Animus
Deity Animus
The Masked One
Ancient Animus, the Lord Unmasked, the Silent, the Lord of Masks, the Faceless, Patience, the Last Watcher, Apochostreme, the Hollow One, and other names born of both fear and respect refer to Animus, who is a Divine with no gender, with no face, no voice, no mercy to the dead, and no malice to the dying. Guardian and final caretaker of the souls of the departed, Animus is a fiercely powerful Divine with a firm but gentle hand, who embodies the final rest and final duty of all mortal men and women that die free. Its hand enfolds a soul in restful shadow, and Its hand wipes clean a soul of its past life, and It holds that soul close as it carries them to a final rest in Its underworld domain.Divine Spheres
Animus has ever held the spheres of Death and the Spirit within Its grasp, and it is said that from the heart of Animus are the souls of mortals spun, and that all souls eventually return to serve It, save for those held close by Its Divine peers.The Land of the Dead
Barathrum is the lightless land of the dead where the newly dead and the soon to be born throng in unliving processions of innocent souls. Here, the departed, who are said to still remember their former lives, may choose to serve Animus among Its Eidolons, whereupon their masks are broken, and they don umbral veils and rough-worn wings. In the pit of Tartaron, Animus dwells in peace among the departed and the unborn who, if it is their wish, enter Its form, and embrace oblivion. Until this time, they rest in comfort and sanctuary, having forgotten the details of their lives, but not the weight that it has left upon them.Associations
Lead is held to be the sacred metal of Animus, believed to sink through soft soils and into the underworld of Barathrum. Black is the colour of Animus, representative of a final death, matched too by Its sacred stone – onyx, which is said to afford protection. Birds and animals said to be sacred to Animus vary significantly from region to region. Among such birds are vultures, crows, condors and shrike. Among such beasts are panthers, tortoise, flies, jackals and crocodiles. In mythology, basilisks are sometimes said to spring from Tartaron, where in ancient times, they guarded the Pits from blasphemers who walked unmasked.Servants
Animus is served the Eidolons, who are departed spirits that do not yet wish for the finality of death, and have therefore been charged with a particular duty. Manes (mah-neys) are the watchful dead, who observe without interfering, who stand in faithful vigil and witness what they must. Lares (lah-reys) are the guardian dead, who shield chosen mortals from danger, protect sacred places from defilement and ward off invaders. Lemures (leh-moohr-ays) are the avenging dead, who stalk the enemies of the dead, revenge offences against the gods and bring peace to tormented spirits by laying their aggressors low.Divine Domains
LN
Domains: Grave, Death, Shadow, Undeath
Divine Symbols & Sigils
The Seal of Carcer is used to represent the sanctified neutrality of those beyond the cares of life, marking sanctuaries, graveyards, holy sites and public forums as places that stand beyond the conflicts of the mortal world. The mark of Carcer is used in rituals, often with paints of bone dust, pale ash and clay, to define what should be respected and left alone.
Lead is held to be the sacred metal of Animus, believed to sink through soft soils and into the underworld of Barathrum. Black is the colour of Animus, representative of a final death, matched too by Its sacred stone – onyx, which is said to afford protection. Birds and animals said to be sacred to Animus vary significantly from region to region. Among such birds are vultures, crows, condors and shrike. Among such beasts are panthers, tortoise, flies, jackals and crocodiles. In mythology, basilisks are sometimes said to spring from Tartaron, where in ancient times, they guarded the Pits from blasphemers who walked unmasked.
RPG Character sheet
LN
Domains: Death, Shadow, Undeath
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