Temples of the Outskirt Camp of Yam

The Gold House (Lawful)
Located next to the Goods Bazaar, the Gold House is the temple of Ophurton the Master of Profits. It's wall are of pyrite block and the roof is painted gold. Money changers congregate in the temple and will buy gold and gems for full price while charging 5% for exchanging coinage; there is also a bank with free withdrawals but a 10% charge on deposit, they will not store anything but currency.

The Iron House (Lawful)
Located next to the Mercenary Post, the Iron House is a temple of both Eitor the Father of Soldiers and Vaikhal the Inexorable Iron Wheel, this squat ugly trapezoidal building is of rust red sandstone with massive valves roughly forged from swords and armor.
The offices and barracks of the Mercenary Brotherhood are located in the Iron House where Mercenary Officer may be solicited for employ; as well there are smithies where skilled weapon and armor smiths can make custom items; the temple will buy magic weapons and armor; and there is also an infirmary where the following services are available:
cure blindness 1,000 gp
cure disease 1,000 gp
cure light wounds 100 gp
sure serious wounds 350 gp
cure critical wounds 600 gp
neutralize poisonn 1,000 gp
raise dead 4,500 gp
regenerate 15,000 gp

An Algol Legend of the Inchoate Aeons

After the Great Old Ones had been driven out of the universe the Lords of Light began making order out of the inchoate matter and energy that swirled in the aftermath of that great battle.

Eventually Metazon devised the varied elements of the universe and set the Lords of Light to crafts his great work. First the stars and suns; than the worlds; than oceans and skies; than slimes, molds, algae and protozoa; than plants; than beasts; and finally Man.

When devising Man Metazon had planned out his body and soul, but desired a means to instruct and command Man and thus invented Language. The Lords of Light were tired from building the stars, worlds, oceans, slimes, plants, beasts, and the body and soul of Man, and thus Metazon was merciful and instructed some of the beasts to assemble Language.

He commanded the Monkeybats to craft words, for they were clever and had mouth-parts like that of Man.


He commanded the Flying Lizards to gather the wind to power the words for they were the most masterful of the winds among beasts.

Finally he commanded the Chitinous Fliers to assemble the components and program Language, for they were industrious and precise in their works.

However, one of the Chitinous Fliers, some say a fly; some say a winged myriapod; some say a disguised Mi-Go; and some say a demon named Baelzebub, worked a curse into Language while assembling it. This curse subverted Language and allowed Man to Lie.

Arch-Hierophants of Metazon

The diverse sects dedicated to Metazon scattered across Algol are usually lead by one of these nigh-immortal cyborgs, comprised of a towering, athletic body with two heads and pairs sets of arms, the lower of which is usually far less muscular.

These beings are manufactured by grafting the head and arms of a high-ranking Hierophant of Metazon that is a powerful mind wizard, sage or sorcerer, onto the body of a mighty warrior, usually volunteers from the ranks of the Zealot of Metazon, although exceptions are made for exceptional available specimens. Such warriors that are unwilling or that become troublesome are usually lobotomized and conditioned to serve to the Hierphant-head's will.

Rumors speak that these Arch-Hierophants are further conditioned via the implanting of fragments of the divine essense of Metazon itself into both brains.

Musing About Religion Without Clerics

In my Planet Algol campaign there are no clerics. There are Hierophants, Priests, High Priests, Priest-Kings, Shamans, and the like. But no "Divine" casters....I haven't been down with The Cleric archetype in Swords & Sorcery for a while (Too much of a Moses crossed with a medieval Templar thing going on). And having no "Divine" magic helps keeps the nature of Algol's universe and metaphysics mysterious, ambiguous, weird.

However, while thinking about the cults and religious organizations of The Lords of Light and The Lords of Change of Algol, I started musing about the advantages of belonging to such an organization.

And a solution struck me...oldschool (1st ed?) Runequest. Initiates, Lay Members, "Rune Priests," "Rune Lords," Cult Magic, POW (experience point?) sacrifices. (Coincidentally, for a while now I've been musing about how Runequest presents an opportunity for a plug-in skill system for OD&D...)

