Dietremen
Titles: Nightkeeper, Shadowmaster
Domain: Secrets, Night, the Moon
Symbol: A crescent moon
Sphere Granted: Dark
Dietremen is the god/goddess of the night and the secrets it contains. Dietremen is the fly on the wall, the bat in the night sky, the protective darkness to those who wish to be hidden. She claims control over the moon and calls it her home, using its power to chase the sun from the sky and create shadow for her followers to thrive in. To Dietremen’s faithful, darkness is not something to be feared. It is a comforting shield behind which one can vanish safely. Thieves and spies are not the only followers of Dietremen; there are also those who use the moonlight, fear the sun or simply desire solitude. As such, werecreatures and their like who do not follow Sybil the Huntress often fall under the protection of the Shadowmaster, as do many surface dwelling Dark Elves that do not wish to worship Raze or suffer the debilitating effects of the sun.
The Nightkeeper deals in secrets and his followers should work to obtain them by any means necessary. They are the currency with which her favoured can obtain power and position in her name. The use of coercion, threats and even violence are all acceptable methods of prying secrets from non-worshipers and, while the worship of Dietremen is not secret in and of itself, many worshipers choose to keep their faith to themselves to further Dietremen’s goals and, perhaps, increase their lifespan.
Dietremen has no known churches, but it is common for high ranking priests to gather the faithful together under the varying stages of the moon to perform her dark mass. When and where these rites take place is a closely guarded secret.
Contents
Appearance
Dietremen’s appearance has been called monstrous. While she is slight of build and feminine in form, he presents himself as both male and female. In truth, her visage is more horror than humanoid. She wears no clothing or armour and, rather than flesh, her body is a swirling mass of void and shadow whose surface is betrayed only by the pinprick light of hundreds of stars. Dietremen’s face, if it can be called that, is terrifyingly devoid of features. Straight through the center of her head, where his eyes, nose and mouth should be, her ‘flesh’ has been removed, leaving in its place a large hole. Suspended in its center, seemingly attached to nothing, floats a glowing crescent moon. He wields no known weapons and does not engage in combat, instead opting to walk into shadow, disappearing without a trace.
Tenets
Five things a Dietremen follower should do:
1. Amass and collect secrets. They are the currency of the Shadowmaster and are to be bartered for leverage and power.
2. Strive to cultivate a network of spies. Society’s ignored have eyes in every shadow. See through them.
3. Always seek to infiltrate the places near positions of power. Poison to the ear often wields more power than the crown and ring.
4. Use guile and manipulation to achieve your goals. A clever secret whispered to the right person can incite the mob so you do not have to be the mob.
5. All those that draw power from the moon draw power from Dietremen. Bring them into her shadow’s embrace.
Five things a Dietremen follower should not do:
1. Betray a secret without gain. Those with loose lips should find themselves with open throats.
2. Betray the secrets and rites of the Nightkeeper or his followers. You need not afford them protection or even suffer their existence, but their secrets are Dietremen’s.
3. Expose more than a shadow of your person, plans or motives. Hide everything from everyone, including those within the Church.
4. Fail to sacrifice a worthy secret to the Shadowmaster under the light of each full moon. That secret should never be spoken or betrayed. It is your gift to her.
5. Get caught! If your secrets are stolen it is considered a betrayal. If your secrets cannot be retrieved then accept the fate delivered by the favoured of her church