Deathless Mysteries

Deathless Mysteries
Type	Mystery cult
Areas of concern	Undead, personal perfection, power
Typical worshipers	Intelligent undead
Domains	Ambition, Introspection, Perfection, Undeath
Divine font	Heal or Harm
Divine skill	Society
Divine ability	Charisma or Strength
Favored weapon	Whip
Symbol	Pyramid of skulls
Sacred animal	None
Sacred color	Sepia and gray

The Deathless Mysteries are a secular religion followed by intelligent undead. As a mystery cult, the religion's practices and rites are kept secret from outsiders, and adherents are required to be formally initiated by senior members of the faith. The Deathless Mysteries teach undeath to be the greatest form of existence. To the followers of the religion, it is therefore imperative that they seek to extend their existences as long as possible, perfecting themselves into exemplars of their beliefs and spreading their influence as they do so. The Mysteries are especially popular in Tarkuus, where it is the de facto state religion, and are considerably less common in other parts of the world.

Edicts and anathema

Edicts

Extend your own existence as long as possible, perfect your mind through meditation, studies, and other practices, increase your own influence and power, create and enact plans for the far-off future

Anathema

Share secrets of the Mysteries' practices and rites

History

The Deathless Mysteries are based on the teachings of the lich Idhaur, who still serves as the religion's leader and moral guide. Soon after attaining the position of Lord of Labor in the empire of Tarkuus, a rank he still holds, Idhaur began to collect his thoughts about the deserved position of undead in the world. Though he was initially somewhat private about his views, they began to spread in conversations amongst the upper classes of Tarkuus, where they quickly took root. Once it became clear his writings were finding others with shared convictions, in Y6980^* Idhaur organized the first initiation to ensure only those he considered worthy could adopt his beliefs.

Since then, the Mysteries have grown slowly by initiating prospective members approved by the religion's Death Guides, as its senior-most figures hand-picked by Idhaur are called. Belief in the Mysteries has become widespread enough amongst Tarkuus' upper classes that it is commonly considered the state religion, though it has no formal official status. Outside of Tarkuus, adherence to the Mysteries is significantly less common, as prospective members rarely find those authorized and willing to induct them.

Beliefs

Central to the Deathless Mysteries is the belief that intelligent, consummate undead are inherently the pinnacle of existence. Adherents to the mysteries see their theoretically eternal existences and great personal abilities as proof that they rightfully deserve a high status in the world. The Mysteries promote a heavily stratified view of society, with intelligent undead on top, mortals and lesser undead under them, and unintelligent undead beneath them all.

The Mysteries place great emphasis on self-perfection. Followers of the Mysteries perform long meditations, sometimes lasting for days, months, or even years. In combination with their detailed studies of arcane and mundane topics, these meditations are intended to prepare the mind for an eternal existence. They believe perfecting the mind to be a necessary prerequisite to increasing their own worldly influence, laying the groundwork for their eventual rightful acquisition of power. Though they work towards the same goals in the interests of the Mysteries, believers in the cult tend to be highly competitive amongst themselves, often vying for status, positions, and recognition as superior beings.

Members of the Deathless Mysteries perform intricate rites and rituals to elevate themselves. Details of these are secret, known only to those that have been inducted into the Mysteries. This knowledge is closely guarded, taught only to members that have achieved a necessary rank within the cult.

As a mystery cult, the Deathless Mysteries does not prevent its adherents from also holding other religious beliefs. Many followers of the Mysteries also pray to one or more deities, especially Tarhunz, Malavisch, and Hasamel. Conversely, many Deathless are secular, viewing the Mysteries and its tenets as more of a philosophy than a faith.

Followers

The vast majority of the adherents of the Deathless Mysteries are the vampires, mummies, and other intelligence undead that make up the aristocrats of Tarkuus. Undead considered lesser, such as ghouls, are not allowed to be inducted into the Mysteries. While some followers of the Mysteries can be found outside Tarkuus, they are largely those that left the nation of undead for some reason. Death Guides are seldom found outside Tarkuus, and without someone willing and able to initiate them undead in other parts of the world cannot join the Mysteries. Some travel to Tarkuus to do so, then depart back to their homelands.