I'm finalizing the dialogue component of my 'Chosen of Cyric' encounter, and I'd like to make sure that I've made no conceptual mistakes. Therefore, I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could point me to some in depth info about Cyric's priests and followers. BTW, I already have a good chunk of Cyric's biography so I don't need more info on that part.
Also, if anyone has some info on the Shadow Thieves that could prove helpful too. I'd especially like to know which tactics, spells, items etc. do they usually use and how they plan their attacks.
Cyric Material needed
Started by aVENGER, Mar 14 2003 07:17 AM
16 replies to this topic
#2
Zalabar
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Posted 14 March 2003 - 07:58 AM
So you've already read the Avatar Trilogy and the Trial of Cyric the Mad? Hm... well, this is after Keldorn became the God of Death, so Zhentel Keep is ruins. That means Cyric's most prized artifact, a book that converts its reader to absolute worship of the god, is sealed and being carried around by one of Mystria's boys; maybe a Harper. I can't remember.
As far as the preists... well, Cyric is a god of madness, and that shows up in his followers. The deeper into his favor they fall, the less in touch with reality they usually are. As a general rule, they've got a gift for oration, and are willing to convert just about anything they can. There's a comic floating around that has one of the crazed god's clerics leading a band of Gnolls. So, as a general rule, they're crazy missionaries, but unusually aware of their role. In "Crucible," the main character (a cleric of Cyric) is clearly a fanatic, but makes some valid points; stuff like if the best in life rush off to death, that will leave only the worst, who are easy prey for his god, and so on.
If you're looking for more concrete data, if you've got a newsgroup account, you could dig around on alt.binaries.e-book.rpg. I think the title is Dieties and Demigods, but I could be mistaken.
As far as the preists... well, Cyric is a god of madness, and that shows up in his followers. The deeper into his favor they fall, the less in touch with reality they usually are. As a general rule, they've got a gift for oration, and are willing to convert just about anything they can. There's a comic floating around that has one of the crazed god's clerics leading a band of Gnolls. So, as a general rule, they're crazy missionaries, but unusually aware of their role. In "Crucible," the main character (a cleric of Cyric) is clearly a fanatic, but makes some valid points; stuff like if the best in life rush off to death, that will leave only the worst, who are easy prey for his god, and so on.
If you're looking for more concrete data, if you've got a newsgroup account, you could dig around on alt.binaries.e-book.rpg. I think the title is Dieties and Demigods, but I could be mistaken.
#3
Longinus
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Posted 14 March 2003 - 10:13 AM
I'll try and gather some info on the Shadow Thieves.
"If you remember me, then you must also remember what you did!"
~ Edge, Panzer Dragoon Saga
~ Edge, Panzer Dragoon Saga
#4
aVENGER
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Posted 14 March 2003 - 02:02 PM
So you've already read the Avatar Trilogy and the Trial of Cyric the Mad?
Well...not exactly, but I have read a very detailed synopsis of the events which lead to him becoming a god, from his life as a mortal in Zhentil Keep to the creation of The Cyrinishad, but this document lacked any mention of his worshippers and servants.
So, as a general rule, they're crazy missionaries, but unusually aware of their role. In "Crucible," the main character (a cleric of Cyric) is clearly a fanatic, but makes some valid points; stuff like if the best in life rush off to death, that will leave only the worst, who are easy prey for his god, and so on.
Excellent. This fits nicely into the dialogue which I assigned to the priest I'm using in the encounter.
I'll try and gather some info on the Shadow Thieves.
Very good! Feel free to post here or email me anything that you consider useful.
BTW, does anyone know of a place where I can get some high quality rogue portraits to use for my characters. I prefer IWD style art, but anything with a bit of style will do. Here's a sample portrait which I'll be using for the female merchant that now sells my custom items in the Shadow Thief guild hall B)
#5
Mikka
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Posted 14 March 2003 - 03:06 PM
I used to play a crazy Cyric priest back right after second edition came out. I think I still have her character sheet around here, too.
