Limbo Tenders

Summary

Across different regions, cultures, and time periods there have been numerous myths, stories, and urban legends surrounding those belonging to Shia's Cult, the Shia's Dead, and those in death care. Even across cultural, regional, and temporal barriers, there are a great many of these that are fairly consistent in some way or another, likely stemming from misconceptions and assumptions.

Sleepless Tenders

Urban legends of Sleepless Tenders tell that those tending the dead will not be able to sleep when there are bodies to tend to- from funerary workers to grave diggers to embalmers, especially in times of mass death. In some variations, it is a boon given by Shia, begged for by those dedicated to sustaining the cycle of life and death, in others, a curse, beset upon the common folk lest they become Shia's Dead themselves for failing to uphold their duties. It is often told not that they will have the energy to not require sleep, but that if there is work, they will simply be unable to, no matter how tired or for however long it takes for the work to be completed.

Touch of Death

Not exclusive to those bound to the death god, urban legends under this category are extended to many people associated with death, such as morticians, grave diggers, archaeologists, butchers, and in many cases, doctors in high risk fields such as surgeons. There are many variations, but most typical is the belief that these people have the ability to manifest death with their touch or keep it at bay depending on Shia's will. There is often the accompanying belief that one should not offend or pose risk to these people, for they may use the touch of death if threatened. This urban legend is most common among children and young teenager, often manifesting in the belief that they might be instantly killed if they are touched by those who they believe have this ability.

Binds to Limbo

Among myths in this category, it is believed that certain people are directly linked to Limbo itself. It is most common for those with Shia as their patron god, Shia's dead, and those contracted to the death god. A much broader category of myth, there is little consistency in what this actually means: Some examples include ghosts being drawn to such persons, them being the cause of strange or supernatural phenomenon, the cause of unexplained deaths, or even plagues and diseases. Many believe that Limbo can manifest through them, acting as a portal for the realm of death or manifestations of the afterlife itself. This myth is not aided by scam artists and con men who take advantage of it, often claiming to be such manifestations or have the ability to manifest lost loved ones for a high price, nonsensical rituals, or access to a dead person's personal artifacts or property. In unfortunate cases, there have been situations where those believed to be bound to Limbo itself have been sacrificed, assaulted, and harassed due to the urban legend out of fear and false belief in protecting others from them.

Historical Basis

Many of those dedicated to the cult of the death god, like all others dedicated to the pantheon, can receive gifts and boons from Shia, to strange and otherworldly effects. Within the cult. many work in the death care industry, and are likely to ask for boons in order to perform their jobs, influencing many of these myths and legends. More striking to the general public and likely to be the basis of many are those bound to the god of death, and Shia's Dead- the undead.
Those bound to Shia, often in exchange for revivals of loved ones, are often cursed in strange ways outside of boons. Many, it is in the form of having to obey Shia's will and these curses (or boons, depending on one's definition), work in ways regardless of one's will, causing odd behavior.