Kashtiliash
‘The Prince of Temptation’ - God of Temptation, Negotiation, Opposition, and Gambling
Description :
Kashtiliash first appeared as a robed man who came to those at difficult crossroads in their lives. To them Kashtiliash offered a deal, he would give them the power, tools, or skills to accomplish their greatest desire but, in return, they would serve him for eternity. With no lack of power hungry mortals, Kashtiliash soon developed quite a following. However, Kashtiliash’s theft of souls soon did not go unnoticed. The Grey King, in his quest to set the afterlife back in order, soon noticed the swath of souls that failed to enter his hall for judgement. Wrathful that one of the new gods would attempt to violate the cycle of life and death, the Grey King sent out his archangels to bring this truculent god before him. While Kashtiliash is full of cunning and plans, he is not a martial god, and so it was not long before he was brought before the Grey King in chains. Yet, before the Grey King could lay down his sentence, Kashtiliash thought of a way to save himself. He offered eternal service to the Grey King. The Grey King was taken aback by such a proposal and, yet, saw great merit in the request. Already the Grey King’s halls overflowed with the souls of the dead. With Kashtiliash’s pledge of fidelity, the Grey King knew that he could create realms of the afterlife over which he could task servants to watch and maintain. Kashtiliash became the first of such servants, prosecutor and prison warden for all that the Grey King judged to be wicked.
In recognition of Kashtiliash’s new dominion, the Grey King gifted him the Sceptre of Thorns. The sceptre is topped with the baleful red gaze of a sunburst but, along the handle of the sceptre, a multitude of thorns protrude. This is the Grey King’s reminder to Kashtiliash as well as all mortals - power is a double edged sword, the more you grasp for the more you will slowly bleed until the very thing you craved is your undoing.
Kashtiliash was always delighted by the risks mortal’s took to gain power and wealth. Seeking more entertainment he created his game, giving mortals their greatest desires while setting nigh impossible conditions on the gift. If they failed to meet his conditions, their soul was his. Kashtiliash thought he would have to give up his great game once he pledged himself to the Grey King. However, the Grey King encouraged him to continue for he saw Kashtiliash’s role as to test the mortals, to provide them with a catalyst. He was tasked to find those of the cusp of greatness or ruination and offer them a test between right and wrong or a great test of strength, skill, or knowledge. Many are broken on such challenges but, others find themselves and are strengthened in such adversity. Delighted, Kashtiliash continues his game, appearing before the desperate to offer his game. Thus, the Prince of Temptation was loosed on the mortal realm once more.