Cyric
Encyclopedia
Cyric is a deity in the fictional Forgotten Realms
campaign setting, a branch of Dungeons & Dragons
. Cyric has many titles, including the Prince of Lies, the Dark Sun, the Black Sun, the Mad God, and the Lord of Three Crowns. Cyric is closely associated with the essence of murder
, strife, lies, Intrigue, and illusions.
Though he is a freelance god due to his lack of superiors, friends and allies, he has made himself a wide variety of enemies. These include gods such as Mystra
(killed by Helm), Kelemvor, Oghma, Azuth
, Mask, Tyr, Torm
, Deneir, Leira (killed by Cyric), Iyachtu Xvim (now Bane
), and many others. Cyric is recognized in Faerûn
by his symbol, a white jawless skull on black or purple sunburst, and his alignment, Chaotic Evil. He is a Greater Power, and he rules supreme in his divine realm, the Supreme Throne.
. By the end of the original Avatar Trilogy, Cyric had risen to godhood.
Cyric was described in the hardback Forgotten Realms Adventures
(1990), the revised Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (1993) in the "Running the Realms" booklet, and Faiths & Avatars
(1996).
Cyric's story as a deity is continued in the novels Prince of Lies (1993), and Crucible: The Trial of Cyric the Mad (1998).
His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground
(1996).
(2002).
as detailed in The Avatar Series
. He won over many followers during that time, and he also stole the domains of other fallen gods, most notably Bhaal
and Leira.
Cyric's power is immense, and he is considered one of the major evils in Faerûn. The destruction of Zhentil Keep is his doing, along with many unfortunate problems Faerûn has to deal with. Cyric became utterly mad when he read a tome he had created, the Cyrinishad, which made whomever read the book believe everything it says, thus making him or her a wholly devoted follower of Cyric, and came to believe that he was the greatest power in all of the universe, superseding even Ao, the overgod. Cyric's sanity has since been somewhat restored with the help of his Seraph Malik, but the deity remains evil, unpredictable, and egocentric. He delights in placing people in power through intrigue, then tearing them down at his whim.
In The Grand History of the Realms, by Wizards of the Coast, it is stated that Cyric is somehow behind the murder of Helm (1384 D.R.), though Tyr is the one who actually has Helm's blood on his hands. It also says that in 1385 D.R., Shar assists Cyric in murdering Mystra (Midnight), completely destroying the Weave and re-ordering the planes in what became known as the Spellplague. The other gods imprison Cyric within his throne for a period of one thousand years as punishment.
and Kelemvor, due to their past dealings. These enmities, however, are dwarfed by the deity's brewing war with the returned deity Bane
. Cyric believes in his own heart that every other god is a slave to his will and can easily be undone.
He has formed temporary alliances with dark deities (e.g., Mask in the form of Godsbane
, used to slay both Bhaal and Leira), but inevitably these are short-lived, as he uses them wholly for self-serving purposes, and betrays all too easily (as seen by his weakening of Mask and subsequent stealing of his portfolio element of "intrigue").
The sinister demipower Velsharoon
also despises him. The archnecromancer is well aware of Cyric's megalomania and of the deity's past and considers him to be a bungling clod who has lost much of his power and will continue to lose more. Cyric hates Velsharoon because of the latter's somewhat reluctant servitude to Azuth.
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign setting, a branch of Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
. Cyric has many titles, including the Prince of Lies, the Dark Sun, the Black Sun, the Mad God, and the Lord of Three Crowns. Cyric is closely associated with the essence of murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, strife, lies, Intrigue, and illusions.
Though he is a freelance god due to his lack of superiors, friends and allies, he has made himself a wide variety of enemies. These include gods such as Mystra
Mystra (goddess)
Mystra is a fictional goddess in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.She is the Mistress of Magic and Mother of Mysteries who guides the Weave of magic that envelops the world. She tends to the weave constantly, making possible all the...
(killed by Helm), Kelemvor, Oghma, Azuth
Azuth
Azuth is a fictional deity in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of D&D. He is the god of mages. His alignment is lawful neutral. The appearance of Azuth seems to be somewhat indistinct, he often manifests simply as an elderly voice or shimmering blue luminescence.Azuth is known as the god of...
, Mask, Tyr, Torm
Torm
Torm may refer to:* Dampskibsselskabet Torm, a shipping company* Torm , a fictional deity...
, Deneir, Leira (killed by Cyric), Iyachtu Xvim (now Bane
Bane (god)
Bane , is the god of hatred, fear, and tyranny and one of the main evil gods in the fictional Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting, Forgotten Realms....
), and many others. Cyric is recognized in Faerûn
Faerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
by his symbol, a white jawless skull on black or purple sunburst, and his alignment, Chaotic Evil. He is a Greater Power, and he rules supreme in his divine realm, the Supreme Throne.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
Cyric's story as a mortal is described in the Avatar Trilogy, in the novels Shadowdale, Tantras, and Waterdeep. Cyric first appeared in a Dungeons & Dragons game supplement in 1989's Hall of HeroesHall of Heroes (Forgotten Realms)
Hall of Heroes is an accessory for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
. By the end of the original Avatar Trilogy, Cyric had risen to godhood.
Cyric was described in the hardback Forgotten Realms Adventures
Forgotten Realms Adventures
Forgotten Realms Adventures is an accessory for the fictional Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
(1990), the revised Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (1993) in the "Running the Realms" booklet, and Faiths & Avatars
Faiths & Avatars
Faiths & Avatars is an Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms campaign expansion book. The book was designed by Julia Martin with Eric L. Boyd, and additional design by Ed Greenwood, L. Richard Baker III, and David Wise...
(1996).
Cyric's story as a deity is continued in the novels Prince of Lies (1993), and Crucible: The Trial of Cyric the Mad (1998).
