Oen

**Oen**, also known as *the Dead God*, *The Lord of Nothing,* and *The Firstborn,* is a Major Deity of the World of Aedron, holding the domains of Death and Destruction. It is rumored that he holds a third domain that has as yet gone unrevealed. Oen is Chaotic Neutral, though his followers come from many backgrounds.

Oen disappeared some years ago, and his clerics and worshipers all lost their connections with him. Those still faithful claim they are being tested, and that the Dead God cannot die.

Temples to the Dead God are rare, as his faithful tend to keep to themselves, and due to the faith losing all of their powers. His greatest stronghold remains the Sanctuary of the Fallen in the ruins of Old Ismere. Those wishing to pledge themselves to the lord of the dead typically make a pilgrimage to that blasted place to make an offering.

Oen worship is nearly unheard of in the Southern Continent, so there exist no major temples of any kind dedicated to the Master of Death. Nevertheless, his holy day is celebrated in certain areas, even if its connection with the deity is not strongly emphasized.

The Death Whisper Cult were the first to worship Oen since his return and subsequent re-destruction.

## Creation

In the earliest era of time, when all that existed was the pure creative force known as Eden, the first of the modern gods was born. The direct counter to life was the first to be birthed from the Mother, Oen the god of Death was the first being to be formed. In many ways Oen is the direct Echo and opposite of Eden, fulfilling the role of Destroyer to her creations, and killer of her life.

## Influence

Oen was once a powerful and influential god, he had worshipers in all realms, and those who gave him sacrifice and praise to be spared his touch, or to have a moment with a lost loved one, or even to bring those lost back to the realms of the living. However now he is in a state of nothingness, his worshipers are powerless, and his temples fall to ruin. prayers to him go unanswered, and none know where the god of Death dwells.

## The Cycle

Over the ages, however, there came to be a cycle. Oen would wax and wane in power, his divine powers would slip into nothingness, and his followers would be left without his divine presence or power. It was unknown where he would go or how this would come to be, only that time would pass and eventually his presence returned and those who worshiped at his altars again received powers.

## Cooperative Creation

Oen did not participate so much in the various creations of his younger siblings, aside from granting each and every race an end. He blessed them all with a final breath, a death. Were it not for his gift, he explained, then all works they create would be meaningless and that only by virtue of something ending, does it ever truly matter.

## Allies and Enemies

Oen holds no Allies or Enemies among his siblings. He simply *IS,* and the other gods exist in a state of respect, bordering on fear, when dealing with their Elder sibling. Rumors abound of the other gods banding together and removing Oen from the pantheon each time his powers wane, however this is unproven and many simply shrug their shoulders, not caring for the 'why' of it, only that the god of Death appears to be gone, for now.

## The Feast of Oen

A special day of celebration and reflection, the Feast of Oen, is held annually on October 31st. In the Kin-Tau Empire, it is marked with communal street dining, in which table seats are left symbolically open in remembrance of lost loved ones. Festivities also include the creation and distribution of the confectionery "candied clouds", a spun-sugar treat popular with citizens of all ages. Children are tasked with the special duty of operating the bellows used to heat the mixture during its preparation – a job reserved especially for them, and not at all suited for foreign adults, no matter how well-intentioned they may be.

Appropriately, the Feast of Oen is also the birthday of the powerful necromancer Karis.

## Symbols

Oen's holy symbol is a circle with three waves in rotation, found in several different forms. The Symbol itself is said to represent the three states of existence, being Life, Death, and Undeath.

## Source Citations

1. ↑ *Check Please!* – "The Feast of Oen" (C1 S2 E54)