=============================================================================== Cult of Io Devotionary Cards (Originally created by Taisch, with additions by Io/Janus) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A deck of cards. Each one shows a glowing gold and white cross on the back, on a field of red and black clouds. The front of each card shows a picture of someone important to the Cult of Io, captioned with an inspiration prayer, biblical quote, or story. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Card 0: Name: Io Looking back at you with a curious gaze is a young teenage girl. Her long locks of ebony hair trail in her face and down to her shoulders. Amber-brown eyes stare at you, trying to peer into your soul, if you have one. A small, rosebud mouth quivers slightly into a shy smile. She is skinny and petit in stature but none the less rather pretty. She is dressed rather casually in an outfit of blue jeans and a soft, white, cotton shirt. She wears no jewelry except for a small silver band upon the middle finger of her right hand. Soft leather sandals complete the look. Quote: "This is our Lady Io, who saved us from the terror of the Black Cloud, the terror that not all the Guards in the Citadel could defeat. For her sake, Jesus came down from his Heaven. The Son of God has annointed the Lady Io with holiness, proclaiming her our new Saviour." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Card 1: Name: Brandis A tall, thin man, with short red hair and piercing green eyes. He is dressed in a black button down shirt and black slacks, with silver buttons which seem to catch the light nearby. He carries himself with confidence, but not arrogance...more of a calm assurity. Quote: "This is Lady Io's First Disciple, Brandis. He has brought the word of Io to many in the city. He has shown us miracles and spoken to the Lady Io on our behalf." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Card 2: Name: Io defending the Abbey This card shows Io at the Abbey Gates, praying, along with a number of faceless monks and nuns, while a horde of demons charges towards them from the plains. The skies overhead are stormy, except for the light above Io, where the clouds part and the heavens shine down upon her. Quote: "The Lady Io saved our city from the mad demon hordes of Mephistopheles!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Card 3: Name: Dante Upon your initial inspection you see a small framed black man, whose dark skin allows him to move in and out of the shadows. Dante has closely shaved black hair that comes down in a widow's peak and is wearing tight, black leather pants and a tight leather shirt dyed red. A gold hoop hangs from each of his ears and black leather gloves adorn his hands. Two old looking pistols hang from his hips. However, when you look closer you notice two strange things. One, his ears are raised and slightly pointed, and two, his eyes have no pupils; the forest green irises are totally complete. Quote: "The Emissary proclaims the Lady Io to be our true Savior!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Card 4: Name: Io walks with Jesus This card shows Io in Market Square, bathed in heavenly light, meeting our Lord, Jesus Christ. Jesus is shown giving Io His blessing. Inset pictures show Io healing the sick and banishing demons. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Card 5: Name: Io converts the Guard This card shows Io in a grim prison cell confronting a savage brute in the red and black of the Citadel Regulars. A soft aura of golden light permeates Io's outline. She stretches out a gentle hand to bless the Guard... Quote: "The Lady Io's mercy overwhelms the Guard, for even their hard hearts are touched by grace when faced with the Saviour's forgiveness." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Card 6: Name: Io in the Marsh This card shows Io in the ash marsh, facing a slavering pack of white dogs with red ears, and battling against a dark, demonic, antlered figure over a black cauldron. Insets show an angel of fire and an angel of death. "The Lady Io gave her life to save us from the zombie plague! By the strength of her prayers she protected us. God lifted her again from the ashes, such was her faith!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Card 7: Name: Io and the Child This card shows Io behind an altar, with a small, blonde-haired girl standing before it. Io's arms are raised, her palms turned upwards towards the ceiling. Gentle beams of light filter down from the wounds of the crucifix above them, and all is surrounded by an aura of gold. Insets show a faceless monk and an angel with glowing eyes. Quote: "Just as the children knew Christ was their salvation two thousand years ago, so the children know now that Io is their Saviour!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Card 8: Name: The Baptism of Karna This card shows Io standing behind the altar at the Chapel Of St. Andrew at Wormwood Abbey. Karna stands on the other side in solemn devotion. Karna is a scrawny and small child, perhaps of 6 or 7 years, with large pale green eyes and golden-brown hair that falls down to her shoulders. She wears a white cotton shirt and a delicate gold necklace. Drawn in the borders of the card are two books: a book of Saints, and a book of Angels. Light radiates from the wounds of the Christ figure in the background, flooding the entire chapel. An inset circle shows Karna at the font of holy water. Quote: "The Lady Io saved a little child from Satan's evil!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Card 9: Name: Io drives the demon from Chessed This card shows Io again behind an altar. Chessed kneels before the altar. Chessed is a tall, thin man with pale skin and lots of black hair, covering his head, face and entire body. He doesn't look very impressive, but from his eyes sparkles a strange determinism and fanaticism. He is dressed in a dark blue suit with dress pants, black dress shoes, a freshly washed white shirt and an ugly purple tie. An inset shows Chessed with speech bubbles: "Curse Io! #$!*&%%!". Another inset shows Chessed begging for help, a deck of Io cards at his feet. Quote: "The Lady Io cast the Demon of Scorn from her faithful follower Chessed! Lo! No longer shall the demons blaspheme against the Lady Io or her Lord God." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Card 10: Name: Ezekiel Before you glows an incandescent being of pure energy. Tendrils of orange flame wrap around his seven foot form and his eyes gleam like miniature suns. His body is continuously shifting shade and texture as fire races around it like a crazed mob. Flaming hair ripples off his head, as waves of heat and light that nearly blinds with its glory emanates from his body. The ground upon which he stands is seared at his touch and when he speaks, flames gout from his mouth, accenting each word with the roar of a dragon An inset shows a tall man clad in black with a halo of smoke around his head, holding Io in his arms; another shows the figure of the Saviour standing before a pillar of flame, one arm lifted to the sky. Quote: "At her command are the Angels of Heaven. Praise be to the one who guides these fierce beings with a gentle hand!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Card 11: Name: Rachael Rachael is an angel of at least seven feet tall, with long blonde hair which flows half way down her back. The iris of her eyes are clear, and glow from a light that is within. She wears a long, white gown which drags along the ground as she walks, but remains spotlessly white and clean. Her age appears to be somewhere in the mid twenties, but her eyes betray the knowledge of ages. The skin of this woman is of a light complexion, and radiates the light around her. From her back extend four beautiful wings, the white feathers almost glow in the light. Something about her movements is strange, theya are all calm, smooth, precise, as if she planned out every action before doing it. Her words are soft and kind, but give the impression of immense knowledge and power. Corner inset shows the angel within the Celestial Amphitheater, the Lady Io at her side, and both are surrounded by a glowing light from Heaven. Quote: "The Angel of Knowledge is at the service of the Saviour. Give thanks to she who toils for our safety!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Card 12: Name: Azrael A tall, dark being clad in a robe of deepest sable. The robes billow about his skeletal form like ink poured across a page, tattered at the hems with age and decay. From deep within the cowl, two glowing orbs of amber can be seen.. Like the eyes of a cat they are, almond-shaped with the pupils slit vertically. Within his right hand, he holds a gleaming, wicked scythe. In his left, he holds an open, black book. Tiny names are printed upon it in what seems to be blood. An inset shows the Angel of Death walking through the Market Square, a wisp of pale light whirling about him. Quote: "Even Death is at the beck and call of the Lady Io..." ===============================================================================