Watchers on the Cusp of Oblivion

Although the widely held belief of pantheists make Mortis and his sister, Vítaeous, the off-spring of ancient Terranor the faith of the Watchers takes a somewhat different line. To the Watchers, Mortis is a force of nature. He is beyond the petty squabbling of good and evil, beyond the detestable one-upmanship of the other faiths. Without Mortis there would be no death, without death there would be no salvation and so it is Mortis - and by extension the Watchers - who keep the cogs of the multiverse turning. Regardless of one's faith Mortis is seen as the guide to the recently deceased, who shepherds their souls to the proper destination, and as such the most important of all the gods.

Manifestations

Mortis is said to manifest on the material plane more than any other god. Traditionally, he is depicted as a large skeletal figure draped in a thick black cloak; under one arm he carries an hour-glass, and in his hand he holds an enormous scythe. It is in this guise that Mortis is said to usher the spirits of the dead to their place of ultimate rest. He has also been known to appear before powerful, infamous or important individuals and warn them that their hour of death is at hand, and they have a limited time to put right the misdeeds of their current life before moving on to the next. But there is a side to Mortis beyond the cliché. A dying man who experiences no pain is said to have been imbued with the spirit of Mortis to ease his passage from life into the beyond. When death is avoided by some miracle or chance, the Watchers ascribe the action to the hand of Mortis rather than Vítaeous. They say that the god of the dead has stayed his hand in taking the soul of such a character; they say he does such a thing rarely and only for a very good reason. Great things are expected of such an individual.

Dogma

The church of the Watchers on the Cusp of Oblivion is at the centre of Urovan society. Everyone dies, everything decays and common folk look to the Watchers to make sense of it all for them - to give them hope that what seems the end is just the beginning. It is into this role that the church fits perfectly, and Watchers are often called upon to counsel the recently bereaved, officiate at funerals and generally look after the dead and the dying.

The key belief of the church is the ongoing, unstoppable straight-line progression of life. There is no circle of life in the religion of the Watchers - they believe in direct cause and effect. A man is born, he lives his life to whatever standard his conscience allows, and then he dies. At that point, regardless of what his beliefs were in life, he is taken under the arm of Mortis. Mortis is the guide on the soul's last journey to whatever resting place a being's actions in life have dictated. Mortis may direct a soul to the realm of another god, and is the only god who may enter another's realm unmolested. Great amounts of myth and legend has come into being to explain this final journey. Many of the other religions give credit to Mortis as the guardian of their faithful who ushers them to the appointed place at the appointed time. Stories abound of a impossibly proportioned barge of the dead that traverses a mystical river, carrying souls to their proper destination. Others picture Mortis as the rider of an enormous black vulture that carries the dead off in huge talons. Some Watchers subscribe to even more extreme fantasies, while the majority see the passage of the soul as a more spiritual journey, or personal to the individual who dies. The only thing that can easily be agreed upon is that whatever form the last journey takes Mortis will be there.

The concept of paradise and damnation - heaven and hell - do not figure highly within the Watchers. Individuals get what they deserve, and Mortis is the ultimate judge. No secret can hide from Mortis' enquiry, no lie can be uttered in his presence. Mortis takes the souls of the dead and passes them on to whatever resting place they deserve. In game terms this has a little to do with their alignment, and a little to do with their faith. Priests and the faithful of a god are likely to be ushered to the plane of their god, whereas the faithless regardless of their alignment are ushered toward Oblivion. Although the existence of Outer Planes as the personification of one alignment or another have been speculated about by sages, monks and the learned for many years few common folk in Urova believe in them. This is not a situation the Watchers are looking to change. Although it could well be that Mortis shepherds souls to The Abyss or the fields of Elysium, the Watchers gloss over all these places with the blanket term of Oblivion. Anyone who is not delivered to one of the Moon Gods goes to Oblivion and that is that. The exact nature of Oblivion is left to the terrified imaginations of the faithless; the clergy often playing on their fears. Although the name suggests a land of absolute nothingness, there are those who believe that Oblivion is a paradise for those who have not subscribed to the gods of the moons.

