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Punished GNThe Lord of the Turquoise Scheme
Red God & Master of the Stray PalaceFaction: Red Gods
The Turquoise Lord's domain is not a nation. Few people live there, and the Turquoise Lord has few living mortal followers. The red god is akin to a opportunistic tumor or parasite, preying upon the failings and desires of mortals in order to accrue power. The Turquoise Lord is known for their exceptionally lenient sacrificial rules and only a single commandment to follow in order to receive Theurgia from them. Thus, the Turquoise Lord is considered the patron celestial being of outcasts, pariahs, exiles, degenerates, bandits, highwaymen, pirates, and other criminals. Upon receiving sacrifices, the Turquoise Lord reanimates the dead bodies as undead minions who then set about corrupting the surrounding region, creating materials of influence for the Turquoise Lord until the land is sufficient twisted and imbued with their power to enable the formation of an anchor for the Stray Palace.
The Turquoise Lord commands in the celestial realm a structure of unprecedented scale and function, referred to as the Palace Straylight. Using material anchors formed by its servitors in the material realm, the Turquoise Lord may cast a shadow, a projection of the Straylight Palace upon the world itself. These projections displace the material world, sealing it away beneath an overlay, cast in the shape of the celestial palace. This terrestrial shadow of the Palace Straylight is referred to as the Stray Palace, the shadow of the Turquoise Lord's own dominion upon the material realm.
When knowledge of the Turquoise Lord returned to mortals three-hundred years ago during the last celestial war, such Overlays began to appear across the entire world. However, it was in the center of the world where the seed of their current mortal dominion would truly be planted. The center of the world, Tramontan, where due to chance alone most of their aimless, wandering servants would convene over time, grew in the most concentrated fashion, unhindered by attempts to destroy or banish it due to the absence of other contesting powers in the area. This infestation was ignored for a century and a half, dismissed as mere scenery by Justinian and Yuwan alike until it had grown so massive that destroying it was a daunting, godlike proposition.
A century and a half ago, the central Overlay grew large enough to manifest and fully support what is today known as The Fount, the axial tower at Tramontan. The gargantuan structure is so massive it can be seen from every corner of the world, and is so tall none can see its top. Justinians refer to the tower as 'The Great Taunt,' seeing it as a mocking symbol of dominance and superiority flying in the face of Justinian values and superiority. This precipitated an attempt by then-existing Justinian powers to destroy the central overlay and The Fount itself in a single concentrated attack, during the siege of the Central Complexus of 143 AWH. This siege, although successful in halting the growth of the central overlay, is largely considered a failure. After a tactical withdrawal and retreat by Justinian forces from the Central Complexus to an encampment within the reconquered territory near its boundaries, the entire coalition was destroyed in an instant in a catastrophic event known as the Devastation, which killed half a million soldiers, crusaders, inquisitors, mages, and even the then-Exaltarch of Archonnen himself. The site of the Devastation, to this day, remains an impermeable zone within which no being or force may intrude.
The various Justinian nations have since established a ring of forts around the central overlay, and have been waging a constant, perpetual siege against it for over a century straight. Justinian has directed for magical artifacts of mass destruction to be assembled and projected into the Overlay over the years, destroying large swaths of the original overlay and turning the surrounding land into barren, desolate waste. Little by little, the central overlay has shrunk and been chipped away at by the constant efforts of Justinian to see it banished for good.
Elsewhere in the world however, the Turquoise Lord remains a constant and unabated menace. There is a perpetual threat of Stray Palace overlay appearing within the large megacities of various states, or else within remote, secluded locales where few venture. Their servants wander the world, spreading forbidden secrets and practices to unwitting mortals who hunger for power. The Turquoise Lord is known to be directly complicit in assisting Ephemem in the Civil War between West and East Ouroborasia, and they are also suspected to be allied with the returning red god Axohaan.
The Turquoise Lord commands in the celestial realm a structure of unprecedented scale and function, referred to as the Palace Straylight. Using material anchors formed by its servitors in the material realm, the Turquoise Lord may cast a shadow, a projection of the Straylight Palace upon the world itself. These projections displace the material world, sealing it away beneath an overlay, cast in the shape of the celestial palace. This terrestrial shadow of the Palace Straylight is referred to as the Stray Palace, the shadow of the Turquoise Lord's own dominion upon the material realm.
When knowledge of the Turquoise Lord returned to mortals three-hundred years ago during the last celestial war, such Overlays began to appear across the entire world. However, it was in the center of the world where the seed of their current mortal dominion would truly be planted. The center of the world, Tramontan, where due to chance alone most of their aimless, wandering servants would convene over time, grew in the most concentrated fashion, unhindered by attempts to destroy or banish it due to the absence of other contesting powers in the area. This infestation was ignored for a century and a half, dismissed as mere scenery by Justinian and Yuwan alike until it had grown so massive that destroying it was a daunting, godlike proposition.
A century and a half ago, the central Overlay grew large enough to manifest and fully support what is today known as The Fount, the axial tower at Tramontan. The gargantuan structure is so massive it can be seen from every corner of the world, and is so tall none can see its top. Justinians refer to the tower as 'The Great Taunt,' seeing it as a mocking symbol of dominance and superiority flying in the face of Justinian values and superiority. This precipitated an attempt by then-existing Justinian powers to destroy the central overlay and The Fount itself in a single concentrated attack, during the siege of the Central Complexus of 143 AWH. This siege, although successful in halting the growth of the central overlay, is largely considered a failure. After a tactical withdrawal and retreat by Justinian forces from the Central Complexus to an encampment within the reconquered territory near its boundaries, the entire coalition was destroyed in an instant in a catastrophic event known as the Devastation, which killed half a million soldiers, crusaders, inquisitors, mages, and even the then-Exaltarch of Archonnen himself. The site of the Devastation, to this day, remains an impermeable zone within which no being or force may intrude.
The various Justinian nations have since established a ring of forts around the central overlay, and have been waging a constant, perpetual siege against it for over a century straight. Justinian has directed for magical artifacts of mass destruction to be assembled and projected into the Overlay over the years, destroying large swaths of the original overlay and turning the surrounding land into barren, desolate waste. Little by little, the central overlay has shrunk and been chipped away at by the constant efforts of Justinian to see it banished for good.
Elsewhere in the world however, the Turquoise Lord remains a constant and unabated menace. There is a perpetual threat of Stray Palace overlay appearing within the large megacities of various states, or else within remote, secluded locales where few venture. Their servants wander the world, spreading forbidden secrets and practices to unwitting mortals who hunger for power. The Turquoise Lord is known to be directly complicit in assisting Ephemem in the Civil War between West and East Ouroborasia, and they are also suspected to be allied with the returning red god Axohaan.
