Karaan

Greyhawk Divinity

Karaan
Names and titles
Title(s):	The Beast God
General information
Alignment:	Chaotic evil
Gender:	Male
Superior:	Unknown (possibly Erythnul)
Rules items
Domains:	Chaos, Destruction, Bestial
Divine rank:	Unknown (probably demigod)

Karaan is a vile god of savage lust and wanton destruction, representing the dark side of nature. His symbols are gnawed, broken bones and bloody teeth.

Description

Karaan manifests as a hulking humanoid covered in fur, sporting sharp teeth and claws. While certainly bestial and carnivorous, he cannot be said to resemble a specific type of carnivore such as a canine or feline. Rather, he encompasses all such beings.

The Book of Vile Darkness says the deities described in that book are "fairly minor," in comparison to Erythnul (an intermediate god) and Vecna (a very recently ascended lesser god). Because their counterparts in the Book of Exalted Deeds are explicitly of demigod level, it seems likely Karaan is as well.

Relationships

Karaan is the enemy of gods of neutral and positive sides of nature such as Obad-Hai and Ehlonna. He is often revered in conjunction with Erythnul, although Karaan's cults are much more obscure. A few believe Karaan is related in some way to Yeenoghu.

Dogma

Karaan teaches hatred of civilization. Cultists of Karaan are encouraged to destroy crafted and non-natural materials.

Worshipers

Karaan is the patron of lycanthropes and other bestial creatures such as bugbears, gnolls, worgs, manticores, and some sphinxes.

Clergy

Clerics of Karaan are savage and depraved. They despise civilization and revel in acts of destruction. They particularly seek to destroy crafted items, for anything not found in nature is alien to them. They wear furs, hides, and other natural armors, or nothing at all. Many decorate their bodies with scars and file their teeth into points. They do not groom their hair, and often their speech is reduced to screams and savage grunts. Their favored weapon is the greatclub, although naked claws and teeth are just as favored.

Temples

Temples of Karaan are places of natural power, such as secluded glens, rocky outcroppings, and deep pits in the wilderness, filled with gnawed bones and the corpses of sacrificial victims and fallen enemies.

References

Bibliography

• Cook, Monte. Book of Vile Darkness. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

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