Grand Necropolis
The Grand Necropolis is the largest mausoleum in the world. Found in Nevarra City, it serves as the domain of the Mortalisi. The Mourn Watch, an order within the Mortalisi, are the keepers of this place.
Few truly know its size; many tales speak of its depth like a city unto itself. In the lower reaches, creatures of bone and decaying flesh prowl — some uncatalogued even by the Mourn Watch.
It is considered an incredible honor to be interred in the Necropolis. Many noble and royal families have mansions inside the Necropolis, such as the Pentaghasts and the Van Markham. The body of Caspar the Magnificient is kept inside the Pentaghast family crypts, in a massive throne room with unimaginable riches. It is not uncommon for children and grand-children of those interred to be taken to visit their ancestor's tomb.
While there are public open-air gardens, access to the lower crypts is heavily restricted, even to the dead. Geography of the lower reaches is variable, meaning that the lower halls and chambers may not always be in the same place at the same time. This has a disorienting effect on visitors, and has successfully prevented any attempts at robbery.
Within the Necropolis, the Mourn Watch also maintain wards inside the crypts to deter most minor, errant spirits who'd otherwise make premature spirit possession common throughout Nevarra City.
Templars assigned to Nevarra learn to put a lot of trust in these mages, generally leaving the resolution of magical issues within places like the Necropolis to the Mourn Watch. This leads some to the misconception that these Templars have no real power over the mages their govern over.
Few truly know its size; many tales speak of its depth like a city unto itself. In the lower reaches, creatures of bone and decaying flesh prowl — some uncatalogued even by the Mourn Watch.
Purpose
Unlike many other Andrastian cultures where bodies are burned upon death to prevent unwanted possession, Nevarrans take a different approach. They prefer mummification and are taught that the Grand Necropolis is a fitting resting place for the bodies of all good souls destined to sit by the side of the Maker. The preserved corpses are brought to elaborate tombs to serve as safe hosts for beings of the Fade to create ceaseless without risk of harming citizens.It is considered an incredible honor to be interred in the Necropolis. Many noble and royal families have mansions inside the Necropolis, such as the Pentaghasts and the Van Markham. The body of Caspar the Magnificient is kept inside the Pentaghast family crypts, in a massive throne room with unimaginable riches. It is not uncommon for children and grand-children of those interred to be taken to visit their ancestor's tomb.
While there are public open-air gardens, access to the lower crypts is heavily restricted, even to the dead. Geography of the lower reaches is variable, meaning that the lower halls and chambers may not always be in the same place at the same time. This has a disorienting effect on visitors, and has successfully prevented any attempts at robbery.
The Mourn Watch
The Mourn Watch, an order within the Mortalisi, are the keepers of the Grand Necropolis. To aid them in their efforts, they create and maintain undead who guard and labor within the Necropolis. These mages possess the dead with spirits who use their memories to fulfill their intended purpose, while having their actions be colored by the body of the corpse they inhabit. Along side manual labor, possessed dead are used to help preserve or better understand history and even serve as a supplementary fighting force.Within the Necropolis, the Mourn Watch also maintain wards inside the crypts to deter most minor, errant spirits who'd otherwise make premature spirit possession common throughout Nevarra City.
Templars assigned to Nevarra learn to put a lot of trust in these mages, generally leaving the resolution of magical issues within places like the Necropolis to the Mourn Watch. This leads some to the misconception that these Templars have no real power over the mages their govern over.
Historical Involvement
"I've been hearing about your little exploits in my city. You've been causing quite a stir."
Click here to reveal spoilers for Campaign 2.
Click here to reveal spoilers for Campaign 2.
During the Blessed Age, the Senior Enchanter of Nevarra City's Circle of Magi and Thedas' Head of the Aequitarian Fraternity — Daedelius Consus — attempted to pierce the veil between life and death. While ultimately somewhat successful, the process resulted in his own death as a being from across the Fade rended his mind as "punishment" for what he had done.
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