Bayyal
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Favored Race | Nefortu |
| Element(s) | Fire |
| Home(s) | A Black Ledge Overlooking a Lake of Fire (vnum 1266) |
| Alignment | Chaotic Evil |
| Symbol(s) | A crimson flame |
| Portfolio | Fire, hatred, rage, destruction, suffering, revenge |
| Worshippers | Nefortu, fire casters, maniacs, psychopaths, the wronged |
Contents
History in Avendar
Wizened nefortu speak grandly of their ancient southern home, roughly to the southeast of modern-day Ashta Harrud. It flourished in the wake of the Sundering's magical storms, giving rise to the young race. Hot, plentiful, and laden with precious stones, this paradise shaped many of the great nefortean loves: glittering prizes, easy living, and ample leisure time. This freedom from need gave them ample time to develop their taste for tricks and invent a truly stunning array of games. It was here that they venerated their oldest deity, Tzajai the Jester. These easy days were brought to an abrupt end by the coming of an unexpected guest: Bayyal.
The ancient nefortu, long given to whimsy and chaos, were unprepared for the coming of the Reaper. Unlike other racial deities, He was not a teacher, nor had He come to nurture their race. Rather, He had stumbled upon mortal Avendar, and immediately sought to destroy it. Old nefortean soothsayers say it was His presence alone which imbued them with the first sparks of Fire magic. Many nefortu were slain outright, or burned alive for the Reaper's amusement. Droves fled their ancient home for safety to the north. Those who remained were awed and captivated by Bayyal's magnificence and applied their sharp minds to discovering more of the flame. Mad with newfound power, their tricks upon one another quickly turned deadly, and Bayyal thus allowed them to live. It is difficult to know which was ultimately more destructive: the Reaper, or His nefortean acolytes.
As Sythrak and His warlords marched across the north, the War of Fire took on a different cast in the far south. While the Saurian Lord waited in Sythtys for sacrifices to His greatness, Bayyal led His nefortu personally. They marched north, to the ancient city of Ashta Harrud. Stories tell of a plentiful grassland upon which this early civilization was founded, and it rapidly advanced beyond its cousin in the Earendam river valley. The Reaper annihilated this cradle of humanity, to the screeching cheers of the nefortu. The death toll was staggering, and the destruction was so extensive that no sign of this early empire survived. His unholy fury was so immense that it ravaged the very earth, transforming the fertile plains into the harsh, desolate Crimson Sands. His terrible march continued north, leaving only a scorched wasteland in his fiery wake.
With the rousing of Jolinn, the Father once again realized the perils facing His creations. He granted the powers of Water to the aelin and humans who had sought Him, granting them the power to stop the rampaging srryn. However, Jolinn, with Iandir's blessing, put a sudden end to Bayyal's devastating march. The Father bound Him in chains of ice and impaled Him on a great spire, to ensure that He could never be free to violate the Compact again. Bayyal's fierce wail as he was imprisoned resounded through all of the Prime and echoed between its great mountains. The Reaper's anger, hatred, and fury have only grown in intensity during the long millennia since. Great wars have come and gone; civilizations have risen and fallen; legends have been forged and forgotten; but the inferno of Bayyal's malice burns still, an unquenchable, everlasting blaze.
Goals and Methods
Bayyal's goal is more obvious than most: to destroy everything He can. He has no concern whatsoever for what is targeted by this destruction and makes no long term plans. He is driven on entirely by a relentless hatred of all life. In contrast to Ashur, Bayyal does not seek a form of ultimate oblivion or a return to nothingness. Instead, He intends far more to raze, despoil, and burn; all of which require the Prime to exist. As well, Bayyal's unthinking rage differs from Alil's insanity, because it is far less intentionally self-destructive, and far more damaging to others.
