Jandor (Lord of Pain)
Lawful Evil Lesser Power
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Jandor is the master of torment. Pain and suffering are his gift to the living in order to prepare them for the unspeakable torture they may have to face in death. He relishes suffering over the kill. Physical or mental anguish are both his tools and the means to gain power and control as well as enforce order. Jandor is the force behind all unnatural suffering on Kyranath and offers torment as a means to bring his designs to fruition. Suffering is not a means to cause a break down in society but a way to strengthen and weed out those that are weak and so gain control over them. Through pain a person is given to know their weakness and so learns discipline and gains the power to overcome it. Surviving this torment brings order to the soul and readies it for the struggle to find its final destination in the afterlife while providing lessons and building resolution and resilience in life.
The Circle of Torment (The Church of Jandor)
| CLERGY: | Cleric and Specialty Priest (Painmaster). |
| CLERGY ALIGN: | LN, LE, NE |
Dogma and Beliefs:
Jandor as the
master of and believes in the use of torture as a means of upholding the
"law" and is dedicated completely to the discipline as a means of extracting
information and inflicting non lethal pain. Enforcing order by fear of
painful punishment and just retribution is considered an art by the Jandorites.
Torture is not performed as a means of gaining pleasure but to reinforce
orderly interaction with society and to strengthen the discipline of lawful
behavior by the populace.
Jandor is not on friendly terms with
many of the gods aligned with good. While Jandor readily admits his ways
are not gentle, they are not done with any intent to destroy but rather
to enforce the proper behavior of others. He is far from the cruelest of
gods as he does wish to teach and bring about order and compliance to the
law and not just tear a thing down in order to gain power or for his own
pleasure. It is not only physical pain that interests the followers of
Jandor. It is mental pain/anguish that interests them. Sometimes
the greatest pain comes not from having pain administered to you, but by
having pain administered to someone dear to you. Though they will not act
in truly unlawful ways, this belief does not ingratiate the Jandorite with
many people.
Pain and torment are caused in preparation
for the possible problems one will experience in life and even in the afterlife.
One grows stronger when they have overcome adversity and faced torment.
In the afterlife the road to a souls final destination may be one of great
torture, beyond anything able to be produced in the living world. Those
that have experienced and survived great torment in life will be better
prepared to deal with it and overcome it in the afterlife and so shorten
their time before reaching their final place in the cosmos. This is what
is ordained and enforced by Jandor. Order desires the afterlife to be a
more settled and less chaotic place and the destination of soul to be less
confusing. Only in experiencing torment of the mind, body and soul while
still living can one be able to overcome the passage through the plains
of the dead and reach one's ultimate destination in the cosmos. Jandor
attempts to train you for this in life and so bring you more quickly into
his realm.
Some believe that a Jandorite may
only take a life in battle, as death is the end to life's pain. If a Jandorite
ever takes a life outside of battle (On purpose), he is acting against
the will of Jandor. But this is a narrow view only taken by those that
see Jandor as dealing only with pain. Jandor is the god of torment and
so realizes that some will enjoy a great deal of torment after they die.
Pain is transient, one heals, but eternal torment in the hands of Diadria
or of a souls own making is much greater. Thus a true believer and one
who understands the ways of Jandor has no compulsion to keep a person alive
if in so doing it releases a deserving soul to greater torment in the afterlife.
But if a person is thought to be on their way to actual peace or paradise
when they die then they are to be saved and left to experience as much
pain as possible before they are able to gain their reward. This puts Jandorites
in a peculiar situation as they tend to not care if evil, chaotic, unrepentant
and other miserable people die, but want to prolong the life of those that
are considered good, charitable, saintly and the like, so that they can
experience more torment before gaining their final reward. And so in many
situations you may see a priest of Jandor actually healing a servant of
one of the enemies of his church before those of his own.
Jandor's Will
Jandor is a frightening
apparition. He is tall and thin and his skin is pale. Typically he is either
hooded or wears a mask which conceals his eyes. Some say he sees
using other than his eyes and so his eyes are always hidden. Stories tell
that those that peer into his eyes see their greatest fear and are haunted
by the sight for the rest of their lives.
To the great
numbers of goblin and orc kin, Jandor is a female. She is seven feet tall
and skeletal thin and is usually draped in rags. Her body is covered in
rotting flesh and she stinks of the grave. She wanders the world calling
a knell to those that are soon to know torment and loss of some kind.
