View source for Raxivort

{{Greyhawk Deity|fgcolor=#fff|
image=[[Image:Raxivort.jpg]]|
caption=Raxivort, as depicted in ''Dragon'' #264|
bgcolor=#000|
fgcolor=#fff|
name=Raxivort|
title=Lord of Xvartkind, Packmaster of Rats, Night Flutterer|
home=Pandemonium|
power=Lesser|
gender=Male|
class=Cleric 8/Fighter 12/Mage 6/assassin 10|
alignment=Chaotic Evil|
portfolio=Bats, wererats, rats, [[xvart]]s|
domains=Animal, Chaos, Evil, Trickery|
alias=|
super=None|
}}
'''Raxivort''' is the patron god of the [[xvart]]s. He also acts as a patron of wererats, bats, and rats. His symbol is a fiery blue hand.

==Description==
Raxivort resembles a xvart of great hideousness (even for a xvart). His skin is bright blue and his eyes glow with orange light. He wears silken garments over blue chainmail, all of which shimmer as if aflame. He carries small, bladed weapons such as knives and daggers, as well as his falchion, the ''Azure Razor''. Raxivort can also take the form of a rat or a giant bat.

==Relationships==
Raxivort was formally a servant of [[Graz'zt]], his Master of Slaves. They parted on extremely bad terms, and remain deadly foes. Raxivort controls the hordes of vermin that infest the streets of Zelatar, Graz'zt's capital city.

==Realm==
Raxivort's realm, the Black Sewers, is in Pandesmos, one of the layers of [[Pandemonium]]. 

==Dogma==
Raxivort teaches that might makes right. If xvarts are not strong enough to prevail, the proper course of action is to retreat, and return with enforcements. He advises patience, and advocates any means - lying, cheating, theft, enslavement - to survive. With patience, one can still triumph in the end.

==Worshipers==
Most of the Night Flutterer's worshipers are xvarts, though wererats and werebats occasionally also revere him. 

===Clergy===
Shamans of Raxivort wear special stilts that elevate them to a height of five feet. Over these, they wear long black robes and a mask of gold or gilded copper. The stilts are worn only on ceremonial occasions.

Their chief duty is to ensure their own survival and that of their tribe (in that order). 

==Temples==
Raxivort's worship is illegal in most lands, even those of [[Empire of Iuz|Iuz]]. There are likely temples to the Packmaster of Rats in the [[Duchy of Berghof]], the [[Bone March]], and the [[Pomarj]].  A large temple to the Night Flutterer is rumored to exist in the [[Drachensgrab Mountains]].

==Rituals==
Sapient beings are sacrificed to Raxivort whenever such are available.

==Holy days==
The days most sacred to Raxivort's cult are the xvart mating seasons, on [[Greyhawk Calendar|Coldeven 25 and Harvester 25]]. Both days are known as [[Raxivort's Orgy]].

==History==
Long before the [[Baklunish-Suloise Wars]], before even the beginning of the [[Elf|elven]] calendar, Raxivort was a mortal xvart somewhere in the [[Flanaess]]. By his wit and strength, he rose to rulership over all xvartkind. Desiring still more power, he made pacts with beings of the outer planes, eventually contacting Graz'zt. Raxivort proved himself to his new demonic master, and was eventually rewarded with the position of Master of Slaves. 

Only recently, after lengthy and apparently faithful service, Raxivort betrayed his master. When Graz'zt was least prepared, he struck, attempting to seize control of Graz'zt's layer of the Abyss, and the two entities warred for several months. Ultimately Raxivort called a truce, and made off to Pandemonium with much of Graz'zt's treasure. 

Today Raxivort dwells in a realm called the Black Sewers in Pandesmos. He sends swarms of rats to Graz'zt's capital city, while Graz'zt sends assassins to kill his hated foe. 

==Bibliography==
*[[Andy Miller|Miller, Andy]]. "The Oeridian Lesser Gods Part II: Raxivort and [[Sotillion|Sotillon]]." [[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]] #264. Renton, WA: TSR, 1999.
*[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. "Greyhawk's World." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #64. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1982.
**''[[World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
*Schneider, F. Wesley. "Forgotten Faiths." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #359. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2007. 
*Stark, Ed, [[James Jacobs]], and [[Erik Mona]]. ''[[Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss]]''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2006.


[[Category:Greyhawk deities|Raxivort]]