The Trinity of Darkness
Enemies of the Trinity of Light.
Deities
Yvonne - Goddess of Darkness, Death, and the Night. She's the Queen of Gloom and head of the pantheon.
Titles - Midnight Queen, Empress of Gloom,
Appearance - She takes the form of a drow, gray-skinned with long black hair that's often depicted as being tied back. She dresses in elaborate, majestic robes with a black crown on her hand. She carries a scepter in one and wearing a signet ring on her index finger.
Personality - She's a malevolent being whose greatest weakness is her vanity. She's known for her eloquence, able to make even the most fanatic and evil cause sound sane to those who hear it. Or she's able to make others doubt the wisest, most benevolent things in life. She deceives the masses into following her through many false promises, only a few of her most loyal followers know her true nature. The rest she tricks and brainwashed into her service.
She's a haughty goddess who believes she's beyond all others. Sadistic in the ways she tortures mortals and relentless in her efforts to destroy her enemies. Yet her vanity makes it possible to provoke her into making mistakes that could spoil long-time plans of hers.
Armir - God of Shadows, Conspiracy, and Subterfuge.
Titles - The Shadow, the Conspirator,
Appearance - He takes many forms, whichever one happens to suit his needs. He'll often appear as a shadowy cloud when he deigns to speak to his followers in person.
Personality - He's an enigma, caring little for his own glory or worship, instead he cares simply for destroying and perverting what's good, seemingly for his own pleasure. He's a flippant and lighthearted being in his attitude, but this fun-loving facade shouldn't be taken as anything more than a front. His real goal is to put his victims off-guard so he can deceive them or take them by surprise. He almost never acts directly, preferring lies and conspiracy to upfront battle.
He frequently intervenes throughout Arethil, always in a negative manner. He finds weak links and exploits them to bring down generally good or neutral organizations. He'll often offer deals to the wicked, ones that will trap them into enacting his will until they die.
Ragnos - God of War and Destruction
Titles - Lord of Demons, the Destroyer,
Appearance - He takes the form of a demon with red scales and a horned head. He has four bat-like wings and a long tail. His teeth are fangs, and he has claws on his hands. He clothes himself in heavy armor and carries a fiery sword in his hand.
Personality - He's a morose being who only loves war and violence. Whereas his rival Tancred is refined and disciplined, he cares little for such things, instead relying on chaotic hordes and brutality to shatter his enemies morale. He represents all the worst aspects of war and the savagery that can emerge in mortals because of it. He himself only really has fun when he's fighting. He considers anything that holds him back from that an annoyance.
He's most dangerous because of the powers he'll bestow upon hordes who act in his name, or the curses he'll inflict upon those who stand against him. He gains followers through a simple method; by taking the vilest, base desires of the people of Arethil and declaring them to be virtues. Many will join at the prospect of indulging themselves endlessly and being told they're righteous in the process.
Titles - Midnight Queen, Empress of Gloom,
Appearance - She takes the form of a drow, gray-skinned with long black hair that's often depicted as being tied back. She dresses in elaborate, majestic robes with a black crown on her hand. She carries a scepter in one and wearing a signet ring on her index finger.
Personality - She's a malevolent being whose greatest weakness is her vanity. She's known for her eloquence, able to make even the most fanatic and evil cause sound sane to those who hear it. Or she's able to make others doubt the wisest, most benevolent things in life. She deceives the masses into following her through many false promises, only a few of her most loyal followers know her true nature. The rest she tricks and brainwashed into her service.
She's a haughty goddess who believes she's beyond all others. Sadistic in the ways she tortures mortals and relentless in her efforts to destroy her enemies. Yet her vanity makes it possible to provoke her into making mistakes that could spoil long-time plans of hers.
Armir - God of Shadows, Conspiracy, and Subterfuge.
Titles - The Shadow, the Conspirator,
Appearance - He takes many forms, whichever one happens to suit his needs. He'll often appear as a shadowy cloud when he deigns to speak to his followers in person.
Personality - He's an enigma, caring little for his own glory or worship, instead he cares simply for destroying and perverting what's good, seemingly for his own pleasure. He's a flippant and lighthearted being in his attitude, but this fun-loving facade shouldn't be taken as anything more than a front. His real goal is to put his victims off-guard so he can deceive them or take them by surprise. He almost never acts directly, preferring lies and conspiracy to upfront battle.
He frequently intervenes throughout Arethil, always in a negative manner. He finds weak links and exploits them to bring down generally good or neutral organizations. He'll often offer deals to the wicked, ones that will trap them into enacting his will until they die.
