Night-Temple Priestess
Night-Temple Priestess
The Night Temple is a spiritual institution akin to the other temples devoted to the Seven Patron Gods. Considered both guild and sanctuary, these temples are present in nearly every Thenian city, each devoted to a specific divine aspect. The temples of night are consecrated to Astoreth, goddess of love, fertility, lust, and the primal bonds of kinship. Since the earliest days, her rites have been safeguarded by the succubi, who serve as both priestesses and living extensions of the goddess herself.
Succubi – Daughters of Astoreth
The succubi are daemons born of an age that predates even the Elders—heralds of their mother-goddess Astoreth, with whom they share both form and presence. While most daemons were forged as divine weapons in the great wars of old, the succubi were not. They have always preferred pleasure to battle, intimacy to conquest. Peaceful by nature, they seek comfort, beauty, and connection—yet when provoked, their daemonic heritage reveals itself with terrible clarity.
Succubi are considered eternal beings, largely unconcerned with their past. They are easily recognized by their horns (which vary widely in shape and size), slender tails, and most notably their imposing wings. One of their most feared and fabled abilities is the manipulation of the mind. They can alter their appearance to match the vision of one’s deepest desire, making them both revered as comforters and feared as deceivers.
This power is used in service to the faithful—soothing the hearts of the broken, easing the pain of longing, or offering sacred intimacy in Astoreth’s name. Yet in battle or desperation, they can become predators: charming their prey, draining life force, and leaving behind hollow-eyed husks devoid of will. It is not uncommon for a passerby to glimpse someone exiting a Night Temple, gaunt and pale, cheeks sunken, spirit all but extinguished.
Many myths surround the succubi—some speak of mortals drained into nothingness, others of eternal love. One tale claims that when a succubus becomes truly enamored, she may transform a mortal into a high vampire, granting them a twisted form of immortality by infusing them with her essence—a dark, undying bond forged through passion and power.
It is unknown exactly when the Thenrin first encountered the succubi, but since the reestablishment of their civilization, the Night Temple has remained a pillar of Thenian culture. Within it, Night-Temple Priestesses continue to guide worshippers, embodying the balance between divine compassion and otherworldly temptation.
