Prince Immortal, Upstart, Patron of Clan MacFaileas
Demipower of Acheron, LN

Portfolio: Necromancy, justice/revenge
Aliases: None
Domain Name: Mšr-Kreln/Avalas/Acheron
Superior: None
Allies: Laerme, Moradin, Anam
Foes: Cuiraecen, Haelyn, Belinik, Eloele, Kriesha
Symbol: Iron oak tree with silver foliage
Wor. Align: Any non-chaotic

Taragin is the primary power revered by the Clan MacFaileas of Barrow Woods province in the Giantdowns. He controls life, death, medicine, and has some influence over vengances and the undead. Though he was not created at the Deismaar, Taragin claims descent from the ancient sun goddess, Basaia. Few other faiths acknowledge Taragin's flock, though his faithful continue to assure Cerilia that he is real.
Taragin's followers also claim that he is the celestial suitor of Lara (the daughter of Erik and Vani). Stories of Cuiraecens romantic relations with the goddess of love and fire are quite possibly the only reason behind the bitterness of Taragin toward the god of storms.
One of the few Cerilian powers with any planar connections, Taragin has already allied himself with several powers outside his own pantheon, namely Wee Jas of Oerth and Moradin, the Soulforger of the dwarven race. There is also a delicate agreement between Taragin and the goblin deities to assist one another against their enemies in the Lower Planes.
The Iron Fortress of Mšr-Kreln, Taragin's realm on the planes, is a mammoth cube floating through the first layer of Acheron. There is a single gate in the center of each face of the cube, surrounded by numerous defensive towers. These gates lead to a veritable maze of tunnels opening into libraries, taverns, mausoleums, guardrooms, surgical amphitheaters, and the like.

Taragin's avatar

Taragin's single avatar form appears strangely devoid of color (as a black and white photograph). He takes the form of a youthful Rjurik warrior with black hair (an ill omen among the northern peoples) dressed in a mixture of Rjurik and Brecht garb. The only color anywhere about the avatar is his piercing amethyst eyes. Despite these foreboding features, he is also said to glow with a radiance rivaling Avani.
Taragin is often armored in Brecht-style field plate armor and wields a pair of broadswords +3 as a 9th-level fighter in addition to his powers as an 18th-level true necromancer. On truly special occasions, he rides a mount of singular ability:
Dragon Skeleton (1): AC -11; MV 9, Jp 3; HD 21; hp 108; Thac0 -1; #AT 3; Dmg d10+12/d10+12/3d10+12 (claw, claw, bite); SD makes saving throws as a priest, detects invisible creatures within 120', immune to charm, cold, fire, hold, normal missiles, paralyzation, poison, and sleep; suffers only half damage from slashing and piercing weapons, turned as a special undead; SZ G (180' body, 168' tail); ML n/a; AL N; XP 19,000.

The Church

Clergy: Priests, Necromancers
Clergy Align: LG, LN, LE, NG, N, NE

Newly sprung from the Wild Lands of the Giantdowns in the Rjurik highlands, the church of Taragin is tiny compared even to that of the goddess Laerme. Practically unheard of outside the rough Silverhead mountains, this church is more than a little paranoid and extremely defensive -- just like Taragin himself.

Dogma: The only know church, the Iron Basilica of Taragin, seeks above all to ensure the continuation of the faith. Beyond this edict, the followers are free to promote any of the church's philosophies as they wish. Some may follow the path of Taragin as a life giving healer, while others look more towards his control of life and death as a means to immortality. Then there are those worshipers who see only the face of death, but these are usually shunned (at least publicly) by the majority of the faithful.
¥ Obedience ensures victory.
¥ Fear is acceptable; cowardice is not.
¥ Do not attack the defenseless, weak, or the innocent.
¥ Keep all promises.
¥ Courtesy to all ladies.
¥ Personal glory above all in combat.
¥ Death to all who oppose the cause.
¥ Necromancy is life.
¥ Chaos can be beaten.

Day-to-Day Activities: Strangely enough for a cult of a death god, the worshipers of Taragin strive to help their communities, rather than harm them. The priests of the Iron Basilica of Taragin tend to put in a good word for any lawful governments where they have set up temples. They also build and run orphanages to take care of street urchins and any children who may have lost their families to the depredations of religions like Belinik or Cuiraecen.

Holy Days/Important Ceremonies: Unlike most other religions of Cerilia, the followers of Taragin do not celebrate the memorial of Diesmaar, as their deity was not present at the battle. However, the Eve of the Dead is honored as the day on which Taragin ascended to position as lord of the dead. This date has caused much accusations by good-aligned religions and rulers of all types of Taragin and his followers being allied with the Shadow World.

Major Centers of Worship: As the only temples to Taragin on Cerilia are in the northern Giantdowns, it makes sence that his most important temple would be there also. Built by Taragin's first High Priestess, Dempsey Slipis, the Basilica of Iron's Heart is located in the province of Trondelaag.

Affiliated Orders: In addition to the Shadowed Order of the Hematite Throne (detailed below), some of the faithful have begun to set up a branch of the Anatomical Academy in Cerilia.
Since the mutilation of corpses is regarded as anathema in many civilizations, this secret organization exists to spread the detailed knowledge of the human body and to provide its members with fresh cadavers on which to practice. The Academy is basically a neutral organization that exists merely to facilitate the collection and dissemination of necromantic knowledge. Bodies are accepted at the back door for polite thanks, a sack of gold, and no questions.

Priestly Vestments: Priests of the Iron Basilica of Taragin wear white tunics and woolen kilts of a gray-red-green tartan, as well as their holy symbol as a medallion around their necks. High priests decorate their vestments with cloth-of-silver and rich embroidery of arcane symbols.

Adventuring Garb: Due to the few powers granted by their faith, the Iron Basilica of Taragin encourages its priests to wear the most armor they can afford. It is also encourages priests to learn how to use a sword of some sort, preferably a broadsword or claymore. Otherwise, the faith puts no restrictions on its priests unofficial garb.

Priests

Requirements: Int 9, Wis 9
Prime Req: Wisdom
Alignment: LG, LN, LE, NG, N, NE
Weapons: Any
Armor: Any
Major Spheres: All, Law, Necromantic
Minor Spheres: Astral, Creation, Elemental (Air), Healing, Summoning, Thought (ToM), Time (ToM), War (ToM)
Magical Items: As priest
Powers Over Turn: No
Undead: Command: No
Powers:
1) command spirit powers as a shaman (spirits of the dead or air only, see Players Options: Spells & Magic); may cast spells from the wizard school of Necromancy as if they were priest spells.
7) cure light wounds (1/day).
11) +4 to saves vs. necromancy spells, or an unmodified saving throw against spells not normally allowing a save.

Proficiencies

In addition to those listed below, priests of Taragin gain the ceremony (Taragin) proficiency as a bonus nonweapon proficiency at first level.

Iron Basilica of Taragin
Required Proficiency: Anatomy (from Players Options: Spells & Magic)
Bonus Proficiency: Healing (at 5th level)