![[Nerull.png|400]] Greater Deity Alignment: Neutral Evil ### Overview Nerull, known as The Reaper, The Foe of All Good, The Hater of Life, The Bringer of Darkness, The King of All Gloom, and The Reaper of Flesh, is the greater deity of death, darkness, murder, and the underworld. An ancient god of the Flan peoples of Oerth, he is among the most feared divine beings in the Flanaess. Unlike deities who regard death as a necessary passage from mortal existence, Nerull delights in violent death, suffering, and the destruction of life. Nerull considers every living creature an affront to his existence. His followers believe that all mortals are ultimately equal before death and that taking lives in his name brings divine favour. However, the Reaper is notoriously cruel and treacherous, frequently destroying even his own servants when they displease him. His hatred extends beyond mortals to other divine beings, making lasting alliances exceptionally rare. Nerull is traditionally depicted as a gaunt, skeletal figure with dull rust-red flesh stretched tightly over his bones. Thick strands of blackish-green hair hang from his skull, while his eyes, teeth, and nails possess the poisonous green colour of verdigris. He wears a dark, rust-black cloak and cowl and carries Lifecutter, a sablewood staff capable of producing a scythe-shaped blade of deadly crimson energy. His worship is primarily associated with murderers, assassins, necromancers, and individuals who seek supernatural power through death. Ordinary mortals rarely invoke his name, believing that even prayers intended to appease him may attract his attention and hasten their deaths. Nevertheless, his influence persists through secretive cults, undead creatures, and organisations devoted to spreading suffering throughout the world. ### Domain and Influence Nerull's divine authority encompasses death, darkness, murder, and the underworld. His power extends to the destruction of living beings, the manipulation of undead creatures, and the torment of souls that fall under his control. He does not oversee death with impartiality or concern for the natural order, instead regarding the suffering and destruction of the living as desirable ends in themselves. His influence is particularly prominent among necromancers, assassins, and secret religious organisations. His clergy encourages murder as an act of devotion, while powerful followers may establish undead armies, desecrate burial sites, or seek forbidden knowledge concerning the manipulation of life and death. Among certain followers of the Old Faith, Nerull is also associated with winter and the seasonal decline of the natural world. This association reflects ancient traditions in which he represents the destructive force that brings an end to the yearly period of growth. Nerull's divine realm lies within Carceri, the prison plane known as the Tarterian Depths. Two important descriptions of his dominion survive among planar scholars. The first identifies his realm as the Crypt, a city of the dead and undead situated upon Othrys, the outermost layer of Carceri. Its inhabitants include countless undead creatures, fiends, and imprisoned souls subjected to Nerull's cruelty. Another describes Necromanteion, an immense citadel carved from black ice upon Agathys, the deepest layer of Carceri. The souls of the dead are trapped within its walls, floors, and ceilings, while fiendish priests conduct terrible rituals. Nerull rules from a vast chamber known as the Hidden Temple, beneath which extend tunnels containing unknown supernatural horrors. Whether the Crypt and Necromanteion represent separate holdings or differing accounts of his principal residence remains uncertain. Nerull was not banished to Carceri; he established his presence there willingly. Nerull maintains few favourable relationships with other deities. He tolerates Incabulos, the god of plague, famine, and nightmares, whose destructive influence delivers countless souls into his domain. Their priests nevertheless rarely cooperate except against common enemies. He has maintained tenuous associations with Hextor, the god of tyranny and war, and Faluzure, the draconic god of death and decay. His relationship with Wee Jas, goddess of death and magic, is neither openly friendly nor consistently hostile. His enemies include Pelor, St. Cuthbert, and other deities whose teachings oppose murder, cruelty, and the destruction of innocent life. Nerull also bears hostility toward Mellifleur, the lich-god who acquired divine power intended for one of the Reaper's servants. Nerull seeks to reclaim that power and destroy the being who possesses it. ### Symbols and Icons ![[NerullSymbol.png|300]] Nerull's holy symbol consists of a skull and scythe, representing death, mortality, and his authority over the destruction of living beings. The skull symbolises the inevitable end of mortal existence, while the scythe reflects his divine weapon and the violent manner in which he claims many of his victims. His worshippers display this emblem upon ceremonial garments, amulets, weapons, and sacrificial altars. Because his religion is feared or outlawed throughout many lands, his followers frequently conceal their symbols from public view. Rust-red and black are the traditional colours of his clergy, reflecting the appearance of Nerull's skeletal body and his association with darkness. His clerics commonly wear garments