The great belief in the progression of life leaves no room for those beings who wish to cheat death, or return from the afterlife. Resurrections and reincarnations are absolutely forbidden by the church, and they will do all they can to hamper any such magic they know to be taking place. Only the gods Vítaeous and Calafax grant their followers the ability to raise the dead and as a result the attitude of the Watchers to such churches is one of implacable resistance. The Church of Life resurrects very few people and are renowned for only using their powers for a good reason, but churches such as Fortune's Favour and the Church of Fire who resurrect for money, and the Sensationalist who seem to do it on a whim are openly hated. They are seen as thieves, who are stealing from Mortis that which is rightfully His. Watchers have been known to attack members of other faiths, steal bodies and even lay down their own lives if it would prevent a resurrection. Anyone who has been resurrected is seen by as little more than an undead creature by the Watchers, and certainly one who is living on stolen time. It is said that the Watchers will go out of their way to hunt down and kill ("return to Mortis") anyone who has been resurrected or reincarnated. Such horrific stories instil a healthy fear of resurrection in the general populace, and few are willing to support such an action for fear of bringing the ire of this particular church down on them. Although there are those who would openly disagree with the Watcher's butchery in this matter, even the Justician faith leaves them to their own beliefs. Although individual members of that church, or a paladin, might interfere to stop the Watchers, as a whole the Justician church has no opinion on the matter. It goes without saying that Watchers never allow themselves to be raised from the dead.

Watchers are equally hard, if not harder, in their dogged determination to rid the world of undead. If the resurrected are stealing from Mortis, so undead creatures are openly defying Him. Watchers are called upon to oppose and destroy all undead where-ever they find them as an affront to death. An acolyte wouldn't stupidly charge in against a vampire but he would never ignore the problem, and would take steps to make sure that the beast would eventually be destroyed. For these reasons, the Watchers hold a special hatred for the Church of the Unbeating Heart, whom they see as committing the ultimate heresy and holding Mortis as a god of Undeath! The Watchers oppose the activities of their sister church at every turn, but it is insidious and many doubt that the cult (as they call it) will ever be wiped out. Very long lived creatures are also treated with severe suspicion, particularly elves and dragons. It is said that these races never die, and as a result the Watchers see every breath they take as an insult to Mortis.

The Church

The Watchers are one of the oldest of the Eighteen Churches, and were the first faith of Mortis openly practised in Urova. As all the other religions, they hold Uros holy as the great prophet who summoned the gods and penned the Korvast Scrolls. Copies of these scrolls were taken as the sacred core of the Watcher's faith in 3 LE, and have been subtlety amended over the years. The most radical rewriting being Zendell Macinarri's contentious Discourse on Undeath produced in 32 LE, that paved the way for the expulsion of the Church of the Unbeating Heart from the Covenant later the same year. The core religious text of the Watchers is the Book of the Dead, a work written over fifteen years beginning in 2 LE. Although largely credited to the first high priest, Oslos Van Futen, mathematics would suggest that he could not possibly have written the entire thing.

The hierarchy of the Watchers is relatively simple when compared to many of the other Urovan faiths. It is organised at global, national, provincial and local levels. The Court of Doom is the title given to the highest strata of the Watcher faith. It is here that His Moribund Majesty, The High Holy Witness of Doom presides. Beneath this court are the national churches of Urova (or example, the Watchers of Norandor). Within each nation, the church is divided into provinces called mortages (rural provinces) and archmortages (metropolitan provinces). Each mortage and archmortage is then divided into separated parishes.

The ruler of a mortage is called a necrotain, the ruler of an archmortage is called an archnecrotian. Archnecrotains tend to be considered more important than necrotians in the running of the church. Above the archnecrotains is the Morticor who is leader of the faith in a particular nation. On Iourn there are nine Morticors, one for each of the civilised human nations of Urova - Calflafique, Eldagaire, Genbasson, Junos, Kerikal, Norandor, Salmaynak, Sorostrae and Tibrai. One of these Morticors is also named as the High Holy Witness of Doom and ruler of the faith. The Court of Doom (mentioned above) is created around the retinue of whichever Morticor holds the title. Traditionally, the title goes to the Morticor of Norandor. The current Morticor of Norandor and High Holy Witness of Doom is His Moribund Majesty Tarex. Morticors are also commonly known as High Priests.

