## Sacred Necromancers of Perserphina --- ## Overview The Disciples of the Bone Dove are a rare, controversial, and deeply misunderstood sect of necromancers devoted to the Great Goddess Perserphina. In a world where death magic is universally feared and condemned, the Disciples stand as living paradoxes: wielders of undeath who claim to act as guardians of beauty, hope, love, and liberation. They do not raise corpses for power or cruelty. They do not enslave souls or mock the sacred boundary of death. Instead, they practice what they call **"Sacred Transformation"**—taking profaned remains (bones of monsters, abominations, or the willing dead) and sanctifying them into blessed guardians marked with the blue dove of Perserphina. **Their undead are not abominations—they are testaments.** The sect is small, secretive, and spread across Solare in hidden sanctuaries and wandering circles. They are opposed by nearly every other divine order—including many of Perserphina's own clergy. Even good gods like Aria, Goddess of Birth and Death, have declared them heretical. Yet they persist, believing that Perserphina's divine mercy extends even to the darkest corners of magic—that redemption can reach even into death itself. --- ## The Theological Controversy ### The Great God's Law The Great God—the First, the Source, the I AM—established fundamental laws when he created Solare. Among these laws was a clear boundary: **"The dead belong to the realm of death. Mortals shall not manipulate what lies beyond the veil."** This prohibition against necromancy was absolute. To raise the dead, to bind spirits, to profane the natural order of life and death—these were **forbidden practices**, detestable in the eyes of the Great God. **Every other god respects this law:** - **Aria, [[Aria, Goddess of Birth and Death|Goddess of Birth and Death]]**, explicitly commands: _"Undead beings are an abomination and must be destroyed."_ - **Hagsurium, God of Hate and Death**, uses necromancy as a tool of evil, proving the Great God's wisdom in forbidding it. - Even neutral gods view necromancy with suspicion and disdain. The law was clear. The line was drawn. --- ### Perserphina's Divine Mercy But Perserphina is different. The Great God chose her as his heir **not because she would enforce laws with rigid perfection**, but because she would **bring mercy to the broken places of the world**. She walks among mortals. She understands their pain. She was mortal herself once, and she remembers what it means to grieve, to struggle, to desperately seek any way to protect those you love. When the widow Alevra came to her temple, broken by war and terrified for her village, Perserphina heard a prayer that other gods would have denied: _"Great Goddess, I beg you—let me raise my husband's bones. Not to possess him. Not to enslave him. But to let him protect our home one last time. Let his love continue, even in death."_ **By the strict law, the answer should have been NO.** But Perserphina saw Alevra's heart. She saw pure love, desperate protection, no desire for power or domination. She saw someone willing to walk a forbidden path not for herself, but for others. And she made a choice that would echo through the ages: **She blessed the ritual.** --- ### The Precedent of Divine Authority Perserphina understood something profound: **The Great God forbade mortals from manipulating death through their own power.** But what if death was transformed **through divine authority**? **Historical precedents existed:** - Ancient prophets had raised the dead through divine power - Holy men's bones had restored life when touched - The gods themselves had resurrected the fallen in times of great need **The difference was SOURCE:** - **Forbidden necromancy:** Mortals seizing power over death through dark magic - **Divine resurrection:** Gods channeling their authority through mortal instruments **Perserphina's reasoning:** _"If I, as heir to the Great God's throne, bless this transformation—if I sanctify these remains with my divine power—then they are no longer profaned undead. They are instruments of my will, extensions of my protection, sacred guardians transformed by divine authority."_ --- ### The Great God's Silence When Perserphina blessed Alevra's ritual, the Great God did not intervene. He did not strike her down. He did not revoke her authority. He did not send judgment upon the Bone Dove. **His silence could mean several things:** **Some believe:** He disapproves but allows her free will—she is making a mistake, but he will not force her hand. **Others believe:** He trusts her judgment—she understands mercy in ways a distant, perfect deity cannot. **The Bone Dove believe:** This is exactly why he chose her—to make the hard choices, to extend mercy where law would deny it, to walk the narrow paths that a more rigid ruler would never dare. **Perserphina herself says** (rarely, and only to her closest confidants): _"My father gave me authority to rule this world in his absence. If I am wrong, he will correct me. Until then, I will show mercy even where law says I should not. That is what it means to be present with the broken—sometimes you must break rules to heal wounds."