PPI: Death  SPI: Corruption, Disease, Decay Areas: Funeral Rites, Afterlife, Undead and the Coming of Night Aliases: The Lady of the Cold Embrace, Soultaker Allies: Garalax, Ballog, Sembral, Loralis Foes: Tyre, Celenia, Kreaon, Thr Symbol: A bleached white skull. Holy Book: Necras Librum (The Book of the Dead) Outer Realm: Nathalfertium Wor Alignment: All

Diadria is the queen of the dead. But more than just the ruler of those that have crossed over, she is the force that assigns their allotted span of years walking the living world that guides them to their final destination at the time of their demise. A power that is both neutral and necessary but also cold and hungry, Diadria does not despise the living, for she knows they will one day be hers, but she cannot tolerate the way most mortals fight against the natural end of to life's cycle. She is the presence that hovers over the terminally ill laying in their bed or the wounded soldier whose life is spilling out on a battlefield. She waits patiently for their last breath to release their spirit and guides it on its way through the realms of the dead. All come to her first to guide them to their judgment and then put them on their road to their final destination in the afterlife. As such she is one of the most powerful of the gods, a primeval force that holds the final fate of everything in her cold and unforgiving embrace.

The Church of Diadria

CLERGY:	Clerics and Specialty Priest (Caretaker and Darkbringer).
CLERGY ALIGN:	LN, N, CN, LE, NE, CE

Dogma and Beliefs:

    "When I awoke, it was to the clarion calls of the circling carrion birds above me. With slow and pain filled deliberation I removed my dented helm and looked about the battlefield searching for some sign of our victory. It was there, in the gray mists of that morning that I saw something else. At first I took the shape moving slowly amongst the men as one of the Ja'byne or those who would rob the dead, the looters of battlefields. However, as the figure drew near I saw that this one did not carry the bloody daggers and the baskets filled with life paid riches. No, this one walked softly amongst the bodies stopping at the dead to do them homage to release their souls to the next life. I saw her ease the pain of those who were caught still in their throes of death and she quieted them for their final journey. Finally it caught in my throat who she was and a sense of dread washed over me as Diadria walked among the corpses and living that morning taking her due from our war. She stopped once before me and with a casual smile she placed a cold hand upon my forehead and intoned quietly in a voice that spoke of darker places deep inside a woman. She said that now was not my time and she would wait for me when the time came and then abruptly she turned and walked on. As the sense of dread left my body, I set to tearing my mail from my body. I wrestled with it's weight until I stood, freed from my metal skin and stooped from my own wounds. Then, wearing but the rags of my bloody clothing, I walked on, following the Lady in the fields of the dead for I had found my god." - Excerpt from the Necras Librum

    All things have a spirit, be it the elemental spirit of stone or the fluid one of water, the tiny spark of the insect or the greatest intellect of mankind. This is true of what is even normally considered nonliving. All things will thus die and their spirit move on to judgment under the care of Diadria. The transition is generally an easy one with the spirit transforming into the initial energies it was formed out of at the time of creation and returning to the Abyss. The spirit of the living have a tougher time of it, as they, through the changes incurred throughout aging and the ability to influence and be influence by others, are usually corrupted during life. The worst of the transitions are with those that have sentience or self will. These have the greatest chance to make mistakes, distance themselves from creation, pollute their spirit and corrupt their being will living. Thus the afterlife is needed as a time of inner meditation, a journey of realization and introspection that allows all things to once more return to the infinity of the cosmos from which it came. It is Diadria's task to guide these spirits on their way back to perfection.
    Diadria is not the death bringer, only life can bring death. She is the guide that leads the living to the afterlife. Though it is her decision when a beings life should come to an end, this was set in fate long before any was given life. What the living make of life while they have it and how they may bring about their own death is theirs to decide. Diadria never alters this predetermined fate, she can not, though she may manipulate or influence the actions of others and so cause it to be cut short.
    Death is the ultimate and final outcome of every spirit's natural cycle. Anything that represents otherwise is false. It is through life that one is  learning and preparing for death. Life is short and death eternal. The passing of the living to their eternal destination is decided by each spirit as it walks through the realms of the dead and uses their previous experiences to find their everlasting place in death. Thus like a babe in life that starts out knowing nothing and learns through mistakes, life is only the start of the natural cycle for each spirit and is mostly filled with mistakes. It is only in death that one is finally able to know themselves.

    Most worshippers accept their end peacefully and without fear. They try to live their allotted time in life perfecting themselves and so making their journey to their final destination through the realm of the dead an easy one. Doing this, and through their worship of the Lady, they ensure a quick journey to their deserved afterlife. Some hurry their end when they see it closing and take their life before its appointed time. The Lady does not care. Diadria would rather the living accept their appointed span and live it fully, for she is patient and knows all come to her,  but she accepts all who die at any time regardless of how they are sent or decide to come to her. Though murder empowers Garalax more than the natural occurring or accidental death does her, all come to her in the end. Though destruction gives Ballog his due, that destroyed comes to Diadria. Through conflict much is brought to its end and Sembral is strengthened, still all that lives will meet death and fall under her control. Thus Diadria is the final arbiter of everything. She always gets her due. Nothing escapes death.
    The bodies of the dead are something of great interest and given respect by the worshipper of Diadria. Normally a corpse will not be desecrated or molested and if time permits will be cared for through the use of funeral rights. Be it burial, entombment, pyre, mumification or ritualistic cannibalism, some form of final pronouncement is made for the dead to aid them reaching their final destination. If the dead is left without some pronouncement of their worth, the spirit lingers near the corps unsure of itself and where it should go. This increases its time till it finds its ultimate place in eternity. Some try to return to their corpse and so return to life. Some actually are successful in this, becoming undead. A few attempt to take the body of another living thing in order to remain alive. When a corpse is ritually cared for the spirit realizes it is dead and have no fear of it. This helps the spirit to find their own road to their final destination.
    Diadrian worshippers will not rob the dead who have been entombed or buried on hollowed ground or any corpse sanctified by Diadrian funeral rights. Neither will they accept or use any items so gained, if it is known to them. Such items have been also sanctified and so belong to the dead, theirs for use in the afterlife. The more dedicated and devout followers of Diadria will go out of their way to return such times to their proper place when they learn of whence they came or to who they once belonged. A Diadrian worshiper hold no such respect for items passed on to the living. These they feel have been thus thrown away by their one time owners and so are for the use of any living person who comes upon them. An object that is sanctified to one of the dead may be taken and used if the permission of the caretaker of the hollowed ground permits and thus releases it again for use by the living. Their permission is usually gained only after they have had some sign form or personally been told to do so by Diadria.

