Disciple of Phenax

A well-known Therosian joke says that, of the trio of the Underworld gods, Erebos has all the worshipers, Athreos has none, and Phenax gets the rest. While a few would admit it, this joke plays on a fear that almost every human on Theros has, both Phenax and his followers. Called the god of deception, Phenax's only open followers are the Returned, the soulless undead that wander the mortal plane.   Any living mortal that worships Phenax always does so wrapped in a veil of secrecy, and the most devout among them live in such a way that the rest of the world hardly knows they even exist. Called disciples because of the way they seek to emulate their god, anyone could be a devout worshipper of Phenax- your neighbor, your best friend, or even your spouse. But what truly terrifies the people of Theros about Phenax's disciples is that even if one day you're sure you know someone, the truth could be different tomorrow.   Hidden Agendas Not everyone that worships Phenax is worthy of the title of disciple. Gamblers, spies, and cheaters might all offer devotion to the god of deception, and even a commoner might say a quick prayer to Phenax when they spin a lie. What sets the disciples of Phenax apart from the rest are the ways in which they dedicate their lives to the masked god's ambitions. Each disciple follows their own path, doing as they like, taking what they want, and keeping hidden from those around them. But at the same time, each of them knows that the actions they take somehow play into Phenax's larger plans.   For most Therosians, the idea of an Underworld god whose most devout worshippers might be hiding among them is unnerving enough. But the idea that Phenax has a small army of spies, each performing his bidding and weaving a plan no one can guess at, is downright terrifying. THese fears are never enough to keep them from offering some small amount of devotion to the masked god- after all, everyone lies some times, and no god would intentionally doom the people of Theros. But the fear remains strong enough that when, they see a mage weaving illusions, or a Returned wandering the hills outside of their town, they can't help but suffer the briefest moment of paranoia.