In Nidal, Land of Shadows, it is noted that some few deities other than Zon-Kuthon and the velstrac demagogues are allowed to be worshiped in Nidal. However, no actual list is given (no doubt for a variety of reasons, including not trying to limit individual DMs' story ideas). That's kind of unsatisfying to me, however, and so I ended up writing this little-piece of in-universe writing to list out which gods I see as being allowed, and why.
What do y'all think? Is my reasoning solid, in your opinion? How's my list ~ does it include everyone it should and no one it shouldn't?
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Wandering Nidal are a variety of Umbral Court agents, inquisitors, shadowcallers, and others who police the behavior of those within the realm. Many among them bear a slim book of about 80 illuminated pages, hand-lettered by means of a Nidalese pen. These pens are specially constructed to pierce the thumb and finger and channel the writer's blood to mix with a dark powder and form an ink.
Within that book's slim, razored cover of rich, dull blue and gold-leaf, are recorded the following words:
The Black Triune, chosen of the Midnight Lord and rulers of Nidal lo these last ten millennia, would have it known to the Umbral Court, its agents, and all Nidalese who remember whence their salvation came after Earthfall that those foreigners who dare to treat with us upon our own sacred soil have earned by their courage the right to build and maintain shrines to their lesser gods, provided that said gods present neither annoyance nor threat to our hallowed ways. In discussion with the velstracs who serve Zon-Kuthon directly in Xoviakain and with the Prince of Pain himself, your ancient chiefs have determined the following deities to make up that category. Shrines dedicated to any other divinity are to be destroyed upon their discovery, and the devotees who built or frequented such places shall be converted by torture or cruelly slain, as is the wont of you who discover them.
Naturally, of course, all foreigners may consider themselves more than welcome to worship Zon-Kuthon and the velstrac demagogues who have come into alliance with him. They are able to do so without harassment or opposition whether they follow our more perfect ways or approach these divinities in the lesser ways that the other races have developed over the millennia.
The undying love of our cruel master for his sister prevents us from outlawing, interfering with, or hindering the ways of Shelyn’s worshipers or clergy in any direct way. Her shrines and altars here in Nidal are sacrosanct, though oblique efforts to limit her worship and influence are encouraged of you who bear this decree.
Our Chelish friends may worship Asmodeus freely, of course, as may any foreigners who likewise serve him. The Pallid Princess, also, may be honored with small shrines of the sort that adorn the kitchens of foreign taverns, and shrines to Abadar who gifted Zon-Kuthon with his home and the First Shadow may also pock the realm with impunity. The ancient deity Ydersius is halfway to understanding the Nine Truths and the deep understanding the Midnight Lord discovered Beyond Beyond; by allowing him in his throes of agony to receive foreign devotions in our land, we hope to guide him the remaining distance. Ydersius is one of several whose presence here is intended to convert even the gods to the wracking joys of our enlightenment.
In memory of one of their number having granted our velstrac teachers their freedom, two of the Queens of the Night may be worshiped here, though only devotion to them performed by foreigners is allowed by our decree. We Nidalese belong to the Midnight Lord. One of these so allowed is, of course, Doloras, who played a significant role in the events that led to Nidal’s salvation by freeing the velstracs from their prison, and so may be worshiped freely in our borders. Zon-Kuthon remembers the ancient days when Ardad Lili served his beloved sister, and so she too may receive foreign prayers here.
The caligni who have settled among us may feel free to worship the owb to whom they owe their devotion. Be wary, you who bear this decree, for their numbers are legion and so can provide easy cover in their permission to those who would seek to smuggle forbidden ceremonies into our realm.
The archdevil Baalzebul knows well the glory of anguish. Like Ydersius, we hope that by allowing him some meager, foreigner-haunted shrines here in Zon-Kuthon’s land, he might be brought the rest of the way, and see his misery for the gift it is.
Baalzebul is joined by certain of the infernal dukes who serve him and the other archdevils, as the following list delineates.
* Moloch’s servants Alocer and Eligos both call to mind our ancientmost Kellid heritage, reminding us most wistfully of those olden days. They may be worshipped here, though Nidalese themselves are forbidden to join their foreign worshipers in their rites. Bearer of this decree, we bid you to instruct your fellow Nidalese in the treasure that is their inability to join in these rites when you see them looking upon the worshippers of these infernal dukes with longing upon their brows.
* Deumus, liege of Barbatos, is another whose maimed history ~ this time at the hands of dread Ragathiel ~ readies him for the lessons the Midnight Lord and the velstracs teach. May that proselytization be easier by virtue of our allowing him foreign worship in our home.
* Haborym, duke of renewal and shackles in service to Mephistopheles, is an inflictor of those very things we proud Nidalese prize; namely, he brings those in his charge austerity and the pain of immolation, and they rise again with unclouded eyes as a result. His worship shall be permitted here.