    One of the key principles of the Diadrian Church is that after life comes death and then judgment. Neither can be avoided. It is Diadria's power and duty to guide the dead and sort them out so they arrive in their proper place in the cosmos. This gives Diadria a great deal of power and influence not only over the dead but also the living. She can manipulate the living with promises of a quick and pleasant transition or threats of a slow and miserable journey. She can hurry the process to those she favors or prolong it for those she does not. Though she cannot decide their final fate she can make her own judgment of the spirit in her care and pronounce sentence and influence their  journey to their ultimate end, making it immensely easy or incredibly difficult. These sentences must be given in proportion to the merits or flaws that the spirit has gained in life. Diadria can only do so much for so long or shorten and aid to a certain degree, but the definition of just what she can or can't do is liberal. Unless another god comes to petition or challenge one of her judgments, it may go unnoticed. A pure spirit dedicated to another god in life, that lived with little cause to feel guilt or regret could not be held long by Diadria before their god noticed and came to help them to their own realm. So a spirit's ultimate fate is in their own hands, decided by their actions in life and Diadria can only influence it so much for good or evil, but just how much depends on who is noticing.
    Each spirit sent to her walks what is known as the Path of Justification. They walk this path for as long as is needed for their spirit to be judged. The judgment is actually a part of the cycle that decides what a spirit is to be in the afterlife for eternity. Each spirit judges itself if left alone, in a state and description of its own creation. It will struggle with all that it was and did during life and then decide what is best for it in eternity. Diadria can make this easier or harder but cannot actually decide what the final outcome will be. Other gods will petition Diadria and send aid to a spirit that had dedicated itself to them in life to bring them along what roads they desire, helping it to find its finally rest with them. Though they can give help they also cannot make the final judgment for the spirit. It is on this Road of Justification that some spirits become locked to one place in life and become mired in their past. Ghosts, revenants and other undead are the final resting place for some of these until they are destroyed or somehow once again find their way and resume their walk on the Road. Diadria can slow a passage down the Road, put obstacles in a spirits way and in other ways confuse them, even force them to remain within their now deceased body or even another's. She can also quicken a spirit's journey and personally lead the spirit along the proper path, escort it to their destination and speed up their time on the Road and final judgment. But she cannot actually decide their ultimate end destination without persuading the spirit to accept it. Battles for the ultimate resting place of these spirits can take years, even millennia.
    When the dead are animated, it is only by the permission of Diadria. Even the  mage who can animate a single creature, can do so only by her allowance. While Diadria normally does not care and will not deny the creation of undead, it is in her prerogative to do so if she chooses. Thus it is normal for any who have this ability to at least give Diadria respect and a modicum of worship. In the case of higher order undead, those with self will and still holding their memories from life, each within the plane of the living can only be so by draining some of Diadria's personal power. As the spirits walk the Road, the energies they create are hers to use. These powers can be given to her living servants to manipulate the living world or personally by her to manipulate the realm of the dead. Those spirits allowed to use this energy for themselves thus draw it away from her and so these types of undead are much more closely watched and less commonly allowed to be created. Allowing such is one of the greater boons of Diadria and the only means at which she will let some remain active in the living world even after death. Diadria can grant immortality as well and chose not to come for someone or grant their release form life. Depending on the means by which this is done, it can be Diadria's greatest gift to the living or the greatest curse she could bestow. Certain rituals enacted by the living can even force Diadria's granting immortality. but in most of these cases the Lady will treat these people with great contempt and their final judgment will be slow and difficult.

    Priests of Diadria worship death in all its forms and seek to aid in the inevitable life's end. While serving death, most priests of Diadria do not go on ruthless killing sprees. they prefer to wait for death to occur naturally. Be it through age, disease, accidents of lawful execution, the final result for all things is to one day die. Diadria has no reason to hurry this. It is presumptuous for others to decide when it is time for a being to be called to Diadria. Those priests that follow this ideal are a part of society and bring peace to the minds of the terminally ill or the families of those who have passed. Through their ministrations they help to assure a final resting place for the dead and an easy transition trough the afterlife. The Diadrian priests are respected and their special abilities greatly desired by a world where a corpse can be animated or come back to haunt the living. A priest of Diadria will not willingly heal someone who is dying. Even though they can use healing to help with minor wounds, even these respected parts of society will not help to stay off death when life is nearing its natural end.
    But not all serve death in this more respected way and are given the task by the Lady to cull out the week, promote actions that will bring about death and aid in conquest. It is their duty to bring an end to those things that have fought against the natural call of death and bring them to her. You can't cheat death and when you do it will come for you, relentlessly, without remorse, until you have finally succumbed to its grasp. The priests that serve death in this way kill at Diadria's bequest and most take great pleasure in doing so.

The Necrotic Credo

• Death is patient.
• Death is eternal.
• Death is perfection.
• One must respect the dead and the spirit of the dead.
• One must commemorate the dead and ease their spirit to judgment.
• One must have sympathy for those that do not understand that life is not the reason for existence.
• All will know death as the ultimate destination of the spirit.
• All will worship Diadria to be swiftly taken to their final destination.
• All will accept their allotted time living and not fight the call of death when it comes.
• It is forbidden to return a spirit to life.
• It is forbidden to stay off the oncoming of death.
• It is forbidden to rob the sanctified dead.

    The Lady of Death has a great many avatars but the one most often described is that of an hauntingly beautiful woman with alabaster skin, blood red lips, black eyes and cloaked in dark robes. Sometimes she is hooded and at others she is draped by a dark lacy veil. Her touch is always described as cold and her voice commanding but only a whisper. She has also been seen as a cadaverous or skeletal figure in tattered black robes, often wielding a scythe and mounted on a skeletal horse.

