The Matron

"The Matron... Goddess of life, death and healing. The Matron shields her face behind her mask of holy porcelain, only showing it to those in death."

— Aldrian Mythos

The Matron is the Goddess of life, death and healing. She represents the cycle of life and death, but also the power of mortals to heal one another. She is said to wear a mask of pure white porcelain, and when one approaches death, the Matron is said to appear and reveal her face, bringing peace to their passing.

Church of the Matron

The Church of the Matron is one of the largest organised religions for any of the 13 Divines. There are many sects within the church, each with a unique role to play in the day-to-day running of their temples, but also in the grander scheme, the Great Purpose prescribed to the Church by the Matron herself.

Life and Undeath

In the teachings of The Matron, the Undead have a part to play. The Matron is the Goddess of life and death, and the bridge between the two. To deny death is to deny the Matron, to forsake her gift of peaceful rest, and to commit the gravest sin against her. Those who find themselves pulled into Undeath, then, have a special place within the Church. Mindless undead, such as zombies, skeletons and the like, are considered abominations to be exterminated on sight. But intelligent Undead - such as Reborn - they are given a chance. In the church's beliefs, any Undead to return with their mind and sanity intact, are considered to be blessed by The Matron herself.
These blessed undead have returned to the mortal world with their own Great Purpose, a goal they must strive towards to pass the Test of Life. The blessed undead must scour the world in search of their Purpose and accomplish what they were brought back to do. Only then, will they be allowed to pass back into the afterlife at the Matron's side. Reasons for why their resurrection was allowed by the Matron are up to interpretation. Some believe they are sent back to atone for their greatest sin; others believe it is to finish what has been left unfinished.

Sects of the Matron

The Church of the Matron is split into several sects. The main three, however, are the Martyrs of White Flame, Marika's Keepers, and the Tested.
The Martyrs of White Flame are the crusaders, justiciars, and holy men who seek out undead corruption in the world to exterminate it. They wield a cleansing white flame, and lead the chivalric charge into undeath, in the service of Life itself.
Marika's Keepers are the clerics and priests of the Church, performing sermons and services, guiding the people, and speaking at funerals. They are figureheads and community leaders, named for the sister Marika the Keeper.
Finally, the Tested are those who prescribe the Test of Life to Reborn and other intelligent undead; but also to those who seek to repent in the eyes of the Matron. Those undertaking the Test are often accompanied by a Tested priest in their journey, guiding them, but also as a last resort should they stray from the path.

Sisters of Mercy

One of the most recognisable sects within the Church of the Matron is the Sisters of Mercy. Known for their snow-white robes and porcelain masks, the Sisters are tasked with travelling the world and healing all they can. The Sisters do not remove their mask in the presence of others, save for those on their deathbeds - much like the Matron herself. They are taught not to judge, not to speak, not even to hear the thoughts of mortals, lest it turn them from their duty.
When a Sister returns from her pilgrimage, she is weighed before the Matron herself and told to remove her mask so that she may be judged from the lines on her face. If she is found to have stayed pure, to have kept on the path and done all she could, then the Sister is blessed, freed from her pilgrimage, and allowed into the order's upper echelon - regardless of any crime or sin they may have committed before. If they are found full of sin, to have rejected any in need, or to have done nothing when they could have acted... then the Sister is cast out. Magic is used to forever bind the mask to her face, and it is tainted a sickly grey. She will be sent into the world and shunned, for all should know she failed in her duty.

Tale of the Three Sisters

An ancient tale from before the Church's founding, tells the tale of three sisters who were devout followers of the Matron and were blessed with her holy power. The tale commemorates their accomplishments, and expands upon their differing views on The Matron's teachings; views that would go on to form the three main sects of the Church of the Matron.

"Kassandra, the first sister, and a martyr at that. 'Twas her belief that one should dedicate their life to protecting the weak from the scourge of undeath. The undead are castaways, unwanted by the Matron, returned to this world to repent for their evil and sin. Alas, her fate was met by tooth and claw, as she plunged into a horde of blasphemy. Naught was left but her ashes, from which a great forest of white trees did bloom.
Next, Marika, the second sister. Morose at her elder's passing, she began to seek new meaning in the Matron's words. Perhaps, then, the line between life and death should be kept completely separate, controlled and in order, she thought. There should be no opportunity for undeath to ever arise, the gates of life will forever shut for those who pass on. She sought to erect a barrier, a great dam between life and death. Life could flow in only one direction, but not the other; they would be doomed to an eternity drifting should they attempt to return. Alas, before her great work could be completed, she met her end at the spell of a Lich, who hungered for her soul.
Last, the third sister, Hannah the Tester. Of course, Hannah too met her end, following in her elder sisters' footsteps. But she came back, cast out by the Matron. She looked upon her sisters' graves, and saw how they acted in defiance of undeath. Perhaps, then, she thought, we should not reject this. Perhaps, the Matron sends us her unworthy, that we might better them. I was unworthy to stand at her side, and so I must find what purpose I was sent here for. And so, she did. She travelled the world, despite her curse of undeath, and did good wherever and whenever she found. And when the time of her second death came, and it did at the hands of a martyr, no less, it was said her body was returned to her, full and healthy, and that she died not a moment later in bliss, never to return.

Brand of the Matron

General Information

Alias(es)	Mother of Mercy
Patron Race:	Human
Alignment	Lawful Neutral
Gender	Feminine

Worship

Symbol	Brand of the Matron
Worshipers	Healers, humans
Holy Month	First Breath
Divine Domains	Death, Grave, Life, Peace