Gradi, The Cycle of Life and Death ((grah-dee))

Gradi Toradimi

In the world of Czerelan, death can be found everywhere in different forms. The burying of a trusted friend, the decay of an animal carcass in the wilds, the murder of an innocent. During the Ruination death was glaring down upon the mortal races more than ever as they had to fight infectious plagues that eroded lungs and drove people to insanity. They had to fight disasters that shook their homes and tore families apart. Death was and is still a terrifying thing to those who count themselves among the mortal races, the fear of where they go, the end of their lives on the mortal realm. However, there is one god who attempts to comfort those whose time had come as he ferries them to the afterlife.
Gradi was originally a lower psychopomp serving under the God of the Dead, Toramis. Toramis was once god of the afterlife and taught Gradi and the other psychopomps everything they needed to know about how to comfort the souls of the dead. It was their responsibility to care for the souls and ferry them to their final destination if they were unclaimed by the Realms of the Afterlife. Toramis made the psychopomps to complete this task and find an afterlife for these souls to go. They were given characteristics that would comfort the souls they found, but were given no soul themselves and could only follow the orders of their god. However, Gradi was different in many ways. Gradi was the final psychopomp molded by Toramis. Gradi was a violet being with a gentle personality and kind eyes. However, Toramis wanted this one to be different from the rest, he wished to give this psychopomp what all the others were missing. A soul, and therefore a conscience. Gradi could die, but they could feel and connect better to living creatures than any other. Eventually the Ruination came.
The Ruination killed many gods and slaughtered their servants, however when Izrazen killed Toramis, Izrazen took control of the psychopomps and used them for his own gain. All of the psychopomps joined him, except for one. Gradi, with their gift of a soul saw this injustice and how the psychopomps were being used for cruelty instead of comfort, they fled their kin and their home, eventually finding safety in Staladel, the fortress plane. They met Nimbur and Regina who took them in. Gradi told them of how their kin were being used as weapons by Izrazen, they spoke of Toramis' death. Nimbur then took Gradi and trained them to fight in the yards of Staladel. Gradi took the fight back to the psychopomps. After countless battles, the psychopomps were destroyed by Gradi and eventually Gradi, Regina, and Nimbur attacked Izazren head on. They fought their way through his palace and eventually defeated him in the throne room. Gradi thought about slaying this cruel monster in front of his throne, but realized that the death of one leads to the death of many more, so Gradi removed Izrazen's hands and captured him. Izrazen's plane began to fracture and the trio of gods left victorious while Izrazen was locked in Staladel. Eventually Gradi returned home with their new allies. In sorrow, Gradi shed tears for their fallen father and master, believing it to be their fault for his death. A gargantuan spirit then began to appear over them and a hand rested upon Gradi's head. A fracture of Toramis still remained, not enough to heal but enough to give something to his favorite creation. Toramis melded with Gradi, giving them the powers of a god.

Divine Domains

The domains of which Gradi has dominion over are Life, Death, Burial, Rituals, Travel, and Roads.
Since they are often described as the Ferrier of Souls, they fall under each for their own reasons. Gradi is a god of death and the dead, but is also in turn a god of lifegiving. Every time they ferry a soul, they split the energy and the memory apart sending the memory to the afterlife and the energy back to the Mortal Realm. They also preside over the maintenance of the soul's body at home, ensuring they are buried and the proper rituals are taken care of.
As for travel and roads, Gradi is the Ferrier of Souls. However, his mode of transportation is not always a ferry or boat. Sometimes they take a cart along a road, seeing beautiful vistas on their journey. Sometimes they are flying upon a large bird, looking at the infinite possibilities beneath them. Gradi was given by the Campions the domain of travel, mostly because travelers look to him for guidance and safety since Gradi does what they are currently doing.

Artifacts

The Wings of the Psychopomp, a set of beautiful porcelain wings with white feathers speckled with lavender. These wings come from the Psychopomps of Gradi's early days and can be used to fly, but can also be used as a weapon and can summon the powers of life and death itself. The creature wearing them can resurrect those who are dearly departed, or can ferry someone to the afterlife.
The Gradian Oar, An oar made of black ivory and bronze that hold immense power. It can be used as a weapon, but can also be used to teleport the creature wielding it. It can also command small amounts of water and creates gusts of powerful wind. When used in tandem with The Gradian Vessel, you can use it to steer The Vessel and transport you to an alternate plane of your choice.
The Gradian Vessel, A small rowboat that can allow you to cross between dimensions. If you place this rowboat upon the water and step aboard, it will begin to sail automatically and move through the water, however it will go to the realm you are meant to reach when you die. If there is more than one person in the vessel, it will randomly go to a plane of the afterlife destined for one of the passengers. If used with the Gradian Oar, you can control which plane you go to, whether that plane is of the afterlife or not.

Divine Symbols & Sigils

Gradi is the god of death, life, burial, and travel. Thus their symbols reflect that in imagery and symbolism. Their main holy symbol is the Gradian Compass, a compass rose with a wheel in the center.
Another symbol of the Gradians are poppies. Poppies are often placed upon graves to represent eternal sleep. A symbol of remembrance and death to mortal races, poppies have been added as a symbol to the Gradian faith,

Tenets of Faith

1. May the dead receive their eternal rest, for their spirit has a long travel ahead. 2. Leave the dead to their slumber, those who rob the dead in their graves shall be shunned or hung. 3. Those who shake the dead from their restful sleep are desecrating the order of things. They shall receive no rest upon their death, tormented by their actions for eternity. 4. Have mercy upon the wayward traveler, their journey is not over and their destinations are far. Do not refuse the traveler food or rest.