The Central Overlay of Tromontan: The Lord of the Turquoise Scheme's most well-known of holding is the central overlay that dwells at Tramontan, the center of the world. It is here where the axial tower, The Fount, is located. The Fount itself extends out from the Turquoise Lord's holy site, known as The Seat, which itself comprises the core of the Central Complexus, the gargantuan foundation for the axial tower. The various Western Justinian nations have been waging a perpetual, century-long siege against the central overlay, gradually chipping away at its boundaries and occasionally projecting magical artifacts of mass destruction at the tower in order to damage it.
Worldwide Overlays: The Shadow of the Stray Palace is cast all across the world in a scattered, haphazard fashion, wherever it might be permitted to take root uncontested. Overlays can be found within abandoned mines or deep within canyons, found in the turbulent cesspits of undercities or else in the unclaimed wilderness. The efforts of civilized folk throughout the world to tear down anchoring material for the palace before it accumulates is a constant chore, and militia are always on the lookout for signs of a hidden-away extension of the Stray Palace somewhere unseen.
Discrete Freeholds: Rumors abound of a new, insidious form of overlay where the Turquoise Lord's own influence lies dormant and suppressed, while the architecture and denizens have taken guise to appear indistinguishable from indigenous native forms. What purpose and function such curious overlays serve remains unknown, and none have been positively identified even if several 'unconfirmed' freeholds have been banished.
Worldwide Overlays: The Shadow of the Stray Palace is cast all across the world in a scattered, haphazard fashion, wherever it might be permitted to take root uncontested. Overlays can be found within abandoned mines or deep within canyons, found in the turbulent cesspits of undercities or else in the unclaimed wilderness. The efforts of civilized folk throughout the world to tear down anchoring material for the palace before it accumulates is a constant chore, and militia are always on the lookout for signs of a hidden-away extension of the Stray Palace somewhere unseen.
Discrete Freeholds: Rumors abound of a new, insidious form of overlay where the Turquoise Lord's own influence lies dormant and suppressed, while the architecture and denizens have taken guise to appear indistinguishable from indigenous native forms. What purpose and function such curious overlays serve remains unknown, and none have been positively identified even if several 'unconfirmed' freeholds have been banished.
The Turquoise Lord is known for, amongst other things, their very lenient tenants. The only requirement for sacrifices to be made to them is that the sacrifice have been procured 'By Wit of Force' or 'By Right of Conquest,' interpreted broadly. Having made a sacrifice to the Turquoise Lord, the only commandment one must then follow is that they not attack or otherwise interfere with the Turquoise Lord's servants.
These extremely lax requirements makes the Turquoise Lord exceedingly popular with bandits, pirates, cutthroats, and the lawless in general - who pillage and steal, and then simply add kidnapping and seizure to their crimes. Sacrificing their victims, these ruffians gain a measure of magical power they then use to perform yet more crimes and gain yet more sacrifices to make in a cycle of violence and ever-increasing magical power, without the complication of having to abide by the laws and strictures of an overbearing celestial being. The lesser of these fiends are known as Turquoise Bandits, while the most powerful and influential brigands who go on to become warlords or bandit chiefs are known as Turquoise Marauders. They are not true faithful worshipers of the Turquoise Lord, and merely make sacrifices to them as a convenient and comparatively easy means to gain magical power.
The Turquoise Lord is known as the patron celestial being of outcasts, pariahs, exiles, and degenerates. When knowledge of them returned to the world three-hundred years ago during the war in the heavens, it came in the form of the Lord of the Turquoise Scheme's own Trophic Secrets. Twisted and tainted knowledge of arcane natural law, seen in the dreams and idle thoughts of the deprived and forlorn as a form of lure and temptation. Such forbidden knowledge also graced and continues to come upon the minds of great intellects, scholars, and natural philosophers who study the laws and mechanisms of the world, and it is through the proliferation of these Trophic Secrets that the Turquoise Lord continues to gain followers.
These extremely lax requirements makes the Turquoise Lord exceedingly popular with bandits, pirates, cutthroats, and the lawless in general - who pillage and steal, and then simply add kidnapping and seizure to their crimes. Sacrificing their victims, these ruffians gain a measure of magical power they then use to perform yet more crimes and gain yet more sacrifices to make in a cycle of violence and ever-increasing magical power, without the complication of having to abide by the laws and strictures of an overbearing celestial being. The lesser of these fiends are known as Turquoise Bandits, while the most powerful and influential brigands who go on to become warlords or bandit chiefs are known as Turquoise Marauders. They are not true faithful worshipers of the Turquoise Lord, and merely make sacrifices to them as a convenient and comparatively easy means to gain magical power.
The Turquoise Lord is known as the patron celestial being of outcasts, pariahs, exiles, and degenerates. When knowledge of them returned to the world three-hundred years ago during the war in the heavens, it came in the form of the Lord of the Turquoise Scheme's own Trophic Secrets. Twisted and tainted knowledge of arcane natural law, seen in the dreams and idle thoughts of the deprived and forlorn as a form of lure and temptation. Such forbidden knowledge also graced and continues to come upon the minds of great intellects, scholars, and natural philosophers who study the laws and mechanisms of the world, and it is through the proliferation of these Trophic Secrets that the Turquoise Lord continues to gain followers.
When a living mortal soul is sacrificed to the Turquoise Lord, under certain conditions the body is reanimated as an undead golem that serves the Turquoise Lord. These beings are known as Servitors, and are the predominant perpetuating force for the Turquoise Lord's influence upon the material world.
The first condition necessary is that a body must remain to be reanimated. As sacrifices implicitly requires a living victim this is not often an issue, though various means of magically destroying a body during sacrifice might hypothetically be employed in order to prevent the creation of a Servitor. The second condition is that the victim have an expansive, favorable cavity within their body around the abdominal region. The females of most sentient species automatically qualify for this particular condition, but certain degenerate Red Enclaves otherwise unaffiliated with the Turquoise Lord have been known to carve cavities into the bowels of still-living male victims in order to create suitable conditions for the creation of male Servitors.
Once the body is reanimated, the Servitor is remarkably hardy and resilient. Being undead, few injuries will deter it, and even cutting off its head is generally insufficient to destroy a Servitor. Severing the limbs from the body is generally required in order for destruction to be assured, and barring that incineration of the body is generally sufficient.
Servitors themselves, upon reanimation, can bear a wide and diverse array of assumed personas. Some might appear to have identical personas and memories to the victim. Others might appear the same but somewhat changed in demeanor. Still, some may be reanimated complete different to how they were in life, with no or entirely alien memories. It should be noted that Servitors themselves are Soulless, and whatever they do or however they might act they have no true sense of awareness or consciousness, being a form of philosophical zombie. They are known for being extremely fickle and fae in nature. On occasion, if their body is whole and undamaged and if their persona is similar enough to how it was in life, a Servitor can remain undetected amongst its original community for months or even years. Other times, servitors may aimlessly wander the world, corrupting the landscape and tempting mortals with forbidden knowledge.