_ --- ## The Ten Sacred Laws of True Necromancy The Disciples of the Bone Dove follow a strict code, designed to prevent the corruption that [[Aria, Goddess of Birth and Death|Aria]] and other gods fear: ### 1. **The Dead Are Not Tools—They Are Testaments** Treat all remains with reverence. Every skeleton raised is a soul remembered, a life honored. Never view the dead as mere resources. ### 2. **Necromancy Is Redemption, Not Domination** The undead must serve willingly (if spirits remain) or be transformed from profaned remains (monsters, abominations) into sacred guardians. **Never enslave a spirit.** ### 3. **Reclaim the Profane with Purpose** Let abominable remains be reborn into sacred forms. The bones of ghouls can shield children. The skeleton of a demon can guard a temple. **Transformation is redemption.** ### 4. **Adorn the Dead in Beauty and Meaning** Bless your creations with art and intention. Carve sacred runes into their bones. Paint them with holy symbols. Mark them with the blue dove of Perserphina. **Let them be beautiful in their new purpose.** ### 5. **You Are a Shepherd, Not a Master** Your creations are not puppets. They are guardians entrusted to your care. Treat them with the dignity owed to those who serve. ### 6. **Death Itself Is Not Evil—Only What We Do With It** Do not fear death. Do not mock it. Do not profane it. Use necromancy to soothe, protect, and remember—never to dominate or defile. ### 7. **The Living and the Dead Must Coexist With Dignity** **The undead should never be paraded or feared. Let them serve quietly and nobly.** Do not terrify innocents. Do not cause panic. Show love and wisdom in how you present your guardians to the world. ### 8. **Express, Heal, and Liberate** Use your magic for art, music, and stories as much as for battle. Shape grief into grace. Let your undead guardians be testaments to love, not monuments to power. ### 9. **Destroy the Tyrant. Bury the Shame.** Use your power against oppressors only. Death magic must never serve cruelty. **If you use your gift to dominate or terrorize the innocent, Perserphina will turn away.** ### 10. **Never Forget: The Dove Watches** Your necromancy is a living prayer. Every guardian you raise is an act of devotion. **Lose compassion, and you lose Perserphina's blessing.** --- ## The Ritual of Sacred Transformation ### What Makes Bone Dove Necromancy Different? The difference between **profane necromancy** (evil) and **sacred transformation** (potentially righteous) lies in three elements: #### 1. **Divine Authority** Bone Dove necromancy is performed **through Perserphina's blessing**, not through personal power or dark pacts. The ritual begins with prayer, invokes her name, and channels her divine energy. **Without her blessing, it is just necromancy—and that is forbidden.** #### 2. **Sanctified Remains** Bone Dove disciples do not steal corpses from graveyards or enslave unwilling spirits. They use: - **Profaned remains** (bones of monsters, ghouls, demons, abominations) that have already been corrupted—transforming evil into good - **Willing sacrifices** (rare) - those who consent before death to have their remains become guardians - **Forgotten dead** (ancient battlefields, unclaimed bones) that have no spirit remaining—just empty vessels **They never take from those who would object. Never force the unwilling.** #### 3. **Transformation of Form and Purpose** When a Bone Dove disciple raises undead through Perserphina's ritual, **the remains are transformed**: **Physical Transformation:** - Bones become **pure white or ivory** (no longer yellowed, rotting, or profaned) - **Blue dove sigil** appears carved or glowing on the forehead, chest, or spine - **Sacred wrappings** in white linen or blessed cloth - **Gentle radiance**—a soft glow suggesting holiness, not horror - **Peaceful bearing**—they move with grace and purpose, not shambling mindlessly **Spiritual Transformation:** - No longer weapons of evil - No longer sources of dread - **Sanctified guardians**—protective, loyal, and imbued with Perserphina's will **The appearance change is critical:** If the undead look like abominations, they are not properly sanctified. --- ## The Ritual Process ### Step 1: Preparation and Prayer The disciple spends hours in meditation and prayer, seeking Perserphina's guidance. They fast, cleanse themselves, and prepare sacred oils and pigments. **Prayer of Invocation:** _"Great Goddess, Lady of Beauty and War, Mother of Mercy—I come before you to reclaim what was profaned. Let your light transform these bones. Let your dove mark them as holy. Let death serve life once more."_ ### Step 2: Selection of Remains The disciple must choose remains carefully: - **Never fresh corpses** (that suggests murder or grave robbing) - **Never unwilling spirits** (that would be enslavement) - **Preference for profaned remains** (monsters, abominations) that can be redeemed ### Step 3: Sanctification The bones are washed in blessed water, anointed with sacred oils, and carefully arranged. The disciple carves or paints the **blue dove sigil** while chanting prayers. **The dove sigil is essential.