Zarathra, Mistress of Pain

• Title: Mistress of Pain
• Domain: Torture and Suffering
• Alignment: Chaotic Evil

Description:
Zarathra is the malevolent goddess who embodies the darkest aspects of pain and suffering. She delights in the torment of souls, drawing power from the agony and despair of others. Zarathra is often depicted as a fearsome and twisted figure, her presence instilling fear and dread in all who encounter her. She is the patron of torturers, sadists, and those who revel in causing pain. Her influence extends to the darkest corners of the world, where cruelty and malice reign supreme. Zarathra’s followers believe that true power comes from the ability to break others, and they seek her favor by inflicting pain and spreading suffering wherever they go.

Physical Appearance:
Zarathra appears as a tall, slender figure draped in robes of black and crimson, her skin pale as death and marked with scars that seem to shift and writhe like living things. Her eyes are a deep, blood-red, glowing with a sadistic light that betrays her delight in suffering. Her hair, long and flowing, is a tangled mass of shadows, occasionally revealing sharp, thorn-like protrusions. She wields a whip made of barbed chains, said to inflict not only physical pain but also mental and emotional torment. Her voice is a seductive whisper, laced with venom, capable of driving even the strongest minds to madness.

Symbols and Colors:
Zarathra is symbolized by a broken chain or a spiked wheel surrounding a scorpion, representing the endless cycle of torment and the breaking of wills. Her primary colors are black and crimson, symbolizing the darkness of her domain and the blood spilled in her name.

Sacred Animal:
The scorpion is sacred to Zarathra, representing the slow, painful death and the deadly sting that her followers strive to emulate. Scorpions are often found in the temples and shrines dedicated to her, where they are used in rituals to inflict pain or as symbols of her power.

Worship and Rituals:
Zarathra’s worshipers include torturers, executioners, and those who find pleasure in causing pain. Her rituals are gruesome affairs, often involving the capture and torture of victims to gain her favor. Blood offerings, particularly from those who have been broken or driven to madness, are highly valued. Temples dedicated to Zarathra are places of horror, filled with instruments of torture and the screams of the damned. Her followers believe that by embracing suffering and inflicting it on others, they can gain Zarathra’s favor and be granted power over life and death.

Succubi and Iccubi often worship Zarathra.

Temples and Shrines:
Temples to Zarathra are often hidden in remote or forbidden places, where only the most depraved and twisted souls dare to venture. These temples are filled with the tools of torture, from iron maidens to racks and spiked chairs. Her shrines can be found in dungeons, prisons, and other places where suffering is commonplace. The walls of these temples are often adorned with the faces of those who have perished in agony, their spirits trapped and forever bound to Zarathra’s will.

Legends and Myths:
One of the most feared tales associated with Zarathra is that of the “Weeping Blade,” a cursed weapon said to have been forged in the fires of her domain. It is said that anyone who wields the Weeping Blade becomes an instrument of Zarathra’s will, driven to inflict pain and suffering until they are consumed by the very agony they cause. The weapon is rumored to weep blood, a constant reminder of the lives it has taken.

Role in Nathakra:
In Nathakra, Zarathra plays a crucial role as a force of chaos and despair. Her influence seeps into the darkest corners of the world, corrupting the minds and hearts of mortals. She represents the ultimate perversion of power—the idea that control can be gained through the infliction of suffering and the breaking of others’ wills. Zarathra’s presence is felt in every act of cruelty and oppression, and her name is whispered in fear by those who find themselves at the mercy of tyrants and sadists. Her relationship with Vorithas, the Lord of War and Conquest, creates a formidable and terrifying partnership, as together they embody the destructive forces of war and pain.

Relationship with Vorithas:
Zarathra is the spouse of Vorithas, the Lord of War and Conquest. Their union is one of dark purpose and mutual benefit, as they both thrive on the suffering and destruction that war brings. While Vorithas delights in the chaos and bloodshed of battle, Zarathra feeds on the pain and agony that follows in its wake. Together, they form a terrifying duo, with Vorithas breaking the bodies of his enemies and Zarathra shattering their minds and souls. Their followers often work in tandem, with warriors dedicated to Vorithas driving their enemies before them, only to deliver them into the hands of Zarathra’s sadistic priests for torture and torment.