Xenon

From The Seven Cities

Xenon
Title(s)	Bloodfang, Primal Fury
Home Plane	The Abyss
Symbol	A blood soaked fang
Colors	Black
Philosophy	Anarchy
Portfolio	Lycanthropy, Savagery, Bloodlust
Worshippers Philosophy	Ego, Anarchy
Cleric Philosophy	Anarchy
Domains	Evil, Animal

“Civilization is simply the veneer used to tame and manipulate the truth of people. We are all savage, brutish and bloodthirsty at heart. Some are able to clothe this nature in the name of civilization, causing pain and suffering by stripping others of their natural right to live as free and primal as an animal. We tear down that veneer we reject that barrier and we rend it limb from limb with our claws, our jaws and our fury.” –Veldon Bloodclaw, The Moonlit Wastes

Xenon the Bloodfang is the first of the lycanthropes and seeks to spread his affliction across Avlis. His is a creed of bloodlust and savagery, unrestrained by reason or thought. His followers are known as bloodthirsty and cruel, giving into their most basic animal lusts and it is for this reason Xenon's worship is one of the most actively hunted faiths on Avlis, tolerated by very few and accepted by even fewer.

Contents 1 History 2 Precepts 3 Relations with Other Deities 4 Worshippers 5 Dogma

History

Legends hold that Xenon was the first lycanthrope to arrive on Avlis. His arrival was early, predating even the creation of the first mortal races. Some speculate that he was one of the Negerai's mad experiments, while others believe he traveled to the Prime with the demons that accompanied the Negerai. All that is known for certain is that Xenon and Lycanthropy have been present since the dawn of history.

During the Age of Immortals, Xenon actively worked to spread his faith on Avlis and was known to have ascended to lesser god. The recklessness of his followers and the overt nature of his ambition led to a concerted effort by the mortal races of Avlis to hunt down and destroy lycanthropes, which eventually reduced him back to Demi-God. Since that first failed attempt to gain ascendance, Xenon has been more cautious with his efforts, and he has worked to simply increase the number of lycanthropic races on Avlis, one step at a time.

Precepts

Xenon believes that deep down there is no difference between the mortal races and of animals. The gift of lycanthropy strips away the structures and powers that are used by others to forcibly restrain the innate savagery of mortal races. It is the spread of lycanthropy with the accompanying destruction of mortal systems of governance, liberating individuals to be in tune with their primal savagery that Xenon hopes to accomplish.

For Xenon and his followers, reason is simply another leash wielded by both the gods and mortals to keep the innate core of an individual in check. Appeals to reason, often made by society are simply there to dampen the natural savagery of the individual, by placing burdens and restrictions on behavior. Xenonites believe that lycanthropy, by literally and figuratively transforming an individual into an animal brings them closer to the natural state of individuals: savage, brutal and deadly.

This exaggerated state of nature, where everyone is at one another's throats, and answering the simplest passions such as greed, lust and hunger is the ultimate goal of Xenonites. They see nothing beautiful or tranquil about nature, choosing to stress its brutality and swift retribution. Strength is above all to be cherished, for nothing else ensures survival in this savage definition of nature. Natural strength is the strength of the predator, and it is through hunting weaker prey that Xenonites affirm their place as the liberated and enlightened of the world.

Relations with Other Deities

Xenon's beliefs, which hold that no one should be beholden to anyone else, even the gods, finds little sympathy with the rest of the Pantheon. Even Maleki finds the influence of Xenon too disruptive, and as a consequence, he is the one god on Avlis that almost every member of the Pantheon believes should be eradicated. Only Wilsash does not follow this world view. Instead they hold in common the shared values of a world or truth more important than those peddled by the Nine, and the influence of the moon upon their followers uniting the two gods.

Worshippers

By necessity, Xenon's worshippers remain out of the public eye. There is no openly acknowledged Church of Xenon, and when the cults to lycanthropy appear, they are ruthlessly suppressed by the governing authority of a region. Xenonites in general behave like pack animals, hunting in groups and a hierarchy based upon who is the strongest. These packs consist of a single type of lycanthrope, and it is only true lycanthropes that are allowed in the ranks. Afflicted lycanthropes very often do not survive long enough to become a worthwhile member of the pack, and their actions often bring down the wrath of the local community, making them a liability.

Dogma

Give into the call of the wild. There is no truth but the one that we are all animals. All save the ways of nature are simply restraints wielded by others, god and mortal alike to enslave you. Savagery and blood are the only means to achieving true independence, a return to the proper world of nature. Caution is vital, for survival is the highest end in nature, and the unenlightened will seek to destroy your defiance at every turn.