Alters and Idols:

    Diadria's alters are always built of polished and finished stone. The purer the stone the better. White and black alabaster is favored but venires marble is also used. The alter is also always the size of a sepulcher, able to house a body and the top has groves to allow for the flow of blood.
    Some alters also have an idol of the Lady of Death. These are made of bone. They may be grotesque piles arranged in strange patterns or placed in such a way to examplify some agonizing death. But most are just a skeleton or even a skull. Statues are never used, the idol must be a real skeleton or creted of real bone

Major Centers of Worship:

      The bulk of Diadria's worship is centered in Ruch with large temples in the towns of Proudtown, Cleftville and Rattletown Branch. The next largest temple is situated in Windtown and there are also small temples in Hilltown Forge, Sorrowtown, Springsoniatown Forge, Heartville and Magmaville. Almost every large town and all cities have a shrine in their cemetery.  Most villages have a plot of hollowed ground where those able to pay can be buried and be forever laid to rest.

Worshipers:

     Almost everyone will at least once in their life give worship and due respect to Diadria. At most times this is just before or at the time of death. But there are those that realize the natural cycle and end result of life is death and so prepare for it. Worshippers of Diadria do not always come in the form of those that would see all dead. Most would see everyone live to their appointed time and ready themselves for death and then the afterlife. Diadrian worshippers can be of any race, gender and social status. The worship of death can bring a peace to many as they realize the end result of life is to die and so are prepared for it. One of the greatest fears of the living is death, but those that worship Diadria do not suffer from this fear. They know their worship of the Lady, given before their time comes, will ensure that they have a place of stature waiting for them in the afterlife and a quick journey to it when they finally pass on.

The Clergy:

      The clergy of Diadria are typically a very serious lot. There function is to aid in the passing of life to its eternal judgment. This does not lend itself to frivolity or amusement. Though it is possible for them to be easy going and have a good sense of humor, there is still and always an undeniable aura of finality in the Diadrian cleric. Most become resigned to living a life alone in their duty to their goddess. It is strictly prohibited to bring forth life and so most of the clergy is celibate. Some clergy do have sexual relations but only in ways that insure no possibility of pregnancy occurring.

Church Hierarchy:

      "Death is the ultimate in fairness. Young and old, rich and poor, death is equal to all." –Maern Buran , Caretaker of Diadria (born 701-)

      "Final judgment comes at death, the sooner you are judged, the less you need to worry about." – Hastor Graham, Darkbringer of Diadria (born 631 to died 684)

     All levels of the Diadrian church serve death in one way or another. They dedicate themselves to the recording of, teaching about, bringing forth and giving of death. They attempt to ready others and themselves for death. Bringing the understanding that life is only a preparation for death and to ease other living things along in the cycle is the general concern of the Clergy. Though it can also be the instigators of death and the personal hand that so ends life, this is not the purpose of the clergy. There purpose is to spread the understanding and erase the fear of death, make others realize it is a natural thing to be accepted and even longed for or desired, the final conclusion in the cycle of their ceration.

    The following are the recognized callings found in the Diadrian Church. They are each of greater power and importance in serving death, but all are needed and so carry their own respect. Though reaching the ability to become one of the higher callings, many of the clergy remain in one of the lower ones, spending their whole life at what they feel is their appointed duty. There are many separate or even secret orders that do not use these titles or even consider themselves part of the organized structure but this is the socially accepted and recognised religious titles known to the greater populace and all Diadrian clergy.

Necra Grafi - Also known as the Recorders of the Dead, these are the initial members of the church seeking further enlightenment. They maintain the lesser but necessary duties of the church by working in the carnal houses, tending cemeteries, digging graves and preparing the dead for their funeral rights. Their robes are generally brown and when needed wear leather armor. Their typical weapon is a sickle, hammer, mace or footmen's pick.

Necra Freri and Necra Sorori- The Necra Freri, Brothers and Necra Sorori, Sisters of Death are the main body of the church of Diadria. They fill most all orders found in monasteries and nunneries. These are teachers, guards, cemetery and shrine keepers and the proselytizing of the religion. In their dark earthen colored brown robes tied with black sashes, they are the most commonly seen and generally accepted servants of Diadria. Found in and near society, they are morticians and embalmers, carnal house keepers, cemetery guardians, carvers of grave stones and builders of mausoleums. Most all skilled workers within the church that have specific duties necessary in the care of the dead are Brothers and Sisters of Death. In times of need they will wear dark brown stained leather or hide armor and typically wield a footman's pick or hammer.

Charitadi and Negracourium - The Caretakers and Darkbringers are those that find a special calling form death. Gaining special notice and favors of the Lady, they represent the embodiment of her two sides.
    The Caretaker represents Diadria's duty towards seeing that death is understood and respected. They attempt to make others understand what comes after life and so not fear death. Caretakers try and make people realize that what they do in life carries over in to death and the final judgment. The Charitadi is more socially accepted and many live out their lives in one place shepherding the living towards the end of their life and caring for the dead after they die. Caretakers are more oftenthan not female. The Caretakers surprisingly wear robes of white but cover it with an enveloping hooded mantle of black and many wear a funeral mask. It is commonly held by society to be a bad omen to see a caretaker wearing armor. In their minds it signifies that the peaceful side of Diadria has been turned towards war. but when needed the caretaker will wear hide armor if available, otherwise they wear leather. It is acceptable but rare for them to use bones in their armor or other dress. Scales are also rarely worn but on occasions one of the Charitadi has done so. The favored weapon of the Charitadi is the footman's pick, but a close second is the scimitar or sickle.
    The Negracourium brings death where ever he travels. These are the servants of Diadria's unforgiving nature. Acting as a means of ending those lives that had outlived their allotted time. Sometimes culling out the weak or those who waste their lives and serve no purpose, they aid in the struggles that are found in life bringing them to their ultimate end. The Darkbringer tends to be more active and mobile. Most people will not abide one living in their presence. Though some are accepted where death is preferable to suffering and help the dying on their way with a more swift and usually painless death, in general the Darkbringer is feared and reviled even by others within the Diadrian religious structure. Darkbringers are generally male, though some females are called it is rare. Only in the orc ranks are their more female Darkbringers to be found.  Famale Negracourium are sometimes known as Death's Handmaidens of Negra Vesti. In all cases they are unable to give birth and so are called to instead bring death. The Darkbringer wears the best armor he can afford or find with crimson and black color scheme. The bones of other living things are highly prized by the Darkbringer and worn as much as is practicable without being encumbering or ridiculous. They will only wear the bones of creatures they have killed themselves and those of more sentiant beings are more higly prized than those of mere animals. The favored weapons of the Negracourium are the scimitar, scourge and scythe.

