Sin Magic

For more than a thousand rears, Thassilon dominated western Avistan, erecting an arcane empire on the backs of countless slaves and subjugated races. From seven fractious domains, the rulers of the empire, the runelords, quarreled among themselves, each vying for dominance. The source of their powers, the rune magic discovered and cultivated by Thassilon's benevolent first emperor, Xin, paved the way for his ruthless inheritors to work feats of magical might whose effects still scar the land. Thassilon fell to ruin nearly 10,000 years ago, and nearly all traces of the once-vast empire have crumbled in the millennia since, save for the magically preserved monuments that litter the Varisian landscape.

THASSILONIAN RUNES
One of the great achievements of the Runelords of Thassilon was the creation of arcane runes empowered to infuse living flesh with magical power. With these arcane markings, the fundamentals of one's life force were altered, allowing the bearer to activate various magical abilities. Thassilonian runes resemble runic tattoos inscribed in the flesh with arcane inks and scar-inducing irritants. Their intricate forms are endless variations on the seven runes of sin magic. Any individual bearing a Thassilonian rune can make use of its abilities even if not a spellcaster.
A Thassilonian rune is considered a magic item. An individual is limited to possessing one rune, regardless of the creature's or the rune's actual size. The potent magics essential to these runes' function is disrupted by the addition of a second rune, preventing either from working. Once a rune is inscribed, it cannot be removed. Even the loss of that body part is not foolproof, for if it is regenerated or otherwise recovered, it returns with the rune still upon it.

RUNEFORGED WEAPONS
During Thassilon's height, many of the empire's greatest soldiers, mercenaries, and assassins wielded weapons infused with magic that worked together to grant the wielder additional prowess over practitioners of an opposing school of sin magic. Such weapons were often banned in Thassilon, so wary were the runelords of their propagation, yet all seven kept champions and assassins armed with these runeforged weapons against their own enemies in secret.

MAGIC OF ENVY
The magic of Runelord Belimarius, the Queen of Edasseril, concerned itself with both the defense of one's own magic and the theft of others'. Queen Belimarius layered defensive rituals over all she possessed, her wealth, her servants, and her lands. She even defended because of paranoia against the intrigues and predations of her fellow runelords. From the plague ridden hands of her devoted apprentices, ever laboring beneath her poisonous Palace Miasmoria, came an endless stream of covetous, back biting magics, several of which lie hidden away in the ruins of northern Varisia and the Land of the Linnorm Kings to this day.

MAGIC OF GLUTTONY
With the profane immortality of the undead, Zutha, the lich-like runelord of gluttony, spent years of his centuries-long rule at work in the Flesh Pits beneath Xin-Gastash. Endlessly attempting to satisfy his eternal hunger while at the same time imagining new debaucheries to indulge in, his efforts resulted in the production of a vast collection of foul arcana and unspeakable experiments into the workings of necromantic magic.

MAGIC OF GREED
Shrewd and imperious Karzoug, the runelord of greed, faced dual wars during his rule; one against Bakrakhan's armies of wrath, and another against his own unquenchable greed. Seeking ever more of all that was worth having, Karzoug drove his apprentices and slave-wizards to manufacture endless quantities of magical equipment and new arcane innovations on merciless deadlines. Those servants who failed became fodder for his personal alchemical research on the transmutation of flesh into gold. Those who succeeded were merely saddled with higher and more impossible expectations. Although the runelord sacrificed countless loyal subjects, the rune-vaults of Shalast were forever teeming with scrolls and arcane equipment. Many of these lost vaults remain so filled even to this day, buried beneath the weight of fallen Thassilon.

MAGIC OF SLOTH
A master of rune magic and high priest of the rune goddess Lissala, Runelord Krune was both respected and feared-and not just by his people, but by the other six rulers of Thassilon as well. He took great satisfaction in his peers' fear, and displayed the strange and unique powers granted to him by the goddess whenever possible. Among such divine boons were a variety of unique rituals, spells, and magical items he claimed were gifts from Lissala, the formulas of their creation being imparted to him in visions as rewards for his extreme piety. Although the divine nature of his creations was often questioned behind closed doors, their deadly effectiveness was not.