Alters and Idols:
The alter of Jandor is a sharp edged carved stone or metal table. There is usually a hotly burning sheltered stove with oil and coals nearby and many implements of torture. The idol of Jandor looks down upon the alter from a pedestal on which it stands. The Idol is of a tall thin, hooded figure in long, covering robes holding a cat-of-nine-tails in their left hand, the tails laying across the forward bent right arm. Sacrifices to Jandor are brought to the temple or shrine to be either abandoned or destroyed. Other offerings are given in the way of torture of some living thing on the alter. But no sacrifice is ever to bring about the death of a living thing and those that bring death during an offering are typically ostracized from the church.
Major Centers of Worship:
The only known
temples to Jandor are located in Proudtown and Rattletown Branch in Ruch.
These are ancient and steeped in ritual. Other locations of worship and
religious practices are secretly held as most commoners persecute the Lord
of Pain’s followers.
The temples
of Jandor are not pleasant places. They are usually below ground or deep
in the thickest parts of a city. There is never any windows or a means
for natural light to enter or air to flow. They are kept closed so as to
cause the air to go stale and smell of mildew and rot. Only the dimmest
of light form burning fat or foul smelling oils are allowed and there is
never any tapestry or carpet to keep the chill of the stone form a person.
The deepest, dankest dungeon may be considered comfortable by comparison.
It is thought that in order to be near to Jandor one must put one selves
in a place that is as miserable as possible and away from the sights and
sounds of any comfort. temples may have odd collections of items or the
bones of bodies or only parts of bodies laying about. These are the sacrifices
that each Jandorite must make each year. At need some of these items may
be sold or used to benefit the temple or the church's needs, but if any
item is loaned to another they must return it within a year or be hunted
and returned for lengthy torture for their transgression.
Worshipers:
The worshippers of Jandor can be found in all professions and walks of life. They have the unifying desire to inflict pain, or met out punishment for either pleasure or to maintain order. Many of the policing authorities of larger cities may be worshippers of Jandor, especially in Ruch. Others have a desire to be inflicted with pain or test themselves regardless of torment inflicted upon themselves. A Jandorite may have many scars, mostly on their bodies but also in their minds. This causes some to be slightly physically impaired or have some strange mental behavior that can be noticed if more than a casual amount of time is spent with the follower. THey may be missing fingers, an ear, an arm or leg, etc... and will generally have some tale to go along with how they survived some great amount of pain or torture. Others may demonstrate a certain liking for inflicting pain or taking it. They may pull the wings off insects, pinch children a bit too hard, or carve intricate patterns into their own skin. Jandorites commonly wear tattoos and other body piercing as well.
The Clergy:
As the priests of Jandor are limited in places of worship they are mostly an underground religion with the two major temples acting as the central hubs of the church. Most of the priests are wanderers spreading the religion of pain across the face of Thardferr or work in secret for some patron that hides them and calls on their abilities at need.
Church Hierarchy:
"Pain
is the greatest teacher." - N'roduke, Martinet (650 NA to -)
"One
cannot know joy without pain." - Lexicon a Cruciatus
The clergy of Jandor are a highly ritualistic cast with specifically ordered levels and leaders. Each level is gained through ritual and invests the cleric with the power of their new authority. In general the clergy of Jandor are called the Priests of Torment.
The Suffering - These are the newest initiates to the Circle of Torment. They are constantly put through arduous torments by the elder Painlords to test their endurance and fortitude as well as their devotion to the oaths of pain. Often times horrible scars are left on the bodies of the young priests. Both the Painmasters and Painwalkers must suffer in this way before they can travel out into the world.
Torturers - Once trained in the ways of pain, many of the clergy of Jandor take up residence with a lord or local leader. They become the extractors of information and dealers of punishment for these lords and in their jurisdictions. Many maintain or are assigned to the dungeons, Gaols or prisons within their lords holdings. They are not the enforcers of the law but are the executioners of its sentences against the unlawful. Rather than the ones that may deal the death blow, many work with the executioners of Garalax.
Painmaster- These are of a special calling, dedicating themselves to the teaching of pain throughout the world. They are able to become any part of the clergy and at any level but are always set a bit aside as they are the special servants of Jandor and may be called to take upon themselves special missions and quests.
Painwalkers - These are priests of Jandor that travel about the lands spreading the ways of pain. These rarely return to the main temples but prefer to stay on the move and giving what lessons they can along their path.
Painlords - These are the most experienced of the traveling priests of such power as to call down divine retribution on the enemies of the church (cast 3rd-level spells). They are the ones that induct members into the church using the ritual of the pin (See Ceremonies). They are also the caretakers of the temples in Ruch. As well as the ones who train the other clergy in matters of the church. All Painlords must spend one month a year cloistered in one of the main Temples. This is the highest level one of the Lashed may gain in the Circle of Torment.
