Wee Jas
From Davenrathh
Wee Jas, Saint of the Dead
Other titles: The Ruby Lady, the Gatekeeper, The Mistress of Magic
Portfolio: Souls, the Passage to the afterlife, funerals, reaping, Inheritance
Sigil: A Ruby Mask
Priests: Followers of Wee Jas are called Keepers.
Doctrine: Respect for the lives of the dead: showing decency to the departed soul, offering living relatives counsel and support for their grief, caring for the legal matters surrounding deaths (the deceased’s will and testament, for example). Study of the Dead: A corpse without a soul is a corpse that can be utilized for purposes. Thus Keepers have no problem with turning the corpses of deceased into zombies for manual labour or protection, though they are careful to keep this aspect of their professions quiet, usually by masking their zombies.
Alignment: Wee Jas is Lawful Neutral. She is concerned only with the passage of departed souls, and the care of the grievers left behind. Some consider the use of necromancy evil, but to Wee Jas, this is only making use of what is at hand. Sentient undead are rarely tolerated, as they are viewed as living on borrowed time.
Advancement: The cult has few formal ranks. Novices of the cult are called trainees, and are eventually promoted to Aide, Keeper, Grand keeper, and finally Soulkeeper.
Organization: The Soulkeepers of each Ruby shrine meet semi-annually to discuss matters of policy, but each is the highest authority in their own territory.
Common Organizations: There are few lay followers of the Gatekeeper, though every person has, at one point or another in their life, spoken a prayer to her. Necromancers and other students of death magic sometimes form small chapters called Crimson Fellowships, devoted to the collection and study of death magic, but these are not formally bound to the Cult of the Dead in any way.
Temples: The shrines of the Lady resemble office buildings, often with areas belowground for the preparation of corpses for funerals or reanimation. While they lack ornamentation on the outside, the insides of the buildings are often decorated with plaques and urns donated by families to commemorate their loved ones.
Appearance: A Keeper’s colours are red and grey. Many members of the cult veil themselves when going out in public, a tribute to their masked lady.
Avatar: When she appears to her followers, Wee Jas takes the form of an empty Ruby Mask, which glows with magical light.
