Tsiv, Father of Artifice
Lord Tsiv (a.k.a. Metalombris)
"Thousands of years ago during the dawn of the Talaji Empire, a true prodigy of artifice emerged from a small kingdom. His name was Tsiv, and his story begins with the creation of the first entirely metal human construct. Using the ancient techniques of making clay golems, Tsiv used his knowledge of metallurgy to manufacture and improve the original golems. From there, he invented the clockwork form of creating, thus nullifying the need for magics of any sort in artifice. Tsiv, however, experienced a great tragedy that stopped him from ever sharing his knowledge. After being requested by the Lady of his home to take up apprentices, he declined all but one student. Months later, the student died in an accident in his workshop. Tsiv was convinced that it was his fault that the student died, so he hid away.
In truth, Tsiv dabbled in texts that he found in his apprentice's possession. They spoke of a twisted world of eternal darkness and shadows that was merely a reflection of this world. After his first attempt to escape his world and discover this mirror plane, he lost the use of his right arm and his legs, leaving him with only his non-dominant left arm, and with it, he created clockwork prosthetics that enabled him to continue his research into the plane of shadows.
His studies eventually led to his demise. Tsiv was discovered by Talaji Royal Guard in the middle of a strange ritual. The Royal Guard that survived had reportedly gone mad; they claimed that a man made of clockwork flung molten metal at them, resulting in multiple deaths. They had also claimed that Tsiv had walked through a strange tear in the weave, but their claims were quickly dismissed when they discovered the right arm and legs of the inventor, confirming his death.
Many Florestinians today believe that Tsiv is still alive. Moreover, many believe that Tsiv was corrupted by Death itself and became the dark deity known as the Metalombris to his followers, father of artifice, machines, and lord of the plane of shadows. Many also claim that clockwork machines tend to move on their own sometimes, a semblance of dark life in a supposedly inanimate creation.
For the few that worship Metalombris, they claim that their deity stands 12 feet tall and bears a body entirely constructed from constantly twisting artifice topped with a human head twisted and marred by molten metal that constantly drips from his face. They also claim that his servants are constructs in their own right, controlled by strange yet loyal servants known as the Deshulum, lanky and mysterious creatures that are highly intelligent because of Metalombris' teachings.
Divine Domains
Arcana, Artifice, Death
Divine Symbols & Sigils
A bronze skull, a clock with dripping hands, a cog separating a human face down the middle vertically
Tenets of Faith
Followers believe that artifice and machines are to be a very important part of the future. Followers don't have a place of worship or anything that resembles a cult, they simply "follow in his footsteps" by attempting to decipher archaic manuals to understand and recreate their master's clockwork perfection.
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