Martinet - These are the head caretakers of the Temples. They no longer travel but are stationed at a temple and are its highest priest. Taking care of mundane affairs of the church's main temples, their duties include the training of new members and the general upkeep of guild coffers and the physical temple's needs. These are Painlords who have become so adept at keeping discipline and order that they can now ask of Jandor to implement quests for the church (cast 5th-level spells). They have been given responsibility to maintain the temples once they decide to stop their proselytizing ways. Many of these have Pins gained from their failed inductees protruding from many parts of their body by this time.
Jandor's Will- All who worship the Lord of Torment from all of Kyranath come to receive the blessing of Jandor's Will. Jandor's Will is chosen by the Rituals of Pain from all of those of such divine unity with Jandor that they can call for his holy word of pain (cast 7th-level spells). There is only one Jandor's Will and he acts as Jandor’s voice in Kyranath. It is believed by Jandorites that Jandor’s Will converses with realms of pain and torment of their lord. The location of Jandor's Will is never absolutely known as he is constantly moving and spreading the word and blessing of Jandor across the world.
Ceremonies and Holy Days:
Ritual of Torment (Daily)
As part of their daily rituals,
the Jandorite must cause torment of some kind to themselves or one other
living thing once per day. This can be by causing physical damage
(at least 1 hp of damage or the use of the Paintouch) or by some non prankish
practice that causes duress or torment. This may be the personal practice
of not wearing foot protection while walking along a hot road for an hour
or taking something of importance form another at a time of need. Whatever
the torment is it is not to punish or in any way to be some random thing
but instead be a means of teaching or gaining insight and discipline. If
this is not met a Priest of Torment or Painmaster looses all spells and
abilities for 1 day. (Note: A Painmaster may not Paintouch himself.)
Ritual of Sacrifice (Yearly)
The greatest means of becoming
stronger is to learn to count on oneself and to survive without help of
or aid from others. When a Jandorite is able to accomplish something without
relying on help from those things he is normally used to using or the help
of others he normally counts on, he is becoming stronger and preparing
for the pain and torment that may come if these things are lost. At least
once per year the Jandorite must sacrifice something they have been relying
on too heavily in that last year. This may be their best weapon or suit
of armor, the use of a certain spell, a shovel that clears the walk more
easily than others they have used before or even perhaps their own good
looks or a great friendship. Whatever they determine it to be, they must
sacrifice and no longer use the object or rely on it any longer. Lack of
performing the sacrifice usually brings about disorder and unwanted suffering
to the Jandorite or someone close to them.
Ritual of the Lash (Special)
At times a worshipper of Jandor will need to be disciplined
for transgressions against the church itself. The normal means of this
is through the lash performed with the traditional scourge or cat-o-nine-tails.
This has become a traditional punishment throughout many of the realms
of Kyranath. But when one of the clergy of Jandor is punished for crimes
against other Jandorites, it is a more somber moment. Not only is the punishment
thought of as sorrowful that one of their fellow Jandorites is of need
of such a thing but also as an honor to have the chance to learn from their
mistake through the discipline of pain. After the punishment is administered,
the one administering it will cut from the scourge of the clergy punished,
one of the barbed lashes and thereafter the one punished will wear it tied
around their wrist as a reminder of their failure and their lesson. Their
scourge will then be one of only eight lashes as is the symbol of Jandor.
These are known as the Lashed.
Ritual of the Pin (Whenever suitable inductees to the church are found.)- This is how new priests are introduced to the ranks of the Suffering. When a Painlord in his travels encounters a man they find worthy and possibly able to learn the the ways of Jandor, he inducts him with the Ritual of the Pin. A pin crafted from Iron blessed by Jandor in the same way as a holy symbol, is inserted into a vein of the Painlord and then stuck into a vein of the inductee. The pin must remain in place in the inductee, he then becomes one of the suffering, and the pin remains until he completes his lessons and gains the ability to pray for spells. At this time the Pin is removed and becomes the new priest's holy symbol when it is inserted into the handle to hold the nine barbed lashes of their scourge. If he fails and is thus asked to leave unable to gain the divine touch of Jandor, the pin is removed and reinserted in the Painlord that had brought him to the temple to be trained. Thus is the price of failure to bring suitable inductees to be trained by the church but also thus is a badge of honor in trying to bring as many as possible into the fold.
Ritual of Pain (When a new Jandor's
Will is needed.)
Whenever a new leader for the church of Jandor in Kyranath
is needed, A ritual is performed with all those of acceptable power who
have shown their loyalty to the church. There are three trials that choose
the next Will of Jandor.
