Son Forlorn
Among the pantheon of Ofadin, the Son Forlorn stands apart—not as a reaper or tyrant of death, but as its solemn shepherd. His task is to guide and protect the souls of the faithful from the soul-raking hunger of necromancers and vile practitioners who would enslave the dead.
When a faithful soul dies—one who has pledged themselves to the main pantheon—it is the Son Forlorn who meets them. He kneels beside their spirit, whether it lies in a battlefield's ash or the quiet of a deathbed, and speaks in a voice deep, soft, and patient. He then recounts the soul’s most notable deeds—both good and ill. This is no cold accounting, but a gentle consultation. The Son listens to the soul’s wailing, confusion, rage, or pleading. He allows them time to grieve their own death. Only once they accept the truth of their passing does the journey begin. The Walk Through the Grey
Together, the Son and the soul walk through a vast liminal expanse known as the Grey—a realm between worlds, painted in silence and fog. Along the way, the Son weighs the soul’s character: not only their actions, but their dedication to the divine morals they pledged to follow in life. If judged worthy, the soul is led to a monolithic portal—an entrance into their chosen god’s haven. Before they cross, the Son embraces them. It is a final, tender gesture that cleanses them of all fear, anxiety, or regret. They pass through in peace. If judged unworthy, the soul is left to wander the Grey. But this is not punishment—it is a path to understanding. The soul is offered an opportunity to reflect, to grow, to witness what they could not in life. A myriad of strange and symbolic tasks may await them—visions, trials, conversations with memories, or walking the same road as someone they wronged. When they prove they’ve truly changed, the Son will return. Their passage into a haven can begin anew. These journeys vary. Some last days. Others, centuries. But the Son is always watching, always ready to return for those who are ready.
If a soul is truly beyond redemption, they are left to wander the Grey alone. The Son never returns. These souls are forgotten. Forever. Appearance and Presence
The Son Forlorn appears as a tall figure draped in a patchwork winter coat. His hood hangs low, its depth unnaturally dark, concealing his face entirely. He carries a shepherd’s staff—not as a symbol, but as a tool: a weapon against those who would prey upon souls, and a support for the weary. He speaks softly and never first. He waits. He listens. His compassion is deep, but it is also firm. The Bulwarks
The mortal followers of the Son are known as the Bulwarks—a militant monastic order sworn to silence and to the defense of the weak. They spend their entire lives in training and meditation, not for personal salvation, but in hopes of joining the Son’s spectral legions: an unseen army of souls who guard the afterlife from the necromantic raking of the living.
To be a Bulwark is to reject pride, voice, and comfort—to live as the Son does: watching, waiting, and always standing between the innocent and the dark.
When a faithful soul dies—one who has pledged themselves to the main pantheon—it is the Son Forlorn who meets them. He kneels beside their spirit, whether it lies in a battlefield's ash or the quiet of a deathbed, and speaks in a voice deep, soft, and patient. He then recounts the soul’s most notable deeds—both good and ill. This is no cold accounting, but a gentle consultation. The Son listens to the soul’s wailing, confusion, rage, or pleading. He allows them time to grieve their own death. Only once they accept the truth of their passing does the journey begin. The Walk Through the Grey
Together, the Son and the soul walk through a vast liminal expanse known as the Grey—a realm between worlds, painted in silence and fog. Along the way, the Son weighs the soul’s character: not only their actions, but their dedication to the divine morals they pledged to follow in life. If judged worthy, the soul is led to a monolithic portal—an entrance into their chosen god’s haven. Before they cross, the Son embraces them. It is a final, tender gesture that cleanses them of all fear, anxiety, or regret. They pass through in peace. If judged unworthy, the soul is left to wander the Grey. But this is not punishment—it is a path to understanding. The soul is offered an opportunity to reflect, to grow, to witness what they could not in life. A myriad of strange and symbolic tasks may await them—visions, trials, conversations with memories, or walking the same road as someone they wronged. When they prove they’ve truly changed, the Son will return. Their passage into a haven can begin anew. These journeys vary. Some last days. Others, centuries. But the Son is always watching, always ready to return for those who are ready.
If a soul is truly beyond redemption, they are left to wander the Grey alone. The Son never returns. These souls are forgotten. Forever. Appearance and Presence
The Son Forlorn appears as a tall figure draped in a patchwork winter coat. His hood hangs low, its depth unnaturally dark, concealing his face entirely. He carries a shepherd’s staff—not as a symbol, but as a tool: a weapon against those who would prey upon souls, and a support for the weary. He speaks softly and never first. He waits. He listens. His compassion is deep, but it is also firm. The Bulwarks
The mortal followers of the Son are known as the Bulwarks—a militant monastic order sworn to silence and to the defense of the weak. They spend their entire lives in training and meditation, not for personal salvation, but in hopes of joining the Son’s spectral legions: an unseen army of souls who guard the afterlife from the necromantic raking of the living.
To be a Bulwark is to reject pride, voice, and comfort—to live as the Son does: watching, waiting, and always standing between the innocent and the dark.
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