Marfik, the Maelstrom -- God of Chaos, Mayhem, and Anarchy "Chaos is the law of existence while Order is merely the dream of man." -Anonymous "Chaos often breeds life, while Order breeds only habit." -Anonymous "What we imagine as Order is merely the prevailing form of Chaos." -Anonymous "In the beginning, there was Chaos. Chaos nurtures progress. Progress enhances Order. Order tries to defy Chaos at all cost. But my friend, if and when Order wins the final battle against Chaos, I will mourn because progress will be dead." -Anonymous Marfik is the pure embodiment of Chaos. The most common story of his awakening is a tale of imprisonment. In a time long since forgotten by most, a being known as Xareth wielded the powers of Chaos to further his goals in the lands of Pyrathia. The powerful influence of Chaos affected even his immortal psyche and pushed him into a constant state of War and Destruction. With Xareth's demise, Marfik finally had his chance to begin to form, only to be cut short by the concentration of his power into a mere mortal by the name of Yopparai. Having already been blessed for many years by Yigg, his constant source of Insanity and Pleasure, his mortal mind couldn't even begin to properly wield Marfik's power, and he slowly entered a downward spiral of pure Insanity. The fleshy prison which served to keep the power of Marfik from coalescing into the Maelstrom he was destined to become also gave him a more personal view of Pyrathia's natives. Able to gaze upon the mortals and do nothing, he saw many that would do well to serve him that had been turned away by all others. He swore that he would never forget the forsaken that he had seen and been unable to help. He finally received a chance to escape his confines when Insanity finished taking Yopparai's mind and made him believe that Chaos had existed before the Elements. This mental instability ultimately led to the pretender's demise, as well as a sum of gratitude towards Yed. After Yopparai and Khore's mutual demise, the imprisoned essence of Chaos now freed went into seclusion so that he could regain his former power. The church of Marfik is composed of such varied and sundry individuals as the wanton criminal and the blind beggar; he accepts any who would aid the forsaken or contribute to the downfall of Order. The rallying cry at many a Marfikian sermon is a general shout of discontent. Depending upon which nation the preacher is in, the message of his sermon will vary, but unflinchingly, it calls out to the oppressed and disenfranchised, urging them towards the destruction of the abominable rule. Marfikian are generally found amongst the slaves, lower classes, and outcasts who have not flourished under the rule of merchants, nobles, or kings. Those who recognize the plight of these people also find an easy home within the Maelstrom. He welcomes all, be they griffon or necromancer, as long as they do not hold Order within their heart. Followers of Marfik are encouraged to reject established ethos and law as they see fit. Rebellion is a tool used by his followers to achieve a world where they will ultimately find their place, a world where everything is not just over-turned, but the shackles are smashed with a large hammer.