Name: Athrebos
Domain: Death and Undead
Domain ability:
Death β The one certainty in life is that it ends. And when it does, Athrebos will be watching. He is the ward over Death, and ensures that everyone passes on. His followers of the Death branch are known as two things. Excellent assassins, and very peaceful priests. Those blessed by his followers can pass on without pain. They seem almost asleep as their soul leaves the body. The last peace can often be seen as the last blessing away from a potentially very painful life. As assassins though, they are mysterious, dangerous and very thorough. Their services are not cheap but in little, subtle ways they are aided by Athrebos himself. Those who are marked by the god of Death have no chance of survival. Some even simply await the assassin and dies willingly and painless.
Undead β The souls of those passed are sacred, and should not be tampered with. But the bodies are fair play. In fact, why waste such ready-made puppets on something as stupid as burial? Clean the bones and let them walk once more. As eternal loyal servants of those worthy. Athrebos blesses his followers and lets them generate Dark Magic to sustain corpses. The more Dark Magic is used on the bodies, the stronger the binding and the stronger the servant.
Common appearance: The lord of death and undead does not take a humanoid form. Instead he stalks the lands in the form of a giant crow. His wings can cast a shadow over an entire house. On his head it carries a long, dragon-like skull and its eyes glow a strange, blue-ish. On his wings hang bones by the threads, which rattle in the sky. And blood drips off his claws. Wherever he lands the nature is drained from its vitality. Only to return to life when he leaves.
Personality: Rather cold and distant. Athrebos prefers not to interact with neither his siblings nor his followers in a straight way. If he does so, he will seem rather uninterested and even bored. Though, still dutiful. He rewards duty but also interest. Should something happen that intrigues him, you can be damn sure heβll notice. Still, as god of death he is attracted to these kind of things. Should you manage to bring carnage to the world in heaps, Athrebos will be watching. And judging.
Direct or indirect: indirect
Description of mage powers:
Death branch β Mortis Priests. A strange cult, the Mortis Priests reside within their monasteries praying and training. They carry strange potions and herbs under their long, black robes with crimson trim. However, be careful when you approach one trained in the Athrebosβ ways. A single touch can mean instant death. As your blood fouls and your breath is taken away. This makes them such dangerous assassins. Once they touch skin, itβs all over. Some High Mortimium Priests can do something called the Reaperβs Mark. This is straight magic from Athrebos and instantly kills the person intended. It does require said personβs blood. The Reaperβs Mark is a very dangerous and powerful spell. Its service cannot be bought. Yet, should one desire a peaceful death they must simply drink from the water handed by them from a Mortis Priest. The simple water first makes you feel drowsy and sleepy. In your torpor, the soul peacefully leaves the body.
Undead β The necromancers of Athrebos are very dangerous. They fill corpses with Dark Magic, making them into puppets. Further, stronger necromancers can knit flesh itself into unholy shapes. The second strongest necromancers are Liches and they create monsters out of flesh and bone with ease. Making for often creative results. The strongers necromancers managed a way to not only knit and work flesh and bone but specifically managed to alter their own flesh and bones. Vampyres they are. They look humanoid but many feast on blood to preserve their life. Vampyres form the elite of Athrebosβ realm and use their own, powerful blood to strengthen their undead minions.
Symbol: A circular ring of glyphs with in the middle an hourglass.
Other info:
Nation name: The Forsaken Kingdom
Flag: black flag background. With 3 vertical streaks of bloody red.
Location on map:Geographical information:Central to the Forsaken Kingdom are the Broken Spine mountains. At the far end of the Red Bay, flanked on both sides of the Spines, is Undaemos. The main city. The Western Spine is surrounded by dense forests. While the Eastern Spine is mostly surrounded by wide fields. The second greatest city is the citadel city of Mordeaos. Sitting and the entrance of the Red Bay.
Capital city: Undaemos. Or the black city. It rests safely in the depth of the river Styx. Undaemos is nestled against the Broken Spine mountains. When you enter the first ring seems rather normal. With houses and squares for trade. The people are like how youβd find them all over the world. Though, should you manage to enter the second ring youβll quickly find lots of mansions, libraries, enclaves, towers and walled houses. The next ring of wall gives access to the mountain side buildings. Massive crypts and a system of tunnels are found all over. In the heart of the mountain youβll find the Palace In The Mountain. Where you find the throne room and the rumoured Red Fountain.
