Reprint: Goddess of the Night, Shar

Symbol: A pair of flickering purple eyes outlined against the darkness, with pitch-black pupils, or a cloak of an assassin enveloped in shadows

Shaar enjoys plotting schemes and manipulating others. Her life philosophy makes it easy for Moando and Kesa to join her conspiracies. She often toys with Targus using her beauty, conveniently inciting him to do whatever she wishes him to do

Members of the church are immersed in secrecy, with each unit of the church consisting of a single pastor and a small group of followers under their command, engaging in small group activities. There may be many pastors operating clandestinely within the same area; although they may be aware of each other and assist one another, they still work independently. Thus, even if one unit encounters failure, the others can continue to thrive undisturbed.

The followers of Shar are strictly prohibited from profiting for themselves or acting independently without the guidance and supervision of the goddess. They must not engage with the followers of good deities unless it is for business dealings or to corrupt their faith and bring them into the embrace of Shar. The followers of Shar must not openly oppose the clergy of the goddess, nor interrupt the rituals dedicated to her for any reason

Titles: Mistress of Night, Lady of Loss, Night Singer, Daughter of the Unseen, Dark Betrayer, Shadow Temptress

In churches and temples, the goddess is always depicted as a tall woman with purple eyes and black pupils, or painted as a stunning beauty with purple or black skin and flowing black hair, wrapped in a barely noticeable cloak that makes her appear to merge with the surrounding shadows or darkness. Her lips often bear a cold smile, and in her unforgettable amethyst-like eyes, there are pupils as dark as night.

Since the initial war with her sister Suren, which continues to this day, the domain of the goddess Shaer has gradually expanded. She has acquired domains of hidden suffering, meticulously planned torment, and quiet vengeance for trivial matters. Due to the severe distortion of the goddess Shaer's concepts, she has a particular preference for hidden secrets, under-the-table dealings, and various forms of deception and excuses. She treats all her followers as pawns, using them to annihilate everything of the past, present, and future. The Lady of the Night has constructed a shadow magic network filled with corrupt magical energy using the void and the madness of secrets, infusing it with her cunning and alluring powerful force.

The Church of Shaar is primarily composed of underground units hetushu.com. The clergy of the church do not have a distinct uniform. Similarly, the church has a covertly extensive and complex organization, where all the clergy of each independent sect are under the command of higher-ranking members. A senior priest is responsible for overseeing a large area, and each member of the sect (including humans and humanoid beings) has a unique name known only to themselves (these personal names are specially bestowed by Shaar, and they strive to promote Shaar's will to demonstrate their loyalty and earn this name)

Adventurer Attire: The priests of Shaar typically wear local fashionable clothing in their daily lives. They favor jewelry such as obsidian, black agate, amethyst, and purple jade, although wearing them is not mandatory. When entering areas that may be hostile, they don armor and take appropriate protective measures

Suren is her arch-enemy, and an unending battle persists between the two.

The hatred of Shaar towards Surun similarly affects the relationship between the two churches. In the regions where the Shaar Church holds significant power, religious wars and assassination attempts against the Surun Church can be said to be quite common. The fact that the Shaar Church has been able to maintain such a small scale is also one of the byproducts of this eternal conflict. Many followers have sacrificed their lives in these holy wars and acts of vengeance against the Surun believers

Introduction

Daily Affairs: The clerics of Shaar appear to prefer pursuing practical and limited goals to promote the development of the church and the spread of faith, rather than openly opposing other beliefs (except for that of Surun). Shaar aims to instigate various illegal activities and conflicts among the populace to undermine the social foundation. In this way, the vast majority of those who suffer losses will seek her solace—especially through means of revenge—thereby gradually diminishing the influence of other faiths

Holy Day / Festival: The followers of Shar typically maintain the secrecy of their faith (and the high priests often encourage this), and the worshippers of Shar do not have any special holy days except for one known as the Feast of the Moon. The Dark Servants (the followers of Shar) are told that this festival is to celebrate the flourishing of darkness

Priestly Attire: All priests of Shar have black hair, either naturally or altered through dye or magic to appear black. The colors purple and black are widely used in the churches and among the followers of Shar. Most priests of Shar wear black cloaks or soft, quiet black garments during ceremonial rituals, adorned with purple decorations. Their high ceremonial attire indicates each individual's status, such as a black velvet bodysuit covered by a long-sleeved deep purple robe, or black trousers paired with a black shirt. Most priests of Shar wear black cloaks or soft, quiet black garments during ceremonial rituals, adorned with purple decorations. Their high ceremonial attire indicates each individual's status, such as a black velvet bodysuit covered by a long-sleeved deep purple robe, or black trousers paired with a black shirt.

