Description
A duergar, stern-faced, with an impressive white beard, ash-gray skin and
amber eyes visible from under the voluptuous hood he's covering his helmet
with. The heavy priestly robes conceal much of his frame and posture, but
you can still catch glimpses of armor and weaponry, particularly noticeable
being an alpenstock clipped next to the shield on his back. His movements
are careful and measured, like that of a man accustomed to traversing rough
terrain. Painted on his shield is what looks like a holy symbol, depicting
a stylized image of two ice-picks crossed, done in blinding white on dark
gray. From the wear and tear and a haggard face, he looks like a vagabond,
wandering friar far away from home, or perhaps without a home at all.
Role
Church of the Wanderer
Added Sun Sep 24 10:32:36 2017 at level 7:
Sibrek belongs to the so-called Church of the Wanderer. Its members believe
that their God, Vafud the Wanderer, forever travels the earth in disguise.
Vafud, in legends, is known for trickery that he uses to test mortals. He
outsmarts his adversaries and puts them to shame, but his ultimate goal is
to make people improve. He may bestow knowledge, but never without price.
In emulation of him, his priests revel in mystery and cunning, finding
creative ways to win their day and then disappear, leaving friend and foe
to gather new wisdom from what happened.
The commandments of the faith are as follows:
* Be inquisitive and determined. Learn to see things for what they are, to
see people for what they are, to see yourself for what you are.
* Find balance between arrogance and excess humility. Both are hubris,
because they make you unable to learn and improve. Whether your standing
is higher or lower than the other person, whether you love or hate them,
you always have something to learn and to teach. Acknowledge that.
* You are free to pursue your own moral code, and enjoy the wonders of the
world as you please, but remember that luxury and gluttony will weigh you
down and your soul should be always with the road.
* Conflict is good, but seek not to diminish the world's diversity through
conquest and cultural erasure. The land was not meant to be uniform, for
it'll also lead to cessation of conflict and stagnation of thought.
* If you live a settled life, you must give hospitality to travelers, not
just because your beneficiary might turn out to be God, but also because
all travelers are blessed.
Apart from wandering, professions commonly adopted by Vafud's devoted
include hunters, merchants, sages, mapmakers, translators and diplomats.
Those with a more martial outlook will seek to defeat enemies of the faith:
rulers who grow too arrogant, the narrow-minded who would destroy knowledge,
and other religions that oppose the ideas described in the commandments.
Background and personality
Added Sun Sep 24 10:36:15 2017 at level 7:
The duergar settlement Sibrek used to call home is far to the north, called
Northdark Fjord. Little is known about it other than it's carved among the
glaciers and has surface exits into a frozen harbor.
As a kid at the age of twelve, he was traded away to a caravan with which
a priest of Vafud travelled, and that's how his education in the religion
first began.
The priest's name was Yristr. He taught the young duergar of the legends
about the Wanderer-God, about him emerging victorious against his hidebound
adversaries, and creating hardship people must overcome in order to learn.
Some stories featured Vafud himself, some others were about his prophet
Esra Jafur, yet others about unnamed wanderers who dispensed useful advice.
***
Sibrek is evil. He cares not of individual lives and suffering, though he
claims that suffering must always have a purpose. Causing mayhem without
the mind to teach people a lesson (or to learn something oneself) would be
of no value to Vafud's commandments.
Like many duergar, he is a pessimist and expects betrayal to be the norm.
He takes few things for granted, and is inquisitive and demanding in
conversation. He might often ask friend and foe: "What have you learned?"
He knows the war on ignorance is eternal and his resolve to fight it hinges
on the idea that things can always get worse if he gives up. Mostly though,
he is comfortable doing what he does. Without roots, but with purpose.
Finding further path
Added Fri Sep 29 19:03:38 2017 at level 32:
This night, I perform a divination.
The deer's guts smear the ground, staining it in patterns only the learned
can decipher. I note the colors and count the bloodstains - thirteen.
The peasant I dragged to the place of sacrifice starts struggling when I
cut his ropes. He dashes away screaming, and my thrown axe catches him in
the back. Blood splatters. I note the colors and examine the shape - a star.
***
I'm surrounded by enemies. Not necessarily enemies of the faith, just people
who want to kill me. That is alright, Vafud's design calls for the world to
have eternal conflict in order to progress - and I am not exempt.
I have delved a bit into what drives my various foes. What I have collected
is that they all seek to change the world to their vision, whereas I seek to
nugde and facilitate its existing glory. Much like a prompter in a theater
helps the actors focus on what they already do. This is why I feel Herald
is my best choice, despite its somewhat misguided benevolent leanings.
Understanding of fates
Added Sun Oct 1 22:51:09 2017 at level 38:
My divination was not wrong, though it wasn't particularly right either.
Twice had I found grand acceptance of my story-weaving skill, but I am
not welcome in this cabal.
I must have misinterpreted the signs... or these events could be exactly
what Vafud had in store for me. He does, after all, encourage conflict.
For a while I had wondered if sacrificing one of the loftier Heralds at an
altar and examining their entrails would produce a clue.
Yet, in them more than in anyone, I see potential converts to my faith, or
avenues of spreading the word. Perhaps *that* is what I was pointed at.
For now, I increase my strength and sharpen my axe. Many enemies await.
Many roads. Many stories of violence and enlightenment.
A letter to Yristr
Added Mon Oct 16 23:55:35 2017 at level 47:
Teacher,
After two decades of exploring Thera, I have a clearer picture of what it's
like and how it differs from the northern lands. Climate aside, the major
distinction is that Thera is much more densely populated. People have built
many great cities on the surface, and realms often rub shoulders enough that
they compete fiercely for territory and want to take a neighbor's land where
northerners would prefer simple, traditional yearly raids.
That is not to say they don't do raids and pillage. In fact, there are many
adventurers who have made it their profession. Vafud's providence is felt
here, as the local euphemisms for pillage are "travelling" and "learning",
and guildmasters reward handsomely those who are most successful at it.
The most powerful political institutions of Thera are called Cabals. I have
studied them and determined that they are a great source of discord, keeping
Thera in endless conflict. At the same time, many of them promote ideas that
run contrary to the very essence of what Vafud and his prophets taught us.
I have some thoughts about them that I am preparing to commit to parchment,
so that other faithful may benefit from what I've learned.
May you find bounty and bloodshed.
Sibrek
Spheres and paths
Added Sun Nov 5 02:10:13 2017 at level 51:
Vafud is associated with the spheres of Earth, Wisdom and Revelation.
His Earth aspect is the aspect of the Wanderer. He has fewer ties with the
heavens or Asgaard and more with the earth below. The earth remains untamed,
never paved over into a boring, structured, safe place. This idea would be
embraced by druids serving Vafud, or shamans of Desolation and Anarchy.
Imperials would be their primary enemy, dubbed "destroyers of diversity".
His Revelation aspect is that of knowledge-seeker and knowledge-sharer.
He may give people cruel lessons in order to help them get better, but he is
also one for genuine advice - that's the one form of charity he approves of.
Mages and healers would find this closer to heart, or shamans of Revelation.
The primary enemy for these would be Battle, as "destroyers of knowledge".
His Wisdom aspect emphasizes versatility, quick wits, ability to inspire
others and shake people up from their dull comfort. A warrior of Vafud's
faith would likely embrace this aspect, as would shamans of Breaker and
Divine Anger paths. Those fighting for eternal peace, such as Fortress and
goodly Tribunal, are especially despised as "destroyers of opportunity".
All three aspects should always be considered, especially when preaching to
infidels, but a follower can focus on one primary aspect (correlating with
their chosen sphere - Sibrek's is Wisdom).