of these colours during ceremonies, although they frequently adopt disguises when travelling among ordinary communities. The scythe is his favoured weapon. Daggers, sickles, and quarterstaffs are also associated with his clergy. ### Worship and Tributes Nerull's worship centres upon death, murder, suffering, and the destruction of life. His followers believe that deliberate killing is among the greatest offerings that can be made to their deity. Unlike religions that seek divine mercy or protection, Nerull's faith teaches that mortal lives are expendable and that death inflicted in his name deserves reward. Religious ceremonies are traditionally conducted in complete darkness, accompanied by litanies describing death, suffering, and the destruction of living creatures. Sacrifices are performed upon rust-coloured stone altars, and the clergy maintains numerous rites associated with different circumstances of death. Established religious practices include: - Murder as an Offering: Followers dedicate the deaths of their victims to Nerull, believing that deliberate killing attracts his favour. His clergy regards murder as a sacred act rather than merely a means of obtaining wealth or influence. - Rituals of Darkness: Religious services take place in absolute darkness. Priests recite chants concerning death and suffering, frequently conducting their ceremonies within hidden temples, crypts, and catacombs. - Funerary Rites: Nerull's religion possesses numerous funeral ceremonies that differ according to the identity of the deceased and the circumstances of their death. These rites reflect his fascination with mortality rather than concern for the peaceful passage of souls. - Necromantic Practices: His followers may desecrate ancient tombs in search of forbidden knowledge, raise undead armies, or establish cults that provide victims for vampires. Such activities are associated with the work of his clergy, although they are not necessarily formal rituals practised by every temple. - Prayers of Fulfilled Death: Many prayers are spoken in the past tense, even when describing events that have not yet occurred. Priests may speak of future victories, deaths, or supernatural rewards as though Nerull has already granted them. - The Blood Moon Festival: Observed on Coldeven 11, this night is particularly sacred to Nerull's worshippers. Evil forces are believed to become especially powerful, while curses and sinister magic gain greater potency. Followers of Kurell also observe the occasion, associating it with vengeance. Most inhabitants of the Flanaess avoid making offerings to Nerull, believing that even attempts to appease him may invite their destruction. However, some communities within the former Great Kingdom maintain minor rites intended to secure safe passage for deceased relatives. These practices are generally motivated by fear rather than devotion. ### Clergy and Temples Nerull's clergy consists primarily of murderers, necromancers, assassins, and individuals devoted to inflicting suffering. His priests are notoriously secretive and frequently operate alone, concealing their religious allegiance from communities that would otherwise persecute them. Unlike many established religions, Nerull's faith possesses no universal hierarchy. Individual cults and temples operate independently, and rival groups may even work against one another. Larger religious organisations generally exist only within territories where evil worship is openly tolerated. Initiation into Nerull's priesthood is particularly dangerous. Prospective clerics undergo a series of ordeals culminating in being buried alive for a period of time. Surviving this experience demonstrates their willingness to confront death and submit themselves to the Reaper's authority. His temples are generally concealed underground, frequently incorporated into catacombs, ancient burial grounds, or isolated subterranean complexes. Their chambers contain sacrificial altars, hidden passages, and supernatural guardians. Undead creatures commonly protect these locations, sometimes alongside fiends, hags, and other beings associated with death. Several important cults and religious organisations are associated with Nerull. The Shriven Sickle operates within the Free City of Greyhawk. Its members seek to undermine the influence of the Church of St. Cuthbert and advance Nerull's worship through secrecy, manipulation, and murder. The Midnight Darkness is a secretive cult active within the lands of the former Great Kingdom of Aerdy. It is led by a mysterious religious figure known as the Hidden Sickle, whose true identity remains concealed. The Horned Society was a powerful and oppressive state whose ruling Hierarchs included followers of Nerull alongside servants of other sinister powers. Following the Society's collapse, surviving adherents continued operating in scattered territories. One prominent leader was Nezmajen, a powerful cleric of Nerull who commanded remnants of the Society within the Fellreev Forest. Delglath the Undying is among Nerull's most notorious clerics. Originally a mortal priest, he was transformed into an animus, an intelligent undead being, during the reign of Ivid V. Delglath seized control of Rinloru and attempted to establish an undead empire dedicated to Nerull. By 587 CY, his armies had successfully resisted substantial military attempts to destroy his stronghold. Other recognised