Phirulla, the Goddess of Death

Phirulla stands as the arbiter of order in the afterlife, meting out judgment upon souls. The wicked face her condemnation, the righteous earn her rewards, while others await their journey to Adilia for rebirth, though another god may intercede on a souls behalf. Central to her teachings is the belief that death is a sacred part of the natural order, as much a facet of existence as life, and nothing to be feared.   Undeath, however, is a grevious perversion of this order. While Phirulla instructs her followers to root out all forms of undead, she recognizes the mindless undead are just symptoms - a manifestation of the deeper corruption wielded by those who disrupt the cycle of life. Among these abhorrent beings, she regards liches as particularly vile, unnaturally prolonging their existence through dark rituals and sacrificial acts, defying the sanctity of life itself.  
Rumors and Misconceptions
While there are rumors, myths, and misinformation about all gods, this is perhaps most true of Phirulla due to the instinctual fear of not just death, but also of judgment in the afterlife. It is not uncommon for people to worship or serve other gods specifically to be avoid Phirulla's judgement, that they may be brought to their demesne and rewarded after death regardless of how Phirulla would judge.   Phirulla commands the smallest following, often misconstrued as evil, seen as a foil to Adilia rather than a complement. Extremists and even cults have formed around these beliefs and will pray for the deaths of others — extremists usually for those they believe need judged, while cults more likely for anyone who has their displeasure.  
Scholarly Debate
The topic of divine power and hierarchy has been a subject of debate among religious scholars for centuries, yielding few definitive answers. The prevailing theory suggests that a deity's power correlates with the number of their worshipers, although dissenting viewpoints propose alternative explanations, including innate power, domain influence, or the capacity for power transfer or seizure, as observed during the War of the Gods. While the worshiper theory would make Phirulla seem like she should be possibly the weakest of the greater gods the other theories have her ranked as possibly the strongest. Phirulla's enigmatic nature and minimal intervention since this tumultuous period have made it challenging to assess her standing among her divine peers.

Divine Domains

Primary
  • Death
  • Grave
  • Order
  • Solidarity
  • Secondary
  • Protection
  • Twilight
  • Unity

  • Divine Symbols & Sigils

    Phirulla's symbol consists of a set of ivory scales, rumored to be crafted from bone, representing the balance of judgment.  

    Common Prayer Gesture:

    For everyday prayer, one bows their head slightly, then, in a fluid motion, covers their eyes with the palm of their right hand, bringing it down to their chest while closing their fist over their heart, symbolizing acceptance of death as a natural part of life.  

    Formal Prayer Gesture:

    In formal prayer to Phirulla, the supplicant bows their head, then brings their left hand to to cover their heart and covers their eyes with the palm of their right hand, veiling themselves from the mortal world and acknowledging the unseen realm of the dead. After a brief pause, they bring their right hand downwards, closing into a fist and coming to rest on their left hand above their heart, holding this position as an homage to Phirulla's sovereignty over the cycle of life and death.  

    Colors

    While many associate her with black, calling it the color of death, her primary color is white, for purity and clarity, as well as grey (#636666) to symbolize the impartiality of death itself.   Reserved for the most devout followers, the deep crimson (#460000) represents the solemn authority of her judgment, emphasizing their responsibility to uphold her will and the consequences for straying from righteousness.  

    Weapon

    Though Phirulla predominantly carries her Ledger of the Dead, she fights with a shield and warhammer. A prevalent misconception among the populace is the belief that she and her clergy wield scythes and sickles, symbols of harvest and reaping, to gather the souls of the departed.
    Divine Classification
    God
    Children