Additionally, on rare occasions Servitors have been known to 'adopt' individuals, such as the person who sacrificed them in the first place. Upon adopting a person, a Servitor generally accompanies them wherever they go, constantly by their side. These servitors can serve as tormentors, neutral companions, or valued advisers or aides, lovers or hated enemies. Most Turquoise Bandits and Marauders deal with such adoptions as they come in a manner corresponding with however convenient the relationship is, while most civilized folk typically destroy the Servitor itself at the soonest convenience.
Whether they remain undetected, wander the world, or adopt a mortal, Servitors constantly create what is known as anchoring material. Anchoring material comes in many forms. A carved tree, a cairn made of stones, a cave painting, curious excavations, the growth of alien, alchemical flora, chiseled cliff faces, crop circles and sigils, the assembly of crude natural altars, and so forth. All of these curious objects and structures are naturally imbued with the influence of the Turquoise Lord. Over time, once enough anchoring material accumulates in a single locale, it serves to form a foci of power and influence for the Turquoise Lord. This foci forms a physical anchor in the material world, leading to its overlay by a projection of the Stray Palace (see the Stray Palace section for more details).
All Servitors, from the moment of their creation, serve host to a gestating terrestrial monster within their womb - or their cavity, in the rare instance of a male servitor. Such terrestrial horrors are always completely unique as to their anatomical makeup, as well as their innate nature. Terrestrial monsters may run the gamut from massive, monstrous strong, hideously bloodthirsty and of feral, bestial intellect - to diminutive, pathetically weak, docile and civilized with deep and profound intelligence. Regardless of their nature, all terrestrial monsters bear souls. While they have a native, instinctual impulse to serve the Turquoise lord, this impulse may be overcome by those monsters with strong enough wills or intellects. To this day, in a few remote locations, there is the odd monster living amongst other mortals, having rejected the ways of the Turquoise Lord.
Although all Servitors play host to gestating horror within them, approximately half of them never give birth naturally. All Servitors will forcefully give birth if they would be destroyed or otherwise significantly damaged without the monster within having been slain in the process. The birthing process can range from harmless to the Servitor to wholly destructive, ranging from Servitors giving birth to delicate butterfly creatures to a hulking behemoth sloughing off the skin of its mother (or father).
The first condition necessary is that a body must remain to be reanimated. As sacrifices implicitly requires a living victim this is not often an issue, though various means of magically destroying a body during sacrifice might hypothetically be employed in order to prevent the creation of a Servitor. The second condition is that the victim have an expansive, favorable cavity within their body around the abdominal region. The females of most sentient species automatically qualify for this particular condition, but certain degenerate Red Enclaves otherwise unaffiliated with the Turquoise Lord have been known to carve cavities into the bowels of still-living male victims in order to create suitable conditions for the creation of male Servitors.
Once the body is reanimated, the Servitor is remarkably hardy and resilient. Being undead, few injuries will deter it, and even cutting off its head is generally insufficient to destroy a Servitor. Severing the limbs from the body is generally required in order for destruction to be assured, and barring that incineration of the body is generally sufficient.
Servitors themselves, upon reanimation, can bear a wide and diverse array of assumed personas. Some might appear to have identical personas and memories to the victim. Others might appear the same but somewhat changed in demeanor. Still, some may be reanimated complete different to how they were in life, with no or entirely alien memories. It should be noted that Servitors themselves are Soulless, and whatever they do or however they might act they have no true sense of awareness or consciousness, being a form of philosophical zombie. They are known for being extremely fickle and fae in nature. On occasion, if their body is whole and undamaged and if their persona is similar enough to how it was in life, a Servitor can remain undetected amongst its original community for months or even years. Other times, servitors may aimlessly wander the world, corrupting the landscape and tempting mortals with forbidden knowledge.
Additionally, on rare occasions Servitors have been known to 'adopt' individuals, such as the person who sacrificed them in the first place. Upon adopting a person, a Servitor generally accompanies them wherever they go, constantly by their side. These servitors can serve as tormentors, neutral companions, or valued advisers or aides, lovers or hated enemies. Most Turquoise Bandits and Marauders deal with such adoptions as they come in a manner corresponding with however convenient the relationship is, while most civilized folk typically destroy the Servitor itself at the soonest convenience.
Whether they remain undetected, wander the world, or adopt a mortal, Servitors constantly create what is known as anchoring material. Anchoring material comes in many forms. A carved tree, a cairn made of stones, a cave painting, curious excavations, the growth of alien, alchemical flora, chiseled cliff faces, crop circles and sigils, the assembly of crude natural altars, and so forth. All of these curious objects and structures are naturally imbued with the influence of the Turquoise Lord. Over time, once enough anchoring material accumulates in a single locale, it serves to form a foci of power and influence for the Turquoise Lord. This foci forms a physical anchor in the material world, leading to its overlay by a projection of the Stray Palace (see the Stray Palace section for more details).
All Servitors, from the moment of their creation, serve host to a gestating terrestrial monster within their womb - or their cavity, in the rare instance of a male servitor. Such terrestrial horrors are always completely unique as to their anatomical makeup, as well as their innate nature. Terrestrial monsters may run the gamut from massive, monstrous strong, hideously bloodthirsty and of feral, bestial intellect - to diminutive, pathetically weak, docile and civilized with deep and profound intelligence. Regardless of their nature, all terrestrial monsters bear souls. While they have a native, instinctual impulse to serve the Turquoise lord, this impulse may be overcome by those monsters with strong enough wills or intellects. To this day, in a few remote locations, there is the odd monster living amongst other mortals, having rejected the ways of the Turquoise Lord.
Although all Servitors play host to gestating horror within them, approximately half of them never give birth naturally. All Servitors will forcefully give birth if they would be destroyed or otherwise significantly damaged without the monster within having been slain in the process. The birthing process can range from harmless to the Servitor to wholly destructive, ranging from Servitors giving birth to delicate butterfly creatures to a hulking behemoth sloughing off the skin of its mother (or father).
The Stray Palace seen in the material world is a shadow cast upon terrestrial plane by a structure in the Celestial Realm known as the Palace Straylight.
When a Servitor creates enough anchoring material in the physical realm, the influence of the Turquoise Lord consolidates into a single physical structure known as an anchor. The anchor serves as a pin for the projection of the Stray Palace that then overlays the material realm, keeping it in place while displacing the material realm itself.
