the goddess, though they are seduced by things like monetary gain and good food. There are several hidden shrines within the lands of Alderd and Ruch where they worship. None of these shrines are openly known to the general populace or spoken of by the worshippers.
    Most Shrines are nothing more than a tall pillar in a secluded area. The worship is mainly performed through dancing around this pillar while tying intricate knots around it with long colored ribbons attached at its top. The worship generally ends in debauchery, gluttony and other hedonistic behavior amongst the worshippers.

Worshipers:

     The worshippers of Ajoetis are free willed and free loving, moving from one place to another without a care in the world. They make friendships and lovers one day, only to break the other parties hearts the next. They will usually keep their worship secret, never revealing themselves to anyone, even a suspected follower of the goddess, because in some towns and cities just being known as a worshipper is enough to get a person whipped and driven out of town. Many nomadic performers, traders and other transient types worship Ajoetis and work a town for all it is worth before moving on and making a bad name for all such free traveling folk who are not as mercenary and greedy as the Ajoetic wanderers.
    Worshippers collect in small, secret groups called covens. They celebrate their acceptance of the misery that they must pay in order to feel pleasure and practice ritual sex and other hedonistic acts amongst themselves. Some of the more extreme worshippers also practice self mutilation or torture as a means to pay for the pleasure they gain, or as part of it. It is not uncommon for Ajoetic people to have tattoos and patterned scars or body piercing.

The Clergy:

      The clergy of Ajoetis are almost entirely made up of females. Priestesses make up 99% of the clergy and it is rare for any male to ever rise to the head of a coven. The clergy of Ajoetis are generally hated or feared by the common populace of Kyranath. Because of this they rarely build temples and only maintain hidden shrines and secret places of worship in secluded places. If the clergy is discovered in many towns or realms they are summarily punished and exiled. The worship of Ajoetis is more greatly despised than any other of the gods.
    The clergy lead the covens and perform the sacrifices as well as ritual mutilation and torture of the worshippers.

Church Hierarchy:

      "I accept misery to know pleasure and cruelty to know kindness." – Yasmina Halfdotter, Ajoetic (Unknown)

     The Church of the Broken Heart has no real hierarchy. The only recognized leader is the one that has the greatest power in any coven of worshippers celebrating Ajoetis. There is a few widely accepted titles used but no real religious structure is maintained throughout all the clergy.

True Heart - The followers of Ajoetis that recognize and follow their desires and worship of the goddess are called the True Hearts. They know the way of pleasure and misery and accept it as the only way to experience life. These learn that through their devotion they are able to gain divine magics and use them to spread the ideals of Ajoetis throughout the world.

Seductress- Some of the True Hearts, always female, find a calling that leads them to pursue active realization of the desires of others. It becomes their mission in life to see that as many people as possible find their own heart's desire. These become Seductresses of Ajoetis.

Priest(ess)- These are the leaders of the covens or of greater areas with many covens acting within it. Reaching a level of divine knowledge and able to call animals for use as sacrifice (cast 4th-level spells) they lead all greater ceremonies for the church and are the normal example of the clergy. At this level they are starting to become known outside the secret collection of followers and may become wanted by the civil authorities in some places. This is the highest level of power a male may achieve in the church.

High Priestess - Once a priestess has gained enough power through their divine understanding to be able to seduce beings form other planes (cast 6th-level spells) they are considered a High Priestess of the Church of the Broken Heart. Unless in a part of Kyranath where there is temples to Ajoetis, this title gives them no greater following or area to control, though they are given the respect or fear befitting their power. Where there are temples the High Priestess is the leader of such places.
 

Ceremonies and Holy Days:

Nearwinter's Coming (Quark 10th - 12th)
On this day the worshippers of Ajoetis gather together to praise another year of life and ready themselves to survive the winter. This time of year is thought to be when the harshness of life is at its worst and during this ceremony much reveling is had. But also all those that had mistreated the Ajoetic worshipper will also have curses called down upon them and prayers are sent for their untimely death during the winter.