I remember his dogma, too, as I was just reading it yesterday for a friend. Um, third edition. 'Death to all who oppose Cyric. Bow down before the supreme power, and to him yeild the blood of those who do not believe that he is the supreme one. Fear and obey those in authority, but slay those that are weak, of good persuasion, or false prophets. Battle against clergy of other faiths, for they are the false ones who oppose the One True Way of Cyric. BBring death to those who oppose Cyric's church or make order, peace, and laws for only Cyric is the true authority and all other authority must be controlled and stopped. Break not into open rebellion, for marching armies cause the false deities to respond. Fell one foe at a time and keep all folk afraid, uneasy, and in constant strife. Any method or means can be justified if it brings about the desired end.
The pledge his clerics make when they get their position is to spread strife and murder everywhere they go so others fear and believe Cyric. Cyric's clerics, however, aren't really united. They spend most of their time plotting against each other rather then other rival churches (usually, this would be Bane, but Bane is dead at the time of BG, so it's more the churches Mystra/Midnight and Kelemvor (you see his statue in the graveyard, I think- when Cyric was a mortal, him and Kelemvor used to adventure togehter . But that's off topic). Oh. Cyric's followers like to sacrifice Lathander's paladins, too. Umm, the clerics usually dress in black or dark purple robes, and some silver. They were silver bracers with the symbol of Cyric on them. Often, though, they'll be in human garb as they try to move around undetected- luckily, most of them are a bit more sane then their god, so they managed to do it occasionally. Amn is a major sight for Cyric's followers, and out of the three big factions in the church, two of them are in Amn. They spend a lot of time fighting each other, although one (can't remember which) is allied with the Council of Six for war against the Sythillisian Empire.
It's also worth noting that Cyric has had a major part in the Zerth sects, but you probably know that, right? Okay, then, Shadow Thieves.
...I had a Mask worshipping Shadow Thief, too. *pouts* But that DnD group broke up when our DM moved away. He was a good one, too.
First, the headquarters known as the Shadow House in Athaktla is their false one- their real headquarters is on the other side of the town. Um, Shadow Thieves mostly worship Mask, but Cyric, Shar, Talona, Loviatar, and Bhaal and Bane re all common enough. Their symbol is a black mask with a dagger impaling it, and they leave that at certain places to freak out people. However, it can only be used if given permission from one of the highups- if a member uses this symbol on his own, he'll then be found- and on his corpse will be a mask with the dagger in it. Mean bunch.
Shadow Thieves is run in this fashion-
The Grandmaster of Shadows at the top
The Shadow Council (six people, including the Grandmaster of Shadows)
The Cloakmasters (two of them for each member of the Shadow Council)
The Guildmasters (ten of them for each cloakmaster)
And then the 'Silhouettes' (in a word, people who can be used to trick of spies. They pretend to have authority/run guilds/such and sort, but instead are used to throw spies off. That idiot you serve in BG was probably a Silhouette- what was his name? Ar... something. Whatever. Mae'Var and his boss probably both counted as Guildmasters. Ghaen was probably just a silhouette, or perhaps one of the hundreds of 'average' shadow thieves).
It can be noted that the Grandmaster of Shadows, Rhinnom Dannihyr (he became the Grandmaster during the Time of Troubles, when Deepshadow died) has a seat on the Council of Six. Of course, the other councilmembers don't know he's a Shadow Thief. ^^ Eheheh.
Some of this was from memory, but most from the new Forgotten Realms third edition books. Yay.
I remember his dogma, too, as I was just reading it yesterday for a friend. Um, third edition. 'Death to all who oppose Cyric. Bow down before the supreme power, and to him yeild the blood of those who do not believe that he is the supreme one. Fear and obey those in authority, but slay those that are weak, of good persuasion, or false prophets. Battle against clergy of other faiths, for they are the false ones who oppose the One True Way of Cyric. BBring death to those who oppose Cyric's church or make order, peace, and laws for only Cyric is the true authority and all other authority must be controlled and stopped. Break not into open rebellion, for marching armies cause the false deities to respond. Fell one foe at a time and keep all folk afraid, uneasy, and in constant strife. Any method or means can be justified if it brings about the desired end.
