Category:Priests of Osybus

This section contains canon info from officially published sources

The Priests of Osybus belong to an old order of magic users that wield necromancy powered by the souls of their victims. They are all marked by the the tattoos of their founder, Osybus, although they hate him because he has cursed them such that their immortality will fail them when their need for it is at its zenith^[1].

History

On the homeworld of Strahd, Osybus attempted to tap into the souls of his victims to become an immortal and even came to venerate the Dark Powers in his rise to power. Osybus achieved his wish by becoming a lich of great power. In recognition of the role his disciples played, Osybus gave them a sliver of his power and with that immortality^[1].

Strahd joined forces with the Ulmist Inquisition to take on Osybus and his followers. Osybus would have beaten his foes, but he was betrayed by his priests, whom ultimately feared he would consume them. In revenge, Osybus laid a curse upon them, such that their immortality would not last when they needed it to<^[1].

In response to Osybus' curse, the priests attempted to rid themselves of the curse through a pact with the Dark Powers, to bring them a worthy figure to work their will. As such, they played a crucial role in the corruption of Strahd and led him to the Amber Temple. However, this was for naught as they still bear their curse. Other Dark Powers had trapped Strahd in the Demiplane of Dread, thus wrenching from the priests the removal of their curse^[1].

Centuries later, a book of fiend summoning and necromantic rituals used by the priests of Osybus came into the possession of the cult at Death House. were operating in Death House. However, even a student with any notable degree of knowledge in arcane lore could discern that the rituals were entirely spurious. Like the priests of Osybus before them, the Death House cult venerated Strahd in some capacity, believing they brought him to the Demiplane of Dread and that he would save them from their cursed natures. Though the Death House cult sacrificed numerous lives to him on their altar, Strahd did not feel any impulses to help them out. Indeed, Strahd eventually slew the entire cult for destroying some adventurers he hoped to make his playthings.^[2] It is unclear how closely the Death House cult were tied to the immortal priests of Osybus described above.

Goals

The Priests of Osybus hope to extract Strahd from the Mists, for they believe that will free them from their curse^[3].

Powers and Abilities

Unlike clerics, the priests of Osybus are not necessarily divine spellcasters or even spellcasters at all. However, they can manifest bolts of necrotic energy or paralyzing blades that trap the souls of slain victims. Even more spectacularly, a priest of Osybus can summon a shadow to serve it by touching one of the shadow tattoos on the priest's body^[3].

As noted, priests of Osybus have a limited immortality of sorts, though it is not of the kind that cannot be slain but rather is one of special reincarnation. After being slain, a priest of Osybus may become reincarnated with special boons of undeath. A priest may be reincarnated more than once, but such reincarnations eventually wear out^[3].

Continuity Notes

The priest of Osybus were introduced in the 5th Edition Continuity reboot of Ravenloft as described in Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft and Curse of Strahd. In continuity prior to 5th Edition, the existence of the Dark Powers prior to Strahd's deal with Death was uncertain, if they truly existed at all. The Amber Temple's existence was not one in pre-5th edition continuity either.

References