Arkaias

The Elusive Shadow, The Silver-eyed Trickster

Arkaias the Obscuring, known as The Elusive Shadow and The Silver-eyed Trickster, is the deity of imagination, luck, smoke, and thievery. Once an accomplished and unrepentant thief in mortal life, Arkaias now stands as the patron of criminals, charlatans, risk-takers, and plotters. Despite their reputation, Arkaias is also revered by artists and creators who thrive on imagination and risk. Their symbol, a black key with trailing strands of smoke, reflects their elusive and unpredictable nature. Arkaias rules over the Plane of Smoke, a realm of ever-shifting shadows and hidden paths.

History

Arkaias’s origins are shrouded in myth and history, with their true identity lost to time. Legends tell of a hooded figure with silvery eyes who was always a step ahead of both the law and their foes. This elusive thief was known to have an uncanny ability to always possess the item someone was desperately seeking. Their exploits and clever heists made them a figure of admiration and fear among the working criminals and the elite alike.

In the aftermath of a catastrophic event known as the “Nuking of Sil,” Arkaias’s influence grew significantly. They were said to have guided survivors through the smoke and chaos, helping them reclaim what was lost. This act of cunning and resilience endeared Arkaias to the Sil, cementing their status as a deity who thrives in the shadows and uncertainty.

Dogma

Arkaias teaches that life is a game of chance and creativity. Success comes to those who embrace risk and use their imagination. Followers are encouraged to seize opportunities and create their own luck, valuing cunning over brute force. Arkaias’s core teaching is, “If you do something well, don’t regret it, because you’ve thrown away their aid.” This mantra emphasizes the importance of confidence and self-reliance.

Tenets of Faith

• Aid the Lost: Every dog should have their day, and none should be left without opportunity. Guide those in need through their darkest times.
• Embrace Uncertainty: Life is unpredictable; use this to your advantage.
• Seize Opportunity: Luck favors those who take bold actions.
• Value Imagination: Creativity and cleverness are your greatest tools.

Rituals and Practices

• Luck Charms: Creating and carrying luck charms as a sign of faith.
• Smoke Offerings: Burning incense or herbs to create smoke as an offering.
• Story Circles: Sharing tales of cleverness and successful heists in communal gatherings.

Consequences of Transgression

• Bad Luck: Failing to embrace risk results in a streak of really bad luck.
• Withdrawal of Aid: Loss of Arkaias’s favor means loss of aid, especially in critical moments.

Worshipers

Arkaias’s followers are a diverse group, ranging from thieves and charlatans to artists and dreamers. They are united by their love for risk and creativity, and their disdain for rigid rules and predictability. Worshipers often wear hoods or masks to honor Arkaias’s mysterious nature and carry small luck charms or smoke-producing items as symbols of their faith.

Communities dedicated to Arkaias are often found in hidden or transient locations, such as underground hideouts or traveling caravans. These places serve as safe havens for those who live on the fringes of society, offering support and camaraderie to like-minded individuals.

Orders and Sects

Shadow Guides

A group dedicated to helping lost souls navigate through difficult times, using Arkaias’s teachings to provide hope and direction.

Silver-eyed Society

A sect of artists and dreamers who seek to unlock their full creative potential through the blessings of Arkaias.

Smokewalkers

A decentralized order of thieves and spies. Some believe the Syndicate are high priests of this faith. Others believe them to be little more than rogue with parlor tricks like using smoke and shadows for thievery and misdirection.

Campaign Updates

In Loshev their name gets used loosely, and by people who would not call themselves faithful. When the party turned up at a trial wearing the convicted man’s own clothes (a prank of Aldo’s: he had swapped them out, and Koa wore his the whole day without noticing), councilman Yullen Gemsmith put the whole business down to Arkaias’s followers, who are given to pranks, and thought no more of it (S1E06). The constable was less amused.