The Veiled One, Misfortune
Category: The Recalcitrant
Areas of Concern: Trade, Secrets, Deception, Shadows, Cunning
The faith of Valdros is not centralized like the churches of more overt gods. Instead, it is a web of hidden sects, secretive guilds, and merchant cabals, each loosely connected through shared rites, whispered codes, and clandestine meetings. There is no singular high priest, but rather a council of unseen figures known as The Faceless Syndicate, who guide the faith from the shadows. Their identities are hidden even from one another, and they communicate through intermediaries, veiled missives, and coded messages.
Local temples, called Veiled Houses, appear to outsiders as anything but places of worship—often disguised as trade halls, neutral grounds for negotiation, or even dens of intrigue. These places serve as both sanctuaries and markets of secrets, where knowledge is currency, and favors are often more valuable than gold.
The clergy of Valdros take on titles that reflect their skills and roles within the faith:
Shrouded Whisperers – Priests who serve as intermediaries, messengers, and manipulators, ensuring that knowledge is gathered and spread subtly. They often operate behind the scenes, guiding mortals to decisions they do not realize they are making.
Coinhands – Those who specialize in trade and mercantile dealings, acting as financial advisors, smugglers, and black-market brokers for both the faithful and the powerful. They ensure the faith’s influence spreads through wealth and commerce.
Maskbearers – Enforcers of Valdros’ edicts, assassins, spies, and master deceivers who uphold the god’s will. Their masks, enchanted to shift their appearance, symbolize that identity is fluid, and truth is often just another illusion.
Keepers of the Ledger – Archivists and loremasters who hoard ancient knowledge, hidden truths, and forgotten secrets. They understand that some knowledge is best kept obscured until the time is right.
All clergy wear masks or veils in ritual settings, concealing their true faces to emphasize that identity is secondary to action. In public, they often operate under false names, blending seamlessly into society.
Seek advantage in every trade, whether in goods, secrets, or influence.
Never reveal all you know; knowledge hoarded is power secured.
Honor deals made in true faith, but exploit those who trust too easily.
Wear a veil, mask, or token of obscurity when conducting your most crucial dealings.
Expose a valuable secret without purpose or benefit.
Be deceived in a bargain or trade without attempting to turn it to your advantage.
Swear an oath you do not intend to keep.
The faithful of Valdros are diverse, ranging from cunning merchants and spies to thieves, informants, and diplomats. Many operate within society’s shadows, using their god’s teachings to gain an edge in business, politics, and intrigue. Their goals vary, but all follow the core tenets of Valdros:
Master the Art of the Deal – Whether in trade, politics, or personal affairs, a worshipper of Valdros always seeks the upper hand. They manipulate circumstances to their benefit, ensuring that they never leave a transaction at a loss.
Control Information, Control the World – Knowledge is the greatest weapon. Followers of Valdros learn to gather, protect, and exploit secrets. They seek out hidden truths, using them as leverage to gain influence over others.
Influence Without Being Seen – True power does not come from direct confrontation but from pulling strings behind the scenes. Many of Valdros' followers work as advisors, negotiators, or spies, subtly guiding events from the shadows.
Weave a Web of Favor and Debt – The faithful understand that relationships are transactions. They ensure that others owe them, so that when the time comes, they can collect their due.
Never Show Your Full Hand – Transparency is a weakness. Followers of Valdros are masters of deception, withholding information and revealing only what serves their interests.
Long before the gods claimed dominion over the mortal realms, the world was a place of unbridled chaos, where might alone dictated law. In this age of raw power, those who could not wield strength were doomed to be ruled, crushed beneath the weight of brute force. The first gods arose from the primordial battles—lords of war, fire, and storms—shaping the world through conquest. But amidst this storm of power, something unseen was stirring.
It is said that Valdros did not emerge as the other gods did. No great battle announced his arrival, nor did his presence shake the heavens. Instead, he was simply there, as if he had always been—a shadow between the cracks of reality, a whisper in the minds of the mighty. Legends tell that he was not born but made, forged from the first bargain ever struck and the first lie ever told.
The tale speaks of a time when the early gods warred over dominion, each seeking to carve their own empire. Two great deities, Vorthos the Unyielding and Xethra the Wrathful (see Vexhoth), sought an alliance to crush their mutual enemies. They met in secret, swearing an oath upon the very fabric of existence itself. Their words were sacred, bound by divine law, and neither dared break them. Yet when the battle came, both gods found themselves betrayed—each believing the other had deceived them.
It was then that Valdros revealed himself, stepping from the shadow between their words, clad in a veil that shimmered like illusion. He laughed, a sound like rustling parchment and shifting coin, and spoke:
"You swore upon words you did not fully understand. I did not deceive you—only let you deceive yourselves."
Both gods, furious yet unable to deny the cleverness of his trick, sought to strike him down. But Valdros was already gone, leaving behind only doubt and discord. Their armies collapsed into infighting, and their power waned, while the unseen god of secrets grew stronger.
In time, mortals came to know him in many forms—the unseen broker of deals, the masked informant, the whisper that changes fate. He weaves himself into the fabric of the world not through might, but through subtlety. He is the god of those who understand that power is not always about strength, but about knowledge, leverage, and timing.
Even now, Valdros remains a mystery among gods. Some whisper that he still walks the mortal world in disguise, playing his endless game of deception, trade, and secrets, guiding those cunning enough to listen. For to know Valdros is to know that the greatest power is not in what is seen, but in what is hidden.
A black veil draped over a silver mask, with one eye subtly open.
Divine Attribute: Intelligence, Charisma
Divine Font: Harm or Heal
Divine Sanctification: Can Choose Holy or Unholy
Divine Skill: Deception
Favored Weapon: Dagger
Domains: Darkness, Trickery, Wealth
Alternate Domains: Ambition, Secrecy, Fate, Cities
Cleric Spells:
1st: Illusory Disguise
2nd: Silence
4th: Honeyed Words
6th: Mislead