The Reaper's only true methods are senseless rage, rampant fury, and heavy loss of life. He revels in Fire magic, as its wanton devastation closely mirrors His own frightful desires. His only use for mortals is in their capacity to destroy, to act as His claws upon the Prime. He is notorious for slaying His own devoted out of hand for His own amusement if they bore him; unsurprisingly, their lives are often as short as they are explosive. Bayyal is especially pleased by claiming former water scholars as His own, in a vain attempt to lash out at Jolinn for His imprisonment.
Organizations and Followings
some dudes
"a fake quote"
- the really, really, fucking angry, violent bastards
some other dudes
"another placeholder"
- sniped ex-goodies
also some dudes
yup
- dudes focused on making people hate them
Individual Followers
Poor impulse control and destructive rages are the hallmarks of Bayyal's followers. They often strike at anyone, without warning, simply for their own amusement. It is rare that a chosen of Bayyal shows even the tiniest concern for his own life, although he usually ensures many others die along with him. Because of these behaviors, the Reaper's devoted have a multitude of enemies and few friends. Their treatment is often determined more by their own power; if they are strong, their intimidating presence will terrorize those they meet, while if they are weak, they will be little more than a pitiable firecracker. Inevitably, the life of a Bayyal follower is a nearly always a short one.
Worship of Bayyal is all but unheard of in large settlements. While He appeals primarily to the nefortu, whose natural temperament complements His own, He has had a substantive following amongst other races. Fire scholars and templars tend to find commonality with the Reaper and His methods, as they too are inspired by the feverish call of the flame. Mainstream society all but rejects Bayyal, and disallow public worship for public safety reasons. However, the descendents of His earliest nefortean followers maintain a shrine to Him not far from the Crimson Sands.
Those who find favor with the Lord of Hatred are marked with the Sigil of the Crimson Flame.
Relationships
Bayyal is an ally to no one within the pantheon. His furious anger and hate-mad following make Him an enemy of all of the gods of law. Jalassa is repulsed by Bayyal's unthinking nature; Iandir recognizes Him as a threat to order on many levels; and Rveyelhi despises Him for His constant disruptions. Gods of evil occasionally share purpose with Bayyal, although He is never trusted or relied upon. Serachel, in particular, hates the Reaper's proclivity for mindlessly destroying the spoils of victory. The gods of light reject Bayyal and all that He stands for, as His fiery whims almost always seek to kill or despoil all they hold dear. Bayyal reserves His greatest and deepest hatred for Jolinn, whom He rightfully blames for His eons of imprisonment. Gods of chaos are predictably divided on the subject of Bayyal. Alil, in particular, finds Him a welcome addition to the pantheon, while Arkhural sees Him as a threat. Kankoran deities are equally divided on the Reaper. Girikha would as soon see Him bound forever; Khanval lauds Bayyal's hatred of humanity; and Arikanja believes the great scar left by Bayyal's fury is in itself a blessing.
Tzajai provides the closest comparison to Bayyal, in that they are both nefortean deities of chaos. However, their aims are so different that they ultimately have little use for one another. Tzajai is far more concerned with His games and diversions than the destruction Bayyal so cherishes, while Bayyal sees no use in whimsy. Additionally, Bayyal sees no value in the bargaining or contracts of Ayaunj. She finds Him as boorish as He is dull, instead content to lavish in all that glitters. This lack of consensus or common, shared values characterizes the internal chaos of the nefortean world.
Shrines, Sigils, and Mobs
Areas
- Kzaya Ha Canyon (vnums 18000-18149)
Rooms
- A Charred Stone Chamber (vnum 6343)
Sigils
- Tier 1 - the Sigil of the Crimson Flame (vnum 1266)
- AC 0/0/0/0
- HP +20
- Damroll +4
- Fight prog 3: Smolder (character's level)
Mobs
- A nefortean priest (vnum 6326) - A fire templar mob in the sewers at an altar
- A charred, hunched nefortu (vnum 18011) - Easy-ass boss of Kzaya Ha Canyon
Notes, Logs, and Other Documents
Helps
- Old Bayyal help file
