Twelve Deadly Gods
Appearance: The Twelve Deadly Gods are ridiculously flamboyant in appearance as a rule. All of them go to great lengths to separate themselves from the masses of regular fighters so they will be memorable for their slaughter in ways that will resound throughout history. As such, they are almost all tremendously flashy in their appearance and attitudes. Think Samurai Showdown meets Street Fighter for an example.
Roleplaying Hints: The Twelve Deadly Gods vary tremendously in personality but are all extremely devoted to Genai, that they consider some sort of modern day prophet. The majority of them are this side of psychopaths on their best days but give exaggerated respect to anyone whose able to stand up to them in battle. They've so rarely encountered foes able to oppose them that they usually merely march up to their opponents and challenge them. Those who attempt to use this treachery against them often find it returned and rarely survive long enough to repeat the mistake.
Background: Amongst House Deneith, there is a legend, of possibly their greatest warrior. Genai D'Deneith was born with the Siberys mark that made him a figure of great reknown despite being found amongst a pair of peasants that had only the vaguest connections to the bloodline. Genai found himself an ill fit for the House despite the fact that he quickly mastered the arts of fighting. He was viewed as too sensitive a youth and would have been bullied were he not able to defeat even the strongest weapons masters of the House by the time he was sixteen.
Genai D'Deneith found the mercenary life to be boring and tedious. Instead, he began a pilgrimage around Khorvaire the various fighting arts of other races. The samurai of the Hobgoblins, Adar Mountain swordsmanship, Cyrean fencing, Karrnath claymore fighting, and Talenta plain spearmanship. Genai's quest was respected in the fact that he was considered a "Kensai" or seeker to bring new knowledge to the House in the ways of battle.
Over time, Genai gathered a group of followers around him that each mastered a different school of the Eberron Zodiac. Genai, himself, created each of these schools from his own studies of the various fighting disciplines. Many of his house came to view him as a natural sucessor or, at the very least, the next weaponsmaster of the House. In truth, Genai simply disappeared one day into the Demon Wastes and was expected to never return.
Until, he did.
The Twelve Deadly Gods are a scare legend amongst the Last War's followers. They appeared at the edges of villages or entire units before slaughtering them down to the Last Man. The criteria they accepted for a job seemed only to be whether it would be amusing or not. Genai's followers were responsible for a horrific slaughter of some of the greatest heroes in Eberron. Specifically, they targetted mighty warriors whose legends had often been the heart of Galifar or their homeland's pride. In the end, some of the Deadly Gods were slain but almost always did their killers end up joining the enigmatic warrior brotherhood.
They were thought destroyed in the Mourning but, in truth, largely broke up to merely seek out new challenges for their ruthless skill.
Special Abilities: Genai wields supernatural powers drawn from the Rajah Baalzebul. The majority of the Deadly Gods do not know that he has been annointed with the power of the Lord of Battle. Instead, he claims that he gains his power as the Chosen Embodiment of Hextor (another name for Dol Dorn). Nevertheless, many clerics sense the demonic power that infuses most of the Deadly Gods with Innate Abilities that add to their legend.
Dogma: To be a warrior is the ultimate honor in the world and there's nothing else that matters in life. All other beings in the world are sheep and cattle to the true achievement of victory in battle. There are no innocents in this world but those who attempt to destroy a superior warrior by treachery deserve only to be slaughtered along with all that they worship. A true warrior is without pity, remorse, or regret. He lives only to destroy his enemies and to improve his own skill as a fighter.
Members
These are the members of the Twelve Deadly Gods as they were in Melissa's time. Take note that they have several "henchmen" groups that all seek to emanate the Deadly Gods and build up their skills enough that they might be allowed to join the group, if and when, an existing member dies. This is highly unlikely as these henchmen (despite being tremendously skilled) tend to embody the herd mentality that Genai loaths.
Founder
Genai: Lawful Evil Human Male (Dustborn) Swordsage 10/Master of Nine 6
Genai is a figure whom is arguably the greatest Swordsman currently alive in Eberron. Humbled by one of the Lords of Dust, he's taken to the philosophy that was taught to him by his Demonic Master. Genai is blessed with a peculiar sense of honor but believes life is pointless except for seeking death in the most grandiose manner possible.
It is noteworthy that Genai doesn't actually 'count' as a member of the Twelve Deadly Gods, so their number is actually Thirteen.
