Yog



YOG Lord of the Empty Abodes 

Pantheon

 * Darfari gods of worship

Regions of Worship

 * Darfar
 * Shem (only one nomad tribe, the Zuagirs)
 * Turanian city of Zamboula (only among the local population of Darfari slaves)

The cult of Yog, the Lord of Empty Abodes, dates back to the Khari invasion. The details concerning his origin can often be contradicting. Hyborian scholars speculate that Yog may be a demon of the Elder Night, like those worshipped by ancient Atlantis. Other insist that Yog is a Shemite or Turanian god of the deserts, who burns his victims through the blasting desert sun.

The Darfar cannibals are the last remaining worshippers of Yog, apart from the Zuagir tribe of desert Shemites. The ancient Khari temples are still held sacred by the Darfari, although almost all of the spiritual implications of Yog worship have faded over the millennia, until all that remains are the forms and the blood lust.

In Stygia, Yog is viewed as a demon subordinate to Set, and is assigned the spiritual task of consuming Set's enemies in the afterlife. Slave Darfari of Zamboula swear by Set, but it’s because their masters are Set worshippers.

Divine Relationships
Not welcomed by most cults and religions, apart from Setites (though a true Yoggite won’t appreciate their idea of Yog as Set’s subordinate).

Representation
The scorching sun or a giant bat.

Gender representation: male?

Symbolism

 * Sun
 * Full Moon
 * Bats
 * Fire

Spheres of Power

 * Strength
 * Domination
 * Victory
 * Immunity
 * Destruction

Rituals & Beliefs
Yog is known as the Lord of the Empty Abodes. The Zuagirs believe the Darfari worship Yog by roasting and eating human victims, then immolating their bones. He is said to have dominion over all empty places, such as deserts and the Outer Dark. His association with fire comes from ancient encounters with sun-burns while out in the empty wastelands of the Shemite/Turanian deserts. Yog immolates his victims through the sun, so the Zuagirs have learned to associate this deity with the burning habits of the Zamboulan Darfari.

Yog is said to have dominion over all empty places, such as deserts and the Outer Dark. His association with fire comes from ancient encounters with sun-burns while out in the empty wastelands of the deserts. Yog immolates his victims through the sun. Yog's doctrine is simple. Worshippers may only eat meat, never plants of any kind. They must consume human flesh at least once per month, and those who fail are considered ritually unclean until they have done so.

When the victim is caught, he is made to sit on the ground with his feet under his thighs, his hands placed in front of him. The Darfari then bind the victim so that he is completely immobilized. In this posture he is lifted and placed in a pit lined with red hot stones. The victim, still alive if all went well, is then covered with leaves and earth in the cooking pit to be roasted alive. After the victim is cooked alive, he is removed from the hot pit and taken to be offered as sacrifice. Some tribes paint the victim black at this point.

Once the ceremonies are complete, the body is cut up and distributed to the tribe. Dead sacrifices are considered inferior, as are those who have been cut, so the Yoggites do not use knives or swords. One adult can feed as many as thirty or forty Yoggites, as only a token consumption is required to meet Yog's requirements. A Yoggite is also required to participate in a raiding party to capture suitable victims at least once every three months.

For obeying his strictures, Yog promises strength in battle and victory over the worshipper's foes. Eating outsiders' flesh is said to make the Yoggites immune to weapons. Such promises might hold more weight were Darfar slaves uncommon in the southern lands. Even so, Yoggites are devout enough to practice their religion wherever they go. In Darfar bodies for the cannibalistic rituals come from raiding other tribes. Outside of Darfar, however, the Yoggites band together and take what they can get. Where there are many Darfar slaves, wandering bands hunt and kill anyone who leaves shelter at night. Although most city residents fear the Yoggite ceremonies, they permit the Yoggites to secretly practice their religion, as without this concession they are rebellious and violent.

At each full moon, the worshippers of Yog dig a pit, into which their priests pour certain oils and set alight with a flung torch. The Darfari identify the bright flame with that of the moon overhead. They believe that, once each month, they must "eat the moon". Bathed in the fire-pit's glow, any captive, in their eyes, becomes the earthly essence of the moon.

The Priesthood
Priests of Yog are often chieftains and skilled sorcerers or warriors. They act as intermediaries between the faithful and The Lord of Empty Abodes. They practice summoning and human sacrifices. The natives of Darfar worship the demon-god Yog together with numerous dark spirits of nature — animal and jungle spirits that empower the world with magic and life. Witchcraft, sorcery and juju are mainstays of their religious experience.

Implementation IC & In-Game
Vanilla Yog religion. There might be some locations related to the ancient Khari temples in Conan Exiles, particularly The Summoning Place. The vanilla Yog religion teacher in Conan Exiles, shaman named Nunu, speaks a lot about Yog.

More Information

 * Faith and Fervour (Conan RPG Book)
 * Return to the Road of Kings (Conan RPG book)