Spring's Dance (Sampous 21st - 23rd)
These days are given in praise for the return of life and heat after the winters. It is generally a great time of hedonistic celebration and when people forgive the cruelties of the past years of those that lived through the winter.

Rebirth Ceremony (Special)
At times someone is lost, dies, before their time. The Ajoetic may then wish to give them more time to find regrets in life or feel the torments of the living and the pleasures of a physical body before reaching their reward or punishment in the afterlife. At these times, a coven will sacrifice one of their own, releasing their soul in such a way as to not harm the body and so make room for another to be able to be brought into it. The Ceremony is one of great respect for the one sacrificing their time on Kyranath and must be preceded over by a powerful High Priestess as they are the only ones able to perform such a feat (Cast the Reincarnate spell). This ceremony allows the target body to be picked that will allow the lost soul to reincarnate. It must be a willing Ajoetic.
 

Priestly Vestments:

     Manner of dress varies wildly amongst the clergy. Most where clothing they feel is pleasing to the eye and will entice the opposite sex and bring envy to others. But some like to wallow in their misery and wear only rags and tatters. Armor is rarely worn but when it is it is generally disguised in the rags or created to be worn as a heavy manner of dress, both of quality and pleasant to look at as well as functional. This inhibits any other than lighter and clothing level armors such as padded leather and studded leather in most cases. Though the truly well-to-do may have better forms of armor that they will wear if they can find quality armor with an aesthetic appeal, or that can be worn without being noticed or hidden under their tatters or other rich gowns.
    Holy symbols of Ajoetis vary as well. The most widely excepted and used is a polished stone with a crack through it worn around the neck or mounted on a wand or staff. Also used is a staff with a split end and a necklace or bangle with two large, enter twined heart shaped chain links on a smaller chain.

Affiliated Orders, Societies and Guilds:

Brothels and Bath Houses - Those places that tend to the more carnal needs of parts of society may have a shrine to Ajoetis. Some are disguised as the more commonly found bath houses of Celenia or Aqualie, but the motif of the decorations are always a bit more sexual and suggestive. These cater to not only health and cleanliness but other more private attention that there attendants may be able to offer.
 

Church Errata:

Allies

Fyrre  - Fyrre is passion and consumption, it is also seductive in its own way and so Ajoetis is friendly with Fyrre. All ceremonies of Ajoetis use fire. Not only for light but heat and to stir the feelings within those that are participating.

Garalax - Garalax uses Ajoetis and her control of other's through desire to lure them into situations that he can then take advantage of for his own purposes. Ajoetis cares little for these overall plans and conspiracies but gladly aids Garalax since it only increases her own power and control of others.

Maldread *** - Consort and sometimes ally, Maldread and Ajoetis share little in common but aid each other in their pursuit of pleasure through excess while living within society. At times betrayal and deception go hand in hand and so these gods are paired together. The elicit manner of such a pairing is even more so in lands where Maldread is also considered to be female.

Foes

Celenia - Celenia represents hope and healing, she promotes love and family while Ajoetis tears these things down and teaches desire over consequence. While they have a close tie between love and lust, the outcome of each is sometimes different and this difference sets these two goddesses against each other.

Anthor - Ajoetis doesn't really hate Anthor but their differences come when one thinks of the lack of dignity and honor that those that follow Ajoetis generally lack. And Anthor relishes nothing more than bringing forth the lusts and desires of an Anthorite for all to see. These two gods just clash in a fundamental way, representing the extremes of personal interaction of which most everyone has a little. And when they meet in the same person it causes all kinds of trouble.

Hesneen and Mahacto ***- Mahacto is the law and part of that is the maintaining and enforcing of contracts. Hesneen is the god of promises and vows. Ajoetis is the breaker of not only hearts but any kind of deal, promise vow or oath and so these two gods have a great deal of problems with Ajoetis. Mahacto is constantly attempting to stop the betrayal or trust that is what Ajoetis represents while the Heartbreaker is forever bringing people to the point of throwing aside all promises and vows and so sets herself against Hesneen and law.

