The Ebon Creed

In the annals of the solemn and somber, the Ebon Creed is a devout order that worships and reveres Deimos, the god of the dead. Its inception traces back to the Third Age, known as the Age of the Elves, in the Vanir civilization of Itelion, which formerly inhabited Tolria. The Creed's origins are told only in the ancient occult tomes unearthed by Imperial Archaeologists in the Dead Marshes, where the remnants of Itelion rest. These texts chronicle the earliest venerations of Deimos, marking the beginning of a long-standing reverence for the god of the underworld.

The Ebon Creed's prominence surged in the Fourth Age with the founding of the Empire of Bastile. As the empire grappled with rampant plague and death, a direct consequence of the treacherous marshlands that dominated the landscape, the downtrodden populace turned to Deimos. They sought comfort in the belief that the god of the dead would shepherd the souls of the departed, ensuring peace in the afterlife. This belief was not born of fear but by a profound understanding of life's ephemeral nature and a deep-seated reverence for the cycle that is life and death.

Central to the Ebon Creed's doctrine is a scripture-told field of red and white lilies, a metaphorical representation of the afterlife. The red lilies symbolize souls awaiting judgment, while the white lilies represent those who have attained serenity in death. The Creed's burial rituals are a testament to their beliefs - bodies are carefully preserved and entombed in sarcophagi, their surfaces etched with memories and tributes from loved ones, symbolizing the journey of the soul into the Plane of Oblivion. The Creed's prayer, "The Ebon Creed," is a solemn and reverent hymn, extolling the virtues of Deimos as the just arbiter of the afterlife. It's a reminder of the natural cycle of existence, from birth to death, and the inevitable return to the earth from which all life springs.

Those marked with a blackhand are held in high esteem within the Creed, seen as Deimos' chosen, akin to gardeners tending to the fields of mortality. This mark is a symbol of distinction, denoting a deeper connection with the divine cycle of life and death. In the eyes of the Ebon Creed, Deimos is not merely a god of death, but a gardener of souls, nurturing the cycle of existence. The Creed's teachings often employ metaphors, likening Deimos to a benevolent caretaker who ensures the balance and continuity of life and death.

Through their rituals, prayers, and teachings, the Ebon Creed embodies a profound understanding of the transient nature of life and the eternal embrace of death, guiding their followers towards a peaceful acceptance of life's final journey under the watchful gaze of Deimos, the god of the dead.