Death Monks

Death Monks despite their foreboding name, are important in the daily lives of many humans. They dedicate themselves to the devotion of Ril. Many towns and cities have temples dedicated to Ril where people can bring the dead for funerary rites and to pray over the dying. However, the monks are unique in that they can bring back the dead. Some monks stay in their monasteries, but many chose to travel. They live in poverty because no one can bring material possession to Ril’s domain.They also carry out funerals and pray over the sick in the absence of a priest. They dress in long black robes with skulls emblazoned on their clothes. They also carry a shepherd’s crook as a holy symbol of Ril. The wood used for the staff come from the Boneyard Tree. It’s said that a human entered Ril’s domain and took a branch off one of the skeletal trees. After being caught he won Ril over and let him leave with the branch. He planted it, and it killed everything around it but he felt close to his deceased family and felt that they could hear him. He dedicated himself to the god and became the first death monk. The monks believe in the circle of life and death. Though they revive the dead, they rarely do. The ritual takes two days during which the monks neither eat nor sleep. He petitions Ril to release a soul back into the mortal body. While the ritual will heal illnesses and some wounds, it won’t restore failed or missing organs, limbs, or remove the memory of dying. Also, the god can revoke magic powers if he feels that a monk or priest is misusing theirs. In general, they are well received where they go. The monasteries remain in contact with each other but are respected as independent.