*** denotes a major factor
 

Appendix 1: Classes of Ajoetis

    Clergy of Ajoetis receive 'Thardferrian Religion' and Etiquette as bonus NWP.

Clerics of Ajoetis
 

Requirement:	Wisdom 9, Charisma 11
Prime Requisites:	Wisdom
Major Spheres:	All, Animal, Charm, Creation, Elemental, Necromantic and Summoning.
Minor Spheres:	Divination, Healing, Plant, and Weather
Spell notes:	None

Special Abilities:

• May control undead.

    Though warriors the Warrior Seducer may use tactics less military to achieve their goals. A surprising number of the Warrior Seducers are women. Poison is a favored means of killing for this Villain.
    Elves may be Warrior Seducers.
    The Warrior Seducer is Neutral Evil.
    The spheres allowed to the Warrior Seducer are Charm, Combat, Divination and Healing.

Special Abilities:

• A Warrior Seducers may back stab as per the thief ability. This ability is subject to the identical limitations and bonuses as the thief ability as described in the rogue section of the players hand book. However the Warrior Seducer's Damage Multiplier is altered slightly.

    Warrior Seducers attempting to back stab will be severely limited in trying to remain undetected due to armor, and DM should keep this in mind, though any surprise or unexpected attack, even in combat, can gain this advantage. They receive a bonus of +2 to hit if able to use this ability from surprise.

Level    Damage
            Multiplier
   1-6           ×2
   7-12         ×3
   13+          ×4

Specialty Priestess (Seductress)
 

Races Allowed:	Elf, Gnome, Halfling and Human.
Requirements:	Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 14
Prime Requisites:	Wisdom
Alignment:	CG, CN, CE
Weapons:	Dagger, knife, dart, blowgun and quarterstaff.
Armor:	Heavy clothing (padded or studded leather) and no shield.
Magic Items:	As for clerics and wizards.
Required Proficiencies:	Etiquette and one of the following: Artistic Ability - Any, Cooking, Dancing, Gaming*, Seamstress/Tailor, Singing, Tumbling*, Weaving.
Bonus Proficiencies:	Religion, plus Herbalism.

* These proficiencies may be gained without any crossover penalty.

    The Seductress must be a female.

Special Abilities:

• Beauty - Regardless of the eloquence of speech and actual leadership qualities of the Seductress based on their Charisma, they are all considered physically beautiful.
• Aversion - The Seductress does not have the ability to turn or control undead in the traditional manner. She can on a successful roll have the number of undead indicated ignore her presence only. This ability infers no other control nor may it destroy undead. Other than this the ability acts exactly like the normal turn undead
• Suitors - The Seductress will begin to gain followers as early as 5th level if they have established themselves in an area and their presence there is known. They do not have to have established a stronghold of their own, but must be living at a comfortable manner in a respectable place (even if it is a respectable brothel).  The number of followers will be 1d6 times their reaction adjustment for Charisma. These followers will be 0-level suitors of all status levels and professions, men who have fallen in love with the Seductress and vie for her affections. For each level the Seductress has achieved above 5th, she will attract 1d6 more suitors. Also, after reaching 8th-level, each level will gain her one additional suitor that is of a higher level. These higher level suitors can be up to the Seductress' loyalty base for her Charisma. She can have one suitor equal to her loyalty base or a number of suitors whose levels add up to her loyalty base, if this is possible. The exact levels and their class and description will be up to the DM to decide, though the Seductress can attempt to gain these suitors in play and so have some in put into the choice.

• Seduction - The Seductress  is usually looked on favorably by anyone of the opposite sex and as such has increased charismatic abilities. The Seductress will gain this effect automatically after talking to and being seen by the target for more than one minute. Animals and non sentient beings are unaffected. The ability acts to make all of the apparent opposite sex who come in contact with the Seductress to make an immediate reaction roll. The roll is modified by +1 per level in favor of the Seductress.