* Another of Moloch’s servants shall be allowed shrines within our borders: Ruithvein, Blood Emperor. As we have many native vampires in Nidal and an environment highly amenable to them, we welcome foreign bloodsuckers and the devil they worship to come and join us.
* Similarly, the Prince of Broken Glass, Zaebos, patron especially of the Ustalavic vampires, may be worshiped here by them. Let it not be said that we refuse intercourse with the greater world, as long as those who seek intercourse with us are worthy of our time and efforts.
Though we do not condone the boorish ways of the undisciplined demons, we find the following few to be in line with our own, and acceptable objects of foreign devotions.
* Andirifkhu may be wild and raving and her traps convoluted, but there is much to learn from her torturous ways. Let the foreigner worship her, and study their inventions that we might put them to more purposeful use.
* Mestama has forced herself into our borders, with the Uskwood and smaller groves sometimes hiding paths that leave this world of ours and meander into her Barren Wood. Reluctantly, we bow to these intrusions and call you, decree-bearer, to leave her shrines unmolested in the absence of her worshippers engaging in any act dangerous to Nidal. Watch them for such. We would love an excuse.
* Our relationship to the Nightripper is much the same as ours to Andirifkhu. Learn from him the songs the body can play when plucked by a knife, for there is much to learn there, but do recall that only Zon-Kuthon is your lord.
* As we welcome foreign vampires to our most welcoming land, we welcome Zura, as well.
The qlippoth lord Chavazvug is well-known as a foe to demons, and we hope that by allowing him a presence here, if small, he will serve to curtail the excesses of those demons previously allowed worship in our lands.
In those ancient times when we first met Zon-Kuthon, we promised the Dark Prince that we would learn his joys and attend to them. We have learned of the many types of pain, including the hurting ways that strike without need for skin to bleed. We praise the Midnight Lord, in part, by allowing the worship of some few asura ranas, some few of the grand mistakes of the gods so that Zon-Kuthon can dance in the ache of doubt beside us. But the ranas we allow are few, and limited to the following names.
* We find Andak to have much knowledge to offer in the ways of the mortification of the flesh.
* Chugarra has no skin and so his flesh must be a riot of pain.
* Onamahli is a fascinating one to us, as her myths and stories tell of a departed goddess of beauty. The Midnight Lord has not seen fit to tell even us of the Black Triune whether Onamahli’s former mistress was involved with what he found Beyond Beyond or what he became after. Moreover, Onamahli knows the sound of her skin and her spirit tearing in two, and still feels the anguish therefrom.
All three of these are among those whose foreign worship here may be a means by which they come to see the truths offered by Zon-Kuthon and his velstrac allies.
Worshipers of those foul fiends known as daemons are to be carefully watched, for the oblivion they seek is a surcease to suffering. It cannot be denied, however, that Osolmyr, at least, brings blessed misery to rival that of the velstracs ~ though it may do so without success. Accordingly, worshipers of this daemonic harbinger may build shrines, but you are charged to curtail any doomful plans they may futilely attempt.
Many among our subjects follow the Nine Truths, seeking to improve themselves. Thus, shrines to Irori ~ who preaches his own manner of perfection and enjoys his own painful privations ~ are permitted by us. There exist those who have conquered death, and can writhe in agony forever. We the Black Triune deign to allow one such rakshasa immortal some presence inside our borders. Caera purchased her immortality at the cost of her skin. She is as ready as Chugarra to hear the teachings of the Midnight Lord and the velstracs.
The concerns of the malebranche mostly remain distant from those of our world, but some few have ways close enough to ours that they pose little to no interruption in our customs. They are listed below.
* Cagnazzo, like Alocer and Eligos, is to be allowed free worship by foreigners to remind us Nidalese of what we are, what we were, and what we’ve lost. Savor the feeling.
* Those who worship Rubicante are said to hear words of sense and peace as they burn. This seems not too far from the ways in which Zon-Kuthon has instructed us, and so shall be permitted.
It is perhaps inevitable, given their capricious ways, that some among the fey shall prove to be palatable to the Nidalese spirit. The Lost Prince is one such, and so may be honored with small shrines here. He knows well the restless mind-writhing, and is another good candidate for conversion to the superior ways of Zon-Kuthon and the velstracs.
No Kuthite seeks death, for though we may disagree about the capacity undead flesh and spirit have for blessed suffering, it is well known that death takes most well distant from pain’s brilliant touch. As a proud Kellid race, no Nidalese seeks death either, for such is a coward’s way. Nonetheless, a few of death’s servants have been found worthy to visit foreign shrines built upon our home’s soil. Those allowed are as follows:
* Dammar invented the hangover, that pain which even those well distant from our borders and rites welcome and invite. This, and the natural interest the rest of the world has in our winery ways, has earned him a few scattered shrines across Nidal.
* Vonymos was long worshipped by our ancestral god callers, and grief is the very reason for loss, an ache of the memory that never heals, a forever misery. The Mourning Prince may be worshipped by foreigners in our land.