Culture Description:The culture is ruled by the Necromantic caste. Vampyres rule from the top. As they have for many decades now. Though they often distance themselves from many worldy troubles and primary focus on expanding their power and gather more Dark Magic. Below them are the many ranks of Necromancers. All of them considered nobility. Most possess land and people. Below that are the many merchants that, despite outlooks, keep the trade within The Forsaken Kingdom going. The fact that labor can be easily bought (in the form of unliving minions) gives The Forsaken Kingdom an edge in production. Finally there are the common people, whom still labor in the fields to make a living. Often joined by skeletons and such.
The undead minions working the fields, mines and many factories are almost all skeletons and never from locals. When someone dies within the Forsaken Kingdoms the bodies are brought to a Mortidium Chapel, where a Mortis Priest gives the last rites before it is send off to some other, random Mortidium Church. At the church the rotting meat is removed from the bodies. Sometimes burned, sometimes send to the Third Wall of Undaemos or some other city. The bones are kept together and sold to a Necromancer. Who uses the bones to create minions. Who then can be bought.
Military description:Vampyres serve as high generals. Deciding upon strategy and tactics. While many do not care for the world, it seems that Vampyres are inherently attracted to battle. Many will not shy away from leading their troops to victory. Below the vampyres are the other necromantic ranks. Liches play a supportive role, keeping the minions strong. Normal Necromancers and their apprentices form squads to strengthen specific locations. The lowest tier of troops are the undead minions. Mostly armed skeletons (and zombies if the war drags on long enough). Supporting said undead are often strange beasts and monster. Creations of necromancers.
Due to the ability of fielding massive numbers, the Forsaken Kingdomβs army is often seen as very dangerous. However, there is one pin that holds it all together. The necromancers keeping the units up. Once a necromancer dies, his Dark Magic begins to fade. With it, his army crumbles. So assassination is an incredibly effective tool against the armies. More so when you know that the Vampyres arrogance often keeps them from expecting a strike from the shadows.
Government Description:There is one king. He must always be one of the Manoch Vampyre Bloodline. Currently King Konrad II rules over the Forsaken Kingdom. Though he generally leaves day to day governing of the realm to his Elder Council. Each major bloodline has its elder sit in the council. Elders generally decide over finance and law. Magistrates are a rank below the Council. They ensure that laws are abided to, cities and villages are taxed correctly and keep accounts on everything.
Population: 589,000 (approximation)
Traits:Nobility and royalty: The nobles received not only near-eternal life but also mass amounts of power. They know this is thanks to the king, whom is one of the eldest beings within the Forsaken Kingdom. His encouragement of research into the dark arts makes quite a few nobles very happy.
Clean streets: When those who sweep the city never have to eat, sleep or rest, the end result is that said streets are sparkling. The guard force that must protect them can be found on every corner. Silent sentinels that only seem to move the second the pack of bats flying over the city notices crime.
Refined infrastructure: the undead are relentless in keeping their roads in the best shape possible. Literally. Guard towers hold grave silent watchers over the wall. Ready ride out should they be required.
Universities: Only nobility has access to the many libraries, enclaves and universities. They learn not only about necromancy but also finance, trade and even art.
Jousting lords: Vampyres and other necromancers do enjoy the heat of combat. As nobility they must constantly prove when they are stronger than someone else. During war this is done by leading their troops into successful battles. In peace, however, many lords organize jousting tournaments. Training both themselves and their knights in the art of the lance.
Disciplined troops: The undead do not waver in the face of overwhelming numbers. They fight to the last, making fighting the Forsaken Kingdom an incredibly though ordeal.
Far-away lands: In the past some nations from faraway lands had their reservations about the undead workforce. Until they noticed just how fast their ships got unloaded for almost no cost at all. The ports of the Forsaken Kingdom are surprisingly lively. Ships come and go and seldom stay for more than a day if the business is trade.
Industrial: The undead workforce works day and night. Assuring plentiful output of goods. While not always master crafted, the goods are in well enough shape.
Filthy rich: Coin, gold, silver. It does not matter. With the booming industry brought by the undead workers, the nobility and royalty is rich beyond measure. The roads are straight and flat. The ports big and the warehouses huge. Cities never sleep as goods are moved from one place within the realm to another like itβs blood.
Flaws:Iron Fist β Recent laws have taken away many rights of ordinary citizens and transferred much power into the noble necromancers. No revolts have sprung up yet but itβs yet a matter of time. Peasants are already gathering illegal tools and weapons.
Biased Law β As said before, recent laws changed much. When Konrad II rose to his throne, the tithe each villager has to pay has tripled. Punishments for breaking the law are hard and often quickly turn to imprisonment in gibbets or worse, hanging on gallows.
Extra info: 
