Church Grim

"There is no rest for the weary dead, but perhaps they may yet find fellowship among the tombs"

In the forsaken realm of Cairne, where the divine once walked but have long since abandoned, the Church Grim stands as a solemn sentinel in the twilight between life and death. As the gods withdrew from this world, they sealed the gates to the afterlife, leaving behind countless spirits caught between realms. These spirits, invisible to most, inhabit Cairne, their presence sensed only by those with the rare gift to perceive the spectral.
The Church Grim, a spectral entity of considerable power and profound duty, was created in the final acts of Sinufae, a deity whose last concern was for the souls of her followers. This guardian spirit manifests predominantly as a large, ethereal black dog, an appearance that belies its formidable nature. Its role is dual: it acts as a guardian to protect the deceased from those who would disturb their rest, and as a guide to help them navigate the liminal space they now inhabit.
The world of Cairne, rich with the echoes of the departed, attracts various malevolent entities and unscrupulous necromancers who seek to exploit these trapped souls. Whether for malevolent purposes or mere meddling, these antagonists disrupt the delicate balance of the spectral and the mortal realms. The Church Grim tirelessly counters these threats, ensuring that such malefactors cannot harness the spirits for their dark designs. It operates from the shadows, often unseen and unknown to the living, maintaining a barrier that keeps the dead hidden from mortal eyes. This secrecy is vital, as it prevents the living from being overwhelmed by the realities of the spectral world, thereby preserving their peace.
Within its sacred domain, typically graveyards, crypts, and ancient catacombs, the Church Grim possesses an omnipresent awareness, a trait known as Grave Sense. This supernatural vigilance allows it to detect any disturbance or intruder instantly. Its connection to the very essence of its domain renders it virtually omniscient there, unable to be surprised or deceived by any stealth. Moreover, the Church Grim is endowed with a remarkable ability known as apportation. It can summon or relocate objects within its sight, including disarming foes or redirecting missile weapons against attackers. This ability, requiring sharp intelligence and quick judgment, further enhances its capability to protect its charges and itself.
Despite its fearsome duties, the Church Grim exhibits a deep compassion for the souls it guards. It spends hours listening to their stories and sorrows, providing a comforting presence in the eternal dusk they inhabit. This nurturing aspect contrasts with its otherwise formidable persona, revealing the complexity of its existence as both protector and confidant.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Church Grim typically manifests as a large black dog, standing about five feet at the shoulder. This form is not only imposing but also familiar, evoking the traditional guardian figures often associated with sacred and burial sites across various cultures. Its fur is short and black, often described as absorbing light rather than reflecting it, giving the Grim a shadow-like quality that allows it to blend seamlessly into the dark environments of crypts and graveyards. The eyes of the Church Grim are somber, usually tinged with an ethereal glow that hints at its supernatural nature. This glow may serve to communicate its presence to those who are sensitive to spiritual entities.
The Church Grim's anatomy is adapted for its role as a protector. It can perform apportation, a supernatural ability that allows it to teleport objects from one place to another within its sight. This ability is crucial for disarming or thwarting intruders and can be used defensively or offensively, depending on the threat level.
Unlike physical beings, the Church Grim is composed of a spiritual essence that is both tethered to the afterlife and bound to the physical locations it guards. This dual existence allows it to interact with both physical and spectral elements. Its body, while appearing solid, can shift between tangibility and intangibility, enabling it to pass through physical objects or stand as an immovable barrier against supernatural threats. It can navigate the narrow confines of crypts and move over the uneven terrain of graveyards without hindrance. Its body is designed to endure the varying conditions of these places, from damp coldness to the still air of long-undisturbed spaces.
The Church Grim is known for its durability. It cannot be killed in a traditional sense and will reappear three days after being destroyed, regenerating from any harm it has suffered. This resilience is integral to its role, ensuring that it can continue to protect the souls of the dead indefinitely.

Ecology and Habitats

The Church Grim is most commonly found in settings like graveyards, crypts, and catacombs, places directly connected with the deceased. These environments are not only rich in historical and spiritual energies but also serve as the final resting places for souls, which the Church Grim is bound to protect.
The primary locations where these creatures inhabit are graveyards, battlefields, and other open spaces where the dead remain that are often quiet and secluded, offering the Church Grim ample space to roam and guard. The spiritual presence here is dense due to the high number of graves and the frequent visitations by the living who come to mourn or remember the dead. Underground burial sites provide a controlled environment where the Church Grim can easily detect any disturbances due to their confined nature. The enclosed spaces amplify its supernatural senses, allowing it to effectively monitor and protect the area. Ancient burial grounds are particularly significant for the Church Grim. They often contain powerful spirits and artifacts, requiring vigilant protection against those who might seek to exploit them.

Behaviour

The Church Grim shows a profound level of empathy towards the souls it guards. It listens to their woes and provides comfort, indicating a deep psychological connection to the spirits in its care. This empathy helps fulfill its role as a guide, easing the burdens of those who are trapped between worlds. A defining psychological trait of the Church Grim is its sense of duty and loyalty to its task. Created by the divine as guardians, they are imbued with an unyielding commitment to protect the dead. This duty is intrinsic to their being and drives all their actions.
Church Grims possess impeccable memories and high intelligence. They remember every event that occurs within their domain and use this knowledge to better protect their charges. Their intelligence is evident in their strategic actions to deter threats and in their capacity to understand complex situations and languages.
Despite their primary programming, Church Grims have shown the ability to adapt to changing circumstances and threats. They learn from past interactions and can adjust their strategies to better protect their domain and the spirits within it. The Church Grim's awareness extends beyond normal sensory perceptions. It is intrinsically connected to the spiritual and physical aspects of its domain, feeling disturbances like a part of its own being. This heightened awareness is crucial for its role but also isolates it from typical experiences, placing it in a constant state of vigilance.