Necra Courium - These are the Bringer of the Dead. Either through their own hand or by collecting the casualties of life, the Necra Courier are the main body of the traveling Diadrian church, going out to teach the world for readiness of their final journey and serve death in all its duties to the living. In collecting the dead they give them a proper funeral and see that they are at final rest. Also removing the corruption of the corpse and giving it proper care removes it from causing unwanted problems. But it is also sometimes the duty of the Necra Courium to spread plague and disease to thin out the population when it has become a burden. Many fear the priests that practice this vocation in the religion. Marked by their ability to enthrall others (cast 2nd-level spells) they intone the secrets of death and bring others into the belief that it is a natural conclusion to a being's existence. To many hey are thought of as death personified and a bad omen. Though generally acting for the benefit of the living many Necra Courium find themselves persecuted ans so few remain in this calling once able to take on another.. Most wear long enveloping robes of charcoal gray. Those in the pursuit of death and actively bringing it about wear red. When needed they wear any type of armor and wield any weapon allowed to the Diadrain cleric, but the favored weapon is the scythe.

Necra Logosum- The Necra Logosum, or the Speakers for the Dead, are the next level within the church structure. These are the typical leaders of small parishes, speakers over ritual funerals and the preachers of the lessons of the cycle leading to death. Once a Diadrian priest has achieved enough favor with Diadria to be able to speak with the dead (cast 3rd-level spells) they may choose this vocation within the church hierarchy. In most towns they can be found tending to the shrines upon the hollowed ground of their cemeteries. By the time they are ready to take on the mantle of Necra Logosum, the Diadrian clergy has learned enough of death to be able to speak for and dead, eulogize for the departed, giving their journey to the afterlife a better understanding by those left behind, still alive, and a quicker road for the one beginning the Path of Justification. They almost never wear any kind of armor but at need dawn what armor they have. The preferred weapon of the Speaker for the Dead is the sickle. The robes of the Necra Logosum, unlike those of most all other callings in the church, are more form fitting and typically of white. Black sashes are wrapped around the priest holding the robes tightly to the body. The significance is to show that nothing is hidden, all is bared in living as it will be in death. A death mask is worn to allow the priest to be anonymous and so represent the dead to the living while eulogizing them.

Necra Sengiri - The leaders of the Diadrian church are these priests, Death's Blood. Wearing robes or sashes of red and skull caps taken from another human skull, they are greatly feared by most people in Thardferr. Generally the equal of the high priest in other religions, that may have such power to give life back to the dead, n the case of the Necra Sengiri, they can slay the living with the power given them by the Lady (cast 5th-level spells). Most will lead a cult or be the high priest of one of the main temples of Diadria and maintain the church for the Necra Agari of the region. other than the red sash and skull cap they will dress and arm in the manner of their last calling in the church.

Necra Matari- Also called Death's Mother, this level of the hierarchy is only held by females but is equal to or even more respected than the Necra Sengiri. The Necra Matari are always completely dressed in black. They walk amongst the living in shrouds of black and rarely were bones or other unattractive accouterments. Many think them an apparition or shadow, a ghost of a long lost loved one, or even Diadria herself. They are considered the living embodiment of the Lady. Normally the Necra Matari do not remain in one place but travel throughout the lands and spread the lessons of death to as many as they can. Like Death they are never far away and almost always unexpected.

Necra Agari - This is the highest calling of the Diadrian church, also known as the Giver of Death. These have reached such favor with Diadria that they can speak her unholy words of power (cast 7th-level spells). Though there is no limit to how many may reach this level, it is rare to have more than one at any given time in any specific connected region. Thus there is normally only one in each realm or geographical area at any given time. The personage and whereabouts of this individual is rarely known. They typically stay on the move but also may be the High Priest of one of the major temples of Diadria. It is wrongly believed that those of this level have been made into undead, serving Diadria after their normal life has ended. But this is an abomination to Diadrians. For a Diadrian priest to accept such a thing and be kept any longer from the embrace of perfection is worse than most anything imaginable. The Necra Agari have no set manner of dress. Most dress as they did in previous callings in the hierarchy of Diadria. The main visual aspect that sets them apart from others of the same calling is they invariable look more cadaverous even if still young in years.

Temple Hierarchy:

    The general religion of Death is without a true leadership. Each of the clergy of Diadria find their calling and then work within it, together or apart, to serve death. Natural leaders become the decision makers of groups that band together with generally only the more powerful in the church taking president. This gives rise at time to misunderstandings and internal strife. The temple thus have a more rigid and strict order of command. Within the temples this is the order of command generally found.

Necra Grafi - The Recorders of the Dead care for the day to day care of the temples business. Mainly they are found dealing with the care of those that have passed and the cemetery and mausoleums belonging to the Temple.

Necra Freri and Necra Sorori- The Brothers and Sisters of Death do most of the teaching and handling of the living that come to the temple for comfort and learning.

Necra Logosum - The Speaker for the Dead is the general head of the Religion within the Temple. Presiding over most funeral services of the greater members and giving the ritual prayers for the worshippers on each of the three full moons.

Necra Agari - One of the Givers of Death will be the ultimate leader of the temple. Though generally not handling any of the day to day business of the religion, they can preside over major funerals or rituals as they feel is needed by their close communication with the Lady. They are generally the figure head that the others come to with their greater problems and is considered the final reprieve when all else fails.

