The Pale

The Pale is a cult that worships Apara, The Palest. Its members can be found across the material plane and beyond, and are dedicated to achieving immortality through undeath. Many of its members dedicate themselves to fighting psychopomps who guide wayward souls toward the Void.

Structure

The Pale are hunted by psychopomps, and hated by most cultures for practicing the art of necromancy. In order to survive to achieve their goals, membership to the cult is kept highly secret. Rather than follow the rigid cell structure of other secret societies, The Pale are simply maintained as small regional groups.
Each group is generally led by a member who has already achieved undeath, and no longer fears their membership being revealed to the world. They maintain contacts without other regional groups, and oversee their own members.

Public Agenda

The goals of The Pale vary heavily from group to group. Universally, they work to prevent their own souls from entering the Void - most choose to become undead. Some who are unable to achieve this instead have their souls rent asunder to power the spells of their colleagues, and prevent them from being taken away by psychopomps or demons.

Assets

Thanks to activity of their oldest undead members, The Pale are well funded and have powerful connections. Most groups have difficulty recruiting new members on the material plane, though, due to the negative perception surrounding undeath.
Across the other planes of the multiverse, The Pale have an easier time recruiting members from both gods and mortals alike, and more than a few favors are owed to them for resurrecting the favored servant of a god.

History

The oldest groups of The Pale were formed long before the elven calendar was created. Exact details are difficult to confirm, as the groups are quite secretive about what they may have their hands in.

Tenets of Faith

• Do not kill without reason or preparation. To do so would only feed the Void another wayward soul.
• Psychopomps are the incarnation of oblivion. They destroy without understanding, and bring the multiverse ever closer to the same fate.
• Undeath is the simplest and most reliable form of immortality, and is a testament to your achievements during life.
• Immortality is wasted on those who refuse to improve themselves.

— Counselor, 3:12

The tenets of The Pale's faith is based off of quotes from Apara, sourced by his worshippers. The holy books of the faith are often primarily dedicated to information on the art of necromancy, interspersed with stories and quotes.
Each book is has a single word as its title, and most often is named after a common occupation. Members of The Pale often use these words in code to determine if someone may be a member of the faith.

Ethics

Clear Night, by Dominik Mayer

Though it is sometimes deemed necessary, many groups are surprisingly nonviolent to the living. Without the proper preparation, killing a mortal nearly ensures that their soul will find its way to the Void.
The most extreme groups of The Pale perform ritual sacrifices of the unwilling living, binding their souls to transform them into ghosts or other undead creatures. Their victims are told that they are being rescued from oblivion, and often pressed into servitude until they pay off their debt.
There are groups that attempt to integrate into their parent cultures, and simply work towards their own private goals of immortality through undeath, and preach their values. In cities that accept them, they work as gravetenders and morticians, warding off psychopomps and demons from the recently deceased. These individuals are known as Soultenders, and are most common in Veczi.

Worship

Worship of Apara and Vurais is primarily done by engaging in some form of self betterment. To prepare one for a life of immortality as an undead, they must be able to improve themselves. Without this skill, they will damage the very future of the universe during the rest of their existence.
This self betterment comes in many different forms, and is highly individualistic. Most try to find a mentor to guide their progress, who are given the title of Nedwae.
In addition to this self betterment, there are numerous rituals and ceremonies conducted throughout a member's learning. These are most often tied to an individual's progress, rather than through the merit of time. As such, there are many members who never achieve the highest ranks of the organization.
Some regional sects include creating undead as part of their rituals, often animals. These animals are trained as guardians of their temples, or even simple pets. Humanoids and intelligent creatures are sometimes used as well. Most often, this is done as a reward, and is treated as an honor.

Priesthood

Vroscaz by Cachet

Though most priests of The Pale are clerics of Vurais, Apara, or simply skilled mages, it is by no means a necessity.
Instead, the most skilled and wise are chosen. For most, it is their skill in magic, their devotion, and their ability to transform themselves into undead. For others, it may be their skill in battle that makes them invaluable, which leads others to aid them in their quest towards undeath. Even simple charisma can be valued.
These priests travel between regions to teach and found new groups to follow the ways of Apara.

Political Influence & Intrigue

The Pale are considered one of the most well connected cults - all thanks to undead patrons pulling strings to improve their station. Meteoric rise among political circles are often (half) jokingly attributed to 'being a friend of Vurais'. In Chizhou, many nobles allow themselves to be tested, interrogated, and their homes searched simply to prove they have no relations with the cult.

Life to those who crave it

Type

Religious, Cult

Leader

Vurais

Deities

• Apara
• Vurais

Divines

• Apara

Related Ranks & Titles

• Nedwae

Notable Members

• Vurais