The True Life of Cyric

The True Life of Cyric was the unauthorized but highly accurate biography of Cyric, the mortal adventurer who ascended to godhood during the Time of Troubles in the mid–14 century DR. "I, too, wish you to set down the story of Cyric's life, but I will tell you the truth. And with this true life of the Prince of Lies, we will show those who worship him just how deluded and dangerous he can be."

- Oghma, speaking to his faithful scribe Rinda.

Description
"Though men may try to wrest the reins of their destiny from the gods, they are all born at the mercy of Nature, bound in a hundred ways to those around them. This is how the gods insure mortals are tied to their world of toil and sorrow. Cyric of Zhentil Keep was no exception."

- The opening line of The True Life of Cyric.

The book was a written strong rebuke of the Cyricist faith, during what was perhaps the peak of its influence across the Realms. It was authored by Rinda of Zhentil Keep, a devoted scribe of Oghma and daughter of Bevis the Illuminator.

The opening chapter detailed Cyric's childhood, from his birth by a destitute prostitute of Zhentil Keep to his adoption by a wealthy Sembian mercantile family. It shared the story of how Cyric killed his adoptive parents when they failed to appease him. It ended with a passage about Cyric's ineptitude at surviving in the real world and outlined his return to Zhentil Keep as a slave.

Powers
During its production, The True Life was protected by magical means so that its whereabouts could not be discerned by Cyric or his followers.

History
"In this, the Year of the Banner, the people of Zhentil Keep lost their true beliefs, and an army of monsters arose out of the wastes to punish them. Little did they suspect that their god had gathered this army together for the sole purpose of terrifying the Zhentish into slavery."

- The ending of The True Life of Cyric.

The True Life of Cyric was written and published committee of conspirators in the. This group included Fzoul Chembryl, the High Priest of Bane, General Vrakk of the Zhentilar, the book's author Rinda, along with two deities that viewed Cyric as a grave threat against the Faerûnian pantheon, Oghma and Mask. When Cyric commissioned Rinda to pen the Cyrinishad―a magical tome that converted readers to the Cyricist faith―the group worked on The True Life in secret while Cyric schemed to consolidate power across Faerûn.

After the Cyrinishad was completed, Cyric visited Rinda and Fzoul in Zhentil Keep to ensure his plot would be fulfilled. He ordered Fzoul to kill Rinda, and used her blood to make the Cyrinishad impervious to harm or alteration. Cyric revealed he was aware of their own scheme to write The True Life, but was unimpressed with the manuscript upon examining it for himself. After Cyric left Rinda dying and Fzoul to carry out his orders, Oghma and Mask intervened to preserve the copy of The True Life, save Rinda's life, and shroud their actions from Cyric's eyes.

In the end, Fzoul Chembryl was forced to perform a public reading of the Cyrinishad before the people of Zhentil Keep in Cyric's temple. Before he read aloud the final section―which would secure the book's magic and seal their fate as future Cyricists―Fzoul swapped to the text from The True Life. This final passage described Cyric's plot to deceive and manipulate the Zhent people. Zhentil Keep shortly thereafter, when it was invaded by an army of dragons and giants which Cyric had rallied to maintain his stranglehold over the Zhent people.

Some time later in the, Cyric was forced to listen to a reading of The True Life at his trial by the Circle of Twelve Powers. This gracious act led to Cyric the Mad regaining some semblance of his sanity, and allowed him in part to retain his divine status.

Appearances

 * Novels
 * Avatar series (Prince of Lies • Crucible: The Trial of Cyric the Mad)