Kabriri

From PathfinderWiki
Kabriri
The demonic rune of Kabriri.
(Deity)

Titles
Him Who Gnaws,
Lord of Ghouls,
Demon Lord of Graves and Ghouls
Realm
Alignment
Areas of Concern
Ghouls
Graves
Secrets kept by the dead
Worshipers
Cannibals, conspirators, ghasts, ghouls, grave robbers, necrophiles
Edicts
Eat the flesh of your own kind
Anathema
Reveal secrets of the dead to nonbelievers, despoil grave markers
Cleric Alignments (1E)
Domains (1E)
Chaos, Death, Evil, Knowledge
Subdomains (1E)
Demon, Memory, Murder, Undead
Cleric Alignments (2E)
Domains (2E)
Indulgence, knowledge, undeath, vigil
Favored Weapon
Symbol
Skull bowl of maggots
Sacred Animal
Sacred Colors
Blue, ivory
Source: Book of the Damned, pg(s). 62f. (1E)
Gods & Magic, pg(s). 77, 124–125 (2E)

The carrion-stenched demon lord Kabriri (pronounced ka-BREE-ree)1 is the patron of Golarion's flesh-hungry, cannibalistic ghouls.2

History

One myth is that Kabriri was the first mortal to eat the flesh of his kind. He died soon thereafter from a stomach complaint, to be reborn in the Outer Rifts as the first ghoul.3 Some claim that in life, Kabriri was an elf, and that this is why ghouls have long ears and slender bodies, and also why elves are immune to their paralysis.4

Home

Kabriri dwells in the Abyssal realm of Everglut, a cyclopean necropolis which is said to have spontaneously created itself in welcome for the first human soul to have committed cannibalism. Lit by strange green light, the libraries of Everglut are unusually vast. It is said that going deep past ranked shelves and certain blocked doors can lead to similar libraries hidden deep under Leng.5

Appearance

Kabriri resembles the ghouls that so fervently worship his flesh-eating doctrine. Kabriri's flesh is pallid with the cold, waxy texture of dead skin; his frame is well-muscled yet emaciated as if he had been starved for countless years; his mouth boasts teeth far sharper than a humans, designed to rend flesh. Kabriri's hands are far more talon-like than that of the average ghoul's; his feet are also different, being cloven hooves rather than human feet.67 This latter aspect he shares with the more powerful ghuls who sometime serve as his high priests.8 His signature weapon is a two-headed flail made of iron and bone capable of rotting flesh and creating ghouls by touch.7 His unholy symbol is a maggot-filled bowl made from a human skull.6

Worshipers and cults

Kabriri is predominantly worshiped by the cannibalistic ghouls that dwell in the hidden warrens beneath the Golarion's surface, especially the more civilized specimens who dwell in the Darklands city of Nemret-Noktoria deep beneath Osirion. Nemret-Noktoria has strong connections with undead nation of Geb which also harbours a ghoul population dedicated to He Who Gnaws.9 Some of his followers enacted bloody rituals in his honour beneath the gibbous moon, dancing and feasting beneath the night sky.8 His followers tend to wear black and purple robes, and use the foul carrion perfume of Kabriri.6

Leng ghouls are a notable exception to Kabriri's worship: they predominantly worship Nyarlathotep instead and view Kabriri as a false patron. Kabriri teaches that the ghouls of Leng turned their back on him, but the ghouls cite compelling evidence that they are far older than Kabriri himself. They see the antics of Kabriri's followers as the stumblings of children discovering a lifestyle they have lived for eons.5

References

Paizo published a major article on Kabriri in The Ghouls Hunger.

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.

  1. Erik Mona, et al. “Appendices” in Campaign Setting, 246. Paizo Inc., 2008
  2. Paizo Inc., et al. “Demigods and Other Divinities” in Gods & Magic, 77. Paizo Inc., 2020
  3. James Jacobs, et al. Classic Horrors Revisited, 29. Paizo Inc., 2010
  4. James Jacobs, et al. Classic Horrors Revisited, 30. Paizo Inc., 2010
  5. 5.0 5.1 Paizo Inc., et al. “Chapter 1: Fiendish Divinities” in Book of the Damned, 63. Paizo Inc., 2017
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 James Jacobs. Demon Lords of Golarion” in Descent into Midnight, 59–60. Paizo Inc., 2009
  7. 7.0 7.1 James Jacobs. “Lords of the Abyss” in Lords of Chaos, Book of the Damned Volume 2, 18. Paizo Inc., 2010
  8. 8.0 8.1 Stephen S. Greer & Amber E. Scott. “Bestiary” in Dark Markets, A Guide to Katapesh, 63. Paizo Inc., 2009
  9. James Jacobs & Greg A. Vaughan. Sekamina” in Into the Darklands, 33–34. Paizo Inc., 2008