Jancassis
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| Ethos | "All the old knives / That have rusted in my back / I drive in yours." - Adrienne Rich |
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| Domains | Liberation, Trickery |
| Prestige Classes | Avenger, Stinger |
| Holy Days | Days of total eclipse |
| Sacrifices | A venomous creature is consumed, its body broken to release its poison, bringing further stillness to the body. Time spent in sensory deprivation, or learning. |
| Favored Weapon | Whip: No weapon symbolises punishment like the whip. Clerics of Jancassis gain proficiency in the whip - the same weapon wielded by their deity in mortal form. |
[Jancassis is not available for PCs to worship]
The power and allure of Jancassis is built on that all-powerful desire for vindication: revenge. Vengeance is like the polarizing elements of fire and ice, forged together like tempered steel. Heat, born of outrage and anger, rises to meet the winter chill of conviction, planning and execution. What begins as a polite dance, ends in a the masterstroke of revenge -- two extremes, intertwined like a double helix -- strong, powerful, and usually deadly.
Jancassis brings forth revenge on those who deserve it and punishes those who break their oaths. She rights the wrongs that are too controversial or mundane for Pantheon to deal with, and represents the great need of those who suffer at the hand of others to have vengeance. She avenges those who cannot avenge themselves. She strikes fear and terror into wrongdoers. She is a deterrent to those who would cause -- by choice, and with pleasure -- pain and suffering to others. She is the wielder, as some see it -- of the ultimate "wild" justice.
Jancassis is patroned by the majority of evil Drow societies throughout the Wold. Those who worship her give her total reverence, and her tenets dominate their lives.
Contents
The God of Revenge
Godly Powers
Jancassis has the ability to inspire resoluteness in any task of retribution, so that a wavering hand becomes steady, a doubtful mind becomes strong and immune to any distraction.
Appearance
Mortal Form -- Tall, long limbed and curvaceous, Jancassis appears imposingly clad in black leather, her black hair tightly braided, her expression always solemn, her eyes cold. A sharp snap in the air, followed by a sudden, painful sting on the flesh, announces the presence of the invisible whip she always carries.
Avatar Form -- An eight-limbed female, her face as white as snow, her body as black as night and as smooth as a snake. A red hourglass adorns her torso, a long scorpion-like tail curves behind her, its sting dripping with venom. Her expression is always that of a hunter, alert with deadly menace. Her limbs and tail are usually arched, ready, waiting to pounce.
Divine Form -- An elegant, deadly creature -- matte-black, part spider, part snake, part scorpion. One limb clutches an hourglass filled with red sand. On closer inspection, each grain of sand becomes the head of a wrong-doer, whose time is quickly running out.
Worship
The two types of Jancassis Clerics are named Stingers or Reckoners. Worship is intensively meditative, as clerics seek to become one with their Goddess -- able to deliver her will, strike without pause or regret, and never falter or succumb to forgiveness and second thoughts. This is done in secretive, quiet gatherings amongst a few of Jancassis's worshippers, or solely, in a quiet, dark place. The decision to become a follower of Jancassis should not be taken lightly, and often cruel initiations are invoked to weed out those not able to cope with all it entails.
Holy Symbol
Black and red spider, scorpion, or snake -- or a black and red double helix.
Priests' Appearance
Clerics of Jancassis dress in dark colours, predominantly black with a touch of red. Regardless of their physical shape, they move with an uncanny and elegant grace. Their demeanor is dependant on how they have chosen to serve their goddess, but there is always an underlying seriousness to them, for they are enactors of revenge, their deeds sending a solemn message to those who would plan to do wrong. Some of them wear tattoos -- a black and red venomous creature of their own choice, or a black and red double helix. Some clerics choose to dye their hair black, and wear it tightly braided in homage to their goddess.
Clerics in Society
Clerics of Jancassis tend to keep a low profile. They watch, and they wait. They will often be present at gatherings, but never at the center of things -- always at the edge, observing, judging, using the will and teachings of their goddess for guidance.
There are two types of Jancassis clerics known as The Two Paths. Stingers are the most socially accepted path of Jancassis clerics, often bringing laughter and relief from minor oppressions, nipping things in the bud with a little humiliation to a bully, or petty thief. The Reckoners path is the most feared -- often delivering the worst vengeance imaginable.
Her clerics are aware that the need for revenge arrives along many paths, and delivery of it can take as many forms as there are types of people. Many widows, orphans, victims of bullying, aggrieved lovers, cheated merchants, dethroned kings, and others desire revenge rather than justice. Some still desire revenge after justice has been served. Jancassis herself has said, “The snakes of blessed revenge grow slowly into a white hot fire that desires tit for tat and eye for an eye. Such justified revenge demands tattered reputations, spilled blood, cleverly planned vendettas, cruel and prolonged torture, until that becomes all encompassing and morals are forgotten.”
Clerics of Jancassis can embrace all of these -- they act, they incite, empowering victims, delivering death.
Some clerics can be beneficial to society, advising and teaching those who would call on Jancassis to stand and look at the future consequences and fruits of their actions. They teach that all patrons of Jancassis must realize that once the path of vengeance has been taken, it is usually irrevocable, and always involves loss. The Goddess, which is their name for her, should never be invoked lightly, on a whim.
Other clerics are not beneficial, fanning the flames of the victims of life. They encourage those who might well have thought to leave their enemies unpunished to do otherwise. In political and economic matters, Jancassis’ priests can provide guidance, warning of actions that might provoke wrath from other parties. LIkewise, they may know a rival's weakest spot -- where to hit hardest, enabling the aggrieved bring him to his knees.
Clerics of Jancassis are rarely seen in large groups, more likely in ones and twos, and often in the form of a master/mistress and an apprentice. There is no formal arrangement in this relationship, although the apprentice will always defer to the Master. This informal paring exists so that information and teachings can be passed from one to another, for there is indeed a lot to learn. Some train in martial arts, stealth, methods of pain, and torture. Others study to become masters of politics, law, economics, and statesmanship.
History and Relationships
Much of Jancassis’ recorded history has been lost during the Cataclysms. It is known that she was one of the original Serenbeth Sisters along with Serenbeth, Jantierri, and Karinthis. She is the only one to be recreated after the Year of Ascension, with her joining the Gods of Testing. Her sister Serenbeth has recently been resurrected, however. She is said to have a good working relationship with Ga’al, helping him to plan his attempts to regain power and vengeance upon the citizens of Aisildur rejected him. She also has advised other gods with their plans for power and vengeance upon those who have wronged them.
When Marteaus was defeated by his brother Kevintar, Jancassis quickly acted. She appeared and struck Marteaus with her divine form stinger, further weakening him, but also freeing him from Kevintar’s paralyzing touch. She then stole the Fire Ring of Ascension, increasing her power. It is thought by some that she was involved in the murder of Caeroldra, possibly teaming up with Ga’al. The result of all this was that the Gods of Testing dissolved and Jancassis is now an Independent God increasing her power and influence somewhat due to possessing the Fire Ring of Ascension.