    Those with favorable reactions tend to be very impressed with the Seductress if not lusting for her, and make an effort to be her friend and help her in order to get her attention, as appropriate to the situation. Officious bureaucrats might decide to become helpful; surly gate guards might wax informative; attacking gnolls might spare the caster's life, taking her captive instead. This effect is permanent, but on later encounters a new reaction roll is still made to decide the actions as sentient beings are fickle.
    As the Seductress gains experience, the reaction that they gain from males can be used in several other ways.
• Helplessness - After reaching 3rd level, the Seductress can appear to be helpless and no threat to those of the opposite sex. Unless the Seductress acts in a hostile manner, anyone of the apparent opposite sex will not attack her. If a hostile action is taken towards anyone in any way in the sight of the effected people then they may make a wisdom check in order to act normally. This ability can be used against any person of the opposite sex that has had a favorable reaction towards her.
• Suggestion - Upon reaching 8th level, once per day, the seductress may seduce a chosen recipient of the opposite sex by the utterance of a few phrases or a sentence or two and suggesting a course of action desirable to the Seductress. The target to be influenced must, of course, be able to understand the suggestion; it must be spoken in a language that the target understands and the target must have some desire for what is asked of it, even if it is trivial.

   This form of seduction must be used in such a manner as to make the suggestion sound reasonable; asking the creature to stab itself, throw itself onto a spear, immolate itself, or do some other obviously harmful act automatically negates the effect of the seduction. Seducing a hill giant to stop attacking the Seductress' party so that the giant and the seductress could have some quality time together later that night is a reasonable use of the power.
    The course of action of a suggestion can continue in effect for a considerable duration, such as in the case of the hill giant mentioned above, which may be friendly for quit a while and travel with the party anticipating what will happen latter that night. Conditions that will trigger a special action can also be specified; if the condition is not met before the Seductress leaves sight of the target for more than their Charisma score x two minutes, the action will not be performed and the target may become quite irritated. Generally, the duration of this power is for as long as the target effected stays in line of site of the Seductress and she does nothing to show she is a threat to the individual. If the effected target is directly attacked or even indirectly damaged by the actions of the Seductress, they are automatically freed of her seductive powers.
    A saving throw against spell modified by -1 per level of the Seductress over 7th, will negate the compulsion but not make them aware of any kind of manipulation or threat against them on the part of the Seductress.
• Jealousy - Upon reaching 12th level, once per day, the Seductress may focus all of her seductive powers on one target of the apparent opposite sex and cause them to have such a great desire for her that they will attack anyone else that shows her any kind of attention. Like Suggestion above, this can be used to control the target but it will allow you to suggest that one of their companions or followers is a threat to them and cause them to attack even their best friend.

        A saving throw against spell modified by -1 per level of the Seductress over 10th, will negate the compulsion but not make them aware of any kind of manipulation unless it is made by more than four.
    The one disadvantage of this ability is that those of the same sex as the Seductress will have an opposite reaction whenever the ability is used against those for which they have feelings. Their reaction rolls will be -1 per level of the Seductress and can cause the threatened females to become irrational and even hostile towards the Seductress.

