| Domain: | Shadows, Visions, Dreams, Theft | |
| Symbol: | General: | A silver key entwined with ivy, the head of the key forming an open eye. |
| Thieves´ Sect | Skeleton Key | |
| Mages´ Sect | Open Eye | |
| Deity Alignment: | True Neutral | |
| Worshipers: | Any but LG & CE | |
Though a master of disguise who can and does change his appearance to suit his whim, Torodin is normally depicted as a slender and handsome, young man, with shoulder-length dark hair and shrewd dark eyes. He often sports a mischievous grin, and always wears dark clothing. He is the last born of the elder gods, and is said to closely resemble his equally mysterious brother, Othniel.
Torodin is considered to be among the most fun-loving of the elder gods, and few would argue that he is the most mischievous. The myths portray him as clever and perceptive, but possessing an excess of confidence in his own intellect that sometimes leads him astray. Torodin has no patience for ceremony and little respect for rules, and he craves attention. Charming as well as attractive, Torodin is a notorious womanizer. Though often shown as kind, affectionate, and willing to sacrifice for others, Torodin has a dark side as well. At times he shows no respect for the welfare of others, especially those who have done him wrong. Legends tell of Torodin committing great acts of evil -- whether because he believes it will lead to greater good or for less noble, personal reasons is sometimes difficult to tell. All in all, this creates an image of an unpredictable deity of many moods, leading some to regard him as untrustworthy.
The majority of those who come to Torodin's temples are those seeking interpretation of dreams and/or omens, and those who hope to glean knowledge of the future. Torodin´s most devout worshipers, however, are thieves, mages, and bards.
Torodin´s closest friend and most beloved companion among the pantheon is his brother Jvelto. Tales of their carousing, womanizing, and drinking binges abound, as well as tales that evince intense loyalty and affection between the two. Besides Jvelto, Torodin´s closest friends among the pantheon are Celestian, Remiére, and Oghma.
Torodin has friendly relations with both Wajen and Soltana. At times these relations have been quite intimate, at other times strained. Evidence shows, however, that Torodin is quite fond of Soltana, for whom he has made some sacrifices. Torodin seems to feel both respect and lust for Wajen, and the two share many children.
Torodin and Azkal almost seem like two typical adolescent brothers among mortals. The two always seem to be bickering, and yet they stick together through dire peril, and even risk their lives for one another on numerous occasions. Torodin teases Azkal relentlessly, and almost seems to enjoy making his brother lose his temper.
Torodin and Estereal, though brothers also, have a very different relationship. The two seem more like the stern father and the rebellious son. Torodin uses all of his powers and cunning to avoid Estereal´s lectures, long-winded speeches, and boring ceremonies. He resents Estereal´s constant attempts to instill unwanted discipline and feels that the older god´s adherence to needless rules gets in the way of doing what needs to be done. Torodin is loyal to his brother and grudgingly admits some affection for him, but he generally prefers to avoid Estereal´s rather tedious company.
Torodin´s relationship with Othniel is rather complicated. The two are sworn enemies, and Torodin has always blamed Othniel for the death of his beloved, Sylvana. However, Torodin bears great respect for Othniel´s cunning, and considers the Soultaker his only intellectual equal. Torodin is divided in his opinion of his evil brother -- at times he hates him passionately, but at others he actually enjoys Othniel´s company. Torodin has been known to visit Othniel in the Underworld, sometimes for a spirited game of chess, and sometimes to cooperate in secret enterprises. Torodin seems to find that Othniel´s company suits his darker moods.
Torodin´s opinion of Athelstan is more simple -- he despises him. He has never forgotten his near fatal beating at Athelstan´s hands. He considers his violent brother crass and thick-witted, and is passionately devoted to thwarting him at every opportunity.
The other deity for whom Torodin bears intense ill-will is his daughter by Soltana, the lovely Sharess. Torodin has never forgiven his selfish offspring for her part in the death of Sylvana, and despite numerous entreaties by Soltana, he refuses to even acknowledge his daughter´s existence.
Torodin attracts priests from a variety of backgrounds, but his disciples are predominated by the scholarly and the adventurous. Priests of Torodin tend to be brighter than average, curious, mischievous and fun-loving. Unlike many priesthoods, only about half of Torodin´s ordained priests came seeking this status and began as novitiates. Torodin, prankster that he is, often surprises his priests with sudden epiphanies. Many a priest of Torodin had planned another life-style when they suddenly founds themselves with an offer from the Shadowlord that was too good to refuse. Many of Torodin´s priests would have been thieves or mages if their god had not called to them, and others come from even more unusual backgrounds. All priests are encouraged to indulge their curiosity and to explore the visions given to them by the Shadowlord. Because of their unusual powers and their association with thieves, the priests of Torodin have a somewhat unsavory reputation in Hurva. Many see them as strange and/or untrustworthy, and they are perhaps the least respected among the major clerics.
Except for the two major temples in Istur and Tonn, which include both thief and mage sects, each church of Torodin is dedicated solely to one or the other. However, the over-arching foundation of every Torodinite church is prophecy, dreams and omens. In light of this, a church of Torodin is always a place of shadow and mystery. Worshipers are greeted by a silent, masked and robed priest, who provides them with a similar mask and robe to be worn at all times while in the temple. These magical robes and masks disguise the wearer and his voice, making every visitor look identical to any other. Even the priests are only distinguishable by their holy symbols. The sanctuary itself is always dark and lit only by a few candles, and all within tend to speak in hushed voices. This makes services not only mysterious and filled with portent, but also makes the sanctuary an ideal location for illicit meetings and deals. Other than the sanctuary, and sometimes the infirmary or library, all rooms in the temple, including priests´ living quarters, are off limits to visitors.