Ragnos - God of War and Destruction
Titles - Lord of Demons, the Destroyer,
Appearance - He takes the form of a demon with red scales and a horned head. He has four bat-like wings and a long tail. His teeth are fangs, and he has claws on his hands. He clothes himself in heavy armor and carries a fiery sword in his hand.
Personality - He's a morose being who only loves war and violence. Whereas his rival Tancred is refined and disciplined, he cares little for such things, instead relying on chaotic hordes and brutality to shatter his enemies morale. He represents all the worst aspects of war and the savagery that can emerge in mortals because of it. He himself only really has fun when he's fighting. He considers anything that holds him back from that an annoyance.
He's most dangerous because of the powers he'll bestow upon hordes who act in his name, or the curses he'll inflict upon those who stand against him. He gains followers through a simple method; by taking the vilest, base desires of the people of Arethil and declaring them to be virtues. Many will join at the prospect of indulging themselves endlessly and being told they're righteous in the process.
Other Deities
Gloomite's begrudgingly acknowledge the existence of three other groups of gods. Although they insist on them being lesser in being.
The Trinity of Light is a group that embodies all things good and noble. They and the Trinity of Darkness are mortal enemies and will never cooperate.
The Trinity of Order is a group that focuses on upholding law and order, whatever form it takes. They and the Trinity of Darkness will sometimes join forces when their interests align.
The Trinity of Chaos is a group that focuses on chaos, anarchy, and freedom. They and the Trinity of Darkness will sometimes join forces when their interests align.
Gloomite's deny the existence of any other gods or declare them to be works of demonic spies or the Trinity of Darknesses deceptions. This allows them to maintain their sense of superiority despite not being the most prominent religion.
The Trinity of Light is a group that embodies all things good and noble. They and the Trinity of Darkness are mortal enemies and will never cooperate.
The Trinity of Order is a group that focuses on upholding law and order, whatever form it takes. They and the Trinity of Darkness will sometimes join forces when their interests align.
The Trinity of Chaos is a group that focuses on chaos, anarchy, and freedom. They and the Trinity of Darkness will sometimes join forces when their interests align.
Gloomite's deny the existence of any other gods or declare them to be works of demonic spies or the Trinity of Darknesses deceptions. This allows them to maintain their sense of superiority despite not being the most prominent religion.
Other Spiritual Beings/Views on Mortals
Gloomite's believe in a number of lesser spiritual beings, and have different views on the various mortal races.
Demons are the denizens of Inferno and are believed to be the servants of Ragnos. They have deep reverence for them as a result. Although even they know better than to blindly trust their words.
Elves (except for Drows) are hated due to the belief that they're the children of Aliandra, their enemy.
Dragons likewise are hated for their association with Tancred. Although they make an exception for dragons who're clearly evil in being.
Orcs are respected for their ferocity and strength. Often sought out for recruitment by Ragnos' cultists.
Undead are likewise respected, vampires above all, due to their aversion to the sun. They're believed to have been blessed by Yvonne.
Angels are hated for being the servants of the Trinity of Light.
Demons are the denizens of Inferno and are believed to be the servants of Ragnos. They have deep reverence for them as a result. Although even they know better than to blindly trust their words.
Elves (except for Drows) are hated due to the belief that they're the children of Aliandra, their enemy.
Dragons likewise are hated for their association with Tancred. Although they make an exception for dragons who're clearly evil in being.
Orcs are respected for their ferocity and strength. Often sought out for recruitment by Ragnos' cultists.
Undead are likewise respected, vampires above all, due to their aversion to the sun. They're believed to have been blessed by Yvonne.
Angels are hated for being the servants of the Trinity of Light.
Gloom and Other Realms
Gloom is a mysterious realm where Yvonne and Armir dwell. It's a world of perpetual night, lit only by the fires of Inferno burning below. Most the landscape is covered in great forests of black trees where violet leaves and strange fruits grow. A great castle, known as the Midnight Palace, rests within the center of this realm.
As Gloom isn't necessarily a torturous realm. It's considered a reward for their followers and a means by which to entice them into their service.
Below them is the more minor realm of Inferno, where Ragnos dwells. It's a fiery realm where the souls of those who didn't serve the Trinity of Darkness with enough fervor are cast. Also where the souls of the wicked, rejected by the Trinity of Night end up.
Gloomite's believe other realms exist, each associated with one of the other trinities.
As Gloom isn't necessarily a torturous realm. It's considered a reward for their followers and a means by which to entice them into their service.
Below them is the more minor realm of Inferno, where Ragnos dwells. It's a fiery realm where the souls of those who didn't serve the Trinity of Darkness with enough fervor are cast. Also where the souls of the wicked, rejected by the Trinity of Night end up.