His role in the cosmology of the Planescape
Planescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
campaign setting was described in On Hallowed Ground
On Hallowed Ground
On Hallowed Ground is an accessory book for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, for the Planescape campaign setting.-Contents:This book contains information about deities' planar domains from 20 separate pantheons...
(1996).
Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition (2000-2007)
Cyric appears as one of the major deities of the Forgotten Realms setting again, in Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (2001), and is further detailed in Faiths and PantheonsFaiths and Pantheons
Faiths and Pantheons is a campaign accessory for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons, for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.-Contents:...
(2002).
History
Cyric became a divine being due to the events which occurred during the Time of TroublesTime of Troubles (Forgotten Realms)
The Time of Troubles, also known as the Arrival, Godswar, and Avatar Crisis, is a fictional time period in the chronology of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role playing game...
as detailed in The Avatar Series
The Avatar Series
The Avatar Series, originally The Avatar Trilogy, is a series of fantasy novels in the Forgotten Realms setting, covering the event known as the Time of Troubles.The books were:...
. He won over many followers during that time, and he also stole the domains of other fallen gods, most notably Bhaal
Bhaal
Bhaal, Lord of Murder, is a deity of the fictional Forgotten Realms Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting.-Publication history:Ed Greenwood created Bhaal for his home Dungeons & Dragons game, set in the Forgotten Realms....
and Leira.
Cyric's power is immense, and he is considered one of the major evils in Faerûn. The destruction of Zhentil Keep is his doing, along with many unfortunate problems Faerûn has to deal with. Cyric became utterly mad when he read a tome he had created, the Cyrinishad, which made whomever read the book believe everything it says, thus making him or her a wholly devoted follower of Cyric, and came to believe that he was the greatest power in all of the universe, superseding even Ao, the overgod. Cyric's sanity has since been somewhat restored with the help of his Seraph Malik, but the deity remains evil, unpredictable, and egocentric. He delights in placing people in power through intrigue, then tearing them down at his whim.
In The Grand History of the Realms, by Wizards of the Coast, it is stated that Cyric is somehow behind the murder of Helm (1384 D.R.), though Tyr is the one who actually has Helm's blood on his hands. It also says that in 1385 D.R., Shar assists Cyric in murdering Mystra (Midnight), completely destroying the Weave and re-ordering the planes in what became known as the Spellplague. The other gods imprison Cyric within his throne for a period of one thousand years as punishment.
Relationships
Cyric hates all other gods, especially MystraMystra (goddess)
Mystra is a fictional goddess in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.She is the Mistress of Magic and Mother of Mysteries who guides the Weave of magic that envelops the world. She tends to the weave constantly, making possible all the...
and Kelemvor, due to their past dealings. These enmities, however, are dwarfed by the deity's brewing war with the returned deity Bane
Bane (god)
Bane , is the god of hatred, fear, and tyranny and one of the main evil gods in the fictional Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting, Forgotten Realms....
. Cyric believes in his own heart that every other god is a slave to his will and can easily be undone.
He has formed temporary alliances with dark deities (e.g., Mask in the form of Godsbane
Godsbane
In The Avatar Series, a quintet of novels based in the Forgotten Realms setting, Godsbane was a magical sword which was actually a manifestation of the deity Mask and was wielded by the then-mortal Cyric during the Time of Troubles...
, used to slay both Bhaal and Leira), but inevitably these are short-lived, as he uses them wholly for self-serving purposes, and betrays all too easily (as seen by his weakening of Mask and subsequent stealing of his portfolio element of "intrigue").
The sinister demipower Velsharoon
Velsharoon
Velsharoon the Archmage of Necromancy, also known as the Vaunted, is a fictional deity of the Forgotten Realms Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting. Velsharoon is the undead demigod of necromancy, necromancers, evil liches, lichdom and undeath...
also despises him. The archnecromancer is well aware of Cyric's megalomania and of the deity's past and considers him to be a bungling clod who has lost much of his power and will continue to lose more. Cyric hates Velsharoon because of the latter's somewhat reluctant servitude to Azuth.
Company of the Ebon Spur
This fighting order established by Cyric had no leader. It is rumoured that the two clerics in charge of establishing admission standards into the order could not agree on what those standards should be and were engaged in intricate plots to kill each other off, since each was convinced that he was right. They both pretended that Cyric appeared to them and gave them precise orders, but the orders given to the two priests were contradictory. It was originally feared that when the order finally got off the ground, Cyricist crusaders would certainly lead fighters against rival churches for the glory of the Prince of Lies. Since, however, the army destroyed itself while plotting to attack Candlekeep.Literature
Cyric features prominently in the following novels:- The Avatar SeriesThe Avatar SeriesThe Avatar Series, originally The Avatar Trilogy, is a series of fantasy novels in the Forgotten Realms setting, covering the event known as the Time of Troubles.The books were:...
novels- Shadowdale (1989), by Scott CiencinScott CiencinScott Ciencin is an American author. He sometimes writes with Denise Ciencin.-Biography:Scott Ciencin is a New York Times bestselling author who writes adult and children's fiction and works in a variety of mediums including comic books. Among his works are novels written for the Dungeons &...
- Tantras (1989), by Scott Ciencin
- Waterdeep (1989), by Troy DenningTroy DenningTroy Denning is a fantasy and science fiction author and game designer.-Career:Denning joined TSR as a game designer in 1981, and was promoted a year later to Manager of Designers, before he moved to the book department...
- Prince of Lies (1993), by James LowderJames LowderJames Daniel Lowder is an American author and editor, working most often within the fantasy, dark fantasy, and horror genres.-Early life and education:...
- Crucible: The Trial of Cyric the Mad (1998), by Troy Denning
- Shadowdale (1989), by Scott Ciencin