Additional Information

Average Intelligence

One of the most striking indicators of the Church Grim's intelligence is its ability to understand any language. This includes not only spoken words but also non-verbal forms of communication such as signs and symbols. This comprehensive linguistic capability allows the Church Grim to understand and interpret the intentions of both the living and the spirits, facilitating its role as a guardian and mediator.
The Church Grim demonstrates strategic thinking in how it manages its guardianship duties. It knows how to best utilize its abilities, such as apportation and supernatural awareness, to protect the spirits in its care and to deter potential threats. This includes setting boundaries within its domain and strategically revealing or concealing its presence to maximize protection without direct confrontation.
Church Grims possess excellent memory, which is crucial for their role. They remember every encounter and event within their domain, allowing them to recognize repeat offenders or remember past situations that may inform their current actions. This memory is not just factual but also emotional, as they remember the feelings and stories of the spirits they watch over. They often encounter complex situations, especially when dealing with malevolent entities or manipulative humans who seek to disturb or exploit the dead. The Church Grim's ability to navigate these challenges, often finding solutions that avoid violence or harm, showcases its problem-solving skills and adaptability.
Apart from cognitive skills, Church Grims display a high degree of emotional intelligence. They exhibit empathy and understanding towards the spirits, providing comfort and companionship. This ability to connect on an emotional level is essential for fulfilling their role as both protectors and companions to the dead.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The Church Grim has heightened sensory abilities that surpass those of ordinary canines. Its perception extends into the spiritual realm, allowing it to detect even the subtlest disruptions in its territory. This ability, known as Grave Sense, grants it an omnipresent awareness of its surroundings, making it impossible to surprise and giving it an advantage over entities trying to manipulate or harm the spirits under its watch.

Civilization and Culture

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Lingual Comprehension The Church Grim has been granted the gift of being able to understand any language, spoken or otherwise. They cannot speak but comprehend all.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

The Church Grim is a solitary creature among the living, opting to avoid those who mean no ill will toward their charges, silently watching. With the dead, however, they are rapt in their attention, often spending hours a day just listening to the woes and pains of their charges, offering support in the best ways a canine can. There are never more than one in any given location, and aside from explaining it away as divine will, there is no explanation as to why they are stationed where they are. For the most part, they are left alone, as an undying guardian is generally not a foe most would want to anger. They appear to have impeccable memories and are highly intelligent, but from study, they show vast similarities to mortal dogs, and on occasion can be seen playing with spirits in the cemeteries they guard. Groundskeepers in such areas have even on occasion reported some loose form of cooperative fellowship has formed on rare occasions, the Church Grim alerting the groundskeeper to things that require attention, and even more rare, offering protection to the individual and their family as well.

History

Sinufae had no way of foreseeing the impending disaster that the Blight would bring, nor the physical destruction or the spiritual turmoil. As the Blight began to ravage the lands and tear at the fabric of the spiritual realm, Sinufae recognized the need for a steadfast guardian who would protect the countless souls that would soon be stranded in Cairne, unable to pass into the afterlife due to the closing of its gates. In her final act before disappearing along with her divine siblings, Sinufae channeled her power to create the Church Grim. This spectral entity was endowed with a fragment of her own divine essence, tasked with the dual role of protecting the dead from being manipulated or disturbed and ensuring that the living remained unaware of the restless spirits around them.
Initially, the Church Grim was a singular figure, the first of its kind, manifesting in the oldest and most spiritually charged cemetery of Cairne. This first Grim took the form of a large, somber black dog, a form chosen by Sinufae for its symbolic association with protection and loyalty in many cultures. The Church Grim quickly adapted to its role, becoming a potent guardian whose presence was both comforting to the spirits and intimidating to any who dared to disrupt the sacred peace of the gravesites. As the effects of the Blight widened and more souls became trapped within Cairne, the burden on the original Church Grim grew exponentially. Recognizing the need for more guardians, the original Grim's spirit was somehow able to divide, spawning new Grims to inhabit other cemeteries, crypts, and burial grounds across the realm. Each new Grim shared the collective consciousness and memories of the original, ensuring that the knowledge and experiences were preserved and shared among them.
In modern times, the Church Grims continue to fulfill their roles, though the nature of their interactions has evolved with the changing beliefs and practices of Cairne's inhabitants. While still guardians, they have also become bridges for communication between the living and the dead in certain rare circumstances, particularly when a living individual possesses the sensitivity to perceive them.
The Church Grims, as stewards of the dead and unseen, maintain a watchful vigil over the thresholds they guard. Despite the centuries that have passed since their creation, the essence of their mission remains unchanged.

Scientific Name

Canis sepulcrum custos

Lifespan

Eternal

Average Height

5'

Average Weight

250 lb.

Average Length

7'