clerics include Jipzinker, Andrade Mirrius, and Guiliana Mortidus. Their activities demonstrate the scattered nature of Nerull's religion, whose followers frequently pursue independent objectives rather than serving a central religious authority. Open temples to Nerull are uncommon but exist in particularly corrupt territories, including Rel Astra. Elsewhere, his clergy relies upon secrecy to protect its members and continue its activities. ### Powers and Abilities Nerull possesses immense divine power over death, darkness, necromancy, and the manipulation of supernatural forces. His abilities allow him to destroy living creatures, summon powerful servants, and inflict suffering upon those who resist his will. His principal abilities include: - Divine Authority Over Death: Nerull possesses the power to destroy living creatures through supernatural means. His touch can wither flesh and reduce victims to dust. - Lifecutter: Nerull carries a powerful sablewood staff that produces a curved blade of crimson magical energy. The weapon possesses extraordinary cutting power and can inflict death upon those it strikes. - Supreme Necromancy: Nerull commands powerful necromantic magic, allowing him to drain life, inflict curses, manipulate undead creatures, and unleash destructive supernatural effects. - Command Over Undead: He can compel undead beings to serve him and may employ powerful undead creatures as guardians, messengers, or instruments of destruction. - Creation of Darkness: Nerull can summon supernatural darkness and employ magical effects that conceal his movements or harm his enemies. - Divine Awareness of Death: Nerull possesses extraordinary awareness of events involving death and the ending of mortal life. His divine senses allow him to perceive matters connected to his authority. - Divine Manifestations: He may appear as a skeletal figure resembling his traditional depiction, frequently accompanied by supernatural darkness or signs associated with death. - Command of Supernatural Servants: Nerull can summon powerful fiends, including demodands, which obey him primarily through fear. A nightwalker may serve as his herald, while other known servants include shadow mastiffs, salamanders, and cauchemar nightmares. Several relics and magical artifacts are closely associated with Nerull's faith. The Mace and Talisman of Krevell are two linked artifacts associated with Krevell, an infamous priest of Nerull. The mace possesses powerful necromantic properties, while the talisman can inflict paralysis. When brought together, their supernatural powers increase considerably. The objects eventually came into the possession of rival rulers within Rinloru and Winetha. The Censer of the Last Breath is a sacred relic resembling an iron sphere suspended from a decorated chain. It burns powdered gemstones rather than ordinary incense, creating supernatural clouds whose effects vary according to the materials consumed. These clouds can obstruct movement or inflict destructive magical effects while leaving the bearer unharmed. The Tabard of the Disembodied is a magical garment associated with the burial raiments of Shedlazzar IV. It allows the wearer to enter the Ethereal Plane temporarily while retaining the ability to direct spells against creatures upon the Material Plane. These objects reflect the principal concerns of Nerull's faith: death, necromancy, concealment, and the manipulation of supernatural forces. ### Treatment of the Chosen and Faithful Nerull treats his followers with cruelty and indifference, considering their lives expendable. Although he promises supernatural rewards to those who kill in his name, his favour is unreliable. Even powerful priests may be destroyed when they displease him, and long service offers little guarantee of protection. His relationship with devoted followers is reflected in several established traditions: - Rewards for Murder: Followers believe that deaths dedicated to Nerull may earn supernatural favour. His promises encourage acts of violence, although he is not compelled to honour them. - Necromantic Power: Clerics receive divine magic associated with death, evil, and deception. Such abilities enable them to raise undead servants, inflict curses, and manipulate life energy. - Supernatural Assistance: Nerull may dispatch undead creatures or extraplanar servants to aid his followers, although these beings frequently possess their own dangerous motivations. - Punishment for Failure: Nerull may destroy servants who fail him or attract his displeasure. His punishments are not necessarily proportionate to their offences. - The Pursuit of Undeath: Some followers seek transformation into liches or other forms of intelligent undead, believing that such existence will grant them greater power over death. - The Fate of the Faithful: Souls claimed by Nerull may enter his realm within Carceri, where many endure imprisonment, torment, or servitude. His dominion offers little assurance of reward, even to those who worshipped him faithfully. No universally recognised order of mortals formally designated as the Chosen of Nerull is established within his traditional faith. His influence is instead exercised through powerful clerics, necromancers, cult leaders, and supernatural servants. ### Myths and Legends Nerull's mythology concerns the destruction of life, the arrival of winter, the struggle for authority over the dead, and ancient