The Scoundrel

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Domains: Chaos, Death, Hospitality, Knowledge, Life, Protection, Trickery, “Luck”
Portfolio: Luck, cheating, thievery, gambling, travel, entertainment, survival
Holy Symbol: A playing card with a clipped corner, or a six-sided die with two sixes, both marked with a cat or fox
Realm: The Shifting Halls and Hills, a fog-covered land of taverns, gambling dens, and winding hills
Ascended: The Sunless Void
Status: Alive, Actively Worshipped

A shape-shifting god of thieves, gamblers, travelers, and those who live by wit rather than strength. The Scoundrel is most often depicted as a male elf, though he frequently takes the form of a cat or fox.

He is rumored to wander the world in person, appearing as a vagrant, a gambler, or a well-dressed stranger passing through. Those who encounter him rarely realize who they have met.

The Scoundrel influences outcomes rather than forcing them.

He nudges:

• odds in subtle ways
• moments of chance
• opportunities for clever action

Those who invoke him may find:

• a fortunate turn of events
• a narrow escape
• an unexpected opportunity

These are not guarantees and it is highly recommended that people try to make their own luck when they can. How they try to skew the odds in their favor is up to them.

He favors those who:

• think quickly
• act creatively
• take risks

He does not protect the careless, but he often rewards the clever.

Animals: Foxes, cats
Colors: Black, silver, deep red
Objects: Dice, cards, coins

Omens and Signs:

• A near miss that should have gone worse
• A game that turns unexpectedly
• A stranger offering help with unclear motives
• A coin landing on its edge

Motifs:

• Broken or incomplete shapes
• Marked dice or altered cards
• Crooked paths and hidden doors

In all forms, The Scoundrel bears a blue or cloudy left eye and, when applicable, a broken tail.

The Scoundrel most often appears as:

• a wandering gambler
• a traveling thief
• a well-dressed stranger

In animal form:

• a dark-furred cat with a crooked tail
• a black and silver fox with the same

His left eye is always clouded, while his right is clear and brown. In humanoid form, the left eye is often replaced with a blue false eye.

He is charming, approachable, and difficult to read. Even when recognized, he is rarely what he seems.

The Scoundrel is widely invoked, though rarely as a primary deity outside of certain circles.

Common Followers:

• Thieves and con artists
• Gamblers and risk-takers
• Travelers and wanderers
• Those seeking luck or protection from misfortune
• Individuals trying to avoid being robbed or cheated

He is as often prayed to for protection from thieves as he is by thieves themselves.

• The world is not fair, learn how it works. It’s easier to cheat when you know the rules
  * Luck favors those who act
• If you are going to cheat, be clever about it
• Take opportunities when they appear
• Help when you wish, especially if it makes things more interesting

The Scoundrel has little formal clergy.

Those who follow him tend to:

• operate independently
• travel frequently
• rely on wit rather than structure

Some act as:

• guides for travelers
• organizers of games and wagers
• intermediaries in deals of questionable legality
• messengers of his will offering vague advice and doing odd tasks

• Informal networks of thieves and gamblers
• Traveling groups who share stories and information
• Hidden circles of those who track luck and probability

There are no temples dedicated to the Scoundrel.

He is more commonly honored in:

• taverns
• roadside shrines
• gambling halls

Burial: The dead must be buried within an hour’s travel of where their body was found.

Three coins are placed:

• one over each eye
• one in the mouth

Their holy symbol must be gambled for at the next shared meal of at least three people.

To Ward Off Cheaters: A coin is flipped and left where it lands, without adjusting it. A quiet request is then made that any ill intent be directed elsewhere.

This does not prevent cheating, but may shift attention away from the petitioner.

The coin is left until after the game it was invoked for is complete. Most people just abandon it and walk away, considering it a sacrifice for The Scoundrel.

To Bless Cheating: Before attempting to cheat at an important or high stakes game, a marked die or card is used in a mock game played against oneself.

If the result favors the petitioner, it is taken as a good sign. If not, then they may want to reconsider how they plan to cheat, or not play at all until the next day.

This rite does not ensure success, but it is considered lucky enough that it may make the consequences of getting caught less severe.

It is said that The Scoundrel lost his eye in a gamble with Valravn, and though he later won it back, the eye returned to him was not his own.

His original eye is said to still see for him, wherever it may be.

One story claims he was caught stealing from a dragon while disguised as a cat, which twisted his tail.
Another claims the injury came from a far more dangerous encounter involving a great leviathan that he attempted to swindle.

Many stories tell of travelers encountering a helpful stranger who later vanishes, leaving behind either good fortune or mild misfortune.

It is widely believed that The Scoundrel walks the world in person, though no one has ever been able to confirm or prove it.