Arcane Religions

The following religions represent examples of cults too small to be included in Conan the Roleplaying Game in the section on religion. They are based on deifying a powerful wizard or demon lord, or are so closely confined to a specific place and people as to not warrant inclusion in that chapter. However, all offer some training in sorcery for those of their worshippers who dare.

Note that several of the entities mentioned here as minor gods are also potential opponents in combat.

Hanuman

Hanuman is worshipped in Zamboula and presumably to a lesser extent in Turan and Vendhya. He is a bestial apegod of extremely ill repute – even devout Set-worshippers fear him and his debased cult. Human sacrifice is common in the temples to Hanuman; in Zamboula, at least, its adherents enjoy considerable political influence which they are free to use and abuse as they see fit. Hanuman is considered the most magically accomplished of all Vendhya’s deities. He is said to be able to change his size and/or weight as needed, to have an iron will stronger than any other, to have more mastery over all creatures than Jhebbal Sag and to have the power to build or tear down at will, often through dance and war. The cult emphasises control – control of self, control of the world around, control of others – as the path toward spiritual enlightenment. Revenge, lust and predation are all traits shown by Hanuman’s priests and cultists. The cult is biased toward its members taking action to further their own individual interests through the use of cunning and intellect, as well as physical and charismatic power.

Requirements of Worship: Pay a tithe worth 2 sp/level/ month to the priests of Hanuman. Benefits of Worship: Spells. Requirements for Ordained Priesthood: Must know at least two sorcery styles, including Hypnotism. Must know the Ritual Sacrifice feat. Benefits of Ordained Priesthood: Standard, plus as follows: sorcery teaching is available (any sorcery styles); +1 circumstance bonus to Charisma-based skill checks in Zamboula, due to the unusual influence of the cult in that town; bribery, corruption and abuse of power are positively encouraged. Typical Punishments for Disloyal Priests: Captured alive and sacrificed.

Ishiti, the DemonGoddess of Time

Ishiti is an eldritch snake demoness linked to Set and his black pantheon of grim gods. She is a demon who variously appears as a woman who is snakelike from the waist down with snakes for hair or as a medusa who is snake-like from the neck down. She governs time, serpents and snake-men. Her breath can change a man from human to snake-man. She does not like to be lied to. Even though she is a demon goddess of Set, she is not without compassion. Unlike the gods, she can manifest herself. She was originally worshipped by the snake-men of prehistory before they were slain by King Kull.

Ishiti is the demon that was summoned to guard the Haunted Pyramids in Stygia. For the tomb-builders in the necropolis outside of Luxur, she is a dangerous

but merciful goddess who loves silence. She abhors liars and sinners. She is so fierce in her pursuit of liars she is called the Lion of the Summit. For the pious, she is a defender against snakebites, especially for tomb-workers.

Requirements of Worship: Obey priests of Set, even if called upon as a sacrifice; tithe 2 sp/level/month to the local temple Benefits of Worship: Spells. Requirements for Ordained Priesthood: Must sacrifice at least one victim per year to Ishiti; must know at least two sorcery styles and the Tortured Sacrifice feat; obey the high priest of Set; obey the high priest of Ishiti Benefits of Ordained Priesthood: Standard, plus as follows: sorcery teaching is available in any style save Oriental Magic. Typical Punishments for Disloyal Priests: Betrayers of Ishiti or Set are sent to an island on a different plane and imprisoned and tortured for all eternity.

Khosatral Khel

Khosatral Khel is remembered by few indeed, but may be worshipped by the occasional evil sorcerer among the Yuetshi, Hyrkanians and even Kozaks. As a god of domination, dimly recollected in legend as the most baleful opponent of all right-thinking folk in the region, he doubtless provides much in grisly lore to any who will grant him obeisance. For more information on Khosatral Khel, see Conan: The Scrolls of Skelos.

King Bull

King Bull is a sacred symbol in the western portions of the Border Kingdom. During his autumnal festival, all travellers are left unmolested and all the people are at peace. A woman is stripped and bound, sacrificed to the living avatar of King Bull at the climax of the festival. If the King Bull becomes old and loses his virility, a tedious ritual is performed at the festival whereupon the old King Bull is slain with a certain flint knife and a younger bull inaugurated as the new avatar of King Bull. Ancient custom forbids the raising of any other weapon against the King Bull, which is an embodiment of luck and the fertility of the flocks and herds.

Requirements of Worship: Attend the autumnal festival in the Border Kingdom every year, obey the priest and priestess of the King Bull, never draw a weapon on the King Bull.

Benefits of Worship: Spells.

Requirements for Ordained Priesthood: Must sacrifice at least one victim per year to the King Bull. Benefits of Ordained Priesthood: Spells (Nature Magic, Divination)

Typical Punishments for Disloyal

Priests: Tied, naked, to a stake and sacrificed to the King Bull.

Skelos

Though Skelos is often said to have been no more than a powerful, mortal sorcerer, he is also worshipped as a god of magic by many sorcerers, particularly those who are not quite so evil as to revere Set but who still seek after dark and forbidden knowledge. For more Information on Skelos, see Conan: the Scrolls of Skelos.

Thaug

First known for being summoned by Salome in A Witch Shall Be Born, Thaug is a traditional demon in eastern Kothic mythology, and has been summoned by witches known as Salome since time immemorial. For more information on Thaug, see Conan: The Scrolls of Skelos.

Tolometh

In addition to Mitra and some variant religions, pockets of demon-worship can be found in Brythunia. Tolometh, a black god of the abyss, is one such demon worshipped by scholars seeking dark magic in Brythunia. The high priests of Tolometh excel at curses. There is a little known, little used shrine to Tolometh in the city of Potrebia, as well as a magical amulet burst asunder and spread across the Hyborian landscape.

Tolometh is a demon worshipped by the most corrupt of Brythunian scholars. His eye is a single amulet blasted into six parts. When this amulet is reassembled, Tolometh will arise from his sunken slumber to sear the Earth. He promises great power and wealth to those who align themselves with him. Tolometh has three horns and one eye, a moon-bright gem found in a monstrous meteor.

Requirements of Worship: Do Tolometh’s bidding, seek out his shattered eye-amulet, try to summon him from his sunken depths. Benefits of Worship: Spells. Requirements for Ordained Priesthood: Must know at least two sorcery styles and the Tortured Sacrifice feat Benefits of Ordained Priesthood: Standard, plus as follows: sorcery teaching is available in any style save Oriental Magic. Typical Punishments for Disloyal Priests: Tortured to death as a sacrifice to Tolometh.

Yajur

Yajur is the bloody-handed god of stranglers, worshipped almost exclusively in mysterious Kosala, whose rites are terrible and deadly. For more information on Yajur, see Conan: the Scrolls of Skelos.