Mortal Coil

Death is a reality that all the mortals who arrived in the Arc Ship must contend with. Each has evolved their own average lifespans, from the elves who can live many centuries, to many at just a few decades. In the Hegemony of the Star Walkers even humans could have their lives extended many centuries with their technology. The three generations of travel in the ship, this technology was not on board so for many this was the first time they had to deal with death and the idea of generations.
The duty to bury the dead and come to terms with it for many different species was new. It also deeply disrupted their societies. Elders who held experience and wisdom had a long standing mark on on their societies. Some of these ancestors still live on in legend, cultural leaders who lead their people. Now they had to deal with generations coming and going.
The Mortal Coil focus on death and conducting people to deal with death. Not so much for the dead but for the living. However as this group of philosophers delved deeper in to the their studies they developed magic conducting and deflecting necrotic energies. About the same time wizardry was being developed and some wizards developed necromancy and became corrupted inventing the undead in an effort to create a replacement to automatons.
The Mortal Coil maintain funerary complexes around the world in almost all cities. They operate crematoriums and internment mausoleums, they help the living come to grips to death. The philosophers also investigate necromancy, undead sightings, and hunt undead.

Structure

The halls of the Mortal Coil are necropolis centers usually located outside of cities where the dead are cremated and then either buried or entomed. Each of these complexes are inhabited by dedicated clerics and priests who are normally charged with funuarary duties. There are typically laymen who attend to most of the work, these are led by a Censure, a cleric with authority over the complex. Adjoined to the Censure is a Sentinal who is in charge of rooting out necromancy and undead. The Sentinal may work alone or have other clerics or even mercenaries under their command.
There are 12 global leaders of the order, 2 for the SOKI, 2 for the Ayhorah, 2 for the Aerolend, 2 for the Uthash, 2 for the Atlantians, 1 for the Gorgondra. Each of these regions has a Bishop elected by the Censures of the region. Bishops serve for life. The Bishops form a global council where they debate the direction and purpose of the order and any major news of undead creation or infestations. They can create Sub commities that may have regional or global authority.

Culture

Solem and serious. They take their charge very seriously, and want to keep a level of decorum around the dead to maintain respect for life.

Public Agenda

They are pillars of the community and are well known as those that handle the dead and burial practices.

Assets

Each Necropolish has a cental temple that handles the funral rites and cremation. This temple serves as a local hq for training clerics in both the philosophical tradition but also combat and how to fight different kinds of undead. They have access to martial weapons, heavy armor, horses and libraries. There is some gold and gems that are given as tithes and for funerary services.
Each regional headquarters has access ancient libraries, histories, potions, gold, weapons, and equipement.

History

2500 A the order was founded out of a group of various monster hunters, adventurers and others after a particulary bad necromancy invasion. The organization formed and for centuries it was a mundane order. The philosophy developed over time and the grave domain was discovered.

Divine Origins

Founded by a rag tag group of adventurers who had just defeated a necromancer who had destroyed a city with an undead army.

Priesthood

Censure, In charge of a Necropolis Sentinal, In charge of rooting out necromancy. Has some legal authority depending on the city. however extrajudicial action is not unheard of. Bishop Regional leader elected by Censures in their region. Serves for life.

Granted Divine Powers

Grave Domain.

Political Influence & Intrigue

The Mortal Coil is appreciated by all citizens and leaders for the work they do. However, when they fight Necromancy they may find themselves arresting against court wizards, or others and may find themselves working more as vigilanties. Friction is common, and Sentinels being at odds with courts is the stuff of political legend.

Death is but a Door

Founding Date

2500 A

Type

Religious, Deanery

Demonym

Mortalists

Philosophical Cleric: Adventurers often in this philosophical group know funeral rights for dozens of cultures and practice how different cultures grieve the dead. They are instilled with the duty to fight necromancy and are trained in heavy armor and bludgeoning weapons.
Philosophical Monk: monasteries associated with the Mortal Coil practice breaking ki in targets and generally focus on the Way of the Long Death. They are considered sinister by some, but they are trying to perfect their understanding of how ki flows and anti-flows in the undead.
Philosophical Paladins: These warriors dedicate themselves to fighting the undead and corruption.

In the C'thulhu mythos the Insane Undead are a different kind of creature entirely, they are reconstructed with anti-life energy harnesses from dimensions beyond. The Mortal Coil are aware of the difference, and to those without deeper Mortal Coil training would probably no know about it.