The displaced material realm is still present and whole, merely displaced. It is possible to banish Stray Palace Overlay by destroying the physical anchor pinning it in place, causing it to be banished and for the material realm to reassert itself as it was prior to being displaced. Those more familiar with the practice of destroying anchors are wary and take care when doing so, as it is possible for an anchor to be located either underground or above the ground relative to the displaced material world, resulting in the would-be-savior being sealed in solid bedrock or left to fall dozens of meters after destroying an anchor.
The projection of the Stray Palace is more than just the structures that form - it is the very skein and fabric of the world that is displaced as well. When one enters an overlay, the Stray Palace is not just the halls they enter, but also the air they breath. The stuff and material of the Stray Palace complies with natural laws, but is altogether still alien. The structures seen will regenerate over time, and possess a curious strength to them. They are not harder to destroy, but may be arranged with a complexity and enormity that might otherwise be impossible with nonmagical materials.
The Stray Palace itself possesses the visage of a mocking, terrible mirror of mortal extravagance. The sprawl of it appears much as a palace would, with great banquet halls and kitchens, ballrooms, grand parlors, long and refined hallways, libraries filled with forbidden lore, ancient and sturdy vaults, armories and barracks, forges and dungeons, thrones and bedrooms - everything one might expect to be found in any palace or castle, one can find within the Stray Palace. Each overlay is liberally littered with artifacts, treasures, and objects of various mention which serve as furnishing for each area of the palace. These objects may be moved and if present within the Overlay when an anchor is destroyed, will be banished normally. If extracted from an overlay however, such items will remain corporeal even in the event of an anchor's destruction. Though whether one can extract such items is another matter entirely...
When a Servitor creates enough anchoring material in the physical realm, the influence of the Turquoise Lord consolidates into a single physical structure known as an anchor. The anchor serves as a pin for the projection of the Stray Palace that then overlays the material realm, keeping it in place while displacing the material realm itself.
The displaced material realm is still present and whole, merely displaced. It is possible to banish Stray Palace Overlay by destroying the physical anchor pinning it in place, causing it to be banished and for the material realm to reassert itself as it was prior to being displaced. Those more familiar with the practice of destroying anchors are wary and take care when doing so, as it is possible for an anchor to be located either underground or above the ground relative to the displaced material world, resulting in the would-be-savior being sealed in solid bedrock or left to fall dozens of meters after destroying an anchor.
The projection of the Stray Palace is more than just the structures that form - it is the very skein and fabric of the world that is displaced as well. When one enters an overlay, the Stray Palace is not just the halls they enter, but also the air they breath. The stuff and material of the Stray Palace complies with natural laws, but is altogether still alien. The structures seen will regenerate over time, and possess a curious strength to them. They are not harder to destroy, but may be arranged with a complexity and enormity that might otherwise be impossible with nonmagical materials.
The Stray Palace itself possesses the visage of a mocking, terrible mirror of mortal extravagance. The sprawl of it appears much as a palace would, with great banquet halls and kitchens, ballrooms, grand parlors, long and refined hallways, libraries filled with forbidden lore, ancient and sturdy vaults, armories and barracks, forges and dungeons, thrones and bedrooms - everything one might expect to be found in any palace or castle, one can find within the Stray Palace. Each overlay is liberally littered with artifacts, treasures, and objects of various mention which serve as furnishing for each area of the palace. These objects may be moved and if present within the Overlay when an anchor is destroyed, will be banished normally. If extracted from an overlay however, such items will remain corporeal even in the event of an anchor's destruction. Though whether one can extract such items is another matter entirely...
The Stray Palace is a shadow of the Palace Straylight in the celestial realm - and to carry the analogy, the shadows of the beings that dwell within the Palace Straylight also manifest within the Stray Palace, as the shadows of the beings that cast them. If shadows were solid.
Within each independent locale of the Stray Palace dwells a shadowcast Denizen, a monstrous being who serves as twisted combination of a guardian as well as a chief of staff. Attending them are shadowcast monsters, akin to terrestrial monsters borne of Servitors but instead are projections and part of the Stray Palace itself. Each Denizen is attended by a small army of these monsters, who in turn act as their staff. A Denizen within a library of the Stray Palace might act as head Librarian, and the monsters as book-keepers. The Denizens are monstrous and alien, but largely civilized and docile unless provoked. They may be conversed and dealt with as one might when dealing with the chief of staff of a foreign palace as a guest. The monsters, unlike their terrestrial counterparts, are less overtly ferocious and predatory. They will stalk and hunt intruders, but not with overwhelming numbers or ferocity.
This is due to the rules of the Stray Palace. Within its halls are a number of decrees, and as long as these decrees are followed, intruders may venture and explore in relative safety, troubled only by predatory, shadowy monsters occasionally ambushing and attacking them. These rules include but are not limited to the following:
Once any of these rules are broken, the Stray Palace will begin to react to the presence of an intruder, or intruders, like an infection - responding with overwhelming hordes of shadowcast monsters, as well as Attendants.
Celestial Attendants are to Celestial Servants what Celestial Servants are to Gods. They are celestial beings of lesser power, in service to a Celestial Servant. The Turquoise Lord is known to have a large number of Attendants, and the shadows of these beings are seen in the Stray Palace, standing guard over anchors and hunting down intruders who break the rules. Shadowcast Attendants possess limited omniscience within the immediate area and are therefore impossible to evade or hide from, and possess tremendously potent magical abilities and physical durability. They are slow, but intractable, and are the primary threat to those who would intrude within the Palace borders and break the rules.
Within each independent locale of the Stray Palace dwells a shadowcast Denizen, a monstrous being who serves as twisted combination of a guardian as well as a chief of staff. Attending them are shadowcast monsters, akin to terrestrial monsters borne of Servitors but instead are projections and part of the Stray Palace itself. Each Denizen is attended by a small army of these monsters, who in turn act as their staff. A Denizen within a library of the Stray Palace might act as head Librarian, and the monsters as book-keepers. The Denizens are monstrous and alien, but largely civilized and docile unless provoked. They may be conversed and dealt with as one might when dealing with the chief of staff of a foreign palace as a guest. The monsters, unlike their terrestrial counterparts, are less overtly ferocious and predatory. They will stalk and hunt intruders, but not with overwhelming numbers or ferocity.
This is due to the rules of the Stray Palace. Within its halls are a number of decrees, and as long as these decrees are followed, intruders may venture and explore in relative safety, troubled only by predatory, shadowy monsters occasionally ambushing and attacking them. These rules include but are not limited to the following:
- No stealing from the Stray Palace.
- Damage not the edifice of the Stray Palace.
- Offend not the sensibilities or dignity of the Denizens and Attendants.
- Aggrieve not the bodies of the Denizens and Attendants.
- Do not intrude upon the grounds of the Straylit Bastions.
- Intrude upon The Seat at your peril.
Once any of these rules are broken, the Stray Palace will begin to react to the presence of an intruder, or intruders, like an infection - responding with overwhelming hordes of shadowcast monsters, as well as Attendants.
