Myrkul (Mer-kool)
Myrkul, also known as The Lord of Bones, Old Lord Skull, or the Reaper.
Myrkul is a god who ascended to his divine position from mortal roots. He and his companions challenged a previous god, Jergal, who held the portfolios for Death, Murder and Strife. In what become one of the most famous legends and folk stories of the realms, (" Knucklebones, Skull bowling and the Empty Throne",) Myrkul chose to become god of the Dead, so that all would eventually come under his rule.
Unfortunately for Myrkul, everything dies, even gods. He was slain by another god, and his portfolio passed to a neutral successor, Kelemvor, who now dedicates himself to judging lawfully and fairly where the souls of the dead should end up. Myrkul left the seeds of his own revival, and returned as the patron god to entropic death - that everything eventually falls to old age, exhaustion and decay. He is the god of the ending of things and hopelessness and is naturally and constantly opposed to Lathander, as the god of beginnings and new dawns.
The common folk don't pray, so much as curse at Myrkul, blaming him for aching bones and fading vision, and begging to spare them from 'what comes after'. He is not thought to grant mercy or favour, but will supposedly sometimes be satisfied by a proper respect and fear of death. This is what Myrkul asks his faithful to propogate, using undead, darkness, and sometimes painful and fatal diseases and curses, to enforce the 'rightful fear' into those still living.
Some undertakers and grave diggers show respect to Myrkul, as well as necromancers and sentient undead. Many shrines to Myrkul are simple modest shrines in graveyards, but lead to vast catacombs and ossuaries. Many of these are watched over by a Doomwarden, an enthroned corpse of a powerful saint or servant of Myrkul found at the bottom layer of the dungeon.
Myrkul is a god who ascended to his divine position from mortal roots. He and his companions challenged a previous god, Jergal, who held the portfolios for Death, Murder and Strife. In what become one of the most famous legends and folk stories of the realms, (" Knucklebones, Skull bowling and the Empty Throne",) Myrkul chose to become god of the Dead, so that all would eventually come under his rule.
Unfortunately for Myrkul, everything dies, even gods. He was slain by another god, and his portfolio passed to a neutral successor, Kelemvor, who now dedicates himself to judging lawfully and fairly where the souls of the dead should end up. Myrkul left the seeds of his own revival, and returned as the patron god to entropic death - that everything eventually falls to old age, exhaustion and decay. He is the god of the ending of things and hopelessness and is naturally and constantly opposed to Lathander, as the god of beginnings and new dawns.
The common folk don't pray, so much as curse at Myrkul, blaming him for aching bones and fading vision, and begging to spare them from 'what comes after'. He is not thought to grant mercy or favour, but will supposedly sometimes be satisfied by a proper respect and fear of death. This is what Myrkul asks his faithful to propogate, using undead, darkness, and sometimes painful and fatal diseases and curses, to enforce the 'rightful fear' into those still living.
Some undertakers and grave diggers show respect to Myrkul, as well as necromancers and sentient undead. Many shrines to Myrkul are simple modest shrines in graveyards, but lead to vast catacombs and ossuaries. Many of these are watched over by a Doomwarden, an enthroned corpse of a powerful saint or servant of Myrkul found at the bottom layer of the dungeon.