• Glamour - Once per day for as many turns as the Seductress's level, she can wrap herself in a glamour which will change her general appearance. This ability enables the Seductress to alter the appearance and general feel of her form -- not including clothing and equipment, but actual body only -- to appear up to 20% shorter or taller; thin or fat, or anything in-between; human, humanoid, or any other generally man shaped, bipedal creature. The Seductress cannot duplicate a specific individual and generally looks similar to themselves only of another race or gender. The Glamour does not provide the abilities, language or mannerisms of the chosen form but will change the sound of the voice to match the form taken. The DM may allow a saving throw for disbelief under certain circumstances: for example, if the caster acts in a manner obviously inconsistent with her chosen role. Glamour will infer a +2 to all checks dealing with disguise.
• Continuous Minor Glamour - Upon reaching 5th level, the Seductress may cover herself in a Minor Glamour that will last for as long as she is awake and able to concentrate, though concentration is not needed to actually maintain the Glamour. This Minor Glamour may be a one of the following: a change in hair color, a few inches more or less in height, clearer skin or a shift in skin tone, different colored eyes, slight change in timber of voice, a slightly different shape to the ears or one of other similar small change. For each five levels of experience, another Minor Glamour may be added and maintained. As with Glamour, Minor Glamour will infer a +2 to all checks dealing with disguise.

Appendix 2: Specialty Priest Spell List
 

1st level	2nd level	3rd level	4th level
Animal Friendship	Augury	Bestow Curse	Abjure
Bless	Chant	Cause Blindness or Deafness	Animal Summoning I
Combine	Charm Person/Mammal	Create Food & Water	Call Woodland Beings
Command	Dust Devil	Dispel Magic	Control Temperature, 10' r.
Cure Light Wounds	Enthrall	Flame Walk	Cure Serious Wounds
Detect Evil	Hold Person	Hold Animal	Free Action
Detect Magic	Know Alignment	Locate Object	Hold Plant
Entangle	Messenger	Magical Vestment	Imbue with Spell Ability
Faerie Fire	Obscurement	Plant Growth	Neutralize Poison
Light	Silence, 15' Radius	Prayer	Plant Door
Locate Animals or Plants	Slow Poison	Protection From Fire	Protection from Evil, 10' r.
Magical Stone	Snake Charm	Pyrotechnics	Reflecting Pool
Protection from Evil	Speak With Animals	Water Breathing	Speak With Plants
Remove Fear	Undetectable Charm	Water Walk	Spell Immunity
Sanctuary	Withdraw		Tongues
5th level	6th level	7th level
Air Walk	Aerial Servant	Control Weather
Animal Growth	Animate Object	Exaction
Commune	Conjure Animals	Holy Word
Control Winds	Find the Path	Regenerate
Dispel Evil	Forbiddance	Reincarnate
Magic Font	Speak With Monsters	Restoration
Raise Dead	Word of Recall	Succor
True Seeing

    Italicized spells are reversible.
 

Appendix 3: Outer Realm of Ajoetis

Calsenadra

     The Outer Realm of Ajoetis as a mix of pleasure and pain. All manner of worldly delights are there for the taking and once there you are free to do as you will without fear of consequences. But the same is true of everyone else there and at times you may be the one that is at the end of some deed that another desires. The center of the realm is a large gardened estate of Calsenadra, surrounding it are other estates of lesser size where those not invited to stay in the house of the god will live. The main estate is the home of Ajoetis and where she fulfills her every desire upon her worshippers and watches as they do the same to each other. The feel is that of a great orgy where whatever happens will have no repercussions for you on the next day. The persons at the goddesses' estate will vary at a whim though those that have shown great imagination and a free use of their time while living perusing their desires may be invited and have a lengthy stay there. While a guest you may not be mistreated or used in any way you do not yourself desire. In the rest of the realm the same cannot be said and it is just as likely you will have a peaceful day of lovemaking in the grass one day as being multiply raped and slaughtered bu marauders the next. But at the start of each day everything is returned to the rolling hills topped by comfortable estates where you will live out eternity.
 

Appendix 4: Book of Ajoetis

Malefactus Curs (Evil Curses)

     This tome gives appropriate curses for every form of betrayal and heartbreak. From warts for missing a planned meeting to a withering and slow painful death for jilting a lover promised to be wed. It also has many remedies and recipes for natural poisons and poultices that cause minor irritation to less than lethal to lethal damage and death. Mixed with each is certain ritual prayers and ceremonial deeds needed to insure the curse will come true. A small section tells how to stop or counteract some of he minor curses.