Celestial Attendants are to Celestial Servants what Celestial Servants are to Gods. They are celestial beings of lesser power, in service to a Celestial Servant. The Turquoise Lord is known to have a large number of Attendants, and the shadows of these beings are seen in the Stray Palace, standing guard over anchors and hunting down intruders who break the rules. Shadowcast Attendants possess limited omniscience within the immediate area and are therefore impossible to evade or hide from, and possess tremendously potent magical abilities and physical durability. They are slow, but intractable, and are the primary threat to those who would intrude within the Palace borders and break the rules.
The Crown of Form
Status: Lost
Status: Lost
Summary:The Crown of Form is a Divine Artifact made by the Turquoise Lord prior to the War in the Heavens. It functions as a Material Catalyst, as opposed to a Divine Catalyst, and is the only known Catalyst in existence that completely preempts the conscious use of magical rituals.
To use the Crown, one simply sends Theurgia into it along with a command. The Crown of Form then automagically casts the desired spell at 100% efficiency, using the most efficient ritual possible to cast for that particular effect. This is distinct from the usage of Divine catalysts, which will only augment the efficiency of a given spell the caster chooses to use.
It is known that any mortal who would lay hand upon the Crown of Form would immediately become Champion of Form under the Turquoise Lord as one of their Divine Champions, an exceedingly potent combination. However, to this day there have been no known bearers of the Crown of Form, and the Crown of Form has no historically recorded instances of use. It and its affiliation with the Turquoise Lord are only mentioned in the most esoteric and decrepit of ancient manuscripts of hidden vaults of forbidden lore.
The Lord of the Turquoise Scheme, unlike most other Celestial being, is very fickle in selecting their champions...and keeping them. The Turquoise Lord is thought to have ten champions in total, one for each aspect of the Turquoise Lord's ideological sphere that is known to mortals. Each champion has a unique set of prerequisites for being selected, a unique array of magical and innate powers, as well as unique rules for remaining champion. Due to the convoluted mechanisms by which transference of championship works, it has often been the case that the Turquoise Lord's champions have been either entirely unwilling or unwitting, and in some cases potentially even their sworn enemies.
In the event an individual finds themselves selected as one of the Turquoise Lord's champions, if they cannot be made a champion (due to already being a Champion for another celestial being, for example) they are instead cursed, and the moment the transference perquisites are met again the curse leaps to the next victim and makes them champion instead.
Due to the Turquoise Lord's fickle nature, they refuse to control and manipulate their own Champions as other celestial beings might with theirs. The Champions of the Turquoise Lord are essentially free agents, permitted to act however they please so long as they follow the specific rules of their new status.
In the event an individual finds themselves selected as one of the Turquoise Lord's champions, if they cannot be made a champion (due to already being a Champion for another celestial being, for example) they are instead cursed, and the moment the transference perquisites are met again the curse leaps to the next victim and makes them champion instead.
Due to the Turquoise Lord's fickle nature, they refuse to control and manipulate their own Champions as other celestial beings might with theirs. The Champions of the Turquoise Lord are essentially free agents, permitted to act however they please so long as they follow the specific rules of their new status.
The Champion of Enigma embodies the aspect of uncertainty and the unknown in the universe. Due to the specific mechanisms embedded within the fabric of creation by the Demiurge, it is impossible to possess a complete understanding of the world's natural laws. Even if a single celestial being could ascend to become the new Demiurge, they themselves would be unable to understand the world the prior Demiurge had created, only being able to destroy and change what is already present in addition to creating that which is new. Enigma is ineffable.
Fittingly enough, the identity, powers, and rules associated with the Champion of Enigma are obscured to mortals.
Fittingly enough, the identity, powers, and rules associated with the Champion of Enigma are obscured to mortals.
The Champion of Nature embodies the aspect of the world as it actually exists, beyond the knowing of mortal or celestial comprehension. Nature is the world.
In order to be selected as the next Champion of Nature, a mortal must be deprived of all of their senses. In most humanoids these are sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. Other mortal beings with expanded or additional senses must be deprived of them as well in order to qualify. If an existing Champion of Nature would regain any of their senses, they are immediately castigated and slain.
The Champion of Nature possesses instead a perception of the influence of celestial beings. This extends to anything containing or projecting celestial influence, including Theurgia originating from celestial beings as well as ambient Theurgia, imbued with the influence of dead gods.
The Champion of Nature possesses innate abilities similar to those of a Servitor. Every thing they touch and make contact with is imbued with a moderate amount of the Turquoise Lord's own influence. They also gain a reflexive defensive power in the form of a curse that bestows a small amount of the Turquoise Lord's theurgia upon those who would assail or otherwise obstruct the Champion, rendering them vulnerable to their wrath. Beyond these abilities, Champions of Nature possesses only modestly heightened physical vigor.
In order to be selected as the next Champion of Nature, a mortal must be deprived of all of their senses. In most humanoids these are sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. Other mortal beings with expanded or additional senses must be deprived of them as well in order to qualify. If an existing Champion of Nature would regain any of their senses, they are immediately castigated and slain.
The Champion of Nature possesses instead a perception of the influence of celestial beings. This extends to anything containing or projecting celestial influence, including Theurgia originating from celestial beings as well as ambient Theurgia, imbued with the influence of dead gods.
The Champion of Nature possesses innate abilities similar to those of a Servitor. Every thing they touch and make contact with is imbued with a moderate amount of the Turquoise Lord's own influence. They also gain a reflexive defensive power in the form of a curse that bestows a small amount of the Turquoise Lord's theurgia upon those who would assail or otherwise obstruct the Champion, rendering them vulnerable to their wrath. Beyond these abilities, Champions of Nature possesses only modestly heightened physical vigor.
The Champion of Form embodies the aspect of the state and declining tendencies of the world's natural laws. Entropy, thermodynamics, the constant flow of energy from a high state to a low state. Form represents the flow and channeling of energy in the most efficient fashion possible as progresses to a final static state seen in the set ways of nature. Form is entropy.
The Champion of Form shall be the one who adorns the Crown of Form, and who shall remain so until it would leave their possession. As the Crown of Form is notably hard to remove, its theft or seizure implicitly requires their death.
The Champion of Form shall be the one who adorns the Crown of Form, and who shall remain so until it would leave their possession. As the Crown of Form is notably hard to remove, its theft or seizure implicitly requires their death.
The Champion of Vision embodies the aspect of mortal and celestial perception both of the world as it is, along with its natural laws. Vision is perception.
The Champion of Vision is selected only of individuals whose souls have been frayed due to a near-death experience, who would also be eligible to receive the Turquoise Lord's Trophic Secrets. If the Champion of Vision would ever utter a lie, they are immediately castigated and slain in a spectacular fashion.