The Division in the Clergy:

    Within the elite of the Diadrian religion there is two factions. Though death is the undeniable conclusion of life and all Diadrians worship this end and bring it about under their care, the means at which Death is administered is a cause for conflict. The one side believes that death is the end of the natural cycle and the time it comes is set by Diadria before each living thing is birthed into the world. This time till death is holy and to presume to take it before its allotted time is against the nature of Diadria and causes difficulties in that spirit reaching their final destination. The other believes that the bringing of life to its end and so to the eternal darkness is the purpose of all Diadrian worshippers. That death hurried upon the living speeds their way on to the final judgment and so their final destination. To these life is a waste of time and only allows the spirit to become corrupted and so cause more work for Diadria to set straight once it has passed to the Relam of the Dead.
    The first of these are lead by the Caretakers of Diadria. These priests know death is inevitable and Diadria has assigned a time for all to face her. Their duty is to see that people are ready for it, live their life preparing for death and live life so as to ease their journey in the afterlife to reach that final destination with peace and an easy Road. This brings them into contention with the other faction, the Darkbringers, the champions of death, with the idea that the oncoming of death is the greatest gift and so do all they can to see that life is cut short for all they find. The caretakers at times head up crusades to weed out these Darkbringers and their followers and teach the true worship of death. Much blood has been spilt between these two factions in the past. Though both are the elite of Diadria and both are correct in her eyes, the greater society sides with the Caretakers and so the Darkbringers are considered the villains.

Ceremonies and Holy Days:

The Dark Sacrifice
The night is important to the worshipper of Diadria. The setting of the sun shows the end of the day and so the death of the Creator's light. Nights when no moon is seen are specifically important as they are thus bereft of any light of creation. On these nights sacrifices of life are made to grant Diadria the most power over her enemies.

The Glaring Sacrifice
Upon a night when any moon is full, the baleful night eye of creation looks down on the world. This is seen as a time when Diadrians need to be careful. But it is on such nights that the Diadrian worshipper should show their belief in the cause of death. Rituals of sacrifice are made on these nights. Many will come together and each bring some living sacrifice for the Lady. In most cases the sacrifice is the purest and most expensive animal a person can afford. The sacrifice must be made in a place where no created structure by mortals can be seen as the creations of mortals are never permanent and so represent pollution of the eternal night. But it must not be hidden. The ritual must be made in open view of all three moons, their light mingling on the alter at the time the spirit is released. The blood of the sacrifice is spilt over the alter and then each partaking of it must share in the drinking of the blood.

The Sacrifice of Defiance
The night when all three moons are full is a moment of fear for Diadrians, when creation conspires to show the secrets of death and the night to others. It is on these nights that Diadria's worshippers gather to defy life and the creation and pray for the final end to their suffering. On these nights sacrifices are made to Diadria to strengthen her against her enemies and gain her favor.  In all cases the sacrifice must be a sentient being. As with the glaring sacrifice, it smut be in the open in view of the moons light and away form any artificial structures. Each partaking of the ritual must, once it is spilt over the alter, blood their hands. With this blood they make a mark upon the alter, sealing themselves to death. The sacrifice and favor of Diadria is greater if it is a willing sentient that is so given to the Lady. Chosen by lots or other random devise, the willing spirit is released at its destined time by Diadria who knew before the sacrifice was born that they would thus be chosen for this purpose.

Rituals of Submission

Consecration and Construction of a Shrine
    The Lady loves death, death is what she has built her reign upon and so too shall death be the foundations of your faith. The shrine is to be constructed from the bodies and bones of those you have killed. The more the bodies, the greater the Lady's favor upon the acolyte. More prestige is given to those who kill sentient beings over animals, but any and all dead are welcome to build the foundation of the shrine. Lesser shrines can be made of the dead the clergy of Diadria have collected. By means of creating hollowed ground and then bringing and housing the dead bodies of those spirits that have passed on, a shrine may be consecrated.

Prayer and Worship for priests
    Death must surround you and you must be willing to approach death. Typical methods include self strangulation, slit wrists, etc. The method is unimportant as long as the priest nears death. In this state he can properly offer his worship to Diadria, if she finds reason for disfavor then he ends the prayers and must heal himself. Blood is of the living, but one's own cold, darkened blood is the proper sacrifice typically used in this ritual.
    A second way of giving worship is to surround yourself by the dead. Either of your own making through the killing of others or in a mortuary or cemetery and dedicating yourself to the care of the dead and their passing to the afterlife. In any case the passing or near passing of your own life or another is needed. Animals are sacrificed in most cases, the larger and purer the creature the better.

Speaking with Death's Voice
    In times of need and direction the priest can call upon Diadria for direction in his life. Only the most certain of priests who have earned her favor should attempt this, for failure is often seen as young acolytes learn that favor must be courted before power. To proceed, the body of a woman must be found, for Diadria to speak the body must be dead, but when and where is left up to the priest. The more creative the cause of death and the fresher the corpse, the greater the possibility of favor. The body must be washed and cared for like a lover, cleansing the skin and hair, dressing it in the finest available clothing and usually wearing jewelry of at least 50 gp value that must then be included in the funeral rights of the corpse later. Upon completion the body is placed in a position of authority over the acolyte, typically on a throne so that the supplicant can properly worship at the feet of death. Having met these criteria, often a priest will invoke a ritual of prayer, divination or commune to bring himself closer to Diadria, but if worthy enough this is not strictly needed. Depending on the favor of the Lady, the corpse will speak to the supplicant, instructing him lightly, often with dark verses relating to death and the afterlife. By this means may a priest of Diadria  gain  permission to raise or resurrect the dead.

     The clergy of Diadria only wear those things that are created from the corpse of something once living. This generally is in the form the skins of animals but can be from silk or fibers formed from plants as well. The color is almost always dark brown, gray or black but also crimson depending on the ritual being performed or the calling of the clergy. Standard dress is a long gown split in four places at the waist, along the outer side of each leg and between them in front and back, then hanging to the calves. It is belted at the waist by a black or red leather belt or silk sash. In colder weather a dark gray or brown, hooded wool mantle is worn. The mantle has sleeves that are long enough to hang over the hands when the arms are lowered.
    Each of the clergy will have a small carved skull of some white material worn around their neck by a cord or chain. The simplest is a leather cord and the symbol either carved out of bleached wood or bone. The more ornate are made using silver chain or white silk cord and the symbol carved form alabaster or white onyx. Gold is never used for this and should not be part of any jewelry that also includes bone or a simulation of it. The reason for this is lost in obscurity but most believe it is because gold represents the sun and thus life and the creator.
    It is common for the clergy to also have bones as part of their dress. There is no standard usage for this but skulls are often used as well as teeth and claws. When conducting most rituals, the clergy will have a staff, with various bones dangling from it, topped by an adult human skull.
    When preparing for battle most of the clergy wear leather armor. Those that are able to afford or find it will wear hide armor. A few will have the equivalent of studded leather by including bone and natural animal scales in their armors construction. Also any scale mail made from the natural scales of a once living creature can be used but this is very rare. Weapons are not standardized though the scythe and sickle are predominant. Maces using bones in their construction are highly favored. Flails are permissible but rarely used as they are considered tools for aiding the living since they were originally made for threshing grain. The footman's pick is favored by those that are in the business of caring for the corpses of the dead and hammers for those that work building mausoleums and carving stone.