Shar often manifests through a formless tendril of darkness in seemingly empty spaces. These tendrils are surrounded by a swirling mass of purple. At the center of the darkness, a silent purple eye may sometimes appear, yet even in its absence, there is always a sense of an incessantly churning evil presence. These tendrils, acting as fingers of darkness, can reach out to the faithful and directly convey Shar's instructions into their minds, marking important items or indicating directions, or bestowing the ability to ignore pain and numbness. The tendrils cannot be healed and will faithfully carry out their tasks until they are destroyed or accumulate damage reaching -10 HP. Shar may also summon dark experimental entities, known as darktentacles, annihilation tyrants (undead creatures among the beholders), and various mysterious shadow monsters to serve her, acting as her messengers, guardians, and executors of her will.

The low-ranking clerics of Shaar are to obey the directives of the higher-ranking priests of the church, unless the orders given are tantamount to suicide—Shaar hopes that her followers can attract more adherents for her rather than sacrifice themselves in vain. To win new followers and ensure their faithfulness, the priests will assist in fulfilling some of the dark desires of the worshippers (for example, eliminating business competitors)

Church

Shaar is revered by those who wish to mock or dominate the lives of others through means such as illusions, lies, betrayal, rebellion, incitement, or threats of murder; it is of great importance to her followers to control others in some way or to ensnare them in her intricately woven web of deceit. She is also worshipped by the blind, nocturnal creatures, or humanoid beings and groups that dwell underground, as well as those who abhor light. She garners the faith of many who prefer dark environments, engage in underground dealings, or operate at night, such as thieves. She is venerated by those who suffer or have experienced loss and yearn for solace, particularly through means of revenge, as well as a few individuals who hope to bury and forget the past. She brings comfort to those who recognize that their minds have been damaged and seek peace, or to those who have suffered psychological trauma and wish to heal. Most of the people in Faerûn fear the evening, the shadow of Shaar's cloak, for beneath its shroud lurks unseen dangers.

Most of the clergy of Shar refer to each other as "Brothers of the Night" or "Sisters of the Night." For elders, they add the honorifics "Father of the Dark Night" or "Mother of the Dark Night." Their formal titles include "Adept of the Night" (trainee novice), "Watcher" (newly appointed young priest), "Hand of Shar" (responsible for leading small units in harassment activities), "Darklord/Darklady" (a senior priest responsible for overseeing regional affairs), "Nightseer" (supervising the activities of followers within a kingdom or large area), and "Flame of Darkness" (high-ranking priest or a servant deeply trusted by the goddess). The dedicated priests of Shar are referred to as "Nightbringers".

The followers of Shar must obey the church to demonstrate their loyal faith. At least once a year, they are required to perform a dark deed under the guidance of Shar's priest, or to win the soul of a new worshiper for the Dark Goddess Shar

Holy Emblem: A black disc with a purple outer ring

Believer faction: arbitrary, but mainly consists of evil ones

Before the arrival of winter, they gather together and, under the guise of other common forms of faith, offer blood sacrifices to their deity, while also probing various conspiracies or completing tasks assigned by high priests. The most important festival for the followers of Shar is "Nightfall," symbolizing the onset of darkness. This ritual is conducted by the clergy every night. It consists of a brief prayer, a dance, an impassioned speech extolling the goddess delivered by the host or a priest, and a revelry that includes dancing together. New initiates must attend at least one "Nightfall" (or perform a dance for the goddess), and every ten days they must engage in at least one minor act of destruction as an offering to the goddess. The Nightfall ceremony, held during moonless nights, is regarded as the arrival of the Lady of Night, and each participant must enumerate significant acts of vengeance or acts of destruction carried out in the name of the Dark Lady. The most important rite in the faith of Shar is the Kiss of Shar, a chilling night where participants indulge in slaughter or various dark activities in the name of the Lady, culminating in a feast before dawn. The Kiss ritual does not have a fixed date and varies according to the commands of the high priests of the Reign of Night.