We are much more welcoming of the ushers’ fearful brethren, the sahkils, and thus allow the following to receive worship from foreigners here.
* Ananshea and Ozranvial both know the ways of pain. The Skin That Walks on Teeth generously tears the flesh and Despair’s Smile crumbles the illusions of those foreigners we allow to worship them.
* Nameless Upon an Empty Throne not only brings the glorious torment of doubt, it does so to all those who seek power. By allowing it to be worshiped in our borders, we hope that it will do its work amongst those who would come here to take from us what we bargained with Zon-Kuthon for.
Though it may surprise some, we the Black Triune have found some among the empyreal lords to be safe enough for foreigners to worship in Nidal. Be suspicious of them, decree-bearer, for those types of people are well-known for their lack of trustworthiness, but do not prevent their practices for those rites are allowed.
* Foreign workers who come to serve in our vineyards and alien winemakers curious to learn some scrap of our superior skills may worship Halcamora.
* Though ghosts obviously lack the flesh to feel pain, thus obviating the question of whether the undead have the capacity for such wisdoms, there is nonetheless a dull woe only the eternally lost and lonely can know. Ashava is the angel of this ache, and so may be worshiped here by foreigners.
* Foreigners are dangerous, of course, too often seeking to undermine our society or overthrow our rightful Kuthite rule. By allowing them the worship of Ghenshau, we incline them towards his ways ~ his ignorant, placid, simple ways that keep them easily controlled. What fools they are to seek comfort, and the lack of will that comes therefrom. Our ways of pain and grief have truly honed us into a superior people.
* Neshen, on the other hand, understands the development of the will through suffering. In truth, he is but a short way from being a velstrac himself. Do what you can to bring him the rest of the way when you encounter the permitted foreign shrines to him.
* Shemhazai is on the same journey from the other side. Lamashtu has done us the favor of readying him for the Kuthite message and the Nine Truths. By allowing his worship, we hope to make the angel of vision see, and bring him into our ways.
The dwarfs at our bepeaked borders may beseech but a single of their gods to carry their prayers and offerings to those for whom they were intended. That goddess is Dranngvit, for debt is its own misery. Likewise, elfs who know the Savored Sting may offer her devotion in our lands and attempt to seduce her into interceding with the other elfin gods if need be.
Likewise, Vudrans who have come to treat with our Umbral Court for trade or war are allowed to erect shrines for Dhalavei alone, as the ways of the Unsuspected Rot seem closest to our ways out of all the many gods they worship.
Whereas the Vudrans have their appointed divine representative, so too do the Tian, though the latter have two. General Susumu, like Alocer and Eligos, remind us simultaneously that we remain Kellid, born to the wind in our manes and the rhythm of hooves beneath us, and that we are now so much more by the grace of Zon-Kuthon himself. This pain has purchased the Tian right to worship him here. On the other hand, Làu Kiritsu reminds us of what our austerities and agonies have formed us into. Those Tian who come here must do so because they envy what we are ~ let Làu Kiritsu foment this feeling and push them to be good students of our superior culture.
We have heard of the strange gods worshipped among those whom our Chelish friends have encountered in distant Arcadia. Should any of those peoples visit Nidal, let it be known that we are curious about one, supposedly named Ah Pook, and thus permit him shrines in our lands. It is said that he breaks mortal minds on the rack of their doubts and dances in the miserable shards of their life. We approve.
Iblydans may bring their rumored vampire god Chinostes to our shores, should they have the courage to come here. Write down everything you may witness about this worship, however, O decree-bearer. We are as yet uncertain about this new god whom our vampiric subjects may wish to worship, and would like to learn more,
We are certain those so honored by this decree as to be allowed a scattering of small altars across our lands will do as they are bid by their brave fellows who take step upon our soil. If they do not, then perhaps those dwarfs, Vudrans, Tian, Arcadians, and Iblydans should worship stronger gods.
These forty-five divine beings ~ with the addition of the various owb prophets our caligni friends worship and our own teachers, Zon-Kuthon and the vestrac demagogues ~ shall be considered the only deities allowed worship wherever in Nidal our reach may stretch its fearful arm, and you who bear this decree are the weapon we wield in that hand. Should you see a foreigner in our lands worshiping any other god, or one of us worshiping any but Zon-Kuthon and the demagogues, you are hereby empowered by our word to enforce this decree by whatever means you so deem fit. Let your cruelty be loosed.
As a reminder, ten of these forty-five are allowed for the express purpose that we might proselytize the lessons learned from misery to them. These such are Ydersius, Baalzebul, Deumus, Andak, Chugarra, Onamahli, Caera, the Lost Prince, Neshen, and Shemhazai. Find what ways you can to accomplish this by the indirect means available to you, using their worshippers as your tools.
This has been decreed by the Black Triune, and the Umbral Court has been instructed in its reasoning and workings. It shall be so.