Affiliated Orders, Societies and Guilds:

Mortuary and Funerary Guilds - The Order of Morticians and Embalmers worship and give respect to the god of death through their diligence in providing the funeral rights of the church. Caretakers sanctify the dead and hollow ground in return for donations to the church, thus insuring the eternal rest of those that have passed on and making their journey through the Realm of the Dead easier. Thus the wealthy can buy some favor with Diadria through her living representatives. The Order of Morticians and Embalmers control this access to the Lady and set the donation rate acceptable to practice their god given ability. Other carnal houses are allied with the Diadrian church and deal with the dead but they do not have the means to ensure the corpses well being and the spirits ultimate rest. Also the Gravediggers Guild is associated with the Diadrian church but holds little power. Most of these are simple societal and function oriented affiliations but one of them is special to the church, the Order of the Tomb.

Monastic Order of the Fallen- There are several orders of monks that show allegiance to the Lady of Death and honor to the dead. The Monastic Order of the Fallen is but one of the more well known of these. They maintain shrines at the site of great battles where reliquaries are built to hold the items of the fallen soldiers. The cemetaries hallowed on these battle sites are always watched over by a Caretaker of Diadria. These mausoleums they build are heavily guarded and protected by the monks. These monks will arrive soon after a battle is over and stop the pilfering of the dead of their worldly belongings, guarding the dead until they get proper burial with their worldly belongings. It is also a duty of the Order to see that the family of the dead are notified and their personal belongings returned to the families if appropriate. The Monastic Order of the Fallen generally build small monasteries outside or large towns and cities and many of the town cemeteries found in Kyranath are actually maintained and owned by this order.

The Order of the Tomb- This secret order provides for the building and hiding of the final resting place of those that can afford them. Each member is well trained in the engineering of tombs, traps, secret panels and doors and typically other skills useful in the building of strong structures. The are completely dedicated to Diadria and loyal to their task. None would ever reveal the secrets of that which they have built. The main way they are able to keep this secret is that they are not known. Each has a business or other means of living other than the Order of the Tomb and when working on a tomb never reveal themselves and only work while covered in special shrouds and funeral masks. They employ guards to keep others away and secret themselves off to and from their task while none are watching.  They also sometimes build treasure vaults and other secure places but this is rare and almost always for the church of Diadria.
    The Order of the Tomb is highly ritualistic and extremely paranoid and cautious. They guard secrets that can never be known and so take great care to guard their identify and skills. It is only through this careful ritual that they can practice their service to Diadria and not be known or discovered. Those that wish their service must make it known publicly and then await for the Order of the Tomb to contact them. This contact is  made after preliminary research has been made into the perspective client. They will check out what resources the client has to afford their tomb and where it may be desired to be constructed. Since they only build secret tombs, they also must find out if the client actually wants their services and is not just wanting some monument to themselves. These tombs are built as shrines to Diadria only housing and sanctifying the corpse of the client. Through sanctification a person can gain favor with Diadria and so easier passage through her domain. The Order of the Tomb may decline to build a tomb for a client if they feel it is not warranted.
 

Church Errata:

Allies

Ballog- Though not exactly wanting the same thing, Ballog wishes for all to cease to be and to bring about chaos.  In the end it may be Ballog and Diadria fighting over the remnants of the cosmos to see if she will rule over all that has passed (including the other gods) or Ballog will cause all to cease to be, even the gods themselves. But for the time being Ballog's nihilistic desires coincide with her own most of the time. Caretakers less than Darkbringers are aligned with Ballog.

Garalax ***- The giver of murder and early death, Garalax is like a son to Diadria. Where she is happy to receive beings on their death bed after many years of life, still Diadria relishes the gain of the young life cut off before its given time. Garalax the murderer and assassin brings many powerful souls to the Lady of Death. Darkbringers are more aligned and allied with Garalax. Caretakers believe the shortening of life is against the natrual order and will of Diadria who allotted the person their lifespan.

Loralis - Sister to the night and the ever-present mystery of death, Loralis holds the secrets of the dead and preserves their memories. A staunch ally of Diadria, Loralis is not enamored of death but finds solace in the silence and the secrets of the grave. Caretakers are more aligned and allied with Loralis than Darkbringers who have little connection to this god.

Sembral - The warrior god Sembral is the pursuer of life. Not so as to reward or aggrandize it but to bring  it into conflict. He is the sword that brings many into Diadria's embrace. Darkbringers and Caretakers are equally aligned with Sembral. War is seen as a preordained entity and so those deaths caused by it a natural thing and known to Diadria. Thus aiding war as a Darkbringer or caring for the dead after as a Caretaker is equally important.

Foes

Celenia ***- Preserver of life, bringer of ease to disease, the Lady of the White Hand is ever a bane to the desires and freedom of Diadria's embrace. Celenia more than any other god disrupts and alters the fated time of death decided by Diadria for each living thing. Caretakers generally do not have any interaction with Celenia either in a good or hostile fashion, while Darkbringers will openly kill any of the clergy of Celenia they find. Tales of ancient times speak of the death and capture of Celenia and her godly aspect by Diadria's plan. Since this time These two sisters have been consistent enemies.

Kreaon - Instigator of the changing of the heavens and so hiding half of the everlasting night, the Creator disrupts the ongoing fall into oblivion that most living things would experience if there was no day. The Creator brought into existence change and so imbalance to the perfection of the cosmos. Diadria now must return these changes to their perfection, when all is once again dead. Caretakers are generally more hostile to the Creator than the other foes of Diadria. Mostly this is on an idealistic level but they have been known to cause disruptions of the Creator's works at times.

