Ares

Category	Higher Powers
Power	Greater
World	Thuldanin (Acheron)
Race	Theegan
Gender	male
Title	CSC 89 GE - 152 GE
Alignment	lawful neutral
Symbol	battlefield
Domain	Competition, Nobility, Glory, Planning, War (bolstered)
Enemies	Gruumsh, Thyrm
Born	1 War March 1419 DE
Godhood	25 War March 152 GE

Ares was a renown Covenant hero and general of the Creation War (1486 DE - 8777 DE). For a time, he served in a crack unit called the Golden Seven. Over several millennia, his incessant desire for war made him take a more lawful and neutral view of the cosmos.

For nearly a century of the Demon Spawn War (89 GE - 269 GE), Ares was the Supreme Commander of the Quara'tun Covenant.

Ares became a Cult Power on 25 War March 152 GE. Now a Higher Power, he left the Mortal Systems. With his departure, Covenant command fell to his protégé Asmodeus. As a Higher Power, Ares's took the War Domain, one suiting his fighting spirit and warmongering nature.

On the world of Bal-Kriav, the first shrines to Ares were erected in the Throat of Gathargûl. In this valley, the Tungesti prayed for victory in battle. In the Great Exodus, the faith of Ares spread to the camps and settlements springing up along the coasts. Home to refugees of a fallen land, a people beaten by great magic, suffering the waves of Poseidon, and now a wild frontier, they welcomed the Tungesti zealots, praying for defense and unity. By the rise of the Council of Bile, worship of Ares had spread to many lands.

One of the largest holy sites of Ares stretches from Khilag-Tarkin into the Marrow Fields. The Breached Pass Campaign was fought across these areas. Ares blessed the mortals in the battle and the boon that he placed is still there today. It is called the Parry of Ares. This divine magic gives those in the area greater combat skills and health.

Ares is the patron god for many barbarians of the realm. The Tungesti are one of the largest barbarian peoples that pray to him. The favored weapon of Ares is the spear, so his priests gain a Free Martial Weapon Proficiency and Weapon Focus with spears. As a result of his bolstered war domain, his followers gain a free Martial Weapon Proficiency and Weapon Focus feat of their choosing.

Ares is a War God, and more so than any other god he relishes it. He has been known to instigate conflict among the gods, going so far as working with the likes of demon lords and archdevils for the sole reason of making war. Ares's war desire led to the ranks of his church clergy being named in a military fashion. The highest post is the Citadel Dictum. An individual of this rank is the highest religious authority for an entire world.

The religion of Ares is a military one. Church figures have military ranks and regionally their places of worship have names that designate them as part of an army with churches in villages called garrison, and those of cities an army depot. The Council of Bile, an empire with a powerful church of Ares, holds Bal-Kriav Headquarters. This citadel church is located in Drakhôr. From within resides the Citadel Dictum, top priest-general of all Bal-Kriav.

Priest of Ares are crusaders, templars, battle priests, and other types of a military mindset. Ares does not accept pacifists, strict healers, or cloistered clerics into his armies. Ares's priests are part of a hierarchy that is separate from common worshipers. They have titles that range from Boot Dictums for the lowest level ones to the Citadel Dicutum which is head priest of all the Churches of Ares for a world.

The sword prepares the way for the Word of Ares.

- Sûza-Sin, Helmet Dictum - "Core Doctrine"

Church Hierarchy of Ares

Priest Rank	Notes
Boot Dictum	lowest level priest of the Church of Ares
Shield Dictum
Sword Dictum
Spear Dictum
Plate Dictum
Helmet Dictum	head priest of an individual Church of Ares
Tower Dictum	head priest of a city's Church of Ares
Wall Dictum	head priest of a nation's churches, rarely are there more than 1
Castle Dictum	head priest of an entire region of churches
Citadel Dictum	head priest of all the Churches of Ares for a world (c.f. Drakhôr)

Sources of Divine Power

Core Worship	Proselytizers
Ag Envok	Ladies of Castration
Bazandaggûl	Apocalypse Corps
Council of Bile	Githlarâk
Dafrlami	Grisagwer
Fargimdal	Motherland Guard
Icyke	Wardens of Aspungad
Nemegral	Whiteblood Legions
Paradomea
Tulukhan
Vaesvild
Witch Horde

Known Powers

Trait	Description
Battle Titan	Ares becomes colossal in size, gaining +30 strength, +250 hit points, scoring critical hits on a 19+, gains one extra attack per round, and everyone within a mile is immune to fear and anyone fleeing battle for lack of courage or a break in morale must make a Fortitude DC40 save or lose 5 hit points per round until they rejoin the battle

Follower Boons

Trait	Description	Restriction
War Prepared	gain a Free Martial Weapon Proficiency and Weapon Focus	none
Symbol of Battle	gain a Free Martial Weapon Proficiency and Weapon Focus with spears	priests