Many parishes tend to make up mortages and archmortages. A parish is defined as an area containing one temple to Mortis, and they may vastly differ in size. The head of a parish is called the Mortician, and he is usually the head of the particular temple in the parish. The Mortician is directly answerable to his necrotain (or archnecrotain). The rest of the clergy, regardless of station carry the title Necros (or Necress if female). Any additional title of authority they hold within the church is dependent on their duties; for example, suffragans work as advisers to necrotains. The church's preachers, evangelists and adventurers who work to spread the word of the Church and gain glory for the Watchers are known as The Children of Oslos (after the first High Holy Witness of Doom) and are usually ecclesiastical members of a necrotain who have petitioned to follow a more dynamic role in the church. Morticians, necrotains, archnecrotains and morticors are never members of the Children of Oslos, their duties preventing them from wide travel.

The average temple of the Watchers is a place of quiet contemplation and reflection on the meaning of death. The temple is a simple affair, and are usually faceless square buildings identical from any side. There are four identical doors, made of black wood and carved with images of Mortis and the faith's holy symbols. Within, there is one vast chamber at the centre of which is a vast pillar of holy darkness. Pews are arranged in a wide spiral out from the pillar. During services the priest or mortician walks continuously around the flame. Beneath the temple are extensive offices, crypts, vaults and necropoli where most of the dead of the parish are interred, although the parishes where the necropolis is small or full also sponsor graveyards on the surface. The pillar holy darkness is often present on all levels of the temple.

Holy Symbol

The watchers have two holy symbols, normally combined together in dark tapestries and dour frescos. The first is the scythe, symbolic of gathering the souls of the dead. Some priests carry a scythe, using it as both a weapon and a symbol of their faith - although most appreciate that it's an ungainly weapon and opt to carry something a little more practical. The second symbol is the hourglass, by turning the device over and letting the sand run through the mechanism the cleric is demonstrating the unstoppable passage of time, and thus the nature of Mortis. Many younger priests carry miniature representations of either the scythe or the hourglass, cast in silver or pewter, rather than the real thing. They certainly seem to work equally well in invoking spells, although more traditional members frown upon the practice and despair at the populist direction the priesthood is taking. They expect ear-rings next.

Duties of the Priesthood

Titled members of the clergy (morticars, necrotains and morticians) have very specific duties to perform within the Church. Clergy who live and work within a parish are responsible for the members of that parish. They will openly preach each Morday, instilling in the populace a healthy fear of Oblivion and respect for the role of Mortis. They do their best to get people to adjust their moral compasses, so that when Mortis judges them at the last they are not found wanting. During the rest of the week, many clerics busy themselves with administrational duties, visiting the sick and the dying and being what comfort they can to the terminally ill. It is Mortis' great wish that no member of the faithful in all of Urova should die of natural causes without a Watcher by their side. The priesthood can't be everywhere at once, but they do try their best. Much of the cleric's time is taken up with officiating at funerals, and going about the business of burying the dead and making them ready for the afterlife. Some parishes are so small that the mortician is the only member of the faith; others (particularly within archmortages) are so large that many members of the clergy help the mortician in these duties. If the deceased is a particularly important personage the local necrotain (or archnecrotain) may lead the keening at the funeral.

The funeral is normally paid for by the family of the deceased, but the Church will absorb the costs of those that die alone. Even the most putrid and friendless beggar is taken in by the Watchers and given a decent burial. The ceremonies surrounding the interment of the dead are designed to smooth the passage of the soul to the afterlife. The Watchers also keep painstaking records of those who have died and where the body is interred. They are normally prepared to help someone looking for the bodies of relatives by sending word out through all the temples in a necrotain or even province. The make a minimal charge of 10 crowns for the information.

