Morkhal

For centuries, the gods of the Torvan and Saerin Pantheons led their followers across the world of Morkhal, teaching them the ways of their various flavors of magic. The two pantheons bickered with each other while struggling to maintain order under the de facto leadership of Volun, the god of justice and mercy, known to many as the Great Protector.   Anuria, the goddess of cruelty and hatred, indignant at having to follow the orders of her polar opposite, began to refuse Volun, and eventually began openly challenging him. She sent her loyal servant Skyr, the god of battle, to face Volun in a duel. After a days-long battle, Skyr surrendered and swore his sword to the Great Protector.   Anuria, infuriated by her servant's failure and betrayal, began to dedicate more and more time to scheming and plotting, eventually becoming consumed by her lust for vengeance. After personally challenging Volun to a duel, she lay in wait on the shores of what is now Godfall Island, ambushing him upon his arrival. Despite her best-laid plans and a knife in the back, Volun was still the superior warrior. The two fought for an entire month, annihilating the surface of the island that served as their battlefield. As both lay dying at the end of the month, the essence of their beings radiated across Morkhal in a wave of ethereal, primordial energy that permeated the air, suddenly and violently making magic available to all mortals.   After news of the duel reached the ears of the Torvan, Volun's loyal paladins fought alongside Skyr to purge the followers of Anuria, god and mortal alike, expunging them from the annals of history. Unbeknownst to the gods, mortal magic grew massively more powerful for every god that fell. After the purge, many gods of both pantheons returned to business as usual but, with the influx of mortal magic, their days of unchallenged divine rule were numbered. It was time for the gods to adapt or die, and one god, in particular, was keenly aware of that fact.   Kett, the god of death, had served as gatekeeper to the afterlife, shepherding the souls of mortals to the planes in which they belonged. However, the deaths of Volun and Anuria had changed everything and a very steep and sudden influx of souls was coming. Kent prepared a ritual to sever his soul from his physical body without dispersing his power, and created a new race, the Kentali, to build his tomb. During the ritual, Kett granted immortality to the first of the Kentali, known as High Lich Lindencourt, and ordered him to create a holy order to prevent mortals from disturbing the dead or unnaturally extending their lives. Thus was born the Order of the Deathknell. To this day Kett exists between realms, watching over the souls of the dead on the way to their next life.