conflicts involving other divine powers. - The Death of Obad-Hai and the Coming of Winter: According to the ancient traditions of the Old Faith, Nerull brings winter by slaying Obad-Hai, the god of nature, and hanging his body upon the Summer Tree. After seven days, Pelor removes Obad-Hai's body and buries it within the earth. Beory's tears cause a new sapling to grow, producing a fruit from which Obad-Hai is reborn with the arrival of spring. The myth explains the seasonal cycle of decline, death, and renewal. - The Quadripartite and the Defence of Oerth: An ancient account describes beings from the Far Realm attempting to destroy the earliest sentient life upon Oerth. Four gods opposed them: Pelor, Obad-Hai, Nerull, and Kord. According to the tale, Pelor and Nerull had not yet developed their later opposition between good and evil and were primarily concerned with maintaining balance. The four sacrificed portions of their divine power to create an anchor capable of severing the invaders' connection to their distant masters. The story preserves a tradition in which Nerull once cooperated with deities who would later become his enemies. - The Ascension of Kyuss: Kyuss was a powerful mortal necromancer whose ambition led him to pursue supernatural authority over death and undeath. Certain traditions identify Nerull as his divine patron and credit the Reaper with assisting his elevation toward godhood. Kyuss subsequently became known as the Wormgod and the Herald of the Age of Worms, gaining extraordinary influence over undead creatures and supernatural corruption. - The Stolen Divinity of Mellifleur: Mellifleur, the lich-god, acquired divine power originally intended for one of Nerull's servants. This unexpected ascension deprived Nerull of power he had intended to bestow elsewhere. The Reaper subsequently became determined to destroy Mellifleur and reclaim the stolen divine energy. - The Rise of Delglath the Undying: During the final years of the Great Kingdom, Delglath was transformed into an intelligent undead creature and placed in authority over Rinloru. Rather than viewing his condition as a curse, he embraced undeath and sought to convert the surrounding territories into an empire dedicated to Nerull. His continued resistance against the armies attempting to reclaim the city established him as one of the most dangerous mortal servants of the Reaper. These accounts represent a mixture of religious mythology and recorded history. The seasonal death of Obad-Hai and the ancient defence against the Far Realm belong to mythological traditions, while Delglath's activities form part of the documented history of the former Great Kingdom. ### Encounters with Nerull's Influence Nerull's influence is encountered through hidden religious cults, undead creatures, forbidden necromantic practices, and territories affected by murder and supernatural corruption. - Hidden Temples and Catacombs: Adventurers may discover secret religious complexes dedicated to Nerull, frequently protected by undead guardians, magical traps, and concealed entrances. - Necromantic Cults: His followers may seek forgotten burial grounds, ancient manuscripts, or magical objects capable of creating and controlling undead creatures. - Assassins and Murderers: Individuals who commit murder for pleasure, payment, or personal advancement may secretly dedicate their actions to the Reaper. - The Shriven Sickle: This cult operates within Greyhawk, attempting to undermine the Church of St. Cuthbert and extend Nerull's influence through secrecy and violence. - The Midnight Darkness: Active within the former Great Kingdom, this organisation conducts secret religious activities under the direction of the Hidden Sickle. - Undead Armies: Powerful servants of Nerull may raise undead forces to threaten living settlements. Delglath's occupation of Rinloru demonstrates the scale of such activities. - The Blood Moon Festival: Religious activity may intensify on Coldeven 11, when followers believe evil forces and sinister magic possess greater power. - Nerull's Divine Realm: Planar travellers entering the Crypt or Necromanteion may encounter imprisoned souls, undead creatures, fiendish servants, and supernatural horrors. ### Conclusion Nerull is the greater deity of death, darkness, murder, and the underworld, and one of the most feared powers of the ancient Flan pantheon. His teachings celebrate the destruction of life and encourage followers to seek supernatural rewards through acts of murder and necromancy. Unlike deities who oversee death as a natural passage, Nerull delights in suffering and regards living creatures with hatred. His clergy reflects these principles through secretive cults, sacrificial ceremonies, and the deliberate spreading of death. His dominion within Carceri, command over undead creatures, and relationships with Incabulos, Kyuss, and Mellifleur establish his significance among the divine powers concerned with death and the underworld. Although his organised religion remains hidden throughout much of the Flanaess, his influence persists through murderers, necromancers, undead rulers, and religious organisations willing to commit atrocities in his name. Nerull's enduring purpose is the destruction of the living and the expansion of his authority over the dead. To the Reaper, every life extinguished in his name represents another offering to his insatiable hatred of existence.