Karaushnitt the Carnal[1] (sometimes spelt Karaushnith[2][note 1]), is the demigoddess of seduction and dangerous pleasures. She is one of the Pentad, the inner circle of Naar's strongest deities.[3]
Names[]
Karaushnitt is known by many names:
- Darkest Desire[2]
- Mistress of Lust[2]
- Lady Lust[4]
- Goddess of Seduction and Dangerous Pleasures[4]
- Lustful One[5]
- Mistress of Burning Desire[6]
- Goddess of Dark Dreams[6]
- Lady of Dark Delights[7]
Followers[]
Pacts of Karaushnitt[]
Should a Dark Cultist choose Karaushnitt as their patron, she grants them their First Taste: losing the ability to feel pain, instead feeling any sensation as power. Karaushnitt's followers are then led to radically alter their bodies even further, in pursuit of further bliss, in her name.[2] Her Dark Cultists gain the ability to wield Vileflame, channeled power from the netherworld, and the colour of her power is black.[2]
Karaushnitt's First Pact simply requires a Dark Cultist to chant her name reverently during an act of some wicked vice. This causes the Dark Cultist to develop a need to indulge in a particular vice every day or suffer horrible pain. This pain is not prevented by her First Taste; however, many of her followers do not necessarily consider this as a curse, but as a gift. Fulfilling the First Pact grants the Dark Cultist the ability to generate waves of sheer pleasure through their gaze.[4]
Karaushnitt's Second Pact requires an night-long orgy of sensation, that must end with the death of everyone else (to a minimum of two victims). Failure causes an hour of vicious pain, and a month's wait before the next attempt; many of Karaushnitt's devoted followers enjoy failing the Second Pact, even as they crave its success.[5] Fulfilling the Second Pact grants the Dark Culist immunity to non-supernatural disease, poison and negative side-effects of anything they consume. They are also unaffected by non-magical bonds (such as ropes), unless they wish to be.[5] However, they may never refuse a possible pleasure, forcing them into a life of ever-increasing hedonism. It is suggested this lifestyle requires a daily spend of 100 Gold Crowns.[8]
Karaushnitt's Third Pact requires the Dark Cultist to survive a single night with Karaushnitt herself, engaging in the most depraved of debaucheries, and consuming the most overwhelming of drugs. Failure results in a death of unbearable passion and mental collapse.[6] Success, however, grants the Dark Cultist union with the power of passion itself, but will be enslaved to their obsessions for the rest of their lives.
Right-Handed Magic[]
Karaushnitt's followers gain the ability to cast the following Right-Handed Magic spells, in increasing order of learning:[7]
- Bitter Caress: Stuns a target with sheer bliss; if resisted, it inflicts pain. Kai Lords with Mindshield are immune to Bitter Caress.
- Withdrawal: A Dark Cultist must gain an addiction, then acclimatise themselves to it. They can then inflict these withdrawal symptoms on a target. Those who survive become immune to this spell. Kai Lords with Psi-Screen are immune to Withdrawal.
- Kiss of Karaushnitt: Transfers all of the Dark Cultist's experiences with Karaushnitt's path, including all the torturous pleasures, into a helpless target, threatening to inflict instant death from sensory overload. Kai Lords who have completed the Lore-circle of Light gain additional protection against this. Even undead and Darkspawn can be affected by the Kiss of Karaushnitt.
Known followers[]
Karaushnitt is worshipped by Larikis, "daughter" of Autarch Sejanoz and Autarchess Balerodah.[9] She is also worshipped by various evil priests.[1]
A golden statue of a figure likely to be Karaushnitt exists within the fortress of Mogaruith.[10][11]
Religion[]
A temple to Karaushnitt exists in the Chaos Prison in Zekgazad.[12][13] It stores Steel Hand's Kai Weapon, and is protected by an enchantment that will attempt to tempt Grand Master with either thoughts of Oriah (if the player has encountered her in a previous adventure)[14] or glory (if not).[15]
Karausha, the Star of Lust, is named after Karaushnitt.[16]
Notes[]
- ↑ In Lone Wolf: The Darklands, where most of the information about Karaushnitt/Karaushnith comes from, her name is spelt "Karaushnith", as is in Lone Wolf RPG: Magic of Magnamund. However, in The Dusk of Eternal Night and Lone Wolf Adventure Game: Magnamund Menagerie, her name is spelt as "Karaushnitt".
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dever, Joe [2017]. Magnamund Menagerie. Cubicle 7, p. 41.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Hahn, August [2004]. The Darklands, Dever, Joe, First Edition, Mongoose Publishing, p. 43.
- ↑ Hahn, August [2004]. The Darklands, Dever, Joe, First Edition, Mongoose Publishing, p. 42.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Hahn, August [2004]. The Darklands, Dever, Joe, First Edition, Mongoose Publishing, p. 45.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Hahn, August [2004]. The Darklands, Dever, Joe, First Edition, Mongoose Publishing, p. 46.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Hahn, August [2004]. The Darklands, Dever, Joe, First Edition, Mongoose Publishing, p. 49.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Hahn, August [2004]. The Darklands, Dever, Joe, First Edition, Mongoose Publishing, p. 52.
- ↑ Hahn, August [2004]. The Darklands, Dever, Joe, First Edition, Mongoose Publishing, p. 47.
- ↑ The Dusk of Eternal Night: §108
- ↑ The Plague Lords of Ruel: §287
- ↑ Jonathan Stark and August Hahn (2024-08-01). Episode 22: The Plague Lords of Ruel (Book 1 of Grandmaster). Journeys Through Magnamund. Holmgard Press. Timestamp: 51:36
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §147
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §244
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §325
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §136
- ↑ Hahn, August [2004]. Lone Wolf: The Roleplaying Game, Dever, Joe, Mongoose Publishing, p. 55.