The Loss of the God

Using the Memento Mori in Your Campaign

As with the Cabal ofthe Dirge,you have two basic ways to use the Memento Mori in your campaign:as a new group formed to study a recently deceased god,or as an older group with knowledge ofother dead gods as well.Beyond that,you need to decide whether the organization will ally with or oppose the player characters—or perhaps the PCs will decide that for you by their actions and opinions. As allies,the Memento Mori can be a source ofgreat information and aid for those exploring the secrets ofa dead god.They might even commission the PCs to investigate the corpus dei for them,payCosmic Locality vs.Immediate Locality ing them handsomely When discussing the death of a god, you’re for good information or automatically talking about things of a cosmic nature. A “cosmic locality” then, means the relics brought back.Of immediate vicinity on a huge scale: everything course,such a dangerous on a single plane and all adjoining planes. (The DM needs to determine what counts as an mission could bring the “adjoining plane,” of course. Perhaps all planes PCs into conflict with are adjoining. Perhaps some are more distant than others.) the Cabal ofthe Dirge. “Immediate locality,” on the other hand, never As enemies,the affects more than a single world, and often just Memento Mori can a portion of that world. serve as rivals for the treasures ofa dead god, or—ifthe PCs side with the Cabal ofthe Dirge—they might be seen as raiders and defilers.Members ofthe Memento Mori are usually neither vengeful nor do they make pre-emptive strikes against their foes.Instead,they scheme and create elaborate plans to avoid or trick their opponents.

Changes to the Universe

The loss ofa single being ofgodly power sends ripples and repercussions throughout the universe.It is an event that shakes creation to its core.DMs are justified in making virtually any change to their campaign world or the plane in which it lies as a result ofthe death ofa god.The way magic works,the way the laws ofphysics work,the races and character classes available—any ofthese things could change.Of course,at the same time,you should carefully consider the implications ofany such changes.

A god’s death can cause earthquakes that shatter whole mountain ranges and tear open vast canyons that fill with water to make inland seas in just a few weeks.Ifthe god’s corpse lies at the bottom ofsuch a new sea,the PCs must face whole new challenges to get to it to find divinity sparks or godsblood.

The death ofa god can open up a portal to another plane in the spot where the god died,potentially creating a stream oftraffic through the portal.Not so bad ifthe portal connects to a good-aligned plane,but one leading straight to Hell can bring apocalypse.A portal to another world might introduce a new intelligent race into the campaign for the player characters to interact with.Perhaps it is a new race that becomes available for PCs.

A deity’s death could,in fact,herald the creation ofan entire plane.This new realm,given life by the death ofa god, might come with all new creatures and environments,probably accessible through a portal at the death site.

No matter what happens as a result ofthe deity’s demise, the god’s demiurge remains.This ghostly presence can attempt to take an active role in events,trying to carry out some last task ofthe god,or it can recede into obscurity.

Certain by-products (for lack ofa better term) also result from the death ofa god.Loosed divinity,divinity sparks, energy wells,godsblood,and godflesh,as introduced in the last chapter,all prove extremely valuable as sources ofgreat power.They are the reason why,despite the risks,adventurers seek the bodies and death sites offallen gods.Each of these power sources is described more fully in its own section later in this chapter.

The Loss of the God

Ofcourse,each god has duties,obligations,and tasks to undertake.The loss ofthe god means that those actions might go uncompleted.Sometimes a god works to keep some great evil (or some great good) imprisoned or in check. Other times,a god manages some important natural event or events,like the tides,the winds,or the eruption ofvolcanoes.For example,ifYannel,Mistress ofthe Morning,dies, the following days may dawn dark and gloomy,until the morning sun can be restored.Sometimes the changes discussed here may resemble the effects ofloosed divinity, described a bit later.The difference is that the problems wrought by the absence ofthe deity might never be fixed— they might never fade.They are logical results based on what a god does,not on the god’s divine might.

This issue proves an unending source ofinteresting plot hooks for the campaign.However,because they deal specifically with the dead god and her nature and portfolio,only you can devise them for your campaign.Here are a few more examples to inspire you: • Red Ferrith was the goddess ofthieves.When she died, the city watch in the capital was able to find the grand and ancient thieves guild.The leaders were apprehended and the members scattered to the four corners ofthe earth.The guild will do anything to reorganize,even ifit means somehow resurrecting Red Ferrith or gathering her loosed divinity.