Speakers of Orkus

Portfolio: Death, Decay, Destruction, Undead, Wealth

Domains: Death, Decay, Evil, Greed, Hunger, Pact

Favored Weapon: Scythe

Holy Symbol: A ordained human skull mounted on a wooden staff

Appearance: Speakers of Orkus are expected to decorate themselves with the brand of a goat's head and have some form of bone jewelry that they use for prayer. Many Orkus cultists wear the color purple as a sign of their religion. High Priests wear a goat mask made from the head of one as part of their ceremonies.

History The Speakers of Orkus is a large Cult of the Dragon Below that specifically reveres the Spawn of Khyber known as Orkus. No Lord of Dust has ever met this supposed Orkus and most agree that he is nothing more than a misunderstanding of The Keeper. That doesn't keep the Lord of Dust from exploiting the religion for its own purposes.

The religion began during the early part of Gallifar's history when a professor of Morgave University converted to the Dark Six after studying too intently the culture of the Dhakaani's accounts of the Daelkyr Wars. It became a Masonic cell style cult that spread throughout Cyre despite several frequent attempts to purge it. The Last War only increased their ranks as many became disillusioned with the faiths of Khovaire.

The Speakers of Orkus are a fairly wide ranging cult that has been especially plentiful in recruitment since the the Mourning. The Speakers, erroneously, claim that all the death of the Last War allowed their god to manifest and claim the souls of most of Cyre. This has caused them to be feared even if most Mourners dismiss the claim.

Both the Emerald Claw and the Lords of Dust have since used the cult for their own purposes. The Emerald Claw uses them as a scapegoat for their efforts and also to path the way for later conversion to the Blood of Vol. More intelligent Speakers often find that the Emerald Claw offers better opportunities. The Lords of Dust merely soak up the worship of the cult by pretending to represent their evil god.

The current Speaker of the Goat is Morgoth (CE Hal M Necromancer 6/Cleric of the Dragon Below 6), real name Winston D'Jorasco, whom envisions the Mournland being converted to their religion and the start of a great Necromantic Empire under his command. He is significantly powerful but largely under the command of Krull (CE Ancient Half Fiendish Black Dragon M Berserker 10) whom represents the Lord of Dust's interests by impersonating Orkus. Morgoth also takes orders from Gerard Schwartzvald (CE Death Knight M Blackguard 10) whom is the champion of Erandis D'Vol.

Dogma: Orkus is the Darkness from Before Time. An evil older than even Khyber. It is he who secretly rules the darkness of Dolurrh and will eventually consume the entire world. The Mourning was the first manifestation of his eventual ascension over all reality. The only hope for any salvation is to offer him blood sacrifices, souls, and worship in order to be transformed into an intelligent undead or demon when the time comes.