Morklav

Introduction

The patron goddess of necromancers. Morklav worship is proscribed across much of Jhordunne and is punishable by death in the Empire. The Black Inquisition currently hunts necromancers and Morklav worshippers. While most who follow Morklav are necromancers, there are also those who seek undeath.

Though the Aelferii do not worship Morklav, they are not unfriendly towards her followers, given how prevalent necromancy is among the Aelferii.

Depiction

Morklav is often shown as a woman of indeterminable age, dressed a black dress fit for a upper-class or noble woman of the Empire. Her hair is raven black and hangs to her mid-back. The right half of her body shows as a beautiful woman; the left half is cadaverous and decaying. Her left eye is milky white. She smells of a charnel house. She is always shown carrying an obsidian staff bearing three skulls atop it.

Theological Mission

The church of Morklav teaches that the dead are meant to serve the living. His priests are charged with creating undead to further the goals of Morklav as she seeks to turn the Jhordunne into a world of the living dead.

Social Mission

None to speak of.

Organization

The church is centered in Chthonia. In the Chthonic Empire, necromancy was freely practiced and the church thrived, with temples across the Empire’s holdings. Many of the temples in the Dragonspine Empire have been torn down and the priesthood has moved into hiding. Necromancy is still legal in a few of the eastern provinces of the Empire.

Central Authority

Vyrdon (Pontiff)

The supreme leader of the church of Morklav. Seated in Chtonia, the Vyrdon oversees a bureaucracy of both living and undead members.

Council of Sindar

Advisors to the Vyrdon. There are 13 members, 7 living and 6 undead. Led by the Xer Vyrdon, who is always living.

Dykhon (Primate)

Head of a region of Jhordunne outside of Chthonia. There is a Dykhon for the following regions:

• the Dragonspine Empire
• Mittgarn
• Sudenerich
• Quanshai
• Dak-Sahar
• The Vergrimmt Ost
• Sai Torgoth

Temple Hierarchy

Khandur (High Priest)

The master of a temple. Often the high priest is chosen from the local region.

Vykh (Priests)

A temple never has more than 13 Vykhs, no matter how large. The Vykh are responsible for creating undead and for carrying out the usually unpleasant rituals of Morklav.

Llykhshai (Acolytes)

Llykhshai are those in training to be a Vykh. A Llykhshai will remain so until an opening for a Vykh comes about, which may be years. They are tasked with all the menial work around the temple, as well as acting as messengers and cleaning up after the very messy rituals.

Clerical Orders

Var Ch’aen khe Vyrhak (The Order of the Bloodletting) – The only clerical order of Morklov, they are tasked with finding victims for ritual sacrifice when no willing participants are to be found.

Religious Practices

All the practices of Morklav are centered around the creation of undead. Some of those created are servants to the necromancer creating them and some are free, especially the more powerful undead brought back to unlife.

Archetype: The Necromancer
Titles: The Mistress of Undeath, The Lady of Eternal Life
Gender: Female
Sacred Animals: Bat
Sacred Colors: Black
Favored Weapons: Staff

Holy Days