The Champion of Vision possesses not only dramatically heightened physical senses, but is in fact bestowed with a limited, functional form of omniscience within a local area, combined with greatly heightened reflexes and modestly increased physical vigor.
The Champion of Vision is selected only of individuals whose souls have been frayed due to a near-death experience, who would also be eligible to receive the Turquoise Lord's Trophic Secrets. If the Champion of Vision would ever utter a lie, they are immediately castigated and slain in a spectacular fashion.
The Champion of Vision possesses not only dramatically heightened physical senses, but is in fact bestowed with a limited, functional form of omniscience within a local area, combined with greatly heightened reflexes and modestly increased physical vigor.
The Champion of Rite embodies the identification and the existence of means and methods to redirect and channel energy in specific ways, effecting magic as an alternative direction in the decline of the natural world. A champion who bodies the very principle of rituals in and of themselves, after a fashion. Rite is order.
The Champion of Rite is always the single individual in the world who has performed and offered the greatest number of sacrifices to the Turquoise Lord. If another individual would sacrifice more, the first remains Champion but must track down and battle their rival on equal footing. The survivor either remains or becomes the new Champion of Rite.
The Champion of Rite can reflexively identify and understand every single ritual they perceive being performed, and is may reflexively recall phantom knowledge of how to perform certain rituals to overcome problems and obstacles they might face, as though experiencing the memory of a ritual used before for a similar purpose. The Champion of Rite may perform any ritual as though they had perfect muscle memory and recall for its esoteric knowledge, but in practical terms is usually still unable to cast at 100% efficiency for various reasons.
The Champion of Rite is always the single individual in the world who has performed and offered the greatest number of sacrifices to the Turquoise Lord. If another individual would sacrifice more, the first remains Champion but must track down and battle their rival on equal footing. The survivor either remains or becomes the new Champion of Rite.
The Champion of Rite can reflexively identify and understand every single ritual they perceive being performed, and is may reflexively recall phantom knowledge of how to perform certain rituals to overcome problems and obstacles they might face, as though experiencing the memory of a ritual used before for a similar purpose. The Champion of Rite may perform any ritual as though they had perfect muscle memory and recall for its esoteric knowledge, but in practical terms is usually still unable to cast at 100% efficiency for various reasons.
The Champion of Volition embodies the existence of chaos and free will in an uncertain universe, and the ability of mortal and celestial beings to manipulate nature if they have but the knowledge, the power, and the will to do so. Volition is freedom.
The Champion of Volition's rules are simple: Upon their death, they immediately select who they want the next Champion of Volition to be, and that person becomes the next Champion of Volition.
The Champion of Volition, simply put, cannot be stopped, impeded, held back, or restrained by any means. If they come into opposition with another being or force, their Theurgia capacity will be expended in order to temporarily enhance their physical strength and vigor until they become strong enough to overcome the obstacle. If the Champion reaches the limit of their Theurgia capacity and still cannot overcome the impediment, instead their Theurgia is expended to temporarily phase the Champion out of sync with the material realm briefly, along with a portion of anything they had direct contact with at the time.
The Champion of Volition's rules are simple: Upon their death, they immediately select who they want the next Champion of Volition to be, and that person becomes the next Champion of Volition.
The Champion of Volition, simply put, cannot be stopped, impeded, held back, or restrained by any means. If they come into opposition with another being or force, their Theurgia capacity will be expended in order to temporarily enhance their physical strength and vigor until they become strong enough to overcome the obstacle. If the Champion reaches the limit of their Theurgia capacity and still cannot overcome the impediment, instead their Theurgia is expended to temporarily phase the Champion out of sync with the material realm briefly, along with a portion of anything they had direct contact with at the time.
The Champion of Wit embodies the conflict between the wills of celestial beings and mortals as they attempt to seize control of and manipulate the natural order of the world using rituals and knowledge of the universe's natural laws. Moreover, Wit also embodies the conflict and struggle that occurs between mortals and celestial beings as they fight and argue amongst themselves as to what interpretations, perceptions, and visions of the waking world are factual, as well as what particular ends and means of manipulating the world are preferable or optimal. Wit is conflict.
The Champion of Wit is only chosen from amongst mortal enemies of the Turquoise Lord, who both have knowledge of their Trophic Secrets and who has received Theurgia from the effects of a Servitor's reverse-sacrificial curse or another similar ritual. The Champion of Wit only remains so if they succeed in drawing the blood of an enemy for each setting of the sun, and will otherwise be castigated and slain.
The Champion of Wit possesses a pervasive magical aura that slowly drives those around them to a feral, predatory, highly aggressive fugue-state, precipitating spontaneous riots and sacks. Initial symptoms include paranoia and delusion, leading to hallucinations and distorted senses, peaking with an acute headache and phantom pain prior to losing time as one enters the fugue-state. Additionally, the Champion of Wit will automagically weaken and corrupt the bindings of summoned and animated beings in the vicinity, eventually freeing them and inducing rampancy.
The Champion of Wit is only chosen from amongst mortal enemies of the Turquoise Lord, who both have knowledge of their Trophic Secrets and who has received Theurgia from the effects of a Servitor's reverse-sacrificial curse or another similar ritual. The Champion of Wit only remains so if they succeed in drawing the blood of an enemy for each setting of the sun, and will otherwise be castigated and slain.
The Champion of Wit possesses a pervasive magical aura that slowly drives those around them to a feral, predatory, highly aggressive fugue-state, precipitating spontaneous riots and sacks. Initial symptoms include paranoia and delusion, leading to hallucinations and distorted senses, peaking with an acute headache and phantom pain prior to losing time as one enters the fugue-state. Additionally, the Champion of Wit will automagically weaken and corrupt the bindings of summoned and animated beings in the vicinity, eventually freeing them and inducing rampancy.
The Champion of Domination embodies the willful assertion of self in opposition both to the world and to other beings, presented so that all would be forced to yield in order to bring about a new order in accordance with one's own purposes and desires. Domination is conquest.
The Champion of Domination is selected from amongst Nobles who are secretly of common birth. If they would ever lay with another Noble-blooded individual, they are castigated and slain.
The Champion of Domination may summon shadowcast Monsters out of thin air for a predetermined, constant upkeep continuously taken from their permanent Theurgia capacity. This way, the Champion of Domination may summon a certain number of monsters at a time corresponding to their personal Theurgia capacity. Additionally, the Champion of Domination possesses highly efficient and abnormally potent Indoctrination and hypnotic magic, as well as excelling with most forms of illusory and sensory magic in general. While these are both potent abilities, the Champion of Domination does not possess enhanced vigor as some Champions do.
The Champion of Domination is selected from amongst Nobles who are secretly of common birth. If they would ever lay with another Noble-blooded individual, they are castigated and slain.