Gloomite's believe other realms exist, each associated with one of the other trinities.
Hierarchy
The only real commonality between them and their rivals is that their clergy is also broken into three categories. Each with its own duties, but all work toward a common cause and will cooperate to see it done. They're all ultimately governed by a mysterious leader.
The Speaker - An oddity. They're the leader of all the clergies, allegedly capable of speaking to the Gods themselves. Nobody knows much else about them, not even if they're a man or woman. Only that their word is absolute for all members of the clergy, whatever their role. Some believe the Speaker is a title that passes on, others that there's only one Speaker that's lived throughout the centuries. Either way, their influence and power shouldn't be doubted.
The Ministers - The only ones who've actually met the Speaker, there are about twelve of them in all. They're tasked with carrying out decrees and directing operations.
The Midnight Choir - Yvonne's followers. They're the most traditional of the three factions, acting as preachers, missionaries, and healers to help spread her influence throughout Arethil. They're known for meeting at night to sing hymns to Yvonne, hence the name. They're adept manipulators who seek out the vulnerable and who leech off the good reputation of other faiths to gain the trust of communities. They're rarely upfront with their true intentions, winding them in a web of eloquent words.
Once their target is suitably trusting they'll slowly bring them into the fold and teach them about Yvonne's true nature and intentions.
The Phantoms - Followers of Armir. They're spies who infiltrate organizations all over Arethil for the sake of taking them over, ruining their good name, or to spy and sabotage their enemies. They're masters of deception and extremely dedicated to their cause, playing their role for years to earn their victim's trust. Often they'll collect blackmail material on various individuals of note, or who might become noteworthy in the future.
If caught, they'll attempt to pin the blame on the organization's rivals or enemies to try and make tensions worse for them.
The Scarlet Horde - Followers of Ragnos. It's a collective term used to describe a number of different groups, orders, and armies that have pledged themselves to Ragnos. Most are barbarian hordes or violent insurgents, only a few have any manner of discipline or training behind them. They often fluctuate in power and influence, as it's usually not long before someone will target and eliminate barbarians who draw their ire.
Many have lesser powers bestowed upon them by Ragnos to maximize their effectiveness.
The Speaker - An oddity. They're the leader of all the clergies, allegedly capable of speaking to the Gods themselves. Nobody knows much else about them, not even if they're a man or woman. Only that their word is absolute for all members of the clergy, whatever their role. Some believe the Speaker is a title that passes on, others that there's only one Speaker that's lived throughout the centuries. Either way, their influence and power shouldn't be doubted.
The Ministers - The only ones who've actually met the Speaker, there are about twelve of them in all. They're tasked with carrying out decrees and directing operations.
The Midnight Choir - Yvonne's followers. They're the most traditional of the three factions, acting as preachers, missionaries, and healers to help spread her influence throughout Arethil. They're known for meeting at night to sing hymns to Yvonne, hence the name. They're adept manipulators who seek out the vulnerable and who leech off the good reputation of other faiths to gain the trust of communities. They're rarely upfront with their true intentions, winding them in a web of eloquent words.
Once their target is suitably trusting they'll slowly bring them into the fold and teach them about Yvonne's true nature and intentions.
The Phantoms - Followers of Armir. They're spies who infiltrate organizations all over Arethil for the sake of taking them over, ruining their good name, or to spy and sabotage their enemies. They're masters of deception and extremely dedicated to their cause, playing their role for years to earn their victim's trust. Often they'll collect blackmail material on various individuals of note, or who might become noteworthy in the future.
If caught, they'll attempt to pin the blame on the organization's rivals or enemies to try and make tensions worse for them.
The Scarlet Horde - Followers of Ragnos. It's a collective term used to describe a number of different groups, orders, and armies that have pledged themselves to Ragnos. Most are barbarian hordes or violent insurgents, only a few have any manner of discipline or training behind them. They often fluctuate in power and influence, as it's usually not long before someone will target and eliminate barbarians who draw their ire.
Many have lesser powers bestowed upon them by Ragnos to maximize their effectiveness.
Principals
There's two faces to the Trinity of Darkness and their followers. The face they show to the world to deceive them, and their true face. In either case, they hold authoritarian ideals and advocate total obedience to their Gods and the Speaker. They value dominance and victory over others, whatever form that might take. Be it militarily, politically, or culturally.
Anything good and righteous is depicted as an enemy that must be destroyed to bring about their dominion across Arethil. Meanwhile, there's only a few commands concerning personal responsibility, selfish desires and hedonism are rather encouraged. The only restriction placed on such behaviors is that one must ensure their desires don't interfere with their duties to the Gods. Anything short of that is permissible.
