Achaékek
Achaekek He Who Walks in Blood God of assassins, divine punishment, and the Red Mantis
Alignment: LE Domains: Death, Evil, Law, Trickery, War Favored Weapon: sawtooth sabre Centers of Worship: Ilizmagorti Nationality: monster
Achaekek (uh-CHAY-kek) was created to eradicate those who would steal the gods' divinity, a deadly hunter who strikes his targets unerringly, regardless of their strength. Despite some disapproval over his amoral methods, none of the gods have ever chosen to directly oppose him.
The Mantis God himself does not actively seek worshipers, but the infamous assassins known as the Red Mantis pay him devotion nonetheless, seeing assassination as a sacred rite.
While the Red Mantis refuse to strike at rightful monarchs, who they believe have been seated by the will of the gods, all others are fair game. Achaekek's faith also attracts other mortals who kill for coin, such as brigands, murderers, and those who dwell on the fringes of society. Some hope to join the Red Mantis someday, proving themselves and their devotion through their daring kills, while others found their own assassins' guilds or kill cults. While they don't demand gold for defending themselves or their allies, Achaekek's faithful believe that an assassin deserves compensation for her services in recognition of her skills, and consider it an insult to be asked or told to kill someone without recompense.
The center of Achaekek's cult is Mediogalti Island, the home of the Red Mantis assassins. Splinter cults of the Mantis God lurk throughout Golarion, often in the ruins of fallen palaces or the homes of deposed royals. They are most common near the capital cities of nations ruled by monarchies and holy cities where prophets might attract a measure of their own worship. Most of Achaekek's worshipers are content to pray at secret shrines, which are usually just alcoves marked with the god's symbol that hold trophies and broken emblems of rule taken from slain targets.
Although Achaekek's Red Mantis assassins employ distinctive armor and weapons, those assassins consider such trappings exclusively theirs and kill anyone found wearing them without permission. As a result, other servants of Achaekek typically wear red and utilize sawtooth sabers, but avoid mimicking their deity's mantis-like appearance.
Clerics of Achaekek may prepare keen senses and negate aroma as 1st-level spells and spider climb as a 2nd-level spell. Druids may prepare murderous command as a 1stlevel spell.