Ereshkigal

Description: Ereshkigal is the goddess of magic and death. Hers is a well spread religion with almost all countries paying reverence to her as the keeper of souls.  Ereshkigal oversees the realm most souls travel to on their journey to final disposition. Such is her power that any “unclaimed" souls normally remain in her realm. As a patron of magic many magic users and clerics wishing to overcome death pay her tribute. Also numbered in her followers are those practiced in the arts of necromancy.  Her many evil followers have led to a bad reputation in the past, but her role as keeper of souls has brought many worshippers and tribute from all alignments. She is against the unchecked proliferation of undead, allowing their creation or summoning only within strict guidelines. This puts her goals in direct conflict with those of her arch enemy, the demon Orcus.

Ereshkigal is also often at odds with the goddess Istus and her followers, as she tends to believe that magic and power allows one to change or bend fate, while Istus believes in predestination, with smaller variances.

Erishkigal is most often portrayed as a stunning woman dressed in a beautiful gown, wearing some piece of jewelry (rubies are common) with a skull motif. Ereshkigal is a demanding deity who expects obedience from her followers. Her clerics are known for their discipline and obedience to their superiors. Clerics of lower level are expected to defer to ones of higher level at all times. Clerics of Ereshkigal arbitrate disputes, give advice on magic, investigate magical curiosities, create magic items, and administer funerals. They wear black or gray robes. Ereshkigal has a black panther as her patron animal. (Obscure references show her with the head of a black panther)

Tenets of Faith

• Undead may only be created for a purpose, and only if willing, stealing a soul for power or magic is an abomination.
• Magic is the ultimate power, and should be acquired, investigated, and studied whenever possible.
• Arbitrate law, and dispense fate within the limits of your capabilities.
  
  — Malucent

Servitors

Ereshkigal has a large shadowy black panther named Karaḷa savu as an envoy and henchman.  This creature is sent when Ereshgigal wants to highlight her attention to a matter of import, either through its mere presence, or its bringing death to a target.  Karala savu is reputedly immortal in some fashion, as there are several tales of it being slain, but it always returns to its Mistress' side.