The Speakers of Ydes

The followers of Ydes, the Goddess of Death, travel the world bringing peace to those who have lost their loved ones. Most major cities have temples dedicated to Ydes, but small villages must wait for a procession to pass through town. While they are there they provide closer, last rites, and occasionally have been known to provide a voice for those who have passed.
Masked with porcelain faces, The Speakers are one of the most important parts of The Procession. These priests and priestesses withhold themselves from speaking to the living only holding their voice for those who have already lost theirs. They are trained in the rituals to communicate with the dead and can act as a voice for the dead to communicate with the living.
These voiceless revenants are respected by most civilians. Although their rites are quite taxing in materials those who need closure with family are able to get their final thoughts communicated. Alongside the extensive ritual, the exhuming of the deceased is required to perform the act. Most commoners consider this more of a disgrace to the dead than the benefit of speaking to their loved ones.
Sadly it isn't all peace with these revered priests, many criminals try their best to stop their victims from speaking the truth. On multiple occasions, Speakers have been violently attacked in town by those trying to keep secrets. And most of the time village leaders stand with the wrongdoer instead of those in an “unholy religion.” Because of this Speakers have slowly become less and less common on the fringes of the world.

It was the summer of my 17th birthday when I first saw a Procession. I was out in the fields tending to my flower bed when Olivia grabbed me. She told me that something was going on, that the village had visitors. We rushed out into the square where most of the village had gathered.
The crowd that formed was different than usual though. It wasn't the same cheerfulness of a carnival or the wonder of a caravan. It was more quiet, I wouldn't quite say respectful but somber. I’m glad I kept my mouth shut because father just then came out and explained the situation to us.
They were something called a Procession. A group of priests and priestesses who follow Ydes. I guess they travel the world coming to small villages to help bless us. Father said it has been years since they came last and we are lucky our graveyard isn't haunted. I didn't think he believed in those myths but when I voiced that he told me this is serious.
The ones at the front of the group seemed nice. Although they were dressed in black they greeted us and spoke to us kindly. It wasn't until they were fully in the village that the rest came. You could feel the air in the village change. These new ones were off, strange, I don't know.
There were 3 of them, cloaked figures with white masks. But their movements were odd themselves. They didn’t walk, they almost gilded across the ground. Their hands and heads jerked around taking in the area. If there were paladins of Ydes with them I would have assumed they were some sort of undead.
Father said they were Speakers. They communicate with the dead. An unholy affair. The head priest assured us that they were only there should they be needed. But I didn't like them here. The town became cold, somber. I think everyone agreed as father told them that all we needed was the graveyard to be blessed.
After they finished the ritual, father asked them to leave. He didn't even let them stay in town. I see why people listen to him, I think that was the best choice. If they stayed the night I feel I would have been plagued with nightmares. But they are gone now. I’m going to explore with Olivia tomorrow, she said that you can see where the Speakers walked since the plants all died.
~ Journal entry from the Village of Herat

Many commoners voice their concerns towards The Speakers as they perceive their movements as otherworldly. It turns out they communicate with their coven with nonverbal sign language. The few language scholars who have tried to learn the signs have quickly stopped their research out of respect for those who walk in death. It is unknown who invented this language, some believe Ydes herself grants it to the most dedicated followers, but even apostles of Ydes are unaware of its origins.

Although all in The Procession walk in the presence of death, those who speak for the lost are the most revered. ~ Priestess Helia