Pallbearer
Pallbearers are the beings created by Nandipha to watch over the dead. Each pallbearer tends to have skeletal features in their true form, with the ability to disguise themselves with skin in large crowds. Sometimes, their skeletal features are seen through parts of their body showing it, like how Nandipha's arms show. They also tend to wear armor of some kind, as they are intended to be able to fight off any potential threat that may be imposed upon the dead they guard.
Created right before the war, Nani mastered the elemental power of death, knowing that it was coming for her to bring her to her rightful place as queen of the dead. This revelation made it possible for them to exist, and following Ragnarok, made mourning the loss of many individuals not just easier, but better.
Pallbearers are most frequently seen wearing the color black, in order to better blend in with the shadows. They seldom reveal themselves to any lifeforms in the vicinity, though it’s not impossible to catch glimpses of them as they move about and do their duty. Some pallbearers, including High Pallbearer Serenity, have been known to interact with society at large to reassure people that their departed loved ones are being cared for.
Each pallbearer gets their name from an emotion or feeling that one might have in relation to death (eg Hope, Jubilation, Sorrow, etc.). This means that there can be multiple pallbearers with the same name, though the individuals in question can all be quite different in personality. In fact, despite being created for a certain purpose and living to fulfill it, every single pallbearer has their own thoughts, feelings, personality, and even appearance, as their duty doesn’t restrict any of these.
Basic Information
Genetics and Reproduction
A pallbearer can be created in a few different fashions. The first - and primary - method of it is for Nandipha herself to create one. This was the genesis of the species, and it continues to happen as necessary. Another way is that there is a chance for a child conceived with a pallbearer to be born as a pallbearer, and there is no way of knowing until the child is born and shows signs of being one (which typically involves their external appearance flashing between skin and skeleton). Yet another way a pallbearer can be made is if someone in life devotes themselves to the dead in some manner. This can include funeral home directors, graveyard keepers, and even priests and priestesses who specialize in last rites. Upon death, they may find themselves resurrected as a pallbearer and be given the chance to continue their work that way.