There's two major mentalities among the followers. The first believes that an orderly, unified approach is the best way to infiltrate, overpower, or otherwise destroy their enemies and achieve dominance. They seek to build actual governments and nations, or simply to takeover the old governments.
The second group believes in anarchy and chaos, in tearing down and destroying everything that stands against them and running wild throughout Arethil after the fact. They find any authority other than the clergy and Gods to be evil. Both groups are at odds with each other, but ultimately united due to recognizing the divine right of the Speaker.
Most Gloomite's know and accept that they're evil, and are fine with that. Although they'll feign otherwise to draw in new converts.
Anything good and righteous is depicted as an enemy that must be destroyed to bring about their dominion across Arethil. Meanwhile, there's only a few commands concerning personal responsibility, selfish desires and hedonism are rather encouraged. The only restriction placed on such behaviors is that one must ensure their desires don't interfere with their duties to the Gods. Anything short of that is permissible.
There's two major mentalities among the followers. The first believes that an orderly, unified approach is the best way to infiltrate, overpower, or otherwise destroy their enemies and achieve dominance. They seek to build actual governments and nations, or simply to takeover the old governments.
The second group believes in anarchy and chaos, in tearing down and destroying everything that stands against them and running wild throughout Arethil after the fact. They find any authority other than the clergy and Gods to be evil. Both groups are at odds with each other, but ultimately united due to recognizing the divine right of the Speaker.
Most Gloomite's know and accept that they're evil, and are fine with that. Although they'll feign otherwise to draw in new converts.
Intent
Their intention is to spread their religion throughout the world, through violence, corruption, and manipulation if need be. And to destroy anything good and noble that would stand in their way. That said, they're (usually) smart about the way they present themselves. They won't openly tell anyone not suitably indoctrinated about their true plans, and will instead lie and say they only want to peacefully evangelize and help others in need.
They believe that, once they've rid Arethil of foreign influence, the Trinity of Darkness will descend and blot out the sun, moon, and stars, plunging the world into eternal night. That the realm of Gloom will merge with Arethil, allowing them to survive such a situation.
They believe that, once they've rid Arethil of foreign influence, the Trinity of Darkness will descend and blot out the sun, moon, and stars, plunging the world into eternal night. That the realm of Gloom will merge with Arethil, allowing them to survive such a situation.
Lore
Once there was only a single entity now simply called the Origin. This being was at war with its own mind, wrestling with countless concepts and ideas until it became too much for it to stand. The Origin shattered into countless pieces that scattered throughout the universe and took on lives of their own.
And so the first two members of the Trinity of Darkness came into being, Yvonne was born from the Origin's inner vices, pride above all. Whereas Ragnos hailed from the Origin's desire for death and destruction. He first assailed Yvonne, but his brutality was no match for her, and in the end, she forced him to swear fealty to her.
Yvonne created the realms of Gloom and Inferno to house herself and her new servant. There, the race of demons were created to populate their new worlds. They lived there for generations until the first rays of light fell upon them. Yvonne followed them and discovered the other Gods and Arethil. In response, she created Armir and set him loose to learn and find their weakness.
When Armir returned, the newly formed Trinity of Darkness launched an attack. They nearly succeeded in conquering the universe but were thwarted by the newly born God of the Sun, Tancred. Defeated, they retreated to Gloom where they've schemed ever since to corrupt and conquer Arethil.
In terms of the religion itself, Gloomism is an old, cultic belief that's gone through phases of being moderately powerful or weak. They've always persisted, but have never managed to claim true prominence in Arethil. It was founded by the Speaker.
And so the first two members of the Trinity of Darkness came into being, Yvonne was born from the Origin's inner vices, pride above all. Whereas Ragnos hailed from the Origin's desire for death and destruction. He first assailed Yvonne, but his brutality was no match for her, and in the end, she forced him to swear fealty to her.
Yvonne created the realms of Gloom and Inferno to house herself and her new servant. There, the race of demons were created to populate their new worlds. They lived there for generations until the first rays of light fell upon them. Yvonne followed them and discovered the other Gods and Arethil. In response, she created Armir and set him loose to learn and find their weakness.
When Armir returned, the newly formed Trinity of Darkness launched an attack. They nearly succeeded in conquering the universe but were thwarted by the newly born God of the Sun, Tancred. Defeated, they retreated to Gloom where they've schemed ever since to corrupt and conquer Arethil.
In terms of the religion itself, Gloomism is an old, cultic belief that's gone through phases of being moderately powerful or weak. They've always persisted, but have never managed to claim true prominence in Arethil. It was founded by the Speaker.