Iz (is)

In the early days of the world, half a dozen city states developed in the southeast corner of the continent, peopled primarily by roosterkin. A rich culture developed which had much to recommend itself in terms of art and tradition, with each city state and their surrounding regions having similar but distinct variations and local traditions. Courtly intrigue, duels, vendetta, and periodic small scale warfare was the norm for over a century as the city states schemed, allied, and warred with each other in turns.

Eventually, the city state of Rote completely conquered the neighboring city state of Etru to its north and soon after the city state Kapa to its south and declared itself the Empire of Ibizia. Within a century it went on to absorb the other three city states of Anko, Ormin, and Juno and all of their lands. A brief decade of insurrection and forced assimilation followed, but eventually even the most diehard rebels and separatists were either killed or had capitulated. With its internal hegemony assured, the Empire then turned its expansionary aggression outward to neighboring lands. Though its borders constantly expanded and contracted over several centuries, at its greatest reach Ibizia ruled over approximately a third of the world.

Among the gods, there was much discontent as Iz's chosen people encroached into the lands of other kin, and his fellow deities implored Iz to intercede or influence his adherents to halt their imperial expansion. The arrogant Iz refused. Eventually, though some gods remained indifferent, most turned against Iz.

As it was in the heavens so too was it in the mortal realm, and soon the Empire of Ibizia found itself beset from all sides and bereft of allies. Unmerciful war waged for years as many peoples of the adjoining lands and beyond turned against Ibizia, and despite the occasional victory the once proud Empire was eventually beaten back to dwindling borders until it finally was no more. However, while most of the armies who had fought against Ibizia were content and returned home, the savage boarkin hordes, relentless lizardkin raiders, vicious viperkin opportunists, and some less merciful individuals of other kin refused to relent. In the end the roosterkin were nearly wiped out. Though a small community survived on the island of Los, as the years went on and the remaining survivors on the mainland died out, roosterkin were generally believed to be exterminated.

Bereft of his chosen people, Iz changed. Consumed by grief and anger, fixated on getting revenge upon deity and mortal alike, he became a god of vengeance. In the modern era Iz is referred to only obliquely as the so-called Forgotten God, whose name is not spoken for fear of drawing his attention. But all those who swear vengeance, seek vendetta, or harbor fury in their heart against those who have wronged them give Iz power. Some do so unwittingly, but a few dedicate themselves to him, offering service to Iz in return for power with which to wreak their own vengeance.

Some who swear themselves to a pact of vengeance gain the patronage of Iz. In return for acting as his agents upon the mortal plane, he empowers them with mystical abilities to aid their revenge seeking. See the Warlock of the Forgotten subclass for details.