Any being who dies of natural causes has been taken by Mortis. Those who meet their deaths at the hands of violence or magic are another matter entirely. In these instances, the clergy see that the hand of Mortis has been forces. The Watchers have absolutely no truck with murderers of any description, and they will do all they can to help hunt down such individuals. They won't go out of their way (as with the undead) but they would not refuse a call for help. They are accepting of killing in self defence (they consider the true killer to be the one who started the fight), but on the whole they believe that the only members of the faithful who can kill with impunity are themselves. After all, they are extensions of Mortis, so whatever they do in his name and by default, his action.

All clerics are called upon to oppose and destroy (if possible) any undead they encounter. If the undead is too powerful for a clergy member then they are to report its presence to their immediate superior. The presence of undead is not tolerated by the Watchers. However, like the other faiths of Mortis, they have been given many spells that create or otherwise make use of the undead. Many die-hard members of the clergy believe that there is no excuse for creating these creatures, regardless of the aim, and simply save these magicks to 'counter-spell' other clerics and necromancers. But, there is a movement within the church that says that animating the mindless undead such as skeletons or zombies is not a crime as long as they are put to work serving Mortis and are returned to the earth again directly afterward. Creating sentient undead is an unforgivable sin, but some more wayward clerics could just get away with animating a horde of skeletons to destroy an enemy of the faith, or otherwise further the ends of the church. They would have to be able to justify their actions, of course. In practice the Watchers concentrate their activities on undead that are high profile or an obvious threat to life and limb. They have not the resources to do all they might like - such as clearing out the Barrow Moors or the Wraith Haunt.

Watchers are also depended upon to do all they can to prevent any form of resurrection or raising of the dead. They will put themselves into danger, and actively oppose other faiths to this end. If they discover an individual has been resurrected, they must report it to their superiors. Morticians have no jurisdiction over such matters, although necrotains may take certain steps. In practice, the Watchers normally find themselves opposing the Church of Fire, Fortune's Favour and the Sensationalists in these matters. As an outlawed organisation, it is almost impossible to know what the Bombastics are up to; the Church of Life is closely aligned with the Watchers and is very selective in whom it resurrects, as is the Church of Contention who only bring back the greatest warriors and war heroes. Although any resurrection rankles, the Churches of Life and Contention bring back so few, under such scrutiny and protection there is little the Watchers can do about it. Rumours abound that they try to scupper these endeavours all the same, but nothing has ever been proven.

The missionary order, the Children of Oslos, often come into contact with resurrectionist and the undead on a regular basis. Some clergy serve all their lives in the opposition of one or both of these evils. The Children are also responsible for making more money for the church and are required to tithe at least 10% of all their income to the faith (most give much more).

Ceremonies and Holy Days

Morday is the holy day of the faith of Mortis. Every Morday, congregations of the faithful to Mortis gather in the temples and morticians deliver sermons, sing mournful songs and read from the Book of the Dead. There six services per day, each lasting thirty minutes and all the faithful from the parish are expected to attend at least one of them. During the intervals between services, the mortician and the rest of the clergy make themselves available. During the week of the Full Moon of Mortis (41st - 47th of each month) there is a week long festival to the god, with temples hosting reading, sermons and educational seminars everyday.

On the 49th of each month, at dusk, the necrotain of each mortage performs The Blessing. He reads from the Book of the Dead "Another month older. Another month closer. Closer to the final embrace. Closer to Mortis. Closer to revelation..." And proceeds to name the great and the good of the faith who have performed exceptionally in the past month. He also intones a long list of all the people in the mortage who have died in the past month. Often the ceremony goes on late into the evening. The Blessing always takes place on a Sunday which is normally the day set aside for no religious observance whatsoever. The practice of the Blessing, which was only instigated in 188 LE, is considered something of a heresy by the other faiths.

Other great annual events include Uros Day which is shared by all faiths, and takes place on the 1st of New Year to commemorate the coming of all the gods. The Blessing held on the last day of a year takes on special significance, and is even longer than the Blessing held at other times of the year.

