Set

History and cult practices

Set, the Old Serpent, is the arch-enemy of the gods of light known as Atum, Ibis, and Mitra, as well as the ancient god revered mainly in Stygia. He is also known and worshipped as Damballah in the Black Kingdoms. He is a cruel, jealous god who demands constant sacrifice from his subjects, and his priests are rather willing to comply as they bring naked virgins screaming onto his altar to appease his blood-lust. In Stygia, a snake is holy and to kill a snake is a mortal sin, as Conan himself once found out when adventuring in Stygia. If a snake slithers into the cities or to the streets, Set's subjects will lay prostrate before him, hoping to be found worthy of his bite. His priests are almost as frightening as the god they worship, and they terrify their own people almost as much as they terrify their enemies. They shave their heads and are fearsomely fanatical. Stygia is a theocracy, and the mad and corrupt clergy run the country on fear and wonder, as well as an indiscriminate willingness to sacrifice their own people. Set-focused cults or cells can be found in other kingdoms beyond Stygia, and they are just as dangerous, although they usually must practice covertly.