Thanatos

Symbol: A night black horse 

Alignment: Neutral 

Domain: Darkness, Death, Earth, Magic, Repose 

Worshiper: Anyone 

Cleric Alignments: NG, LN, N 

Favored Weapon: Bastard Sword 

Thanatos was born a mortal and lived most of his life as a mortal. Most of his life is cloaked in obscurity due to how much time has passed. What is known is that he was married and had a family in that time period. He also was a fierce opponent of the undead and necromancers. Thanatos became a god by sheer chance.

During the War of Fiends the original god was hunted by a necromancer. The two engaged in a fierce battle as the original god did not wish to surrender his power to a necromancer. The necromancer won the duel by throwing a poisoned dagger at the god. The necromancer had procured the dagger from the evil god of assassins on a promise to destroy the barriers between life and death. Unknown to the necromancer he had gained the attention of Thanatos. At the time Thanatos was a human ranger with unparalleled skill in tracking. He had set about tracking the necromancer due to an undead infestation that resulted in his wife’s death. After sending the children to relatives Thantaos set upon the necromancer’s trail.

He came upon the end of the battle and attacked the necromancer. The battle was brutal as the necroamcer raised the dead and even used the body of the now dead god. Thanatos was enraged about the use and the slaughter of a god. He swiftly tore through all of the bodies that were raised. Only one body was untouched by him, the body of the dead god.

Thantos then charged in a swift stroke ended the necromancer’s life, but since someone had to take up the mantle of the god of death he chose to bear it. It was not a burden he wanted, but he knew it had to be done. He sent a letter to the relatives telling them he was unable to return due to unforeseen consequences. He then took up the mantle of a god who presided over death.

When Appaliunas returned Thanatos gladly helped win the war against the fiends. After the war he turned his hand to getting the Court of the Dead in order. He had gods pick up their faithful and set about punishments for those who had to pay for various sins. He also arranged a spot for those who worshipped no particular god, but deserved to have a place to dwell. He buried the original god in a place of honor on his home plane.

History/Relationships: Thanatos has no tendency to ally with gods due to the fact he must preside fairly over all of their mortal followers. He will allow his followers to side with the followers of any who crusades against the undead or necromancers though.

Dogma: Recognize that death is part of life. It is not an ending but a beginning, not a punishment but a necessity. Death is an orderly process without deceit, concealment, and randomness. Help others die with dignity at their appointed time and no sooner. Speak against those that would artificially prolong their life beyond natural limits, such as the undead. Do honor to the dead, for their strivings in life brought the world to where it is now. Forgetting them is to forget where we are now, and why. Let none die a natural death without one of Thanatos’ clerics at her side.

Clergy and Temples: Clerics of Thanatos perform funerals, settle the affairs of the dead, and often are called upon by local lords or magistrates to oversee the execution of last wills and testaments. They ensure that the bodies of the dead are buried safely and according to religious tradition of the deceased. Clerics of Thanatos consider all undead abominations, and do whatever they can to put them to eternal rest. They contend that those who create undead are fit only for swift and utter destruction. The clergy sometimes declare crusades against the undead or against creatures deemed to have caused too many untimely deaths. Occasionally, this leads them to employ adventurers to solve problems with which they cannot contend alone.

Members of the clergy tend to be taciturn, even morose at times. Many came to the church after losing loved ones to undead incursions, or even after dying themselves and being so profoundly touched by the experience that they enrolled in the clergy shortly after returning to life. Many of his temples have an inviting or soothing architect

Many people especially adventurers file a copy of their will with the Temple of Thanatos. This is done to ensure that their estate will be handled fairly.