First is the Test of Endurance - The tested priest must receive pain from each of the others being tested for the office. There is never more than three ever considered for it at any given time. They are not to try to kill or disfigure only cause as much pain as possible to their brothers. If the priest fails this test, succumbs to the pain, he will likely die of the pain inflicted. Any that cry out or give in to the pain and ask for mercy will not receive the office since he can withstand no more pain and is considered unable to take any more pain in this world and so endure the leadership role of the church.Priestly Vestments:Second is the Test of Giving - The tested priest, coinciding with the first test must cause enough pain to bring one of his brothers unconscious. Failure to at least bring one of the other two, (there is never more than three ever tested at any given time,) unconscious will reject the one tested form being able to become Jandor's Will.
Third and finally is the Test of Self - In this test a priest must inflict pain upon himself as to cripple himself in a way that will cause him to live in pain for the rest of his days. Only this way may the Jandor's Will be in touch with his god at all times. Few can withstand this test as failure will usually bring about the death of the tested.
The Temple vestment of the priests of Jandor are a dark brown tunic, the color of dried blood, and dark leggings under a leather vest and apron. In lieu of a helmet a hardened leather, open faced hood is worn. All clergy above the level of the Suffering also have a scourge as their holy symbol. This is typically worn hanging through the belt of the apron.
Affiliated Orders, Societies and Guilds:
None -
There are no associates to the church of Jandor.
Church Errata:
Allies
Ajoetis - Much of what Ajoetis will wrought, brings pain. Though it is a pain of the heart and mind, it is respected by Jandor. Between the machinations of these two a person has no peace. Though they may be rivals at times in seeing who will actually gain power over the soul, the contest between them is a friendly one.
Diadria - The Lady of Death is a minor ally to Jandor. Sometimes pain causes death and sometimes death causes pain. However since death in and of itself is a release from mortal pain their relationship is luke warm at best.
Mahacto and Syth ***- Working within the law, the punishment of criminals sometimes entails pain. Where Mahacto is ever vigilant and enforces the law, it is sometimes called upon to have punishment executed by Jandor's followers. The Lord of Tyranny often calls upon Jandor and his followers as extractors of information. Syth relies upon the Jandorite pain touch to force opponents into submission and the revelation of secrets. Needless to say this does not enhance Jandorite reputations. Because they are known to inflict pain without causing death which may be the judgment and sentence given the criminal certain legal alliances are formed between these two gods and the Jandorites.
Foes
Aerie - The enforcement of law through torture and imprisonment all war against the ideals of Aerie. The god of freedom fights against Jandor's threats and control whenever possible. Aerie does not abide the wrongful actions against others that would cause harm and sees need for punishment to keep people from doing so, but the zeal at which the Jandorite will seek to punish and cause pain in this cause is beyond any usefulness in inspiring good in others. Even the evil will do right to avoid persecution or punishment and so Aerie does not use such methods to enforce good.
Celenia ***- The Lady of the Cure and Jandor do not relate at all. Jandors animosity towards her healing arts and methods of redressing pain make Jandorites view her as a weak willed god of emotion. Jandorites have been known to swear blood oaths to rid the land of Celenia's influence and attempt to cause as much pain to her followers as possible. Tales of the imprisonment of Celenia's spirit by Jandor long ago have been said to be the beginnings of he animosity between these two gods.
Thr - Protectiveness and the guarding of others is the nature of Thr and so these two gods have their run ins at times. Jandor may not act outside of law or the socially accepted ways in many communities, but Thr still finds the exuberance in which Jandorites pursue their use of pain and torment of others beyond normal need. Where Jandorites step beyond the acceptable needs os society to punish criminals, Thr steps in and tries to stop them. Thus Jandor dislikes the ways of Thr though the Guardian holds no animosity against Jandor just feels he needs to have his actions curtailed at times.
*** denotes
a major factor
Appendix 1: Classes of Jandor
All Clergy of Jandor receive "Thardferrian Religion" as a bonus NWP.
Priests od Torment, the Clerics of Jandor
| Requirement: | Constitution 9, Wisdom 9 |
| Prime Requisites: | Wisdom |
| Major Spheres: | All, Charm, Combat, Divination, Guardian, Summoning and Necromantic. |
| Minor Spheres: | Animal, Creation, Elemental and Healing. |
| Spell notes: | These spells are reverse only: Cure Disease, Cure Blindness
and Deafness, Regenerate.
