Vivimorts of Termanant
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Vivimorts of Termanant
Termanant is the Measurer, He who stands apart. As such, His priests, the Vivimorts, are essentially and eternally alone. The place of Termanant is betweeen life and death, both at the beginning and end. The services of the Vivimorts are in high demand, and a Vivimort is supposed to be present at every birth and should attend at every death. His temples are called Vaults, and are always constructed in a style calculated to disturb or reassure, depending upon the sect. Termanant refuses to be a part of the Pantheon and is the eternal God. In society, Termanant is widely sought, as the Keeper of the Gates. Dead relatives can be restored by the Vivimorts, as long as the price can be met. There will be a Vault in every sizable town, even though the number of Vivimorts is not as great as less grim churches. They tend to be spread thinly, since the worship of Termanant is a harsh trade to follow. The Church of Termanant has many different sects, and the largest of those is surprisingly one of the least well known. The Knowers of Darkness are those Vivimorts who make a study of the Land of Death, and who devote themselves to learning the secrets of the terrain. They tend to be more studious than their fellows, and so the bulk of the noisome duties of the Church falls upon them, but they don't venture out much. The Knowers are the ones who tend to resurrect the fallen, and so provide the majority of the funds for the Church.
The second largest sect is also by far the best known, since they are the Bidders. Their duty is to see to the proper ending of lives, when their appointed time has come. The Bidders are the somber, chilling, and slightly disturbing men and women in the black raiment, bearers of the sacred measuring sticks and death/birth badges, who silently come for the sick, old, or unlucky. Bidders will grant the boon of ending to any who desire it, and the crippled, lame, and senile often request that service, sending their souls into the gentle darkness to be made fresh. Bidders tend to be the most agressive and adventurous sorts, although only a few Vivimorts feel the need to stir, since all come for their services eventually. The third sect is that one which serves the other end of the process the Bidders begin. The sect of the Greeters are those Vivimorts who attend to births, seeing to it that any problems are attended to, safeguarding the mother, and seeing that the child receives a proper soul. The Greeters are the most popular of the Vivimorts, and are often not as foreboding as their brethren. No one is going to mistake them for cheerful, of course, but they are less actively frightening than Bidders or Knowers. The last main sect are the Bearers, the ones who attend to the disposal of the remains of the deceased. What they do with the bodies can cause nightmares in the uninitiated and they are the most feared of the Vivimort main sects. Many Bearers are distubingly practical in their disposal methods, and burials are rare. Instead, according to popular myth, most Vaults are called that because they are stuffed to bursting with animated skeletons and zombies, and woe betide the fool who provokes them.
There are an incredible number of sub-sects, splinter sects, heresies, fanatics, and maniacs associated with Termanant, and the God accepts them all equally. Termanant is uncaring of the behavior of his worshippers as long as they follow His strictures, since they will all be cleansed upon death for their next tour of duty in life. One of the largest of these heresies are the so-called Lovers of Night. This sect has been accused of fraternization with sentient undead, and indeed there are thousands of vampiric Lovers who are priests in good standing with Termanant. Add in the heretical sect known as the Emptied, composed almost entirely of mummies, and the shudders of the populace around Vivimorts become more understandable. There is a surprising amount of organized worship by the commoners, as every man approaches his appointment with a Vivimort with trepidation, and seeks to understand the mysteries of death before experiencing them. Godday is the day when the Vaults are open to the public, and services concerning the mysteries are held. The head of the church is The Leading Vivimort, Sir Harold Breault.
Duties: Vivimorts are usually required to be present at births to ensure that the new life has every chance to begin. Still births are regarded as souls who were otherwise detained. Vivimorts are also required to be present at deathbeds, to see the released soul upon its way. Vivimorts also handle the bodies of the deceased. Depending upon sect, the body will be disposed of, burned, or "put to good use."
Other Limitations: Vivimorts are traffickers in life, and as such are required to resurrect anyone if the price is met, regardless of their feelings in the matter. Likewise, a destruction may be purchased for anyone for the proper cost. Prices are set by the church on a case by case basis, assisted by auguries and communes.
Termanant's colors: The raiment of Termanant is Black, White, and Silver.
Hit Dice: d8
Requirements
Alignment: Skills: 1 rank Knowledge:Termanant Spells: Able to cast 1st level Cleric spells. Special: Must have Termanant as patron deity.
Class Skills
The Vivimorts' class skills (and key ability for each skill) are
Skill Points: 2 per level + Int Modifier
Advancement Table
Level BAB Fort Refl Will Special Spells per Day
Class Features Weapons and Armor: Any armor may be worn, although Cloaks of Protection are greatly preferred over any traditional armor. Likewise, any shield may be used. Scythes are preferred weapons and daggers, nets, clubs, mauls, and saps are also allowed.
Divine Domains: Artifice, Creation, Darkness, Death, Destruction, Force, Repose
Vivimorts have the power to induce fear in creatures they arefacing. They may use this power once per round as often as they wish, but this power may only be used once on a figure per day, whether successful or not. Thus, the Vivimort must use the power on different targets, in any given day. Also, Vivimorts are granted perfect night vision. They see perfectly in any kind of darkness, natural or induced. They still suffer normally from obscured vision, like fog or smoke. Additionally, a Vivimort may generate Darkness as the wizard spell once per day, per three levels, beginning at third level. Thus, once per day at third level, twice at sixth level, three times at ninth, etc. This Darkness may be centered on the Vivimort or projected. Vivimort are also given the power to turn or control Undead. The Vivimort can decide at the time which effect he wishes to produce.