Thr - As the protector of society and Guardian of the living, Thr seeks to prolong the life of many beings in the world. While stating that Thr attempts to have people live more as one with nature and preserving resources, the god unbalances the natural order in prolonging the life of those that cannot live without aid of others. Death wishes all to come to her as soon as they naturally are able. The machinations of Thr prolongs this time. Caretakers are less enemies with Thr than Darkbringers, and in many cases are not enemies at all. When Thrians find the process of death and decay as part of the natural order and Caretakers only filling their niche in this order, the two can find peaceful relations within society.

Tyre ***- Giver of life, the mother of all living, natural growth and childbirth, Tyre is Diadria's exact opposite but many believe sister.  Tyre brings new life forever into the cosmos fighting against the time when all is finally dead and the natural order of the cosmos is finally at rest, perfected and under the control of Diadria. Caretakers are generally more a foe with Tyre in an idealistic manner then openly hostile. They see Tyre's duty to bring life into the world as a threat to the final peace but also a part of the greater cycle.

*** denotes a major factor
 

Appendix 1: Classes of Diadria

Clerics of  Diadria

Clerics of Diadria receive 'Diadrian Religion' as a bonus non-weapon proficiency.
While fighting on or protecting Hollowed Ground, Diadrian clergy receive a +1 to hit and saving throws. (See below.)
 

Requirement:	Wisdom 11
Prime Requisites:	Wisdom
Major Spheres:	All, Charm, Combat, Creation, Divination, Elemental, Guardian, Necromantic, Protection, and Summoning,
Minor Spheres:	Healing
Spell notes:	Raise Dead and Resurrection may only be cast at Temples of Diadria. Reincarnate may not be cast at all.

Special Disadvantage:

• The Diadrian clergy cannot cast, use or allow the use of any spell or ability that would deprive Diadria of a spirit, or return a soul from her domain without direct and personal permission of Diadria (this means through actual granting by Diadria in person, not only through prayer and as a special ritual held in one of Diadria's Temples). This can be achieved through the ritual of Speaking with Death's Voice. This does not preclude them, or cause them to stop another, from saving a life before they pass on.
• The Diadrian clergy cannot themselves ever be returned from the dead by any means other than through Diadria's will, personally.

• Control Undead
• May weild all type B weapons, footman's pick, sickle and scythe.

 

    The only differences, other than listed above, between the two specialty priests is their outlook towards death. The Caretaker worships death as the final outcome of life and attempts to comfort the living in their final days and help them to face it without fear. The Darkbringer sees life as the enemy of the finality of death and so attempts to bring as much living to the Lady as possible. Neither is any more or less fanatic, though the Darkbringer lends itself to widespread killing sprees at times. Even though the Caretaker is not against the taking of life, they don't plan on bringing it about, only assist what is the natural flow of life culminating in its end. This means they can take the life of another who's time they see as over, whether it be in battle or at the end of an illness or by accident. Both see their taking of life as mercy killing as the final release of life is to end the suffering and be put the soul on the road to ultimate peace.

Special disability of the SP:

• A Diadrian SP suffer a -2 to all reaction rolls when dealing with the living.
• A Diadrian SP cannot cast, use or allow the use of any spell or ability that would deprive Diadria of a spirit, or return a soul from her domain.  This does not preclude them, or cause them to stop another, from saving a life before they pass on.
• The Diadrian SP cannot themselves ever be returned from the dead by any means other than through Diadria's hand, personally.

• Sanctify the Dead -  Once per level per day the Diadrian SP may sanctify a body. This either causes the corpse to be purified and freed of all corruption and disease and unable to be animated or unnaturally rise from the dead and so is never able to become an undead or it fortifies the body and allows it to be more preserved and stronger thus enhancing it, allowing the creation of a stronger undead. The later will guarantee a minimum of 1 HP per level of the priest to the undead created and add +1 to Hit Die and saves for the undead.

    Any sanctified body has its soul specially noticed by Diadria, who will assign one of her Archon in Nathalfertium to its case, The Archon then pleads its case in the Court of Bone and will later aid it along its Road to Justification. While being defended in the Court of Bone the body belonging to the soul will cease any physical decay and corruption for one day per level of the Diadrian SP that sanctified it. This extra number of days are added to the normal time in which a person could be raised from the dead though the Diadrian SP cannot be the one to so raise it unless specifically told to do so by Diadria personally.
• Hollow Ground -  Once per day upon reaching 3rd-level, the Specialty Priest can perform a ritual that allows for a plot of land equal to ten feet x level squared to become hollowed.  No body may be resurrected, raised or animated once buried in Hollowed Ground without the permission of the official Caretaker of those grounds.
• Desecration of the Dead - Any body desecrated or unearthed from Hollowed Ground without the permission of the official Caretaker of those grounds will bring a curse upon those doing the deed. This curse will be equal to the level of the Priest that hollowed the ground. The description of the curse and its effects will be left up to the DM.

• Diadria's Presence - The Diadrian SP control undead and cast certain spells as if they were 3 levels higher. See marked spells in Appendix 2.
• Disease Immunity - The Diadrian SP is immune to the effects of disease. This does not mean they are capable of destroying the disease, only that it will not effect them in any way. Thus many of Diadria's Elite are carriers of disease. They have no control over this but will always know if they are a carrier and so can deal with the disease if they choose
• Crypt sight - The Diadrian SP may see in absolute darkness or any other place with low or little light as if it were dusk (no more than a -1 modification for low or no light). This does not allow them to see heat patterns, ignore shadows, nor does it make them immune to any magical darkness other than that which is projected as an innate ability of any undead.
• Necromancy - As a lesser god of magic, Diadria gives her specialty priests one extra spell of any level they are able to cast at 3rd-level. The spells must be from the specific list allowed to the specialty priest. See Appendix 2.
• Death Urge - Upon reaching 3rd-level, a Diadrian SP may control a beings hold on life with their touch. They may use this ability once per 3 levels per day. The effect is equal to 2 points per level. They can draw hit points from an undead and transfer them as damage to a living person or health to another undead. This requires an attack at -2 to hit while at -2 to AC. A hit to AC 10 (with modifiers for magic and dex adjustment only and with before mentioned -2) will allow the transfer. Through a similar attack they can transfer HP from a living person (causing them damage) and use them as healing for themselves or another they are touching. It can also be used to cause damage to an undead creature. The Diadrian SP may transfer their own HP as healing to the living or as damage to the undead in this fashion.

