Lazev
God of Evil Supreme
Intermediate God

Epithets:	Lord of the Ebon Hooves, Ruler of the Ebon Scepter, Whisperer of Dark Secrets
Alignment:	Lawful evil
Symbol:	Black ten-pointed star with a red center
Colors:	Black and ruby red
Gem:	Ruby
Primary followers:	Evil rulers and those working for the rule of evil in society
Special mark:	Black headband with holy symbol at forehead of Knights and clerics

     Lazev, Ruler of the Ebon Scepter, Overlord of the House of Darkness, is a deity whose outward form skillfully conceals—but only to a point—the evil buried within. The god’s true form is that of a human male of some forty years, barely over five feet in height and slight of build. His countenance is undeniably handsome, with its cleft chin and finely chiseled features, but the glittering violet eyes of the god are startling and a bit unnerving. His skin bears a smooth olive complexion, and his shoulder length hair and goatee beard are a silken, glossy black. Adorned in the vestments of his mortal priests, the god keeps his garments and his person in immaculate order, the very model of good grooming.

     The only truly non-human feature of Lazev is his polished hooves of adamant, which peer from beneath the deity’s fine garments. When the god is calm and in possession of himself, the hooves are virtually silent when the deity walks, and observers soon dismiss them. But if the Overlord’s anger is fired, the hooves glow a dull red, and wisps of flame erupt with every step. It is said that any item of magic dedicated to the cause of good—even artifacts and relics—may be crushed and destroyed forever beneath the hooves of the god.

     Lazev’s manner can be as disarming as his person. His voice is a smooth tenor, and his discourse fairly radiates with the god’s vast knowledge and dark wisdom. When the situation warrants, Lazev is quite capable of dealing with mortals and his fellow gods with genuine charm and grace. The god has long since learned that he need not raise his voice; even when enraged, Lazev does not screech or bellow. Instead, his voice lowers and softens to a serpentine hiss, becoming as lethal as the sharpest mithril blade from the searing intensity of his mockery and cruel spite.

     It is no secret, even among mortals, that Tcharlat is the only vassal of Lazev whose loyalty is unquestioned. The alliance of these two powers has profited them both: the pairing of Lazev’s minions and the Shadowqueen’s subjects has helped to insure and perpetuate the dominion of the former and the flourishing of the latter. The subject Powers of the Overlord have long since learned that to challenge one is to challenge the other—and no rival has dared to do so since the Age of Mists.

     The Ebon Scepter, Lazev’s symbol of authority over the House of Darkness, is a ruby-encrusted quarterstaff of adamantite. The rubies are cut and inlaid so as to form clerical spells of Istari glyphs, which the god can call upon at will. Though the text is lacking in specifics, the Astarith describes the Scepter as an unholy beacon of evil majesty, possessing a keen intelligence, an insidious will, and an insatiable hunger for the souls of the good at heart.

     Avatars: Though the god may assume any form he chooses, Lazev clearly prefers to appear to mortals as himself. Even so, Lazev rarely assumes the physical form of an Avatar before any but his most loyal subjects; his appearances usually take the form of apparitions or intrusions into mortal dreams. On the rare occasions he selects an animal form, the god appears as a ideal male specimen of the specie—yet the hind feet are always a coal black and the eyes are always violet, giving an observer a chance to deduce the creature’s true nature.

     Lazev’s avatar always carries a "shadow" of the Ebon Scepter into the world with him, and whenever it is wielded against mortals, the results are often horrific. If Lazev so wills, any mortal being struck by the Scepter may have its soul or spirit sucked into the instrument and devoured, with any hope of resurrection or reincarnation destroyed forever. Once the soul is consumed, the Overlord may do as he wills with the empty shell of flesh left behind. If a less grandiose display of power is desired, the Scepter may be wielded as a melee weapon; its vorpal nature then becomes quite evident, with the shattering of the skull the obvious objective.

     Mortal Servants: The Ruby Legion is, without question, one of the most cohesive and formidable religious Orders in all Minarra. It is one of only three Orders that include clerics, Knights, and monks within their ranks, and is the only one among the House of Darkness. Though the smallest of the evil Orders in terms of numbers, the tight discipline, high morale, extensive training, and superb education of its members all conspire to make the Legion an awesome and terrible entity to behold.

     The clerics of the Order dress in black robes of various fabrics, the choice depending on climate and rank. Graces of the Order also sport a black cloak trimmed in red, while that of the Cruelty is solid red. The Cruelties also sport the Ebon Scepter, the worldly echo of Lazev's companion, as the mark of their fell rank. Clerics and Knights of both sexes also wear a black headband bearing the holy symbol of the god. Leather goods (shoes, boots, gloves, belts, etc.) are dyed black or red as well.

     The Ruby Legion considers itself an elite organization within the ranks of evil, and their public and private behavior clearly reflects this fact. Its members are required to keep themselves well dressed and groomed, and keep their domiciles and personal effects in tidy and serviceable condition. When traveling through lands not under their control, Legionnaires are expected to abide local laws, respect local customs, and show the proper deference to all figures of authority and their families. This courtesy extends even to churchmen in service to other Houses; all the True Gods are sacrosanct in the eyes of a Legionnaire, and a basic respect for their mortal servants is therefore appropriate.

     Since the typical forms of crime and personal corruption are the domain of the subject gods of the House, Legionnaires are conditioned to scorn them unless there is no viable alternative. No self-respecting servant of Lazev would be caught dead in a back alley gambling den, cheap tavern, or sleazy brothel. Most forms of common street crime—pickpocketing, petty frauds, rolling drunks, etc.—are considered crude and even scandalous, and resorting to them without cause brings harsh penalties. Though individuals may have their personal vices, they must not be allowed to take control, lest the honor of the Order be stained.

     The ultimate honor that Lazev can bestow upon any loyal mortal is granted in a rare and bloody ceremony, one rarely witnessed by outsiders. The recipient’s feet are first severed just below the ankle, and grafted in their place are two hooves of a nightmare slain while in the service of the Overlord. Only a Cruelty of the Order is granted this boon as a matter of course; all other recipients must have performed some truly exceptional service. The Hooves of the Nightmare are a mark of great prestige—and dread—to any being of evil alignment, and one that their proud owners are loathe to hide.

     Philosophy/Tenets of Faith: At the core of Lazev’s philosophy are the concepts of Law, Discipline, Strength, and Enlightenment; but to the mortal servants of the Overlord, these words carry nuances that often escape the uninitiated. Law is not merely dry statues and ordinances, but a vision of an orderly society based upon the unquestioned obedience to those above you and ruthless dominion of those below you. Discipline is not only the control of one’s body, mind, and spirit, but also of one’s ambition and ego. Strength implies both physical and mental toughness, while Enlightenment covers many facets: self-awareness, insight, and unclouded perceptions of the world and its workings. Only when one understands these concepts can one survive within the Overlord’s cruel yet orderly culture, and only through their mastery can one advance one’s status.

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