The Tome Of Drow Lore.pdf - RoseRed

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Additionally, vengeance holds a high place in drow society.
The drow are adept at noticing and remembering even
the smallest slight against them and while they prefer to
reciprocate immediately, they are capable of nurturing
thoughts of revenge for years, decades, sometimes even
centuries before finally striking. The drow savour revenge
as if it were the finest delicacy brought from the surface
world and some even consider it an art form.
Nazrakoth the Eternal Judge watches over and nurtures these
traits in the drow. He is harsh and uncaring for the plight
of his worshippers. His interests lie not in justice leavened
with mercy, but in dominance and unflinching punishment,
be it for the common thief caught pick pocketing or the
caustic noble on whom someone’s vengeance finally falls.
Religious Observances
The Avenging Fist is fond of pomp, circumstance and
sacrifice. His priests hold daily services in his honour, long
ceremonies complete with chanted hymns, incense, prayers
and offerings. These services often, but not always, include
the sacrifice of a sentient being to the Eternal Judge.
In conjunction with and at the pleasure of the Noble
Houses, Nazrakoth’s acolytes and clergy are often used as
law enforcement in drow cities. This role gives them easy
access to those sacrificial victims who would be
pleasing to Nazrakoth. In general, the greater
the crime of the victim, the more pleased the
Avenging Fist is with the sacrifice. The sacrifice
of a criminal can be carried out in any number of
ways, but most commonly the manner of death
chosen has some relation to the crime.
Temples
Temples of Nazrakoth tend to be squat, thickwalled,
forbidding structures. Due to the function
of the temple within society as the primary tool
of law enforcement, these temples are as much
courthouses and prisons as places of worship.
See page 27 for more information on law and
justice in drow society.
In the center of a temple to Nazrakoth is a
circular sanctuary used for worship and sacrifice.
Leading into this central area are hallways for
the use of priests and worshippers and anywhere
from two to six courtrooms in which prisoners
are tried and sentenced.
Clergy
The priests and priestesses of Nazrakoth seldom leave their
sombre temples, preferring to send the cult’s acolytes out
into the streets to enforce the law. They tend to come from
the lower rungs of the merchant class or the upper rungs
of the lower class. Service to the Eternal Judge is not
considered a fitting vocation for noble drow, though it is
not completely unknown for a well-born dark elf to devote
his life to Nazrakoth.
The majority of the priesthood and the acolytes have some
experience with combat, be it as a soldier or as a guard
and have the skills necessary to defend themselves against
criminals who would rather not be arrested.
The garb of priests and acolytes of Nazrakoth is severe
and simple, consisting of a black chain shirt over black
na’orsuin breeches and tunic. No member of Nazrakoth’s
clergy is ever seen unarmed.
Worshippers
Like the clergy, many worshippers of Nazrakoth are drawn
from the ranks of soldiers and guards. Guards in particular
are drawn to worship of the Eternal Judge, as every criminal
taken off the street makes their job that much easier.