Phenax

Description
Phenax is the god of cheats and liars. He governs gambling, deception, betrayal, isolation, planning, and secrets. He is worshipped by criminals and others who wish to subvert the rules. Phenax is also associated with undead, who's souls are said follow his path back from the afterlife. It is said that Phenax was once a mortal who was the first to escape the underworld. Cheating death this way likely set him on a path to join the pantheon.

Myths
The tales told of Phenax's deeds speak of his duplicity, cunning, and wit.

The Path of Phenax
Phenax was once a mortal who, like all mortals, passed on to Erebos' care in the afterlife when his time among the living came to an end. But Phenax found a way to escape the Underworld by sacrificing his identity to the memory-draining waters therein. He was able to cross the Astral Sea wrapped in a shred of Athreos' cloak. Since he had no identity, Athreos couldn't detect him, and thus Erebos couldn't use his great lash to pull Phenax back. When he emerged back into the realm of mortals, he did so as the first of the undead. In time, others discovered this quandary of metaphysics, which is now known as the Path of Phenax.

Black Oak of Ortus
Before Ortus became a necropolis, it was a thriving city akin to Horizon or Taernsby. When the city fell before Phenax's assembled forces, some of the populace begged the god of lies to spare them the touch of Erebos' dread lash. Never one to miss an opportunity to cheat Erebos, Phenax made a solemn promise to those asking for his mercy, assuring them that they wouldn't be forced into the afterlife, on his honor. Soon afterward, the undead that had invaded the city murdered these people to the last one, whereupon Phenax, true to his word, bound their bodies and souls to a great oak, making a terrifying amalgam of undeath to guard Ortus and haunt the living for eternity.

Feud with Nylea
A pair of accomplished hunters, both fervent followers of Nylea. had a bet with one another to prove who was better with a bow. After countless tests found them equally matched, the hunters' rivalry drew Phenax's attention. Assuming the form of a dryad, Phenax goaded and taunted the hunters. Though amusing at first. Phenax's words cut deep. making the hunters careless. Thus, when the dryad suggested a blindfolded test of marksmanship, the hunters agreed. Once blinded, Phenax positioned the hunters to shoot one another. In the moment they fired, though, Nylea noticed Phenax's trick. She curved her hunters' arrows mid-flight and multiplied their number. Phenax's disguise shattered as he was riddled with arrows that pinned him to a great tree. Nylea appeared to the trapped god, mocked his pointless duplicity, and warned him never to threaten her followers again. She then left him to struggle free from the deeply embedded arrows, an escape that took him over a week. During that time, the god concocted plot after plot to have his revenge on Nylea. Some tales claim that this embarrassment directly led to tragedy for Nylea's favorite dryad companion, while others warn that Phenax's revenge has only just begun.