The pledge his clerics make when they get their position is to spread strife and murder everywhere they go so others fear and believe Cyric. Cyric's clerics, however, aren't really united. They spend most of their time plotting against each other rather then other rival churches (usually, this would be Bane, but Bane is dead at the time of BG, so it's more the churches Mystra/Midnight and Kelemvor (you see his statue in the graveyard, I think- when Cyric was a mortal, him and Kelemvor used to adventure togehter . But that's off topic). Oh. Cyric's followers like to sacrifice Lathander's paladins, too. Umm, the clerics usually dress in black or dark purple robes, and some silver. They were silver bracers with the symbol of Cyric on them. Often, though, they'll be in human garb as they try to move around undetected- luckily, most of them are a bit more sane then their god, so they managed to do it occasionally. Amn is a major sight for Cyric's followers, and out of the three big factions in the church, two of them are in Amn. They spend a lot of time fighting each other, although one (can't remember which) is allied with the Council of Six for war against the Sythillisian Empire.
It's also worth noting that Cyric has had a major part in the Zerth sects, but you probably know that, right? Okay, then, Shadow Thieves.
...I had a Mask worshipping Shadow Thief, too. *pouts* But that DnD group broke up when our DM moved away. He was a good one, too.
First, the headquarters known as the Shadow House in Athaktla is their false one- their real headquarters is on the other side of the town. Um, Shadow Thieves mostly worship Mask, but Cyric, Shar, Talona, Loviatar, and Bhaal and Bane re all common enough. Their symbol is a black mask with a dagger impaling it, and they leave that at certain places to freak out people. However, it can only be used if given permission from one of the highups- if a member uses this symbol on his own, he'll then be found- and on his corpse will be a mask with the dagger in it. Mean bunch.
Shadow Thieves is run in this fashion-
The Grandmaster of Shadows at the top
The Shadow Council (six people, including the Grandmaster of Shadows)
The Cloakmasters (two of them for each member of the Shadow Council)
The Guildmasters (ten of them for each cloakmaster)
And then the 'Silhouettes' (in a word, people who can be used to trick of spies. They pretend to have authority/run guilds/such and sort, but instead are used to throw spies off. That idiot you serve in BG was probably a Silhouette- what was his name? Ar... something. Whatever. Mae'Var and his boss probably both counted as Guildmasters. Ghaen was probably just a silhouette, or perhaps one of the hundreds of 'average' shadow thieves).
It can be noted that the Grandmaster of Shadows, Rhinnom Dannihyr (he became the Grandmaster during the Time of Troubles, when Deepshadow died) has a seat on the Council of Six. Of course, the other councilmembers don't know he's a Shadow Thief. ^^ Eheheh.
Some of this was from memory, but most from the new Forgotten Realms third edition books. Yay.
#6
aVENGER
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Posted 14 March 2003 - 08:10 PM
Thanks a bunch Mikka! That info is worth gold.
#7
Mikka
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Posted 15 March 2003 - 08:30 AM
No problem. =) Anything for someone who uses TNO as an avatar! ;D
#8
Longinus
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Posted 15 March 2003 - 09:27 AM
I bet Renal garnered more authority than Aran. He did say that he was more than he seemed, reinforced by an added assurance. Bravado or true confidence?And then the 'Silhouettes' (in a word, people who can be used to trick of spies. They pretend to have authority/run guilds/such and sort, but instead are used to throw spies off. That idiot you serve in BG was probably a Silhouette- what was his name? Ar... something.
Then of course, he dissapears if you side against the thieves. Very crafty for a mere guildmaster.
"If you remember me, then you must also remember what you did!"
~ Edge, Panzer Dragoon Saga
~ Edge, Panzer Dragoon Saga
#9
Mikka
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Posted 15 March 2003 - 10:49 AM
Well, I don't know, truthfully. Out of the 3000 or so Shadow Thieves, only around 1/6th know that they are Shadow Thieves- the rest are working for the Shadow Thieves without knowing who they truely are. This element was kinda sacrificed in BG, especially with the Yoshimo thing.
Renal... you are right. You do report to him if you get a job as the thief guildmaster.. Perhaps he is a cloakmaster, who also does the job as a guildleader? It's sort of suspicious, the way he acts. Hm.
Renal... you are right. You do report to him if you get a job as the thief guildmaster.. Perhaps he is a cloakmaster, who also does the job as a guildleader? It's sort of suspicious, the way he acts. Hm.