The Champion of Domination may summon shadowcast Monsters out of thin air for a predetermined, constant upkeep continuously taken from their permanent Theurgia capacity. This way, the Champion of Domination may summon a certain number of monsters at a time corresponding to their personal Theurgia capacity. Additionally, the Champion of Domination possesses highly efficient and abnormally potent Indoctrination and hypnotic magic, as well as excelling with most forms of illusory and sensory magic in general. While these are both potent abilities, the Champion of Domination does not possess enhanced vigor as some Champions do.
The Champion of Bondage embodies the change and bend in the world as energy is redirected and channel in accordance to the will of a mortal or celestial being, as well as the yielding of mortals and celestial beings to the will of the dominating individual who has forced all other thoughts and forces to yield. Bondage is change.
The Champion of Bondage is supremely resilient and physically tough, being extraordinarily difficult to injure and capable of healing even from otherwise mortal wounds in short order. Additionally, the Champion of Bondage may attach itself to a single individual, much in the same manner as a Servitor adopting another being. The Champio of Bondage will be compelled to obey every order, whim, and wish issued by that individual. However, if that individual provides the Champion of Bondage with enough semblances and signs of their visage, the Champion of Bondage may perform an epic feat of transmutation magic, changing their body to that of their master's while changing the master's body to their own. The ascended slave thus loses their powers, and the fallen master becomes the new Champion of Bondage.
The Champion of Bondage is supremely resilient and physically tough, being extraordinarily difficult to injure and capable of healing even from otherwise mortal wounds in short order. Additionally, the Champion of Bondage may attach itself to a single individual, much in the same manner as a Servitor adopting another being. The Champio of Bondage will be compelled to obey every order, whim, and wish issued by that individual. However, if that individual provides the Champion of Bondage with enough semblances and signs of their visage, the Champion of Bondage may perform an epic feat of transmutation magic, changing their body to that of their master's while changing the master's body to their own. The ascended slave thus loses their powers, and the fallen master becomes the new Champion of Bondage.
The Champion of Truth embodies the most important aspect of the world. The aspect of Truth is obscured to most mortals and celestial beings.
That tower? Aye, that be one o' them works by Axehand the Pepper King! Axehand what rule those badlands to the East, and that weird hoighty-toighty mess-o-rock up North, fore they came here and started conniving wat wit tha mother of Witches and Wretches. He makes witches too you know, only instead of doing naughty things to other people they do it all what to themselves! Pieces o' em fallin' off to make familiars, and givin' birth to ugly sons-a-bitches. No idea who knocks them up, though if I had to guess I would think they get it done with the other witches, hah!
Axehand though, let me tell ya, the people who follow him are right weirdos but he's real good at buildin' stuff! His followers are building him a new Holy City on the island of fairies and bruises, using the power of angry children with hurt feelins' to do it! They make whole castles and such pop up out of holes in the ground, and they're always filled with more witches and their fuckin' ugly get. Kinda like Goffery and the rest of his drunken lot decidin' they're suddenly foibles or what-it-be and tryin' to live high in mighty in proper fashion, only they're still shit! It's right improper I tell you! Axehand ain't got the sense Justinian gave Kobolds, making lowborn serfs like that live in keeps like that. A waste of good space! Either put in right and proper people or else tear it all down for something more useful!
I've been seenin' a few places too what where everyone is a secret witch, ya follow? You know that freehold across the river? But two forthnights ago it wasna there, I tell ya, and everything there looks right and proper, but it ain't. Never heard nor seen one of those people around these parts before, now they say they serve the lord of the region? They're witches, and it's Axehand's doin' I say!
I mean, yeah, it's true the last time we mobbed one of tha places and what kilt them all that we found nothin' improper and such, but you can hardly blame us! These are queer days, what with buildings poppin' up out o' nowhere and people act like we're supposed to be able to tell which from witches. It's all mad I tell you! Like, give me back the old kind o' Axehand witches what went up and built their heathen altars and icons right on your doorstep and laughed about it! At least those were easy to deal with! You just tied 'em to a stick after having a way and jam a rock down their throat to stop them from saying weird witchery nonsense.
The name of the Tower is the Fount, apparently, and the foundry itself has another name though I do not recall the details - and both are likewise built upon Tramontan, the center of the world, hence why the Fount is also occasionally referred to as the axial tower. I said built, though of course it is known those structures are not really made by any kind of hand or labor. The currently accepted theory is that Overlays comprise of more than just the structures one sees, but extends to the very air and fabric of the world itself. It would explain much.
Nobody knows why or for what purpose of course, beyond the obvious assumption of heretical apocalyptic portents. A few astronomers measure the rate at which the Fount regenerates over time after getting struck with one of those...rather unsettling comets the mages from Sacrosanctia like to throw at it, from the ring of forts they built around the center. It makes me nervous honestly. It might almost be blasphemous to say, but I am almost glad the Fount is so apparently durable. The longer it lasts, the longer Gushawar and Yuwan do not have to worry about Justinian doing the same to us. The Turquoise Lord is a miserable excuse for a celestial being, but they make for an excellent sacrificial lamb to draw Justinian's ire at the least. They refer to axial tower as 'the great taunt' apparently, as though it were made just to spit in Justinian's eye - and Yuwan's too I suppose.
I could not tell you if it was - I do not know that much about the Turquoise Lord honestly - but one can tell just by looking that the tower is not that tall just for show alone. A few other scholars and astronomers study its shape, you see, and they swear up and down - both literally and figuratively, given the vertical aspect - that the tower's design bears a lot in common with the symbols and arrangement of some amplification rituals and rites that use geomancy, and we have all of course seen those strange...shockwaves the tower puts out on occasion, when dealing with Justinian's efforts to tear it down. I get the impression it is supposed to be like a whip - the whole of its length serves to amplify force as it travels up and along it, though for what purpose I could not say.
Of course, this whole mess, mixed blessing and curse that it is, is partly Gushawar's fault, alongside the various Justinian states. We warred for over a century and all the time just ignored the Central Overlay. People of the time dismissed it as mere scenery, back before the Turquoise Lord was a known figure amongst higher circles. I can tell you right now, if anybody had bothered to do something about it back in the day, it would never have been an issue. Just look at our undercities. Crept through and infected with overlays all over the place, like tumors, but they do not, are not permitted to spread further. Usually. The Turquoise Lord and their overlays are a menace to infrastructure, and they operate like an infestation. Manageable even in bad cases. What you see in the center of the continent is but an infestation that grew unabated for over a century and a half, and it would not surprise me if it takes almost twice as long to burn it all out again.
