Death

In Ebdypha, death is not necessarily the end of life. As per the Ignimos, the mind, body, and heart coexist and are all tangible things. What happens when this sacred trinity is disrupted depends on many factors.

Undisturbed Death

Death in Noise

This is the way death was intended to occur. "Noise" refers to divine light, which strengthens the lingering mind, and to the wind, which carries the heart up to the Monumidium. The body naturally decays, and its essence leaks downward into the Underworld.

Death in Silence

Without light and wind, the mind and heart stay connected, and this force becomes a Ghost. The body, as above, decays and leaks into the Underworld.

Death by Exposure

Dying in the Unending Dun

Due to the unique properties of the Unending Dun, the body is often preserved very well, while the heart and mind leave the body but remain joined, fuelled by the Dun's Astral energy and becoming a Shade.

Dying near Visite

Sufficient exposure to Visite has an effect on what occurs to the heart and mind upon death. Visite keeps the link between mind and heart strong enough to survive without the body, and so, while the body decays to the Underworld, the heart and mind become a Wraith.

Dying while linked to Asterite

There are two ways in which this affects death: Sagacians will turn to stone in their old age, and the mind and heart become trapped in the petrified body; Monic Monks will eventually become engulfed in beautiful iridescent crystal. Any others who have a bond with Asterite will have their body instead become naturally mummified, and the heart and mind, strengthened by the Asterite, will become a Wraith. The automummified bodies are generally entombed to protect them.

Dying near the Idomarth

It is said that drinking from the Idomarth Sea for a day is enough to change what happens after life. As per normal, the body decays and leaks into the Underworld, but the mind and heart remain linked and linger in the form of a Ghost; however, the waters of the Idomarth tend to produce ghosts with significantly more presence than elsewhere. As such, they are often entombed to reduce the chances of these ghosts influencing the living world too strongly.

Death by Race

Dying as an Ebtarrais

Due to having a little to no heart compared with other races, an Ebtarrai who dies becomes a Spectre - a heartless ghost - because although the body decays (or is preserved, if within the Dun), the mind will linger.

Dying as a Gwerine or Beast

Gwerine and animals, due to their stronger hearts and often weaker minds, won't become ghosts upon death, but will instead become a Spirit. Gwerine corpses are usually given grove burials, where animals of the grove feast on the remains of the body.

Dying as a Ghul

Because Ghul live on the brink of life and death at all times, a Ghul's body will persist and see only partial decay. If something happens to forcefully separate the heart and mind from the body, the Ghul's persistent body will become a Ghoul, and the heart and mind will either become a ghost, or go through the normal outcomes.

Death by Culture

Dying under Aerendas Blessing

Those who offer their lives to the Aerendas as part of the Argent Order will be cremated, and the ash will be taken to Zhezel, who will devour it to maintain his strength. The body, heart, and mind are all absorbed.

Dying under Daemonas Blessing

Those who offer their lives to the Daemonas are usually dropped into the Underworld, and so they become a Fiend and are left to wander there.

Dying under Dulgar Blessing

Those who have received the blessing of the Dulgars are traditionally given a sky burial to ensure that the natural process is fulfilled.

Dying to Tho'ekh

Those who have lived off Tho'ekh's lands are expected to offer themselves to him when they die. This is called a mud sea burial, and the corpse sinks down and is presumed to be absorbed by Thoh'ekh.

Dying under a Cult of Torohnuq

The many Cults of Torohnuq all have similar ways of dealing with the dead. The corpse is burned on a pyre, and while the heart is carried up to the Monumidium, this special Tar-aided red fire allows the specific cult to absorb the mind. The remaining ash is then made into a brick, which is added to special temple structures.

Dying as a Reas

When a Reas dies, it is customary for other Reas to go through a cannibalism ritual, devouring the body and absorbing the mind in order to strengthen their own psychic abilities. The heart is left to be carried away to the Monumidium.

Dying in the Pollen Sea

Those who live in the Pollen Sea for any substantial length of time are supposed to be taken to the Fleshweald when they die by Her Carriers. It is not known why.

Dying as a Shudrim

Shudrim go through Reconstitution when they die: The Fingers of Mshunnichu will add the bodily materials to Mshunnichu.