Death Rites in Astredorne
Upon Death
Since memory permits cremation has always been a part of life, or rather the end of life, in Astredorne. Many believe it was a custom that was brought here from the outer realms of Elarvis, before the Matterbeast began its scourge. The belief that new life comes from ashes is one that is heavily tied into every civilation in the Nine Hands, even those that are not associated with Astredorne.
Death Temples
When someone dies care is taken to preserve the body as best as possible until cremation can take place. If possible, the body is transported to the nearest Death Temple, which are dedicated to three of the Astral Deities: Rikses of Death Rites, Boaris of Fate, and Kuzlos of Souls. Within these temples are acolytes that are known as the Keepers. The Keepers are thought to be a direct link in power between the physical realm and the astral realm. They are the ones that help those who have passed cross between those realms with the blessings from Rikses, Boaris, and Kuzlos.
If the dead are able to make it to one of the temples, the Keepers then set to work in cleaning and preparing the body for cremation. They bathe the body, scurbbing it of any grime and gore. If wounds are present, they mend the wounds. The bodies are then wrapped in a special cloth that is crafted by another sect of acolytes who imbue a cloth with the essence of the stars.
Once the body has been cleaned and wrapped it is sent to the pyre chamber. Within this chamber is a collection of nine pyres, on which the bodies are placed. A small ritual is held and words of the Death Trinity are spoken by the Keepers. The pyres are then lit, and the bodies burn to ash.
Without a Temple
If for some reason a body is not able to make it to a temple (most oft in times of war or adventure), the body is stripped, cleaned as best as possible, then placed onto a make shift pyre and lit ablaze. Though the body will likely not be wrapped in a star cloth if the ritual is done in this manner, full respects are still given to the deceased as it is understood that sometimes things just don't go entirely right but the dead must still be respected and revered.
Reduced to Ash
As with all cremations, the remains are left as nothing but ash. This ash, whether or not the ritual was done within a temple or not, is collected with as much care as possible. If the ritual was done in a temple, teh ash is collected into a small obisian urn adorned with etchings of the nine great constellations. If in the field, the ash is collected into whatever receptical is possible until it can be taken to a temple.
The ash is given to the next of kin or, in the event there is no family, to those who claimed the ash with respect and love. Often, the ash is kept in the constellation urn in some form of shrine or mante place position. Though, it is also common for the ash to be spread out to those who the deceased was closest to in small vials. There are also instances where the ash is buried.
Soul Jewels
Many Astredorians also choose a more precious way of memorializing the dead. Across the empire is a small guild of jewelers who say to have been blessed by Kuzlos, teh God of Souls, with the power to imbue a jewel with the soul of the dead. Close ones of the dead will bring the ritual cremation ash to these jewelers to have it pressed into a precious stone. During the process the jewelers use the ash of the dead to imbue the stone with whatever soul is still within the ash. It is said that the less time there is between the cremation and the pressing of the ash, the stronger the soul connection will be.
While it may seem as though this process is reserved for the rich and priviledged, the Soul Jewelers do not charge for their services. They believe that all souls deserve to be given new life, especially as something so special and one of a kind.
There are an untold number of things that are then done with these jewels. Some are crafted into the obvious; necklaces, charms, bracelets, etc. Some are displayed on family shrines, some are encrusted into statues that depict the dead. The most interesting thing that can be done with the jewels, though, are to encrust them into any kind of weapon or piece of armor.
Hereditary Arms & Armor
If a soul jewel is encrusted into a weapon or bit of armor there is a small chance of that weapon/armor becomming imbued with some of the dead one's soul. This can manifest in a multitude of ways and become either a blessing or a curse.
There are many accounts and records of these weapons and armor taking on some sort of magic. There are even, though far fewer, accounts of these weapons and armor becomming possessed by the soul of the dead one within the jewel. Sometimes the weapons and armor then speak to whomever weilds or wears the piece.
The term 'Hereditary' has been given to these types of arms and armor, and more often than not they are passed down from older to younger kin. It is not at all uncommong to come across some one adorned with or weilding something Hereditary.