The church of Torodin is well structured and organized, with duties assigned to each priest, and yet an atmosphere of informality and brotherhood prevails. In many ways, the church structure is much like a family, with discipline tempered by affection. Because priests can not have families of their own, the leadership of the temples often act as parental figures, and the priests develop closer and more personal bonds than is common in most other churches. The church is devoted to exploring mysteries, understanding omens and prophecy, guarding thieves, and encouraging mages in the intelligent use of their powers. Priests of Torodin are charged as follows:
Trust in the shadows, for they shield the thief from prying eyes. Look closely into them, for Torodin´s own visions are made of the stuff of shadows. Respect their power, for they are the ore that mages forge into spells. Do not act hastily, but consider all sides of a problem -- divination upon divination, knowledge upon knowledge, and thought upon thought -- these are the tools which the priest of Torodin uses to shape the future according to the Shadowlord´s design.
As a thief once saved Torodin, so the disciples of the Nightwalker must guard and protect the thieves of the world. Never betray a thief to the law except in greatest need, and encourage the thief to sharpen his skills and survive by his wits, not by violence. Torodin is the friend of mages, and so disciples of the Shadowlord encourages mages to hone their art and use their powers inventively.
Be loyal to your brethren, for they are now your family -- your brothers and sisters, your parents and teachers, your children, your lovers and your friends. Serve Torodin with dedication and enthusiasm, learn your skills well and do your duty well. But remember Torodin´s own words -- there is always time to chase nymphs. Be not serious nor bound by rules and ceremony, but enjoy each day to its fullest. Drink without moderation, make love freely, sing loudly, and laugh often.
May you have luck in the shadows. May magic and mystery surround you. May your dreams be sharp and sweet.
High Priests of Torodin generally allow their charges a great deal of freedom, and daily activities are not strictly governed with a few exceptions. All priests not absent due to the pursuit of missions/visions are required to attend services and participate in holy day rituals. Each novitiate and priest, even the high priest, takes a turn as The Veil - the silent doorkeeper who provides visitors with the mandatory cloaks and masks that disguise their voice and appearance. Most important of the priest´s duties is to pay close attention to dreams and visions, which they are required to report to their leaders and act upon as deemed appropriate. Various other duties, such as assisting local thieves, maintaining the library, reading omens for visitors, and so forth are assigned to each priest according to ability and interest.
Priests are not required to live in the temple, though many do. All priests, regardless of duties, are allowed a great deal of free time, in which they are encouraged to pursue their own interests and socialize with their brethren. Though interests vary greatly among individual priests, most priests of Torodin enjoy parties, drinking, gambling, games (chess being a common favorite), and womanizing (Or chasing men, though women comprise less than twenty percent of the priesthood). Though perceived by the common Hurvan as carousers and trouble makers, priests of Torodin also enjoy intellectual pursuits -- many of Hurva´s great scholars are Torodinites. Almost all priests can read, and each one is granted facility with languages by Torodin. Knowledge is prized by Torodinites, a philosophy which makes them great friends of the priests of Oghma.
Most priests of Torodin are quite sociable, and they often form close friendships with other priests (particularly those of Jvelto, Oghma, Celestian, and Remiére), mages, bards and thieves. However, their closest ties are usually to each other. The clergy of a given temple tends to be a very close-knit group. Priests are very much aware of their less than exalted status among Hurva´s churches, and they tend to support and protect one another from the scorn and occasional abuse of those who mistrust them. They often become somewhat insular, with minimal involvement in the political and social affairs of the community at large. Exceptions to this are found, especially in Tonn and Istur, but even in these cases the church prefers to keep its involvement in outside affairs subtle. Events and people are influenced behind the scenes, allowing the air of mystery to remain.
Torodin has two major temples that comprise both sects - Strand´s Shadows (High Priests Donar Greylock and Silvio Vizzini) in Istur and The Tower of Mysteries in Tonn (High Priests Cassandra X´ian and Asher Darkmoor). Notable shrines to the mage´s sect are located in Geston and Dalwa. A large shrine to the thieve´s sect is located in Palk. Smaller shrines are sprinkled across Hurva, though many of those to the thieve´s sect are hidden from all but devoted worshipers.
Priests of Torodin obey strict guidelines regarding clothing. As noted, in the public places of the temples, priests wear magical robes and masks of midnight black with gray symbols that disguise their appearance. Outside of these areas, priests may wear any style of clothing, but the colors must always be black and/or gray. Exceptions to the color requirements are allowed only for disguises; priests who break this rule are punished unless it was done so against their will or in extreme need. This adherence to the priestly colors is considered a sign of unity among the church and loyalty to Torodin. The holy symbol for the thieve´s sect is a skeleton key or ring of keys made of a gray metal. The symbol for the mage´s sect is an open eye tattooed on both palms. In addition, in honor of Saint Tonn, priest of the mage´s sect always keep their heads covered in public. Priests of Torodin value unity, and do not dress differently according to rank, though novitiates may wear any color outside the temple.