MAGIC OF WRATH
Although possessed of wizardly might on par with the other runelords, Alaznist, ruler of Bakrakhan, cared little for the tedium of spell research and magical item construction. Her interests tended more toward the corruption, mutation, and empowerment of her vast legions, utilizing her cruel arcane genius to create the deadliest warriors in all of Thassilon. For all her efforts, though, the Runelord of wrath saw her minions as expendable pawns to be sacrificed at her whim. Thus, into the ranks of her armies she seeded potent magical creations that often proved as deadly to the user and his allies as to the enemies of Bakrakhan.

MAGIC OF LUST
Subtlety and control typified the magic of Sorshen, runelord of lust. Within her numerous palaces scattered throughout the lush paradise of Eurythnia, blind guards protected troves some of the most diverse arcane treasures in all of Thassilon. The magical hoards of Eurthania spoke less to the industry of the domain and more to the craft of its ruler, for these potent arcane riches were coaxed from the hands of every other domain in Thassilon. Sorshen excelled in exploiting the lusts of her opponents, and what she couldn’t gain as a gift utilizing seduction and political acumen, she took using her unique master of mind-magic.

MAGIC OF PRIDE
Xanderghul, Runelord of Pride, Satrap of Cyrusian, Master of the Unblinking Eye, unsubstantiated Heir of First King Xin, and self-proclaimed Rightful Emperor of Thassilon, claimed many titles, but few so true as Lord of Illusion. His lofty throne was Citadel Arete, which contradicting accounts record as either a mile-high tower or as a floating castle. From Arete Xanderghul veiled his domain in vast illusions, some to delight his fantastically wealthy populace, others to cull the passions of his slaves, but most to baffle the eyes of his opponents. Through out the entirety of his rule no force dared invade Cyrusian, as none ever truly knew the extent of the domain's forces. To maintain this deceptive veil, the Runelord of Pride employed a variety of potent magical items, including arcana said to have been stolen from Heaven itself.

The Seven Deadly Sins after the Fall of the Runelords

Sorshen the Runelord of Lust
Lust (or lechery) is usually thought of as involving obsessive or excessive thoughts or desires of a sexual nature. Giving in to lusts can lead to sexual compulsions and/or transgressions including (but obviously not limited to) sexual addiction, adultery, bestiality, rape, and incest.

Zutha the Runelord of Gluttony
Gluttony is the over-indulgence and over-consumption of anything to the point of waste. It is considered a sin because of the excessive desire for food, or its withholding from the needy.

Karzoug the Runelord of Greed
Greed (or avarice, covetousness) is, like lust and gluttony, a sin of excess. However, greed is applied to the acquisition of wealth in particular. This can include disloyalty, deliberate betrayal, or treason, especially for personal gain, for example through bribery. Scavenging and hoarding of materials or objects, theft and robbery, especially by means of violence, trickery, or manipulation of authority are all actions that may be inspired by greed.

Krune Runelord of Sloth
Sloth can was defined by Runelord Krune to incluce melancholy, apathy, depression, and joylessness. The last being viewed by Krune as being a refusal to enjoy the goodness of the world the gods created. Krune felt that apathy that affected the commoners by discouraging them from their work. Sadness was also considered part of sloth because it described a feeling of dissatisfaction or discontent, which caused unhappiness with one's current situation. Runelord Krune felt these emotions were a progenitor for lesser sins such as restlessness and instability. The most important aspect of sloth is the failure to utilize one's talents and gifts. For example, a student who does not work beyond what is required (and thus fails to achieve his or her full potential) would be labeled slothful. Krune felt that sloth was felt to be more simply a sin of laziness or indifference, of an unwillingness to act, an unwillingness to care. Sloth was considered just as serious as the other sins in ancient Thassilon.


