God of Secrets and Corruption
The Birth of Laul:
It is said that when Ranbeltor plucked the stars that would become Iambulus, he left an empty, black void in the sky. Perplexed, Ranbeltor and Celestian breathed life into this void, attempting to fill it. This void did not fill with life as expected. It instead gave birth to Laul, second of their children. Recognizing what Laul was capable of, and seeing his evil in his face, Celestian put a mask to Laul’s face and cast him aside. Hurt, Laul spent his time roaming the Astral Plane like his mother, gathering secrets. When she left her children, Laul rejoined his siblings, much to their surprise. The universe more than big enough for the four of them, they existed in harmony.
Appearance:
It is said that on the eve of a great betrayal, those attempting the betrayal will be visited by a hooded and masked figure. This is Laul, visiting the mortal realm. Shrouded in a large, black cloak and bearing the mask his mother gave him, Laul’s presence is not a comforting one. Floating a few inches above the ground and seemingly possessing no hands or feet, Laul finds it easy to get wherever, whenever. Laul’s mask is the subject of many a story and fable and indeed in many remote communities it is still considered incredibly taboo to cover ones face completely. The mask does not, in mortal eyes, take on a consistent appearance. One day it may be plain wood, the next an ornate work of art inlaid with pearls.
Temperament:
While he may never admit it, Iambulus is more similar to Laul than he would care admit. Laul is constantly on the lookout for new knowledge, forbidden, secret knowledge. He regards secrets as the greatest currency the world possesses and any mortal who can offer him a truly great secret is regarded as a temporary ally. Laul is also firmly convinced in the power of the self. He watches out for the discarded and abandoned, and encourages them to trust only in themselves and freely betray others. If one is ever approached by Laul, be wary of imminent betrayal. And not just from Laul, but from those around you. Laul, more so than most of the other gods, is willing to deal with mortals. Most will find him gregarious and open, willing to lend help. If one does not have anything to offer the God of secrets, his disposition will quickly sour.
Worship:
Worship of Laul is most decidedly not a public affair. There are no easily accessible or well-known temples to him and to even invoke his name in public in some places is considered incredibly rude. If one should worship Laul, a black robe and mask to match the God would be required. Priests of Laul, few though they are, spend their time orchestrating betrayals, facilitating blackmails and uncovering knowledge that no mortal mind should know. That said, it is important to clarify that while Laul and his priests may love a good betrayal, they see no benefit in de-stablishing kingdoms or anything particularly extreme. If there is no kingdom, who is there to blackmail?
Laul’s First Appearance!
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