Orcrest | Enshrouded

Enshrouded

Overview

Beware the shadows, for they conceal lethal truth. The gods worth worshipping are the gods who linger beside us while we wait to strike. Gods

of strength, gods of cunning.

The Enshrouded thrive on the principles of power, cunning, and domination, offering mortals a path to ascend above their peers through ambition, conquest, deception, and destruction. Ulkarith and Gresh are the central deities of this faith, representing the core ideals of ambition and conquest. Their minor but integral counterparts, Idros and Bok, wield deception and destruction as tools to achieve those ends.

Ulkarith, Gresh, Idros, and Bok embody the multifaceted pursuit of power, offering mortals tools to rise above their peers. Ulkarith inspires calculated ambition, Gresh enforces dominance through conquest, Idros guides with cunning deception, and Bok shatters barriers through raw destruction. Together, they create a pantheon of gods that thrive on the interplay between shadowed cunning and open power, reminding their followers that strength comes in many forms - and only the strongest survive.

Worship

Outlaw Faith: Darklings of all stripes consider themselves Enshrouded to the nigh exclusion of all other religions, though often worship is concentrated on Ulkarith for Drow and Gresh for Orcs and Goblinoids. Outside of their number, the worship is rare but not unheard of, primarily in the type of people who are on the outs of society.
Seize the Day: Ulkarith rewards ambition when paired with proper planning. Those prepared to jump at opportunities find blessings, and those who recklessly charge forward find themselves stymied.
Might Makes Right: Gresh rewards conquerors with the strength to conquer more. Those who fail are not worth his time.
Enshrouded Schemes: Idros smiles on those who operate in the shadows, aiding in the spread of deceit and twisting the knife in those who's hearts live on their sleeves.
Burn! Burn! Burn!: Bok revels in destruction of all sorts, including that of her followers, should they fail to bring the ruin of their enemies.

Core Information

Symbol: A stylized spear, with ladder rungs on its shaft.

Major Domains: Ulkarith (Ambition), Gresh (Conquest)

Minor Domains: Idros (Deception), Bok (Destruction)

Internal Relations: Enshrouded gods promote the rise of the strong, and their internal relations are no different. The Enshrouded scheme amongst themselves, eager to slip a knife in a back to advance.

External Relations: The Enshrouded believe other gods exist, but are there to be subjugated by Ulkarith and Gresh. Their followers are victims in waiting, and nothing more.

Rituals

The Ritual of the Ascending Flame: A ritual performed by those seeking Ulkarith’s blessing, where worshippers declare their ambitions aloud before lighting a sacred brazier with a blackened torch. They offer a symbolic token of their goals to the fire, meditating on the flickering light for clarity and inspiration as a sign of Ulkarith’s favor.
The Trial of Chains: A combat trial where followers must prove their strength and loyalty in front of their peers by defeating a rival or enduring hardship.
The Rite of Shadows: A clandestine ceremony where worshippers prove their prowess through acts of subterfuge or espionage.
The Festival of Ruin: A chaotic celebration where worshippers unleash destruction, tearing down old structures to prepare for new creations.

The Dark Visionary • The God of Ambition

Lore

Ulkarith, the god of ambition, is the embodiment of calculated power and the driving force behind personal and societal ascent. Legend holds that Ulkarith emerged in a time of stagnation among gods and mortals alike, offering mortals the ability to channel their desires into tangible outcomes. In the tale of The First Flame of Shadow, Ulkarith appeared to the Winged Empress Ulkarith II, who had fallen from grace, igniting within her the fire to forge something anew. According to legend, she wove great and terrible magic, turning her and those avariel who still followed her into what is now known as the drow. Under her guidance, she outmaneuvered her enemies through cunning alliances and strategic betrayal, solidifying her place in history. Some rumours have Ulkarith being the Winged Empress Ulkarith I (who abdicated under mysterious circumstances not two hundred years prior to the reign of Ulkarith II), though that is considered heresy by most. Yet others speak of Ulkarith as the ascended Ulkarith II, though that too is a matter of some debate amongst drow theologists. The orthodox position is that there are three separate Ulkariths, and that the names were an ancient ploy by Idros to conceal Ulkarith's true origins.

Ulkarith teaches that ambition is a necessary force, a catalyst for progress, but she does not tolerate recklessness. Her blessings are reserved for those who approach their desires with meticulous planning and an understanding of their own limitations.

Ulkarith values precision and long-term thinking, rewarding those who act with intent. She inspires devotion through her allure, drawing mortals into her web of power with promises of greatness. Ulkarith understands that true power is built over time and encourages followers to endure setbacks for greater rewards.

Idros

The Whisper in the Dark • Thrall God of Deception

Idros, enthralled by Ulkarith, is the god of deception, cunning, and subtlety, the force that operates in the shadows to achieve what brute strength cannot. In the myth of The Spider’s Web, Idros is said to have guided a noblewoman in overthrowing her rivals through manipulation and espionage. He teaches that deception is not merely lying but crafting realities that bend others to your will.

Idros rarely reveals their true motives, encouraging their followers to trust in subtlety. He rewards those who employ cleverness and precision over brute force. Loyalty is taught as a tool of deception, except to the gods - there it must be unquestioned.

The Unyielding Tyrant • The God of Conquest

Lore

Gresh, the god of conquest, represents the unrelenting force that reshapes the world through war and domination. His origins trace back to the first mortal to turn their weapons on their own kind in search of power. In the myth of The Shattered Crown, Gresh appeared to an orcish warlord, offering his guidance in exchange for unyielding loyalty. Through Gresh’s might, the warlord united scattered tribes under a single banner, but his brutality ensured his legacy would be one of fear and awe.

Gresh believes that power must be taken, not given, and that strength alone dictates who deserves to rule. However, his conquests are not mindless; he demands discipline and loyalty from his followers, viewing an uncontrolled army as a weakness.

Gresh embodies the raw power of conquest, driving his followers to crush their enemies without hesitation. He respects warriors who temper their ferocity with strategy and control. Gresh rewards strength and ambition but has no mercy for weakness or failure.

Bok

The Mother of Chaos • Thrall God of Destruction

Bok, the god of destruction, is the raw, unbridled force of chaos and ruin. Legends tell that Bok was once a mortal goblin, one who's whims of destruction were so potent she ascended to godhood in service of Gresh. In The Fires of Flame, goblin oral history describes the end of days, where Bok will engulf existence in holy flame, bringing her faithful to an afterlife filled with kindling and matches, and leaving the rest to burn.

Bok values freedom above all, encouraging mortals to shatter their limitations. She sees destruction as a natural part of creation and renewal. Unlike Idros, Bok’s power is direct, rewarding those who embrace their raw, destructive potential.