Vamaré (Va-MAR-eh)

Vamaré is the goddess of death in Aetregyr and presides over the concepts of the underworld, the grave, and mourning. She is a neutrally evil-aligned greater deity, whose name is feared and shunned by most goodly folk. Known as Lady Death, She Who Is Never Heard, Queen of Endings, and The Beautiful Peace, she is last thing every mortal being sees in life, and the first thing they see upon death. She is the daughter of Frácos, god of Fire, and was born of the dark, choking, black cinder-cloud left in his wake. She has a daughter, Alauthé, who subsumed Vamaré's former portfolios of shadow and darkness.

Vamaré is one of the oldest deities in Aetregyr, as she was born soon after the Dawn of Life. While not one of the Prime Four Creation Gods, she is only rivaled in power by a handful of other deities. All surface folk, know and fear her name, which is typically only whispered in the presence of others. Many dwellers of the Underdark follow her, particularly dark elves, who see her as a matron figure among their kind. In fact, in front of mortals, Vamaré usually appears as a tall, lithe, pale-skinned drow elf.

Vamaré's clerics pray for their spells at midnight. They lie prostrate upon the ground in worship, and throw themselves at the mercy of their goddess. While she is generally feared on the surface world, a few lay-folk of the Outer Gyrlands have been known to offer prayers to the Queen of Endings. These are usually society's outcasts, or those whose occupation puts them in close quarters with death, such as undertakers, coroners, gravediggers, cemetery caretakers, and embalmers. Those wishing to stave off death, such as the terminally ill or those in dangerous situations, have been known to make offerings to Vamaré, or even barter for their lives in their darkest hours. Clerics and dedicated followers of Vamaré are mostly found among non-human races: especially drow, shadar-kai, and unseelie fey. The faithful of Vamaré have many enemies. Her flock look upon the deities of light and life, especially Sheema and Sola, with contempt. Mágosa and Vamaré are arch-nemeses, and were the principal figures at odds during the Dusk War, which resulted in the creation of the Shadow Realm at the expense of Mágosa's original ocean realm on the First World. This antagonism has spilled into the mortal plane, as worshippers of both faiths view the other with boiling, seething hatred, resulting in a holy war which has continued unabated for many many thousands of years. Vamaré and her followers also despise Necrostylus and view the concept of undeath as an abomination. They work tirelessly to return the stolen souls of the undead to their mistress.

Vamaré's Temples are solemn places, oftentimes appearing in the style of a crypt or tomb, more than a place of worship. They are ever-dark, lit only with enough candles to make it possible to navigate from one area to the next, with enormous, cavern-like chambers. Decorations are sparse, and the only motifs that appear in her places of worship are those of skulls and bones. There are no windows in any of her churches. In some of the largest cities of Aetregyr, particularly in the Southern lands, her temples, which double as places to keep the dead, have grown as large as many cities. These most holy of Vamaré's temples are called necropolises.

Piety

Following these tenets increases one's piety with Vamaré:

• Convincing a group of people to accept misfortune
• Convincing someone who is dying to accept their fate
• Spreading fear in Vamaré's name
• Thwarting the schemes of Necrostylus

Performing one of these sacrileges decreases one's piety with Vamaré:

• Saving a life without securing compensation for Vamaré
• Forsaking your duties for personal gain or pleasure
• Allowing a soul to escape the Underworld
• Treat or negotiate with an undead creature

She Who is Never Heard's Devotee

Piety 3+ Vamaré trait

As a devotee of Vamaré, you have proven yourself an executor of the Underworld’s grim laws. You can call on Vamaré’s favor to cast bane with this trait, requiring no material components, a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of once). You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this spell.

The Queen of Ending's Acolyte

Piety 10+ Vamaré trait

You can cast vampiric touch with this trait. Once you cast the spell in this way, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for this spell.

Lady Death's Disciple

Piety 25+ Vamaré trait

When a soul is sent to its rightful place, you can draw on the energy of the Underworld to empower you. When a creature dies within 10 feet of you, you can use your reaction to gain a number of temporary hit points equal to your level.

The Beautiful Peace's Champion

Piety 50+ Vamaré trait

You can increase your Charisma or Constitution score by 2 and also increase your maximum for that score by 2.