Most people experience the Watchers on a more personal level as they come to administer to the dead, and at funerals. At these events, Watchers perform The Keening - a strange and unearthly song that is supposed to help the soul to its proper destination. The music of the church, very much built around many high voices singing laments and dirges, in a little depressing but very effective. Most Watchers are accomplished singers if you like that sort of thing.

Raiment of the Priesthood

Simple members of the clergy wear long flowing black robes, adorned only by their holy symbol woven in silver thread around the breast. Morticians wear the basic outfit with silver trim around the cuffs, hem and collar. Necrotains wear the mortician's outfit plus a white scapula over the top and a black mitre. Archnecrotains wear the same except that the scapula is grey. Morticars wear a black scapula (although the outfit is otherwise unchanged). The High Holy Witness of Doom wears as a morticar except the robe itself is heavily embroidered with silver thread depicting the triumphs and the church of Mortis; over the scapula he wears a heavy black cloak with a raised hood rather than the mitre.

Adventuring members of the clergy favour more practical clothing, although it is still often in black. When conducting certain ceremonies priests are required to wear a black cope (a square piece of black silk) draped over the head. In official ceremonies many priests wear a stylised skeleton mask - normally the more elaborate, the greater the station.

Affiliated Orders

There are many orders affiliated to the Watchers. By the far the most infamous (and possibly fictitious) are the Hounds of Mortis, who are a group of priests and warriors who hunt down and kill anyone who has been resurrected, reincarnated or otherwise raised from the dead. If the Hounds were ever proven to be real, there would be a great out cry against the Watchers, that might lead to conflict with the Justicians. A second order is called The Shadow of Mortis, which is a band of warriors dedicated to the the destruction of the undead. Although their numbers are often bolstered by clerics, they are primarily a martial group who can be called on by the church in time of adversity.

Major Centres of Worship

The centre of the faith of the Watchers is currently the vast temple of Oblivios in the Norandon capital of Uris. It is hear that Tarex himself lives, and it is here that the Court of Doom has been located for as long as anyone can remember. The most holy place in the religion is Mount Korvast, and the Watchers have a strong presence in the Village of the Eighteen Churches that has grown up at the mountain's base. Beyond that, temples of the Watchers can be found throughout Norandor and Urova in general. They are among the most common of any faith.

Attitudes Toward Other Faiths

Church of the Unbeating Heart: A terrible hatred bordering on murderous mania. The Lifebane Church is the exact opposite of the Watchers, and their very presence is total heresy to the them. Watchers will hunt down and kill any members of the Church of the Unbeating Heart that they find. No questions, or quarter is asked.

Scriveners of Doom: Different opinions on what makes up Oblivion. The Scriveners believe in an entire co-dependent multiverse, and in the reality of the Outer Planes. They see Mortis as the guide to leads individuals to their plane of ultimate rest, rather than just dumping them in Oblivion. This has led to some friction between the different faiths, and sometimes the persecution of the Scriveners at the hands of the Watchers.

Church of Fire: The Watchers do not see eye-to-eye with the Church of Fire's believe in rebirth and second chances. Individuals only get one chance at life, and it is how they behave in this life that dictates where they travel afterwards. The key to the faith of the Watchers is growing and moving on; not coming back and trying again until one gets life right. Their hatred for resurrection and reincarnation magicks mean that relations between the Watchers and the Church of Calafax are cold at best. Although there is no open hostility between the two, Watchers are unlikely to go out of their way to aid a cleric of this church, and will go out of their way to obstruct any scheme if they believe that resurrection is involved.

Other faiths: The Watchers are on good terms with the churches of Vítaeous despite the occasional use of resurrection magicks by those churches. The view the activity of the Arcanum Incognita with discreet suspicion, but have no animosity toward the Church of Air. The churches of Terranor are viewed as allies, and the Sharrashan faiths are viewed with respectful neutrality.

See Also:

• Game Rule Information for The Watchers
• Hound of Mortis Prestige Class
• Overview of Mortis
• Overview of the Moon Gods