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| | | #REDIRECT [[:category:Priests of Osybus]] |
| {{canon}}
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| The Priests of Osybus belong to an old order of magic users that wield [[necromancy]] powered by the [[soul]]s of other people. They are all marked by the [[Tattoo of Osybus|the tattoo]]s of their founder, [[Osybus]], although they hate him because he has [[cursed]] them such that their [[immortality]] will fail them when their need for it is at its zenith<ref name="Van Richten's Guide to the Mists p. 240">[[Van Richten's Guide to the Mists]] p. 240</ref>.
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| ==History==
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| On the homeworld of [[Strahd]], Osybus attempted to tap into the souls of his victims to become an [[immortal]] and even came to venerate [[the Dark Powers]] in his rise to power. Osybus achieved his wish by becoming a [[lich]] of great power. In recognition of the role his disciples played, Osybus gave them a sliver of his power and with that immortality<ref name="Van Richten's Guide to the Mists p. 240">[[Van Richten's Guide to the Mists]] p. 240</ref>.
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| Strahd joined forces with the [[Ulmist Inquisition]] to take on Osybus and his followers. Osybus would have beaten his foes, but he was betrayed by his priests, whom ultimately feared he would consume them. In revenge, Osybus laid a [[curse]] upon them, such that their immortality would not last when they needed it to<ref name="Van Richten's Guide to the Mists p. 240">[[Van Richten's Guide to the Mists]] p. 240</ref>.
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| In response to Osybus' curse, the priests attempted to rid themselves of the curse through a pact with the Dark Powers, to bring them a worthy figure to work their will. As such, they played a crucial role in the [[corruption]] of Strahd and led him to the [[Amber Temple]]. However, this was for naught as they still bear their curse. Other Dark Powers had trapped Strahd in the Demiplane of Dread, thus wrenching from the priests the removal of their curse<ref name="Van Richten's Guide to the Mists p. 240">[[Van Richten's Guide to the Mists]] p. 240</ref>.
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| ==Goals==
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| The Priests of Osybus hope to extract Strahd from [[the Mists]], for they believe that will free them from their curse<ref name="Van Richten's Guide to the Mists p. 241">VRGttM p. 241</ref>.
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| ==Powers and Abilities==
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| Unlike [[cleric]]s, the priests of Osybus are not necessarily [[divine spellcaster]]s or even [[spellcaster]]s at all. However, they can manifest bolts of [[necrotic]] energy or paralyzing blades that trap the souls of slain victims. Even more spectacularly, a priest of Osybus can summon a [[shadow]] to serve it by touching one of the [[shadow tattoo]]s on the priest's body<ref name="Van Richten's Guide to the Mists p. 241">VRGttM p. 241</ref>.
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| As noted, priests of Osybus have a limited immortality of sorts, though it is not of the kind that cannot be slain but rather is one of special [[reincarnation]]. After being slain, a priest of Osybus may become reincarnated with special boons of [[undeath]]. A priest may be reincarnated more than once, but such reincarnations eventually wear out<ref name="Van Richten's Guide to the Mists p. 241">VRGttM p. 241</ref>.
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| ==Continuity Notes==
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| The priest of Osybus were introduced in the [[5th Edition Continuity]] reboot of Ravenloft as described in [[Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft]]. In continuity prior to [[5th Edition]], the existence of the Dark Powers prior to Strahd's deal with [["Death"|Death]] was uncertain, if they truly existed at all. The Amber Temple's existence was not one in pre-5th edition continuity either.
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| {{ref}}
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| [[category:5th Edition Continuity]]
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| [[category:Challenge 6]]
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| [[category:Corruptor]]
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| [[category:Cursed]]
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| [[category:Humanoid]]
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| [[category:Marked]]
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| [[category:NPC Archetype]]
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| [[category:NPC]]
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| [[category:Organisation]]
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| [[category:Priest]]
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| [[category:Society]]
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| [[category:Tattooed]]
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| [[category:Villainous Organization]]
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