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Cadic bears the title of the Dark Hand of Illiir, performing those tasks that are necessary but distasteful to the King of the Gods. He also acts as the patron to thieves, spies and assassins as well as to musicians, bards and artisans.

Many outsiders view this as incongruous, for these domains have little to do with one another, yet Cadic’s adherents see them as merely two sides of the same coin. In a world of darkness and brutal, cold efficiency, the soul must be nurtured and given respite or else madness will surely take them over the edge of the abyss.

During the Mythic Age when the Gods were young, Cadic fell in love with the beautiful maiden, Larissa. He tried to woo Her, but His dark demeanor frightened Her.

Finding the Goddess alone by a stream, He fashioned a lyre and hidden, sang songs and created such beautiful music that bared His soul, that She fell in love with the Lord of Shadows. And that is how Cadic became the God of Song and Music.

Holy Symbol: A disc of polished obsidian. Abstractly Cadic's symbol is darkness but this is hard to use so a black disk is the common symbol among his preists and assassions.

Position within the Pantheon: Dark Hand of Illiir. Husband to Larissa, Son of Beltine and Neroth, Father to Sarish.

Favored Weapon: Short Bow, “Silent Death”

Animal: Black Dog

Color: Black

Appearance: Cadic can appear as a charming young man with a roguish smile but icy eyes that can petrify with but a glance. But most commonly he walks among men in his cloak of shadows appearing as an apparition shrouded in darkness.



Sphere of Influence

Though the worship of Cadic is widespread throughout the Known Lands, it is concentrated in the val’Borda lands in the south of the Coryani Empire, primarily within the province of Annonica. The province’s capital, Plexus, is the site of one of the oldest and most influential temples to Cadic, the Temple of Shadows.

Contrary to popular belief, the temples of Cadic have very little influence in the Theocracy of Canceri. Small temples and shrines exist to the Lord of Shadows, but nothing rivaling that of the primary deities venerated within the theocracy. Milandir, on the other hand, has the large Temple of the Divine Choir in Naeraanth. This temple honors Cadic as the Lord of Epics and Song.



Temple

Temples to Cadic come in two basic forms, those that venerate His aspect of the Lord of Shadows or as the patron of assassins and thieves. Temples to these aspects tend to be small structures above ground with an extensive labyrinthine area below. The structures above ground tend to be unimposing affairs with a central tower that extends high above the temple. In this tower is a bell that is used to summon the faithful to services. It is also rung at dusk, that moment of twilight when it is neither day or night.

Temples focusing on Cadic’s aspect as patron of bards and performers are large ostentatious buildings with a large central chamber acting as much as a concert hall as a place of worship. Besides being a place of devotion, the temple also trains some of the world’s most talented musicians and singers. The very greatest of these songsters are chosen to attend the Coryani Emperor in the Valinoric Choir. This group serenades him, striving to soothe his troubled brow with their melodies.


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Role of the Priest

Feared and looked upon with trepidation, the priesthood of Cadic is spoken of infrequently and in hushed tones if at all. All priests are rumored to be equal parts thief and assassin, mercenary in their ways and with the heart of a cold-blooded killer. Interestingly, it is most often those in positions of power that having tasted their particular brand of justice, most often hiss these aspersions.

The commoners have a very different opinion of these clerics. They see the priests as the great equalizers and sometimes their only avenue to pursue justice against those who have wronged them. A shopkeeper whose competitor damaged his business, the wife brutalized by her husband, or the freeman who feels he has been wronged by a noble all turn to the priests of Cadic for justice. The supplicants enter a small booth within the temple and whisper their complaint, afterwards making an offering or tithe to the temple. If the cleric listening feels there is merit in the supplicant’s grievance, they will investigate the charges.

If found to be true, the offender may find himself beaten brutally, see his own shop burned down or in the most extreme cases, disappear.

Care must be practiced when bringing such matters to the attention of the temple for if the priest discovers that the supplicant is complicit or has himself committed wanton acts of injustice or cruelty, his punishment will be even more severe.

Nobles, the wealthy and those in positions of power are loathe to call upon the services of the priesthood as most have as many skeletons in their closets as their opponents.

Such people must also maintain the appearance of power and control. Calling upon assistance on what is considered to be the province of the lower class would ruin their reputation beyond repair. Nevertheless, nobles and others in positions of power frequently use the priests of Cadic as facilitators and middlemen, calling upon them to either gather information or to hire those needed to accomplish the patron’s needs.


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