Hm, from what I've read of the Fomalhaut campaign reports, it's possible that Gabor Lux may have incorporated similar mechanics in his campaign? I'm certainly inspired by his “Wow, these guys are a bunch of assholes.'” approach to deities.

More on this later, I've got some Runequest to read and some cult write-ups to mash out.

Metazon...Father of the Universe

I just finished the Long Sun series, and I can't stop ripping off being inspired by the mystical future depicted by Gene Wolfe.

Among the worshipers of the Lords of Light, despite the Heterodoxy of Algol Man religion, one deity is widely regarded as "The Father of the Universe, The Father of the Gods of Law, and the Maker of Man," Metazon. Metazon is usually depicted as a tall, muscular man with two heads or faces, one handsome, intelligent and arrogant looking; the other either possessing the blank gaze and facial characteristics of a imbecile or cadaverous and dead. An alternate depiction of Metazon possesses a long, knotted scaly tail; hooves; a pair of wings covered with flaming eyes; and two long-necked, hairy, horned, animalistic heads resembling that of an Earth goat. Often one of the goat heads will be rotting and even lifeless. Lawful theology claims that Metazon is the master of the creation of the universe, time, the great cycle and the destiny of Man. He is often worshiped or invoked by aristocrats (especially monarchs), mystics, sages, and sorcerers, as well as the poor and weak who grovel for his mercy. Those who revere Metazon often refer to the future as "The Great Work of Metazon," with implications that all has been predetermined by him.

Sunday Surreality - Xaxx The Watcher

Xaxx the Watcher is a a figure in the theological legends of the Lawful religions. Depicted as a seervitor or aspect-filament of Tothet, Xaxx is said to be a holy warrior that can detect evil, is resistant to sorcery, and can cast the extraworldly servants of Chaos out of Algol. The Watcher carries a massive holy flaming sword, a magic telescope which can detect evil at great distances, and is clad is shining silvery full articulated plate armor.

As depicted in scriptures The Watcher never speaks, instead using gestures and it's pupil to communicate. It's archetypal pose is pointing at finger (at evil), with it's pupil contracted and angry looking.

Algolian Deities - Iashar and Vaikhal

IASHAR - The Haunter of Desolate Places and Piper of Madness
Depicted vaguely as a loathsome, elongated, malformed, mottled, capering figure with phosphorescent eyes , Iashar is said to haunt the wastes of Algol. Tales speak of a distant atonal, reedy, whistling piping heard at night in such regions. This piping is reputed to induce panic and eventual madness and is attributed to Iashar. The hopelessly mad wretches and reavers that wander the wastelands are said to be his followers.


VAIKHAL - The Inexorable Iron Wheel
Vaikhul is depicted as an unspeakably massive towering iron spiked wheel; the cruel blade-like spikes that stud it's tread are clotted with debris, mangled metal and clotted bodies and blood. Vaikhal embodies methodical, merciless slaughter and destruction and is the patron of those that exterminate hostile nonhumans and other threats to Lawful men and civilization.

Tothet and Zaixul

Tothet - Custodian of the Celestial Vault
Depicted as a column of silvery light with a single fiery eye; in Lawful theology Tothet is credited with casting the Great Old Ones out of the physical universe and into the Outer Dark at the dawn of time. Tothet embodies the rational universe; it's physical laws; and it's structural integrity and is the patron of astronomers and physicists. Tothet is symbolized by a blazing, burning sword.

Zaixul - Whisperer of Cunning, Treachery and Upheaval
The patron of plots and traitors, Zaixul works to destroy legitimate authority and civilization. Legends speak of it tearing down Lawful societies by inducing multiple complex, craven betrayals; eventually inducing violent, chaotic upheavals that devolve cultures into nihlistic, destructive mockeries of their former civilization. Zaixul is depicted as lurking in the shadows, a dusty, thin indistinct figure shrouded in gauzy grey tatters.