Xietem

[zee-eh-tem]

Basic Information

Appearance: Xietem is depicted as a nightmarish, spider-like figure with long, spindly limbs that skitter and twitch with unnerving speed. Its body is covered in a dark, chitinous exoskeleton that reflects no light, making them appear as a moving shadow. Its head is an amalgamation of a skull and a spider, with multiple eyes that gleam with a frantic, paranoid light. Their mouth is filled with sharp, needle-like teeth, constantly chittering in a whisper of dread. While their limbs end in clawed appendages that seem to grasp at the air, ready to ensnare any who come too close.
Height: 420cm
Weight: Variable
Distinguishing Features: Their most notable features are its multiple, frantic eyes, and his skeletal, spider-like form.

Traits: Paranoid, fearful, manipulative
Strengths: Can incite and amplify feelings of anxiety and paranoia in others, causing them to second-guess themselves and live in constant fear
Weaknesses: Its own pervasive fear makes them unreliable and unstable, easily influenced by stronger wills
Goals and Motivations: To spread anxiety and fear, feeding off the dread and paranoia of mortals to increase its power.

Allies:
Rivals/Enemies:
Attitude towards Mortals: Sees mortals as fragile beings whose fear and anxiety, are easily fed upon. Despite this fears their potential and spends much time scheming their eradication.

Creation Myth: In the early days, before Statera created the mortal races, she recognized faults within herself. Desiring to present the best possible world for her creations, she sought to purge herself of these negative traits. However, the universe’s energy imbued these purged traits with a life of their own. Thus, from Statera’s discarded anxiety and paranoia, Xietem was born.
Major Cults and Religious Practices: Those influenced by Xeitem, dedicate no worship to Xeitem. Rather most do not realize they are even influenced. However, there are those that worship Xietem, and use its gifts to manipulate and sow discourse amongst their enemies.
Rituals:
Clergy and Temples: Temples to Xietem are dark and foreboding, often located in secluded areas. Xietems priests, known as the Whisperers of Dread, are adept at spreading fear and manipulating the anxieties of others. They guide their followers in embracing their fears and using them as a source of power.

Major Plot Points in World History:
Artifacts:
- The Veil of Shadows, a cloak that grants the wearer the ability to instill fear in others.
- The Eye of Dread, an amulet that greatly amplifies the wearer’s senses, allowing them to detect danger, allowing them to always be ready to respond to threats.

”In every shadow, there is a threat.”