Cult of Death

Many agree that Cult of Death is rather a mysterious one, while still being allowed by the imperial authorities.

Nobody can really tell when the Cult was established, nor by whom. There are theories but not a single one can be trusted more than another. The most discussed one, however, is this one:

In the age when the Empire was still waiting for its time to raise, there was a monk named Lorn. He was traveling the lands and where he stopped, there was always a fresh dead body to be buried. Many suspected Lorn to be doing the killings himself, but there never was any proof. Nor was he taking anything from the bodies, so why would he kill them in the first place?

When a man died and Lorn arrived at the place shortly after, he sat down by the body and remained there for four days and four nights. It did not matter whether the person died in his house or fell into an inaccessible ditch, Lorn always made his way to the body, as close as possible.

Bystanders never knew what to do with Lorn. Some allowed this, others were trying to cast him out. All in vain, for Lorn was always around, always silent. Then, still without a word, he simply stood up and left, leaving body behind him, finally allowing for a proper burial.

But sometimes... Sometimes the dead rose back to their feet and the fourth day. It was still them, many witnesses said, but at the same time not them at all. The dead that were breathing again, without a mistake, turned to Lorn and then departed with him. Even if Lorn visited the village again after some time, he came alone

The dead that Lorn freed from the afterlife were adventuring on their own. They always seemed to have a goal, an objective they needed to achieve. Some of them died again, when dueling with corrupt monarchs, or fighting with the vile beasts. Others were seen time and again, until they died of old age. Some just disappeared, without a single trace.

All of them, from the moment they opened their eyes again, were called Lorn’s flesh. Lorn himself marked them as well. They were bald, whole body hairless, garbs always the color of black and grey. Eyes of purest blue colour. And scars on their faces. A letter Y, just below each eye, to mark them for what they are. Yargt, meaning flesh in the language of the forefathers. For, it is speculated, they possess the soul no longer, only the body remains. They usually talk but a little, their feelings dull.

During the forming of the Empire, it was these walkers, these servants of Death, that took a part in unification. First Emperor himself was saved not once by them. Four of the Lorn’s flesh were present at all times around the first Emperor. They were his guard and they fulfilled their duty as they should - to a man they have died, protecting their beloved Emperor. It is rumoured that Giesser and Death are companions, locked in the sacred union, for Death is a woman, Giesser’s lover.

Yargts have proved their loyalty and are considered true servants of the Empire.

Still remaining a mystery, many believe the Emperor is the one controlling their actions in the present days. Since many heroes raised from the ranks of Yargt, the whole Cult was later on built around them. There are priests, there are temples, and there is a whole mysterious world under the surface of the name *Cult of Death*.