After AO created this world, at the end of the primordial period, the chaotic void merged into two beautiful goddesses, who are complementary to each other: one is Selune, the embodiment of light and creation; the other is Shar, the force of darkness and destruction. A particularly strange aspect is that Shar's essence is closely connected to the primordial void and chaos, fundamentally contradicting AO's act of creation. Shar is the primordial darkness, the complete void that existed before time began to flow, a cold and powerful divinity. She has an intense desire to return to the tranquil void of the primordial state, and thus she secretly plots to destroy all civilizations and order. Her holy symbol is a black disc with a purple outer ring, and in the church's artistic works, Shar is often depicted as a beautiful woman in black with long, dark hair, her unforgettable purple eyes containing pupils as black as coal (representing the primordial void). Her holy symbol is a black disc with a purple outer ring, and in the church's artistic works, Shar is often depicted as a beautiful woman in black with long, dark hair, her unforgettable purple eyes containing pupils as black as coal (representing the primordial void)

Transcending the Undying: Not possible

Shahr Church

Manipulating undead creatures: All are permissible

Allies: Jacob, Kosa, Moando, Tagos

Affiliated factions: Lawful Evil, Neutral Evil, Chaotic Evil

The formidable power of the gray wasteland, neutral evil

Rivals: Amanata, Suren, Tika

Clerical personnel: full-time priest

Sect: According to rumors, if a cleric of Shar can kill a cleric of Sune, they may be accepted by a secret group known as the Dark Enforcers. It is said that the Dark Enforcers can utilize various illusions and phantasm spells to a degree similar to that of the Nightfallers, though not at their full level. Many thieves' guilds also maintain close ties with Shar's organizations and are used as secret weapons.

Location: Niflheim / Hall of Lost

The battle between the two goddesses has been ongoing since the dawn of time, with neither side expecting forgiveness or forgetfulness

Shar

Miracle

Hatred and loss are the essence of Shar. She is so abnormal and eccentric that she is deeply distorted by an ineffable evil and an endless trivial hatred and suspicion. She governs the hidden, never-forgotten pain, the meticulously planned tortures and conspiracies that betray the light, as well as the quiet vengeance for matters, no matter how small and old. Her priesthood includes betrayal, lies, illusions, theft, and temptation. In her view, any means can be justified to achieve her ends. She has a particular preference for hiding secrets, for buried things will never be revealed. She can always perceive anything and any slight movement in the darkness with clarity.

Clerical: Darkness, Dungeons, the Underdark, Night, Hatred, Loss, Forgetfulness, Sleep, Nightmares, Illusions, Lies, Deception, Unrevealed Secrets, Hidden Places, Betrayal, Insidiousness, Temptation, Thieves, Theft, Murder, Winter

Doctrine: The Dark Servants (Followers of Shaar) are taught to reveal secrets only to those loyal to you, and not to trust any hopes or promises of success. One must extinguish the light of the moon with all one's might (the faithful followers of Sularn and their possessions, actions, and magic). If one discovers that the opponent cannot be defeated, one should hide and wait for the right moment. Most importantly, the arrival of darkness is the time for action; do not wait. One must extinguish the light of the moon with all one's might (the faithful followers of Sularn and their possessions, actions, and magic). If one discovers that the opponent cannot be defeated, one should hide and wait for the right moment. Most importantly, the arrival of darkness is the time for action; do not wait.

Shaar has an extreme preference for secrecy. Her clergy always fulfill her desire for secrets through indirect interventions or behind-the-scenes dealings, engaging in undisclosed conspiracies. Their focus is on promoting various plots and inciting human desires, maintaining secrecy, and actively participating in various mystical activities

Shaer harbors a strong aversion towards Amanata due to the brightness and rigidity of the dogma she brings

Clearly, the clergy of Shaar have been instructed to engage in covert underground activities and to secretly corrupt the government, particularly in urban areas. The promotion of the vengeful grace bestowed by Shaar has attracted the desperate and helpless among other believers to seek revenge under her banner. Initiating thieves' guilds and various hedonistic celebrations is also a major part of these activities, akin to the political intrigues unfolding everywhere.

Sanctuary: The Sepulcher, located at the edge of the northern shore of the Narrow Sea, was chosen by the followers of Shaar as a perfect site to construct a temple dedicated to the goddess. This temple, known as the Ruler of Night, soon became the largest temple in the region of Nais and is regarded as a holy site by the vast majority of Nais believers. The high priestess of the Ruler of Night naturally became the supreme leader of all the faithful, although not all believers are aware of this fact

It is said that all illusions can be swayed by her whims. Her ethereal voice can cause those who hear it to become lost in despair or to be at her mercy. With her gaze, she can inflict harm or bring healing; her touch can induce fleeting forgetfulness or provide solace or loss of memory. A single thought from her can conjure darkness, and her actions always flit among ever-changing shadows. A kiss from her can instantly take a life or, at her whim, bind someone forever as her servant. A single thought from her can conjure darkness, and her actions always flit among ever-changing shadows. A kiss from her can instantly take a life or, at her whim, bind someone forever as her servant