Avatar of Death

Death is an evil Avatar yet his purpose is more to consume Life than directly opposing the forces of good. Death simply sees life as the waste of time before mortals get to him and the longer they live the more he hungers for them. He is also in many ways their judge and the only hope mortals have is the the court of Justice ruled by the Avatar of Justice. Will find that they have recourse to another deity, that they have earned divine protection for their souls. Any not so protected are for Death to deal with and judge as he sees fit.

Death is a creature of dark humours and impassive mien. He strikes without mercy or warning and unlike Darkness he sees no advantage is ever hiding who and what he is. He enjoys fear almost as much as death itself. He created mortal war and loves famine and disease because of the huge amounts of lives they bring him.

He is the creator of the undead as a possibility, a curse and even some would argue a race. Almost any creature can now be animated by the fell arts of necromancy that he has passed on, first to human wizards (So afraid of death, due to their pathetically short lives) and eventually to all.

He wields the Armlet of Death personally and is and is linked along with Justice to the fates of the linkable Armlet of Soul and Armlet of Stamina. These objects are the greatest manifestations of their power on Tal, in the time of mortals.

As both he and Justice claim both Armlets they agreed to make them linkable. Due to this fact if the Armlets are linked they will become the single most powerful thing on the face of Tal. Death and Justice both strive to ensure that their forces and followers obtain both armlets and seal them together, so its combined power can be wielded in their name. This conflict is on going but since the Avatars’ worship has been all but abandoned there is a great possibility that unaligned persons will be the ones to lay their hands on these objects of incredible power. Both Avatars would work against this unhappy event, but if it occurred their battle might change into a struggle for the allegiance and soul of whomever wielded their Armlets.

Death values a person’s capacity to kill and their ability to prevent or control their own death. He surprisingly values order and loyalty especially in his form as god of war.

The law of Death abides by Justice since that Avatar’s arrival. He assigns the dead to where they are supposed to go but shows absolutely no mercy or leniency. Though he known for offering deals and exchanges these are never in the best interests of mortals. There is also the ‘styles’ these are the correct and approved methods of Death and are pleasing unto him. Tue clerics of Death often take vows to only kill using the styles and some to only slay using some or even only one of the styles as a form of exact obedience.

He is little interested in history. He sees all of life and creation simply as a timer to eventual utter destruction, death and eventual oblivion.

## Appearance

Like all Avatars, Death can take any form s/he chooses. Death can appear as his symbol a skull, blatant and mocking. He appears as an Avatar more often though, usually taking one of two images.

That of a cloaked skeletal figure with a skull for a head and blazing white hot eyes that burn red when he is angered, wielding a symbolic weapon of harvest.

A huge man dressed from head to foot in all concealing jet black plate-mail. The armour is decorated in skulls and other insignia of death. He wields a huge full-blade sword. The swords sheath and pommel are as black as his armour but its blade is bone white.

Under the armour and the cloak, Death wears his Armlet.

Death has appeared on occasion as a sick child. These events and people seem to have a link but historians and storytellers are unable to agree on the link. Some argue that it is to speak with certain ‘favoured’ mortals, others that it allows him to spread further disease and others suggest even more outlandish notions. In short no one is sure.

## Disposition

Death is a creature of his element, he does not truly live himself. He has laughter and joy only in the death of those that can die. His only frustration is in those that refuse to die quickly enough or prolong their time (Usually through divine intervention).

He is a cold god but one that deals in completely in absolutes. You WILL die it is certain, if you want anything from me then for the rest of forever then worship me now, is his take on it.

## Followers

His followers are motivated by fear and the pursuit of ultimate power. They believe as the only true certainty that death and the control of death are the most potent powers on Tal.

His followers include not only the living but also the dead and the undead who have sworn themselves into soul-bound service to him.

Some rise to Praetor of Death, joining the Tara-Vor.

## Hierarchy

The church of Death is widespread but un-unified. In many places Death’s worship is simply the worship of a god of war, in others outright adulation of the act of death itself. Often shamanistic and necromancer organisations include elements of Death worship and this further clouds the issue. Many who would pale at the thought of praying to Death think nothing of offering a sacrifice or prayer on the alter or Barak or one of the other other faces of Death

## Planar Followers

Death rules the Plane of Death and its denizens..

### The Restless

These are more powerful or unusual undead and have two key abilities to differentiate them from their lesser brethren. Restless can move between planes without being destroyed and they can think for themselves… after a fashion.

* Grim Knights
* Ghosts including Phantoms and Fades
* Liches
* Shades and Wraiths
* Skeletal Abominations
* Wights and Neverwights

(See monster manual for regular undead such as skeletons, ghouls, zombies, mummies etc)

### Inexorable Fate

These bring about Death’s will and the eventual ruin of life. It is through these among others that Death’s inevitable victory is assured.

* The Battlesong
* Entropic Reavers with scythes of entropy
* Lich Lords such as Scaverous
* Death's Touch Assassins
* Dustbreaker
* The Executioner
* Robe
* Obliteraters
* The Slaughterer
* The Withered Watch aka the Withered, the Wither Watch, or the Withering Watch.

### Others

* The Broken Lynx
* Death Wardens those who guard the souls of death to the judgement.
* The Fathomless or The Fathomless Legion
* The Grave Guides