The First Death Monk

In an age long before our own, there lived a young man Faneus who was known throughout the land as possessing the most beautiful voice in the world. When he sang, all the world stopped to listen, and the beasts lay down beside him. Faneus was blessed with a large family and a beautiful wife and children. His mother, Naisuria, was a spirit born of the god Ateus' wing feather. His father was Piterion, a hero from the Okaz War. His wife was Valsera, a Speaker of the goddess Valtena and native to the island Enak where Faneus settled with his family. They lived for many years in that happy place where the seas and land provided freely. But one day, a great black storm came over the island. The sea was possessed with a temper unlike any which had been seen before. The waves rose higher and higher and crashed over the island. Faneus, who was away at the time, returned to see only a tiny mound left which once formed the highest point of the island. He fell into a deep despair and swore never to sing again until his family who was taken from him could be returned. Fuelled by his grief, he traveled far across the ocean to the great mountains of Akea. And there, he found a passage into the stone where he traveled down through dark and winding tunnels. He refused to sing or even speak on his journey. Until at last, he came across a cavern darker than any other and filled with the chill of death. He passed through the yawning passage and entered into the land of the dead. He came across souls wandering aimlessly devoid of their senses in death. Eventually, he came to a barren forest where he heard voices coming from inside the trees. His legs felt heavier with each step until the was too tired to stand. Faneus reached up and snapped a branch off one of the trees to use as a walking stick. But, that attracted the attention of Ril, the god of death. "Who dares steal from my realm?" His voice boomed across the sky. Faneus shook where he stood, but he could not move. The Gaunt King came closer. "The living do not belong here." Faneus looked up at the god and spoke. "Lord of the Underworld, Creator of Man, I beseech thee! My family was taken from me in a great flood, and I have come to bring them back. My heart cries out for them, and I cannot sing without them." Ril was intrigued and led Faneus through the realm to his palace. As they wandered, the land became brighter and more alive. People laughed and danced and drank in merriment. He saw families being reunited, and those who suffered in life had their burdens lifted in death.
"Now you have seen my realm and the lives of those in it. You have seen more than any mortal man. You snuck in and stole from me. A branch can't be placed back on the tree."
Faneus fell to his knees begging and weeping to see his family again. Ril smiled and offered out his hand. "I take pity on you, mortal. Go, and take the branch with you. When you step into the light, you will see your family again, but you will never see the living. You will live out your days as my servant among men. Every word you speak will honor me. You will teach those around you who I am, and like me, you will never know rest or a home to call your own. Begone now, before I change my mind."
Faneus left and returned to the outside world. True to his word, he saw his family, and other lost soulsof the dead, but he never saw that which was alive. He lived the rest of his life in service to the god.