May use the reverse of all healing spells of any level even if they aren't normally allowed to the minor sphere. May not cast Resurrection even though normally allowed to the major Necromantic sphere. |
Special Abilities:
| Races Allowed: | Dwarf, Goblin, Human and Orc. |
| Requirements: | Con 11, Wis 14, Int 9 |
| Prime Requisites: | Wisdom and Constitution. |
| Alignment: | LE, NE |
| Weapons: | Type B weapons, knife, scimitar, scourge and whip. |
| Armor: | Padded, leather and studded leather and shields. |
| Magic Items: | As for clerics. |
| Required Proficiencies: | None. |
| Bonus Proficiencies: | Religion. |
Special Abilities:
Appendix 2: Specialty Priest
Spell List
| 1st level | 2nd level | 3rd level | 4th level |
| Curse | Aid | Animate Dead | Abjure |
| Command | Augury | Bestow Curse | Animal Summoning I |
| Cause Light Wounds | Chant | Cause Blindness or Deafness* | Cause Serious Wounds* |
| Darkness | Charm Person/Mammal | Cause Disease* | Cloak of Fear |
| Detect Evil | Enthrall | Dispel Magic | Control Temperature, 10' r. |
| Detect Magic | Fire Trap | Glyph of Warding | Detect Lie* |
| Detect Poison | Badberry | Hold Animal | Divination |
| Locate Animals or Plants | Heat Metal | Magical Vestment | Tongues |
| Magical Stone | Hold Person | Speak With Dead | |
| Protection from Good | Produce Flame | Stone Shape | |
| Cause Fear | Slow Poison | ||
| Sanctuary | Warp Wood | ||
| 5th level | 6th level | 7th level | |
| Animal Summoning II | Blade Barrier | Unholy Word* | |
| Cause Critical Wounds* | Forbiddance | Wither | |
| Dispel Evil | Speak With Monsters | Symbol | |
| Insect Plague | Transmute Water to Dust* | ||
| Quest | Wall of Thorns | ||
| Spike Stones | Word of Recall | ||
Appendix 3: Outer Realm of Jandor
Hell
Hell is the Realm of Torment. At its
center is an iron fortress guarded by the faithful of Jandor and used to
imprison the worst of all souls that seek to redeem themselves through
punishment in the afterlife. It is built in levels that spiral down ever
deeper into an immense pit. Each evil deed has its own place where it holds
those that need punishment. All souls may spend some time in hell. Many
of the Roads of Justification run through Hell and the unrepentant or just
guilty and regretful soul may wander into Hell and so create its own punishment
for a time. Diadria sends many a soul to Hell and Jandor's merciless care.
The soul of Celenia was for a time
held here but escaped and in so doing left gaps that allow others to do
so as well. Now, though many may come, few are actually imprisoned and
once they personally feel they have redeemed themselves or no longer feel
the guilt or regret of their actions in life they may wander off to find
another realm in which to exist for eternity. At this time other gods they
may have worshipped may petition for their release as well or just send
someone to bring them out of hell. This may cause skirmishes between the
gods and their followers and so the fortress of Hell is commonly being
sieged or attacked.
The Realm
of Torment is not one where pleasant and relaxing states of being are to
be found. It is also not one, like many others, that people strive for
as their final destination. Jandor realizes this but still prepares a place
and attempts to lure as many as he can to Hell in his bid to bring order
to the Abyss. Too often the dead wander around aimlessly for millennium,
unable to find their place in the cosmos. This is intolerable to the lawful
gods. Though most would entice a person with visions of paradise,
Jandor leads them through life to believe in the ultimate need for torture
of their soul. Thus Hell is born. Those souls who have become so needful
of punishment, filled with regret, anguish, guilt and feelings of worthlessness,
end up in Hell. Once there they make for themselves the torment they feel
is most suited for them and live out eternity imprisoned within its walls.
Strangely enough, many of the good leaning gods will also send those souls
they feel need to be punished to Hell to pay for their misdeeds in life.
Most of these they will come for or find another god to accept them at
such time they feel they have repented and attempt to bring them out.
But even here
in the depths of torment and punishment, where hope is said to have been
abandoned, can be found luxury and privilege. The faithful of Jandor are
rewarded with positions in his army of hell, a force that guards and torments
those souls that are brought or come to hell. For these privileged few
followers of Jandor there are palaces of pleasures to reward them for their
service in life. For them the other souls are given to act out all their
depraved and evil notions as long as they continue to follow the orders
of Jandor and maintain his prison efficiently. This is not for the normal
follower but only those that have done great service for and dedicated
themselves to Jandor. But those in Hell can at times achieve a reprieve
and earn a place in the upper courts as servants to the Armies of Hell
rather than as their prisoners. These souls are released from their eternal
torment and gain either a place in the armies or become servants of Hell.