The Protector of Mortis Character in Avestra | World Anvil
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The Protector of Mortis

Mortem

An Eternal who's name has become synonymous with death. The first Eternal to be made by the Destroyer, Mortem served as the first leader and a confidant of Ano and Eno. After the return of the Eternals and the defeat of the Elders, he chose to defend the fallen spirits of Mortis and keep anyone, good aligned or otherwise, from being able to manipulate them. A force for neutrality, anyone who has designs on Mortis dread the day they catch the attention of this Eternal and discovering what the realm and the term for death both come from his name.

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

Mortem looks like a person in their mid 40s with a slender build that hides the power he can wield. Their outward appearance can switch between masculine and androgynous, depending on the preference.

Body Features

Just like other Eternals, Mortem's true form is a walking cloak, boots, glove and hood. The cloak is often dark grey, with purple lining the edges. When he takes a full humanoid form, he appears as a pale white human that hails from the Western Shogunates of Alus.

Identifying Characteristics

  • Piercing grey eyes
  • black hair that silvers near the roots

Special abilities

As an Eternal, Mortem posseses:
  • Teleportation anywhere he can visually see or can accurately remember/imagine
  • Blasts that draw off negative energy
  • Flight
  • Ability to travel through the shadows
  • Enhanced Strength and Constitution
  • Some sort of Eternal vision
  • Regeneration

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Mortem was one of the first Eternals created by Anu, the Destroyer, in the new universe. At the same time, his counterpat, Vita, was created by Enu, the Creator. The two of them served as leaders for the fledgling Eternal people at first until the birth of Ano and Eno. Mortem served as a guiding figure to them both until it was their turn to rule. Well, more like explore the empty universe and create more realms, leaving him to simply rule in their stead until their return. And when the Eternal Civil War came, he was one of the few that chose not to pick a side. Unfortunately, he still disappeared with the rest of the Eternals at the end of the war.
 
When the Eternals returned to be part of the Elder-Eternal War, Mortem only appeared on Avestra rarely, mainly to help out his counterpart or his surrogate nephews. However, the end of the war saw him leave the public sphere until mages went looking for the Eternal. Reports say that he now stays on the plane of Mortis where the fallen dead go to for an eternal resting place. He protects it from any outsiders, whether Celestial or Fiend who wish to convince the dead into deals that would make them leave the afterlife. Supposedly, he has heard about souls that went missing after the Elders attacked the realm and now searches for them along with Vita.

Gender Identity

While Mortem often displays himself as a man, sometimes the Eternal appears so androgynous and takes no issue with going by they. In the end, it matters little since they don't interact with that many people.

Morality & Philosophy

Mortem personifies neutrality as he works for the benefit of Mortis as a whole. He understands that the Celestials may look for warriors to aid them in the Blood War or that adventurers may come here to get back friends and family they lost but he cares very little. Their afterlife is sacred and must be protected no matter the cost. While he won't be violent about it, many who have dealt with him see him as the personification of the Raven Queen, sparking discussions on whether he is or not.

Social

Contacts & Relations

  • Montiors: Mortem works hand-in-hand with those that safeguard Mortis, especially the neutral psychopomps that judge the dead and send them to their respective afterlives. Mortem refuses to take a leadership position with them, preferring for them to work as they did before, only for him to be a partner to them.

Family Ties

  • The Lone Wanderer: Mortem clearly shows some affection towards Ano but isn't afraid to discipline him or drag him away from whatever schemes he's up to when the older Eternal comes to check on him. They have commented on his behavior but allow him to do as he wishes since it would be better not to fight someone he cares about.
  • The Protector of Avestra: Mortem is glad that Eno found a goal for himself such as protecting the habitants of Avestra. In a way, the two are working the same goal where Eno protects the living while Mortem protects the dead. However, they find that Eno's activities can get quite complex and he needs to step back one in a while before he burns himself out.
  • The Explorer of Realms: Vita is the counterpart to Mortem in every way. Where he is composed and speaks only when needed, she is full of life and vibrant, always wearing how she feels on her sleeve. It's for this reason that he treasures her as seen in times where the two are together. People called from the afterlife to answer questions often bring up the conversations they two have when the spirit is able to catch a glimpse of them.

Religious Views

If there are are gods, Mortme seems to be glad they thought of the mortals of AVestra and used the realms created to give the fallen a place to rest away from the horrors of the other realms. Though he thinks they didn't do enough since people can steal these souls away or convince them to join in pacts that make them leave the realm. There msut be some purpose for it but he refuses to seek it out, leaving that to others who have the time to.

Social Aptitude

Mortem often comes off as anti-social with anyone he talks to that he isn't familiar with. No one truly knows why but the attitude works well for the older Eternal as people take him more seriously and are quick to answer his demands. The few moments Mortem has been seen with people he's close to, he appears to like spending time with them.
Alignment
Neutral
Current Location
Species
Age
Billions of Years Old
Pronouns
He/They
Gender
Man
Presentation
Masculine
Eyes
Pale Grey
Hair
Raven Black Hair with Silver Roots
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Pale White

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