Trumpeters of Death
Overview
The Trumpeters of Death are an enigmatic, cult-like faction of individuals chosen by Venita, Goddess of Void, Death and Burials. The Trumpeters are not religious devotees, nor do they seek power or fame. Instead, they are selected at random, seemingly without reason or warning, and bear a divine trumpet gifted to them by Venita herself. Their primary purpose is not to bring death but to carry out the Goddess's will in an inscrutable, cryptic manner. The Trumpeters, though they wield the ability to raise the dead, are not actively malevolent; rather, they serve as instruments of the afterlife, creating a morbid balance between life and death.
These individuals are marked by their eerie silence and ghostly presence. They wear white, featureless masks, and tattered black robes that obscure their forms, leaving only their divine trumpet visible. Their ability to raise the dead is not confined to mere zombies; they can manipulate the dead in various ways, depending on the nature of the trumpet's sound. However, they are careful not to create chaos without reason, and their actions are often shrouded in mystery, leaving many to wonder if they serve a greater purpose, or if they simply act on the whims of their divine patron.
Their arrival often induces fear in nearby towns and cities, but most people have learned to leave them undisturbed, as confronting them is futile, given the uncontrollable nature of the undead they raise.
History
The origins of the Trumpeters of Death are as mysterious as the group itself. According to ancient legends, Venita chose the first Trumpeters long before most civilizations were formed. It is said that she selected individuals from all corners of the world, and their first task was to sound the trumpet at the dawn of an age when mortal life was to be forever marked by death’s inescapable presence.
Over time, the Trumpeters became a whispered legend. Many assumed that they were simply a myth or an ancient cult with no real influence, yet the legend persisted. Occasionally, a single Trumpeter would appear in a city or village, blowing their trumpet in the distance, raising the dead, and leaving before anyone could confront them.
Historical records indicate that the Trumpeters first became well recognized as a faction during the Great War of Apollyon, a period of bloody conflict where the realms of men and Almidar or High Elves were locked in a series of destructive battles. When the dead of the fallen soldiers began to rise, the armies and nobles of the time scrambled to stop the spread of these zombies and other undead forms. However, as the Trumpeters' numbers slowly began to grow, it became clear that they could not be defeated. Attempts to control or destroy them only resulted in more death and decay.
The most famous incident in their history occurred during the Siege of Ganzir, a great city that was surrounded by a massive invading force of Fen'Ur. In the midst of the siege, several Trumpeters arrived at the city gates, blowing their eerie horns. In a matter of minutes, hundreds of soldiers who had fallen in battle rose from the ground, joining the ranks of the undead. The siege quickly turned in favor of the undead army, and the living forces were forced to retreat. Since that time, the Trumpeters have been considered a neutral force, not aligning with any one faction, but occasionally appearing during times of great destruction.
Despite the occasional appearances of these figures, little else is known about their origins. Scholars have speculated that Venita’s selection process is a divine mystery, not based on religious devotion, merit, or race, but instead based on the will of the Goddess, and that each Trumpeter is chosen for reasons only she understands.
Relations with Others
While the Trumpeters do not align with any particular faction, their presence is noted by kings, lords, and other powerful figures. Some factions have tried to control or eliminate the Trumpeters, only to be met with failure. The undead that rise from the trumpets cannot be easily destroyed, and the Trumpeters themselves are far too mysterious to be understood or contained.
As a result, most factions have learned to ignore the Trumpeters and allow them to do their work. In some rare instances, alliances have formed between Trumpeters and heroes who seek to better the world or slay a large number of undead, usually those summoned by a rogue necromancer or the corrupting presence of a Lich, though these alliances are often tenuous and short-lived.
In towns and villages, the Trumpeters are often seen as omens of death, and their presence is usually greeted with unease. They are not seen as enemies, but their arrival is a reminder of mortality that most would rather ignore. Some towns may offer them shelter or food in exchange for their silence, hoping to avoid angering Venita herself.
- A Trumpeter of Death seen here with their iconic mask.