#10
Riklaunim
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Posted 15 March 2003 - 11:02 AM
Cyric
Portfolio: Murder, Deception, Intrigue, Illusion,
Treachery, Disasters
Ability Requirements: Strength 12, Intelligence 12, Wisdom 9
Prime Requisite: Wisdom
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Cyric was the god of death, murder, the dead, strife, tyranny, hatred, lies, deception and illusion, having wrested these portfolios from the dead gods Bane, Bhaal, Leira, and Myrkul. Cyric was directly responsible for the deaths of Bhaal and Leira. Cyric is a new god, born of the Time of Troubles. He is a mortal raised to the level of godhood. He gained many of the followers of the gods whom he replaced, but fights for their continued loyalty and worship. In an attempt to both consolidate his faithful and get vengeance upon his most hated foe, Mystra the new goddess of magic, he worked on creating a magical tome called the Cyrinishad.
The Cyrinishad would compel anyone who read, or had the tome read to them, to be a faithful and loyal follower of Cyric. This of course outraged the other gods who learned of this. The gods Mystra, Oghma, Mask, and to a lesser degree Torm and Gond, conspired together to put an end to Cyric's plans.
In the resulting chaos Cyric's main center of worship, Zhentil Keep, was destroyed by an army of monsters that Cyric set upon the city to make them turn to him for protection, and a revolt in the City of Strife on the plane of Hades caused him to loose the portfolio of The Dead and Bone Castle to Kelemvor. The destruction of Zhentil Keep released the imprisoned Iyachtu Xvim, who managed to take the portfolios of Strife, Tyranny, and Hatred from Cyric while he was trying to recover from the loss of so many of his followers. Cyric did manage to take the portfolio of intrigue from the god Mask, who was weakened by protecting Fzoul Chembryl from the effects of reading the Cyrinishad so that he could betray Cyric. The Cyrinishad fiasco also caused Cyric to gain the portfolios of Treachery and Disasters. Cyric now makes his home on the plane of Pandemonium.
The story of the Cyrinishad can be found in the novel "Prince of Lies".
Cyric's priest favor robes of black or dark purple, trimmed with silver. They wear silver bracelets to symbolize their enslavement to Cyric (in a symbolic reprise of Cyric's one time captivity).
Portfolio: Murder, Deception, Intrigue, Illusion,
Treachery, Disasters
Ability Requirements: Strength 12, Intelligence 12, Wisdom 9
Prime Requisite: Wisdom
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Cyric was the god of death, murder, the dead, strife, tyranny, hatred, lies, deception and illusion, having wrested these portfolios from the dead gods Bane, Bhaal, Leira, and Myrkul. Cyric was directly responsible for the deaths of Bhaal and Leira. Cyric is a new god, born of the Time of Troubles. He is a mortal raised to the level of godhood. He gained many of the followers of the gods whom he replaced, but fights for their continued loyalty and worship. In an attempt to both consolidate his faithful and get vengeance upon his most hated foe, Mystra the new goddess of magic, he worked on creating a magical tome called the Cyrinishad.
The Cyrinishad would compel anyone who read, or had the tome read to them, to be a faithful and loyal follower of Cyric. This of course outraged the other gods who learned of this. The gods Mystra, Oghma, Mask, and to a lesser degree Torm and Gond, conspired together to put an end to Cyric's plans.
In the resulting chaos Cyric's main center of worship, Zhentil Keep, was destroyed by an army of monsters that Cyric set upon the city to make them turn to him for protection, and a revolt in the City of Strife on the plane of Hades caused him to loose the portfolio of The Dead and Bone Castle to Kelemvor. The destruction of Zhentil Keep released the imprisoned Iyachtu Xvim, who managed to take the portfolios of Strife, Tyranny, and Hatred from Cyric while he was trying to recover from the loss of so many of his followers. Cyric did manage to take the portfolio of intrigue from the god Mask, who was weakened by protecting Fzoul Chembryl from the effects of reading the Cyrinishad so that he could betray Cyric. The Cyrinishad fiasco also caused Cyric to gain the portfolios of Treachery and Disasters. Cyric now makes his home on the plane of Pandemonium.
The story of the Cyrinishad can be found in the novel "Prince of Lies".
Cyric's priest favor robes of black or dark purple, trimmed with silver. They wear silver bracelets to symbolize their enslavement to Cyric (in a symbolic reprise of Cyric's one time captivity).