Appendix 2: Specialty Priest Spell List

1st level	2nd level	3rd level	4th level
Cause Light Wounds +	Aid +	Animate Dead +	Abjure +
Cause Fear  (Death Knell) +	Augury  (Preminition of Death) +	Bestow Curse	Animal Summoning I  (Call Sacrifice)
Combine +	Chant	Cause Disease  (Pestilence) +	Cause Serious  Wounds* +
Command	Enthrall	Continual Darkness*	Cloak of Fear +
Curse	Flame Blade	Dispel Magic	Control Temperature,  10' r
Darkness*	Hold Person	Feign Death +	Divination (Channel) +
Detect Good	Know Alignment	Glyph of Warding	Imbue with Spell Ability
Detect Magic	Obscurement	Meld Into Stone  (Entomb)	Protection from Good,  10' r
Detect Poison	Produce Flame  (Pyre Flame)	Negative Plane  Protection +	Repel Insects
Endure Heat/Endure Cold	Resist Fire/Resist Cold	Prayer	Spell Immunity
Invisibility to Undead +	Silence, 15' Radius +	Speak With Dead  (Soulspeech) +	Tongues
Protection from Good	Spiritual Hammer	Stone Shape
Putrefy Food & Drink	Withdraw	Summon Insects
5th level	6th level	7th level
Anti-Plant Shell	Anti-Animal Shell	Creeping Doom
Atonement	Find the Path	Destruction  (Final Rest) + 1.
Commune	Forbiddance	Earthquake
Cause Critical  Wounds* +	Harm* +	Energy Drain +
Dispel Good	Heroes' Feast (Wake)	Exaction
Insect Plague	Stone Tell (Tomb Tell)	Symbol
Moonbeam  (Gravelight)	Transmute Water  to Dust	Unholy Word*
Quest	Word of Recall	Wither +
Slay the Living (Slay) + 1.
True Seeing

  Italicized spells are reversible.
     * denotes a spell that is normally reversible but is not reversible by the Specialty Priest.
     1. The reverse of this spell may only be used with Diadria's direct permission to send an undead to its final rest.
     +  These spells are cast as if three levels higher by the Specialty Priest.
    (Alternate Name) The spell is known by the Church of Diadria by this name.
     The following spells are the reverse of the noted spell: Curse - Bless, Darkness - Light, Bestow Curse - Remove Curse,
    Slay the Living - Raise Dead, Harm - Heal, Destruction - Resurrection, Energy Drain - Restoration, Wither - Regeneration.
 

Appendix 3: Outer Realm of Diadria

Nathalfertium, The Realm of the Dead

    Though many of the dead's final destinations can be found  in the realms of other gods, all spirits pass through the Realm of the Dead, Nathalfertium. Nathalfertium is actually many places. It is comprised of an infinite network of roads upon an infinite plain. Each spirit must walk this plain and find their own road to their final resting place. The Road to Justification is many and it winds through the Realm of the Dead. Many lose their way, never come to peace and so wander the plain for many years, even centuries, some for an eternity. Many lose their way and end up wnadering aimlessly in the Abyss. But most find their way and it leads them to a place readied for them with all the necessities of their final Judgment. Thus Nathalfertium can be a great city where they live amongst one another sharing the afterlife and find final peace and oneness with the cosmos, for others it is a palace filled with great beauty and a multitude of servants to wait on their every whim. But for some it can be a small box buried under the desert like plain which is invaded nightly by tiny insects that feed off their flesh or it may be a pit of fire and unending pain in which they must stand and never have their thirst quenched. So many hells and heavens can be found within the Realm of the Dead, that it is difficult to give it a definitive description. But all of it is an illusion created bya nd for the spirits that are confined there. If one were able to travel there and not be tied to it by death, what they would find is a great and nearly infinite plain with a multitude of spirits standing unmoving, without any notice of their surroundings, at one with the cosmos in a state of perfection or torment of their own choosing.
    At the center of Nathalfertium is the palace of Diadria, simply known as the Court of Bone, it is a grandiose monument to death, a giant mausoleum where Diadria resides and metes out judgment to the souls that come to her. It is here that the gods and on rare occasions others come to plead for the souls they care to take elsewhere. The Court itself is built out of the bones of all kinds of once living creatures and beings. The mortar is made of hair and fingernails, pillars are formed from hundreds of skulls and door frames created from the leg bones of giants. It is a polished white, sterile palace of many rooms, a silent refuge from the torment of the souls found outside. The many halls lead to suites of rooms where the favored of Diadria are allowed to reside and serve the Lady after life. They are provided with the best servants, treasures and blessings death can bestow. These favored few who excelled in the service of Death while still alive are known as the Archon. They act as lesser judges of the dead and are able to freely travel Nathalfertium with no chance of being lost to guide souls on their road. Some use this ability to forestall the souls so they are punished and held from other gods realms or forced to wander or wait in torment for a longer time.  Others aid the souls on their way and speed them along to their final destination. Whether that be a place of torment or pleasure in Nathalfertium or to the realm of another god. Each serve the will of Diadria which appoints them their tasks and what souls to hinder or help but they are also given voice in the Court of Bone when dealing with their charges and may take the case of a soul either to prosecute or defend it before Diadria at their own will. Souls that are prayed for by the living to speed them on their way by worshippers of Diadria, or that have been formally sanctified by a Caretaker are given an Archon to defend them in the Court and to help guide them along their road.
 

Appendix 4: The Book of Diadria

Necras Librum (The Book of the Dead)

    The Necras Librum is a book of prayers and rituals that enable the Priesthood of Diadria to put the dead to a final rest. It includes the many funeral rights that are used throughout the world as well as specific ways to keep certain types of undead from rising or being formed.  Some magus have used the writings within the book to reverse the process and so learn the ways of necromancy and the animation of the dead. This is considered a sacrilege to the church of Diadria and unless sanctioned by the church or the Lady of Death all mage use of necromancy is punished by the church. Those that would use the magics of the Book of the Dead to create undead need first pray and receive the permission of Diadria or be looked on in disfavor and receive her wrath in the afterlife.