God of Death and the Afterlife
Group (Pantheon): The Twelve
Domains: Death, Grave, Transition
Alignment: Neutral
Morai's holy symbol is a silver hourglass encircled by black ivy, symbolizing the finite nature of mortal life and the inevitability of death. The hourglass's sands are often depicted as glowing softly, representing souls passing from the mortal world into the afterlife. Followers wear this symbol as pendants or etch it into gravestones as a protective sigil against necromancy.
The faith of Morai functions as a structured but somber religious order dedicated to preserving the balance between life and death. Temples to Morai, called Sanctuaries of Passing, serve as both places of worship and mausoleums where funeral rites are performed.
The Eternal Shepherd
The spiritual leader of the church, responsible for overseeing burial traditions, funeral rites, and combating necromantic threats. This position is often held by someone considered a living saint by the faithful.
Soulwardens
High-ranking clerics and paladins dedicated to protecting sacred burial grounds and sanctuaries from desecration. They are also responsible for combating necromancers, restless spirits, and other threats.
Veilkeepers
Priests and monks tasked with conducting burial ceremonies, guiding the grieving, and offering spiritual support to communities.
Gravesworn
Traveling clerics who ensure that even the most remote villages receive proper funeral services. They also hunt down and destroy the undead wherever they are found.
Novices of the Last Rites
Acolytes in training, who care for graveyards and assist in performing burial ceremonies. They study the sacred texts of Morai and learn to face death with acceptance and reverence.
Saint Elyria Mourningheart (past)
Role: Eternal Shepherd during the Fourth Age
Legacy: Elyria led the faithful through the horrors of the Abyssal War, guiding thousands of souls lost to Malachor's forces. She performed countless final rites while wielding the Lantern of Mercy, a relic said to banish undead with its light. Her burial is one of the holiest places in Thaloria.
Arthen Greylight (past)
Role: Veilkeeper and Historian
Legacy: A legendary priest-scribe, Arthen chronicled the entire history of the Second and Third Ages, ensuring that the deeds of the fallen were never forgotten. His Scrolls of the Departed are still studied by historians, and his spirit is believed to guard the Great Archives of Aurensul.
Vaelen Blackthorn (past)
Role: Reluctant Champion of Death
Legacy: A cursed warrior turned Gravesworn, Vaelen was condemned to hunt down necromancers after his own resurrection in the Fifth Age. Bound by an unbreakable vow to serve Morai, he became a mythic figure whose final fate remains unknown. Some claim he still walks the land, a spectral guardian of the forgotten dead.
High Warden Myros Thalethorn (present)
Role: Current Soulwarden of the Great Necropolis
Legacy: Myros is a grim yet noble guardian of the Ebonspire Necropolis, the largest burial ground in Thaloria. He commands a host of paladins and clerics sworn to ensure that no necromantic force can breach its sacred wards. His order defeated the Voidbound Lich Arvethis during the Sixth Age's Year of Broken Graves.
Elara Nightveil (present)
Role: Traveling Gravesworn
Legacy: Known for her tireless work delivering last rites in war-torn lands, Elara is a revered figure among both commoners and kings. She is often called "The Silent Deliverer," as her coming is both feared and welcomed -- she offers peace to the dying and brings swift ends to restless undead.
The faith of Morai is widespread yet solemn, with Sanctuaries of Passing located near every major city and many smaller towns. While not as outwardly celebrated as the faiths of Vara or Thanor, Morai's faith is universally respected, as death comes to all. His followers are also prominent in the Kingdom of Ilyndor and the Stormmarch Republic, where necromantic threats remain a constant danger.
The faithful of Morai often work closely with those of Vara (light and life) and Theris (justice), especially when combating dark forces. However, they are suspicious of Naeris (twilight and secrets) and openly hostile to followers of Volrath (undeath and domination) and other necromantic cults.
Despite the gods' withdrawal, Morai's power endures through the Shining Tower's connection. However, his followers face increasing threats:
Morai, the God of Death and the Afterlife, is the serene and impartial guide of souls, ensuring the cycle of life and death continues without interruption. He is not a malevolent figure but a necessary presence, embodying the inevitability of mortality and the promise of peace beyond the mortal world. His followers understand that death is not to be feared but respected as a vital aspect of existence.
Morai is often depicted as a tall, serene figure clad in dark robes threaded with shimmering silver that resembles starlight. His face is sometimes obscured by a tranquil mask of pale stone, while his eyes glow with soft white or silver light. He carries a staff entwined with black ivy and topped with an ancient hourglass, symbolizing the passage of time and the inevitability of death.
Morai's faith endures in the quiet whispers of wind through graveyards and the gentle closing of tired eyes. His followers are grim but compassionate stewards of death's inevitability, offering comfort to the living and rest to the dead. His legacy is eternal, as sure as the turning of the seasons and the fading of the stars.
Source: Homebrew, 2024.
Trindle Spring Lutheran Church RPG Club | Mechanicsburg, PA