Velstrac

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Velstrac
Kyton1E
An evangelist velstrac, also known as a kyton.
(Creature)
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Velstracs, called kytons by those outside of their society,12 are cruel, amoral fiends from the Shadow Plane obsessed with sadomasochism and self-perfection. They thrive on the fear and pain of mortals, which they inflict with both supernatural dread and physical torture.3

Name

An augur velstrac.

These creatures call themselves velstracs. Some mortals refer to them as kytons, a misuse of a word velstracs use to denote a master or virtuoso3 that spread when the velstrac demagogue Kaikyton wandered the Material Plane, and her onomatopoeic name became associated with her followers by early mortals. Velstracs find kyton flattering, and most do not bother to correct mortals when this word is used,3 except for phylacators.45

History

The first velstracs coalesced from the selfish and depraved thoughts of the earliest mortals. These creatures were so hideous that the gods themselves chained them in the pit of Hell. These velstracs escaped their prison, however, for the Shadow Plane.3

When Asmodeus led his army of exiles from Heaven to Hell, the velstrac demagogues, asura ranas, and gigas warlords gathered in council, intent on uniting their armies against the devils, only to be betrayed by one of their own: the asura rana Geryon, who devoured 812 tyrants of Hell. The elder velstrac demagogue Aroggus led the velstracs in their exile from Hell to the Shadow Plane, which they adopted as their new home. Since then, many velstracs have came back to Hell, and they continue to maintain a presence there.67

Ecology

The souls of sadistic or masochistic mortals become velstracs when diverted from the River of Souls into the Shadow Plane and crafted by other velstracs into new kin.3

Tieflings who are descendants of such pairings are known as velstrac-spawn, or shackleborn.8

Habitat and society

Velstracs consider themselves above good and evil. They engage in their search for the perfect sensation with the passion of scientist-artistes, and consider no cost too high for the secrets of the ultimate being.4

Velstracs inhabit the Shadow Plane, whence they fled after escaping Hell.9 The nine velstrac demagogues are the demigod rulers of the velstrac race; each one is the master of a vast domain on the Shadow Plane, ruling from cities built from still-living flesh.10 Many velstracs work for Zon-Kuthon, god of darkness, pain, and suffering, and live in his domain Xovaikain.119

Unlike many lawful outsiders, velstracs have no monolithic hierarchy; the most regimented velstracs are usually Zon-Kuthon's servants. Many independent velstrac cabals function like workshops of artists or artisans. They prefer to focus on personal endeavours and rarely gather in huge numbers for conquest. Many velstracs seek to follow the paths of those known to have had some brush with the sublime.4

Despite their history of imprisonment in Hell and conflict with the exiles from Heaven, velstracs have established an embassy in Dis, the Broken Chains, and are an important ally of the devils.912 Many velstracs have settled back in Hell, where they flourish.13 Some have become mercenaries and serve powerful devils, such as Mammon.14

On Golarion

Owing to their association with the Midnight Lord, the faithful of Zon-Kuthon regard velstracs as sacred to their religion.15

Velstracs are rumored to be employed as torturers by the cult of the Living God in Razmiran, and their lusts may have given rise to a small colony of velstrac-spawn.8

References

Paizo referred to velstracs as "kytons" in Pathfinder First Edition.2

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

  1. ↑ Tanya DePass, James Jacobs, Lyz Liddell, et al. (2019). "Old Cheliax". World Guide, p. 103. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-172-6
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 James Jacobs. (October 25, 2019). Comment on "The Windsong Testaments: On Family Bonds", Paizo blog. "By replacing the word 'kyton' with 'velstrac', we make them more of our own creatures and can use them without worry about OGL issues, and furthermore, in theory don't confuse customers who might see out-of-context D&D kyton lore and confuse it with Pathfinder lore."
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Lyz Liddell and Ron Lundeen. (2019). "Adventure Toolbox". Tomorrow Must Burn, p. 82. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-191-7
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 John Compton, Adam Daigle, Amanda Hamon Kunz et al. (2017). "Fiendish Bestiary". Book of the Damned, p. 237. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-970-7
  5. ↑ Kate Baker, Jay Erickson, Tom Hansen, Aerick Lim, and Nathan Reinecke. (2018). Bestiary. The Six-Legend Soul, p. 89. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-052-1
  6. ↑ F. Wesley Schneider. (2016). "Geryon, the Source of Lies". Scourge of the Godclaw, p. 69. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-842-7
  7. ↑ John Compton, Adam Daigle, Amanda Hamon Kunz et al. (2017). "Fiendish Divinities". Book of the Damned, p. 120. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-970-7
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Hal Maclean and Colin McComb. (2012). Blood of Fiends, p. 22. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-423-8
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 F. Wesley Schneider. (2009). "The City of Dis". Princes of Darkness, p. 24. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-189-3
  10. ↑ Gregory Hanigan. (2018). Kyton Demagogues. The City Outside of Time, p. 75. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-098-9
  11. ↑ Robert Brookes et al. (2018). "The Great Beyond". Planar Adventures, p. 108. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-044-6
  12. ↑ Amanda Hamon Kunz. (2018). Dis. Distant Realms, p. 19. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-046-0
  13. ↑ F. Wesley Schneider. (2009). "Diablerie". Princes of Darkness, p. 53. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-189-3
  14. ↑ F. Wesley Schneider. (2010). Mammon. The Twice-Damned Prince, p. 64. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-226-5
  15. ↑ James Jacobs. (Nov 3, 2012). ">>Ask *James Jacobs* ALL your Questions Here!<<", Paizo Messageboard.
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Species of Velstrac
Evangelist
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