The Dead God

The Dead God is the primary deity of the Hegklo people. Its most notable features are that it is dead and that it is buried beneath the mountains of The High Vale.

Legend
Long ago The Dead God walked the earth and shepherded its people from danger, both the dangers of the physical world and spiritual dangers personified by Ut the Great Wolf, that would devour the immortal souls of those who wandered too far (Hegklo myth holds that wolves are the only creatures that have no souls but are possessed of great physical power). Eventually when the Dead God had tought its people all they needed to know to live in this world it went forth to fight Ut and protect its peoples souls forever. The battle raged for centuries, both perfectly matched, their battle cracked the earth and boiled the sea and the Dead God knew that if the battle went on any further the world itself would die, so it tore out its own ribs and drove them into the Great Wolfs eyes, mortally wounding them both but forever ensuring the safety of the its people after death. In these times the Hegklo buried their dead in great barrows, their size suiting the station of the Hegklo it contained so with their dying god they walked until they came across the vast mountain range of The High Vale, declaring that this was its barrow the Dead God pulled apart the mountain range and sealed it over itself, assuring its people that it would guide them and protect them again in the next world when they died. Although the Dead God does not directly effect the world any more the echo of his vast power remains granting strength to those that live in the High Vale.

Description
The Dead God is genderless, ageless and nameless and although most depictions show a featureless humanoid it is acknowledged that it cannot truly be depicted and is beyond mortal arts. The afterlife the Dead God went to is as mysterious as The Dead God himself however the conclusion is that if The Dead God is there then no matter what the world is like by nature in its presence and care that world will be made paradisiacal. Despite this perfect world that awaits all dead suicide is taboo as all Hegklo were told by the Dead God to go on living and have families so as many Hegklo as possible can be born and therefore go on to die and have the joy of the afterlife.

Building
Raising stone buildings is considered a tribute to The Dead God and stone masonry is considred holy work, skilled builders are much in demand amongs the religious. This is because as the mountains are considered the tomb of The Dead God any construction upon it is considered unto a tombstone, so castles and fortresses are also holy sites the larger and more elaborate they are the more they honour the god.

Death Rites
The Death rites of the followers of the Dead God are those of exposure, the body is left out on the mountain side to feed scavengers, mostly birds, this is done to distract the scavengers from eating the persistent energy of the Dead God that protects all who live in the mountains. The ceremony involves the persons loved ones bellowing out the virtues and achievements of the deceased so as to entice the scavengers into consuming them rather than the Dead Gods energy. Also left with the deceased is a stone tablet or some kind saying who was left here and their achievements to the same effect, this is also a construction upon the mountain and therefore honours the Dead God, more powerful dead men may have whole statues or even structures built where they were left and Hegklo legends abound with great kings having entire castles raised where they were left.

Mysticism
Various mystic practices are associated with the Dead God or are said to have come in some way from the Dead Gods teachings. The practices are widely varied often having no formal names the only universal element being the importance of becoming partially dead while remaining alive.

Dead Ones
Dead Ones are a warrior cult, fairly prevalent in the High Vale but entirely without practicioners beyond it. Dead Ones are entirely focused on inducing battle trances in which they are completely reconciled with death (both imminent and eventual) and willing to die, the effect of this trance is to become completely calm perfectly disciplined warriors no matter the situation. Through these trances Dead Ones seem to be able to go without sleep and sustenance. Although generally these trances last between a day and a week for a trained Dead One, the length of the trance is entirely up to how long the Dead One can sustain the state of mind however very extended trances lead inevitably to a phenomena where the Dead One self mummifies and eventually becomes inanimate through an extended process of starvation and exposure. They are referred to as inanimate as amongst the people of the High Vale they are not believed to have actually died and legends abound of these mummies rising again suddenly to fight once more however this has not actually occured in living memory.

Sqragdugar
Sqragdugar are beserker warriors who induce a state of intense frenzy and an immunity to all pain and sensation by intentionally consuming the lethal venom of a mountain snake in controlled doses. They fight with two stabbing weapons, one in each hand in emulation of the Dead Gods battle with Ut the Great Wolf, some even going so far as to tear out their own ribs to fight with during the frenzy of battle. They also poison their blades often extolling their ability to survive the venoms that will slay their enemies. Accomplished Sqragdugar have been know to become completely immune to poison and to reguire truly catastrophic injuries to slay, said injuries often revealing blood that has become black or green and lethally poisonous. This stage of development is seldom seen given the incredibly aggressive combat style of the Sqragdugars it is rare for many to live long enough and see enough battle to reach this state.

Spider Vigil
A peculiar form of Dead God mysticism practiced only by Clan Vahl. The spider vigil is a practice undertook as a coming of age ritual by the members of Clan Vahl, in Clan Vahls mountain fortress home is an iron box similar to a casket used by other cultures for burial, this box is filled with a venomous breed of spider that is indigenous to Clan Vahls mountain, the venom of these spiders can be fatal but only in larger doses from muliple bites members of Clan Vahl are expected to spend a night in vigil lying in the box before they are considered adult by their kinsman and can hold lands and wealth. The spiders do not bite unless triggered by motion, it is the stillness and intense possiblity of death that is said to forge a deeper understanding of the Dead Gods mysteries amongst Clan Vahl than others in the realm.