Holidays

Gradi's End is a festival celebrated at the end of the year in which people celebrate the year that has passed and the events that occured. It is a time to remember those who are gone and be with those who remain, both family and friend. This holiday is celebrated by having grand feasts in the home and in the larger cities with massive followings of Gradians, there are often parades in his honor. Games of dice and cards are played by the recipients including a game called Gradi's Hand. A game of cards where players draw cards and try to get a desirable number, thus "reaching a good destination" and winning the game.

Divine Goals & Aspirations

Their objective is simple, to bring the spirits of the dead to their final destination and ensure that the cycle of life and death continues uninterrupted until there is nothing left to die. For those who lived a good and moral life, he will ferry them to a good afterlife. However, those who lived a life of wickedness, he will not hesitate to drag them to their destination if he must.

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

When appearing in a form similar to that of one of the mortal races, Gradi appears as lean and tall. They wish for a form that provides the image of a traveller, so they prefer to appear lean from days of walking from place to place. They are also incredibly fast whether they are traversing on their feet or with their wings.

Body Features

Since Gradi's ascension to godhood, they have forsaken their old visage of a violet angel, and has taken the form similar to that of a human or elf. They have skin with fleshy tones but they chose to keep some parts of them violet, like their eyes. Wings of grey speckled feathers grow from their back, giving them the ability of flight.

Mental characteristics

Gender Identity

Being a construct of Toramis, Gradi has no real perceived gender and presents themselves as such. They prefer to be called by they/them and are considered Agender instead of gender neutral.

Mental Trauma

Gradi has taken care of countless souls as a psychopomp. They could comfort the souls, listen, and understand their plights in death. However, when Toramis died, Gradi encountered death firsthand and it shook them to the core. Their world was turned upside down as their parent and guardian, the god who forged them a soul, was slain in cold blood. The death of Toramis and Gradi's destruction of the psychopomps left him with something broken inside. A mixture of rage and sorrow brewed inside Gradi, eventually they learned to let go and captured Izazren. However, Gradi still has trouble being around warzones or death beds and has trouble watching someone die, imagining the face of Toramis. They still ferry the souls of these folk to the afterlife, but the soul is quite different from a dying mortal.

Morality & Philosophy

Gradi wishes to do right by their father Toramis and the souls they come across. They seek no foul in this world and are often non confrtonational and calm. However, they believe heavily that the souls of the deceased must make their way to an afterlife and Gradi is extremely vehement about this. A soul left in the material plane degrades after time, slowly losing itself to a world it can no longer belong in. The afterlife is a home for this spirit and it will not degrade there. However, the process of actually leaving is difficult for the spirit as they are leaving everything they have ever known and know nothing of where they are going. So Gradi takes time with them on their ferry ride and does their best to convince the soul to move on.
Gradi is gentle and kind never wishing to hurt a fly, but their have seen a century of destruction. They only time they have ever fought was during the Ruination to destroy their fellow psychopomps and Izazren. This took its toll on Gradi as they were never one for violence. However, the support of his allies managed to push them forward, thus ridding the world of Izazren. After Izazren's capture and containment in the prison of Staladel, Gradi swore to never pick up another weapon and snapped the head off their spear, fashioing a walking stick. They grew melancholic and resentful towards Toramis for some time until eventually they returned home and the fragment of Toramis was found and awakened.
Gradi still follows a pact of non-violence, however no similar pact is required by their paladins or clerics who must face evil for the greater good.

A Visitor to the Graveyard
A halfling dressed in thick robes walks through a graveyard. A holy symbol dangles from his neck depicting a wheel and the metal chain rattles faintly with his steps. The sun is visible in the sky but the damp fog hangs around creating a gray atmosphere that surrounds him. He has a shovel slung over his shoulder and fresh dirt is clinging to his robes. With his work finished, he leaves the small grave and the tombstone with the name Doln Cedrowood inscribed upon it's stone face. Upon turning around he sees a young boy, barely at the age of 10 with tears in his eyes as he crumples to the ground. The priest approaches the young boy and looks into his eyes. The boy's skin is gaunt and pale, nearly skeletal. His eyes are glassy and the tears fall to the ground, but make no splash upon the lades of grass. The halfling puts his hand upon the head of the boy and sits with him for some time. They sit in front of the grave for what seems to be hours, but the halfling is patiently sitting with the boy. The halfling tells him stories, stories of the many people who have been buried in his graveyard. Never once does he utter a word speaking of the fairness of who gets taken by death. He speaks of the wonders of the afterlife, planes of spirits who found eternal rest or happiness in the afterlife. While he was talking, the fog slowly parted piece by piece until the sun could shine its ray's through the haze. Color returns to the face of the boy, and the tears have stopped flowing from his eyes that are now full of life. The priest begins to stand and the boy has the strength to move on.

Divine Classification

God, Psychopomp

Religions

• The Campiotic Guide
• The Empire of Veret

Alignment

Lawful Good

Church/Cult

The Campiotic Guide

Circumstances of Birth

Gradi was a creation of Toramis, a god of the dead. Gradi was given a soul while the other psychopomps were not.

Pronouns

they/them

Gender

nonbinary

Eyes

Pale Silver with hints of violet

Hair

Ranging between short and black to long and white

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Tanned

Aligned Organization

The Campiotic Guide