#11
Longinus
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Posted 15 March 2003 - 11:49 AM
When Renal refers to Mae'var's guild, he calls it *one* of his guild houses to the south, which would imply he runs more.Well, I don't know, truthfully. Out of the 3000 or so Shadow Thieves, only around 1/6th know that they are Shadow Thieves- the rest are working for the Shadow Thieves without knowing who they truely are. This element was kinda sacrificed in BG, especially with the Yoshimo thing.
Renal... you are right. You do report to him if you get a job as the thief guildmaster.. Perhaps he is a cloakmaster, who also does the job as a guildleader? It's sort of suspicious, the way he acts. Hm.
Shame BG2 didn't delve deeper into the Shadow Thieves.
"If you remember me, then you must also remember what you did!"
~ Edge, Panzer Dragoon Saga
~ Edge, Panzer Dragoon Saga
#12
aVENGER
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Posted 15 March 2003 - 02:49 PM
Mikka:
Hehe, well PST only happens to be my favorite game of all times, so I think my signature and avatar are quite understandable
@Riklaunim:
Thanks! BTW, do Cyric's priests gain any special powers aside from the Aerial Servant which they can summon? Also, are they allowed to summon undead creatures ? I'm asking because of the whole deal with the portfolio of the dead.
Anything for someone who uses TNO as an avatar!
Hehe, well PST only happens to be my favorite game of all times, so I think my signature and avatar are quite understandable
@Riklaunim:
Thanks! BTW, do Cyric's priests gain any special powers aside from the Aerial Servant which they can summon? Also, are they allowed to summon undead creatures ? I'm asking because of the whole deal with the portfolio of the dead.
#13
aVENGER
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Posted 15 March 2003 - 09:29 PM
Just thought I'd let you know...I have found an excellent portrait site and gathered some nice pictures for my Cyric party. The portraits are tailored for IWD2 but that is easily fixed via Photoshop or a similar graphic editing program. I've updated the main v3.00 features thread with character links to the portraits, just so you can tell who is who
#14
Longinus
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Posted 16 March 2003 - 07:30 AM
Try searching for some Garrett portraits. I downloaded one awhile ago. Garrett is a thief from the Thief games, so his portraits are perfect.
Edit: Check out my avatar -- Garrett the master thief.
Edit: Check out my avatar -- Garrett the master thief.
"If you remember me, then you must also remember what you did!"
~ Edge, Panzer Dragoon Saga
~ Edge, Panzer Dragoon Saga
#15
aVENGER
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Posted 16 March 2003 - 09:33 AM
Garrett is a thief from the Thief games
I know! The Thief series is another favorite of mine (along with DeusEx). Looking Glass Studious have done some mighty fine work with those games, such a shame that they went under
I hope ION Storm manages to live up to our expectations with Thief 3 and DX2 which should be out by the end of this year. They say many old programmers from LGS are working in Thief 3 which gives me some hope...Oh and about using Garrett's portrait - NO WAY! I absolutely love that character and I would never use his persona for my lowly mods. Venduris is a cold, evil, calculating bastard and Garrett is well - Garrett! He's simply too cool for that kind of abuse
#16
Longinus
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Posted 16 March 2003 - 11:57 AM
Indeed, I'm really looking forward to Thief 3. I always wondered what happened to Constantine's sword; maybe Garrett sold it...
Have you ever thought about creating a re-occuring villain - someone who appears, threatens you, disappears, and you later hunt down? I suppose it would be difficult to implement in BG2, but portraits add character to an enemy. Thus they don't deserve to die suddenly; they are more meaningful. I suppose this is why major villains have portraits.
Have you ever thought about creating a re-occuring villain - someone who appears, threatens you, disappears, and you later hunt down? I suppose it would be difficult to implement in BG2, but portraits add character to an enemy. Thus they don't deserve to die suddenly; they are more meaningful. I suppose this is why major villains have portraits.
"If you remember me, then you must also remember what you did!"
~ Edge, Panzer Dragoon Saga
~ Edge, Panzer Dragoon Saga
#17
aVENGER
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Posted 16 March 2003 - 12:41 PM
Nor really, but is sounds interesting. It would probably require a lot of dialogue and cutscene scripting which I absolutely despise. Writing a plot is relatively easy but scripting....aaarrgh...no thanks! I'll stick with rebalancing mods. In fact, the main purpose of my Cyric encounter was to provide some nifty high level roguish accessories, everything else came as secondary.