Current Members
1. Kaela: Lawful Evil Half-Elf Female Monk 10
Genai's daughter and one of the most fearsome of the Twelve Deadly Gods, her mother died long ago and she's been molded by her father into a perfect killing machine. Oddly, she's never really been exposed to concepts outside of the select brotherhood she lives in and is emotionally unprepared for dealing with them. Some of the causal cruelty that she performs is mostly immitative since she has no real joy in it.
2. Keltis Dorran Neutral Evil Dwarven Male Warblade 10/Deepstone Sentinel 2
Keltis Dorran was once the greatest champion of the Mror Holds and a mighty veteran of many Karrnath Campaigns. Then, his brother Korram's village was destroyed by the Karrnath army in order to steal food to feed itself. Outraged, he butchered most of them himself and abandoned the cause. When many dwarves tried to avenge the insult, he destroyed his honor completely by slaughtering them. From that point on, he killed everyone he encountered until Genai defeated him and gave him a new life.
3. The Beast Chaotic Evil Human Male Monk 15th Level Monk
Formerly, one of the greatest unarmed fighters that ever lived. The Beast fell from the Monks of the Quivering Flame after discovering that he loved killing more than he loved serving the cause of good. Despite losing his capacity as a Monk, he has somehow managed to continue advancing in skill despite his undisciplined nature. Unlike most of the 12 Deadly Gods, the Beast is aware that the purpose of the organization is to serve the greater ends of the Lords of Dust by killing the greatest mortal heroes alive. He just doesn't care.
The Beast is, unquestionably, the second most powerful member of the evil organization.
4. Alexia N Valenar Elven Female Ranger 6/Sorcerer 1/Arcane Archer 5
Alexia is a member of the Valenar warrior code that has broken with tradition due to the fact that she has surpassed all of her known ancestors as an Archer and Horsewoman. Feeling utterly depressed and alone in this world, Alexia has since joined with the Deadly Gods in search of new challenges. This has made her an outcast amongst her race since she considers the Deadly Gods to be greater warriors than the vast majority of Valenar warriors in living or ancient history. Her capability with Arrows is, frankly, ridiculous. Unlike most of the Deadly Gods, Alex is not a raving psychopath and is uncomfortable with many of their deeds.
5. Valek D'Vol CE Aerenal Male (Deathless) Elf Warblade 10/Blood Storm Blade 4
Valek is one of the rarest of creatures in Aerenal, an outcast from the Undying Courts. Valek earned his place in the Undying Court by serving as an assassin during the war against the Dragons. Older than even Erandis D'Vol, Valek slowly grew insane with guilt and self-loathing from the slaughter of every member of his family by him and other members of the Undying Court. Exiling himself, Valek fell to murder and slaughter to appease his inner spirit. Valek has no real loyalty to the Twelve Deadly Gods but finds it an amusing way to pass the time while he continues his endless life of murder.
On some level, Valek seeks death but refuses to die at the hands of anyone but someone who has defeated him in fair combat. Thus far, the Deadly Gods seem to be the only ones capable of bringing it about.
6.Schneider CE Theifling Male Swordsage 6/Aberrant Blade 4
Schneider is the bastard son of Genai and the older half-brother of Kaela. Born in the Demon Wastes to the twin sister of Xavier, a half-fiend harlot, whom had Genai slept with out of boredom. He grew up alone in the Demon Wastes, where he developed a fighting style that merged the use of his Aberrant Dragonmark of flame and demonic heritage. Towards the end of the last war he assaulted and razed a Church of the Silver Flame, killed Cardinal Krozen's family, and slaughtered all the members of the Order Palatine guarding them including Richard Ferdinand, Kyle's older brother. After Garuum's defeat and renouncing of the Deadly Gods, Schneider took Garuum's place in the the Deadly Gods.
Former Members
Garuum Lawful Good Half-Orc Crusader 8/Bloodclaw Master 2/Priest of the Silver Flame 1
For years, Garuum traveled outside of the Demon Wastes seeking evil to destroy in the name of the Flame. The man was hoping to find some secret for helping to end his people's eternal struggle but only grew angry with their arrogance and spoiled natures. Genai recruited Garuum and they slaughtered countless warriors together as he managed to justify it in the name of the flame. Then, Garuum confronted Ethan in battle to kill a young girl that Genai had been hired to destroy. During that battle, he discovered she was the new Keeper and he was shamed to fully recanting of his evil.
He's since been replaced in the Twelve Deadly Gods.