Here is hoping Justinian takes so long, eh? As I was saying though, the Turquoise Lord is very much like an infestation, or a tumor. They even operate similarly in regards to their followers. They tempt and encourage the worst kinds of people society has to offer into sacrificing to them, and reanimate the victims, who then spread word of their sickening practices and plague the land with the red god's signs and symbols, creating more overlay, leading to more of their servants appearing. That chaotic scheme requires particularly selfish willing mortal followers to work. If everyone in the world put their foot down and simply refused to give in to temptation, even that massive overlay at Tramontan would be irrelevant. The Turquoise Lord would fall to stagnancy and perish.
If only. The same could be said of Justinian as well, I imagine. Or any other celestial being.
The so-called Turquoise Lord is but another arrogant red god who, in their hubris, has brazenly attempted to take the world by storm only to find that they are naught but a mote in the gleam of the Justinian's eye. They are a threat only in the sense that they are perhaps the most overtly powerful rogue celestial servant, and that they insidiously manipulate unwitting mortals into serving their insensate and nonsensical schemes. While these are ultimately ineffectual and of little grand consequence, these farcical tragedies nonetheless tend to end poorly for the Turquoise Lord's pawns. It thus falls to us as the mortal followers of Justinian to rid this world and the next of this decrepit false god.
The Turquoise Lord, like many who likewise possess great ambition but little true talent or wit of their own, mimics the ways and manners of greater creeds and civilizations. Their overlays bear the semblance of palaces and citadels, keeps and castles, all twisted to reflect the Turquoise Lord's damaged mind and degenerate sensibilities. Such places even bear insensate laws and decrees, and guardians who enforce them, much as seen elsewhere - but the law of the Turquoise Lord's lands is turbulent and fickle, not worth the bother of exploiting or heeding. Each of these places is maintained by a single anchor, representing the consolidated frailties and failings of the Turqoise Lord. Tearing down these disgusting monuments to weakness banishes the unwanted intrusion upon Justinian's lands.
Their servants and practices likewise are dark mirrors of more successful and sensible people and rites. Their blasphemous, reanimated Servitors are disgusting, profaned mockeries of children worthy only of flame, while their sacrificial rites are infantile and devoid of deeper meaning, little more than juvenile perversion for the sole sake of mocking the Justinian. The only danger within their practices is the leaving about of clutter and detritus imbued with the Turquoise Lord's influence, like litter, so as to covertly enable the red god to seize control of ever more of the terrestrial world - though they rarely manage to hide such litter. As extensions of the Turquoise Lord, their schemes and plots are likewise inept and lacking in any true sophistry. One barely has to look for such tedious works in order to identify them. Only deliberate aversion to duty would deter one from effortlessly undoing such works and casting the foul servants of the Turquoise Lord down.
Only the most contemptible and unintelligent scum would ever willingly serve the Turquoise Lord, and naught but doom and delusion awaits those few foolish souls. Most that do are already degenerate filth, the likes of lawless bandits, pirates, and highwaymen. Such callous and rough individuals are typically easily dispatched, even with their unearned and heretical magic. What the forthright Justinian crusader should beware is the wily and industrious Marauder. Mortal-kind is full of clever beings, beings much more intelligent and cunning than the Turquoise Lord could ever hope to be. A number of these people, unfortunately lacking in morals, have managed to discern and exploit the red god's tenants, such as they are, for ever greater magical power. These few individuals tend to be much more insidious and dangerous than any of the Turquoise Lord's servants even could be, and are also those in greatest need of demonstrating their error in turning from the true path. The magics they use are crude rites of brute force and kinetic power, easily dissuaded with the proper wards and methods.
Despite what some people might tell you, not every cutthroat is eager to leap at the opportunity to sacrifice to the Turquoise Lord. I mean sure, its basically free Theurgia and goes well with the business of havoc, but unlike most of the bloody business once you go into it, you are committed. Your average folk, they might resort to banditry once, twice, to make ends meet. Your ordinary person does not want to be an outlaw, and once you factor in all the business with Servitors and the one commandment the Turquoise Lord has...you cannot stay anywhere you score. You always have to be moving, and when you want to retire you cannot go back anywhere you hit before. Going Turquoise means going nomadic, maybe even for good.
That is why there are so few Marauders. You have plenty of Turquoise bandits of course, but they never last long. They stick in one place too long and get caught up in the Lord's machinations, or the next wave of purges, or get robbed and sacrificed in turn. To be successful, you have to be a bit of a gambler. Know when to hold, know when to fold, know when to run. The Turquoise Lord is like the house - it always wins, but if you play your cards right you can occasionally be one of the few to walk away from the table with more than you came with.
So yeah, I am not what you would call a faithful, devout follower of the Turquoise Lord. You want my opinion? They have no faithful, devout followers. Just a few desperate idiots who do not know what they are getting into, and a few opportunists like me. I stay successful, rich, and alive by not throwing in with the Lord more than is strictly necessary. When I deal with them, its strictly on a favors for favors basis. You never want to be in debt to them, and you never want to get embroiled in all their schemes. That's how you get killed by a crusader or inquisitor or possibly by the Lord itself.
Another reason you always want to be on the move is because of those fucking creepy Servitors. Its all fun and games messing around with them until you get adopted by one, and that's when everything starts going straight to Ashmedairus. Once they get their hooks in you, you start having Trophic Gods-damned Secrets leaking into every idle thought and dream, and down that road is death.
Yeah, adoption. Servitors - they are really fickle, faelike. Hang around them too long, they take a liking to you and start following you around like they're your mother or lover. It's not always a bad thing in and of itself, Servitors can be useful if you can find a way to work with them, but in general its bad gamble - and remember what I said about gambling. Its basically doubling down on the whole Turquoise lifestyle, and while some people might have the luck or the stones to make it work, I am not one of them.
As far as overlays, I honestly could not tell you much about them. Always moving so that I never have to see them pop up around me. Some Marauders apparently use them to...move around. Some kind of transport spell or something, I do not know, never used it myself. Only thing I really know about overlays is that there's a big one at Tramontan - you know the one - and also that there are more and more 'freeholds' popping up. Basically overlays disguised to look like normal places, all the monsters disguised as people, all of them playing subservient to somebody who made a deal for the place. That sounds pretty as you please on paper, but let me tell you - the Lord never cedes subservience to anyone. Don't get me wrong, the Lord will keep any pact made with them. To the letter. But with freeholds, there's no way its granting actual dominion of overlay over to mortals. More like...the Lord is humoring them. Like they're a favorite doll in a dollhouse for them or something. Maybe if you're discrete enough you can make something like that work, but...no way I could ever do that. Knowing the Lord is basically pampering me like some kind of prize pet. I could never live with that.
Not to mention, I can only imagine what the Turquoise Lord would want in return. No way that comes cheap, even if its just some backwoods hick making the bargain. The lord gets something out of that arrangement beyond a disguised overlay, you can be sure of that.