Alazinist Runelord of Wrath
Wrath (or anger) may be described as inordinate and uncontrolled feelings of hatred and anger. These feelings can manifest as vehement denial of the truth, both to others and in the form of self-denial, impatience with the procedure of law, and the desire to seek revenge outside of the workings of the justice system such as engaging in vigilantism and generally wishing to do evil or harm to others. The transgressions borne of vengeance are among the most serious, including murder, assault, and in extreme cases, genocide. Wrath is the only sin not necessarily associated with selfishness or self-interest (although one can of course be wrathful for selfish reasons, such as jealousy, closely related to the sin of envy). Runelord Alazinist described vengeance as "love of justice perverted to revenge and spite". In its original form, the sin of wrath also encompassed anger pointed internally rather than externally. Thus suicide was deemed as the ultimate, albeit tragic, expression of wrath directed inwardly, a final rejection of gifts of the gods.

Belimarius Runelord of Envy
Like greed, envy may be characterized by an insatiable desire; they differ, however, for two main reasons. First, greed is largely associated with material goods, whereas envy may apply more generally. Second, those who commit the sin of envy resent that another person has something they perceive themselves as lacking, and wish the other person to be deprived of it. Belimarius defined this as "love of one's own good perverted to a desire to deprive other men of theirs." The punishment for the envious is to have their eyes sewn shut with wire, because they have gained sinful pleasure from seeing others brought low. Belimarius described envy as "sorrow for another's good".


Xanderghul the Runelord of Pride
Because pride led to the downfall of the Runelords and ancient Thassilon, pride (or hubris or vanity) is considered the original and most serious of the seven deadly sins. And indeed it is the ultimate source from which the others arose. It is identified as a desire to be more important or attractive than others, failing to give compliments to others though they may be deserving of them,and excessive love of self. Xanderghul's definition was "love of self perverted to hatred and contempt for one's neighbor." In perhaps the best-known example, the story of Asomodeus, pride (his desire to compete with the Creator) was what caused his fall from Heaven, and his resultant transformation from an angel of light to the Prince of Darkness. Vanity and narcissism are prime examples of this sin.

Seven Virtues of Rulership before the Corruption of the Runelords

Runelord Soshen: Virtue of Chastity (sworn to erradicate the sin of Lust)
Courage and boldness. Embracing of moral wholesomeness and achieving purity of thought through education and betterment.

Runelord Zutha: Virtue of Abstinence (sworn to erradicate the sin of Gluttony)
Constant mindfulness of others and one's surroundings; practicing self-control, abstention, and moderation.

Runelord Karzoug: Virute of Liberality (sworn to erradicate the sin of Greed)
Generosity. Willingness to give. A nobility of thought or actions.

Runelord Krune: Virtue of Diligence (sworn to erradicate the sin of Sloth)
A zealous and careful nature in one's actions and work. Decisive work ethic. Budgeting one's time; monitoring one's own activities to guard against laziness.

Runelord Alazinist: Virtue of Patience (sworn to erradicate the sin of Wrath)
Forbearance and endurance through moderation. Resolving conflicts peacefully, as opposed to resorting to violence. The ability to forgive; to show mercy to sinners.

Runelord Belimarius: Virtue of Kindness (sworn to erradicate the sin of Envy)
Charity, compassion, friendship, and sympathy without prejudice and for its own sake

Runelord Xanderghul: Virtue of Humility (sworn to erradicate the sin of Pride)
Modest behavior, selflessness, and the giving of respect. Giving credit where credit is due; not unfairly glorifying one's own self.

The Sihederon Rune

The Runes on the Sihederon Rune

4708 Rova 13th Sand point, Varisia

AM
Sheriff Belor Hemlock receives a "dressing down" in a special session of the Merchant Council by Ameiko Kiajitsu. The vote of no confidence fails and Belor retains the office of sheriff.

Early PM
The pcs, Sheriff Hemlock, and four guards mount a final assault on the catacombs beneath the glass works. All opposition is easily crushed and the mutated goblin hero Koruvus and the imp mastermind Erylium are slain.

4708 Rova 10th-12th Sand point, Varisia

Pcs wait in Sandpoint for Sherriff Belor Hemlock to return. In the down time Andrian learns the alchemy feat from the short plump human middle aged Aliver "Pillbug" Podiker and the grey and crotchety half-elf Nisk Tander.