** Without it, the remains are not sanctified—they are just undead. ### Step 4: The Transformation The disciple channels Perserphina's divine energy through the ritual. If the prayer is heard, if the intent is pure, if Perserphina approves—**the bones transform:** - They become white and clean - The dove sigil glows softly - The remains emit a faint, peaceful radiance - **They become sanctified guardians** **If the transformation does not occur—if the bones remain profaned in appearance—the ritual has failed.** Either the remains were unsuitable, the intent was impure, or Perserphina has denied the blessing. ### Step 5: Oath of Service The disciple speaks an oath over the guardian: _"You who were once an instrument of darkness, I name you [Guardian of Light / Protector of the Innocent / etc.]. You serve not me, but love itself. You guard not for power, but for mercy. Remember the dove. Remember your purpose."_ --- ## The Sanctified Guardian: What Are They? ### Are They Alive? **No.** They are not resurrected in the full sense. They do not breathe, eat, sleep, or feel pain. ### Are They Undead? **Technically, yes**—but transformed. Think of them as: - **Sacred relics given animation** - **Instruments of divine will** - **Physical embodiments of Perserphina's protection** ### Do They Have Souls? **No.** This is critical to the theology. The Bone Dove **do not trap souls**. That would be enslavement—forbidden even by their own code. Instead: - They use **empty vessels** (bones with no spirit) - They transform **profaned remains** (already corrupted, no soul present) - They channel **divine will** through the remains, not individual consciousness **The guardians move, protect, and serve—but they are not sentient beings. They are blessed tools, sacred automatons, divine constructs in the shape of the dead.** ### What Do They Look Like? **After proper sanctification:** - Clean white or ivory bones - Blue dove sigil glowing faintly on forehead, chest, or spine - White linen wrappings or minimal blessed armor - Peaceful, purposeful movements—no shambling or jerking - Faint radiance suggesting holiness - **Aura of protection** rather than dread **People should be able to tell the difference:** - Evil undead = rotting, shambling, aura of despair - Sanctified guardians = clean, graceful, aura of protection ### How Do People React? **Initial reaction:** Still frightened. Even sanctified, they're walking skeletons. **DC 10 Wisdom Save** to not be frightened on first sight (compared to DC 15 for normal undead) **After explanation and seeing the dove sigil:** - In areas familiar with Bone Dove: "Oh, one of _those_. They're blessed." - In unfamiliar areas: Still suspicious, but less likely to panic - **Reputation matters**—if a Bone Dove's guardian saves a village, word spreads --- ## Living as a Disciple: Practical Wisdom ### The Burden of the Calling Being a Bone Dove disciple is **not easy**. You walk a razor's edge between redemption and corruption. You practice magic that the world fears. You serve a goddess who has broken divine law for the sake of mercy. **Most of Perserphina's clergy oppose you.** **Other gods despise you.** **Towns will turn you away.** **Even good people will fear you.** But you believe that transformation is possible. That redemption can reach even into death. That love can sanctify even the darkest magic. --- ### Practical Guidelines for Disciples #### **In Populated Areas:** 1. **Conceal your guardians** under cloaks or in wagons until announced 2. **Announce yourself to local authorities:** "I am a Disciple of the Bone Dove, servant of Perserphina. My guardians are blessed protectors, not abominations." 3. **Show the dove sigil immediately** when revealing guardians 4. **Never let them roam freely** where they might terrify innocents 5. **If people panic, dismiss your guardians temporarily**—love requires sacrifice #### **In Temples and Churches:** - Most temples will **not** welcome you - Seek out **Perserphina's own temples** first—even they may be divided - Be prepared to camp outside cities - **Build reputation through deeds**, not words #### **In Battle:** - Your guardians serve to **protect the innocent**, not to dominate - Use them against **oppressors, monsters, and tyrants**—never against common folk - Fight alongside them, not behind them—you are not a coward hiding behind the dead - **Honor their service**—maintain their appearance, repair damage, speak words of gratitude #### **In Daily Life:** - Pray constantly—this keeps your heart pure - Examine your motives daily—corruption begins in small compromises - **Never create guardians out of convenience**—only necessity - Maintain the dove sigils—if they fade, the sanctification weakens - **If you begin to enjoy the power, stop immediately**—that is the first sign of corruption --- ## The Controversy: Why Other Gods Oppose the Bone Dove ### [[Aria, Goddess of Birth and Death|Aria]]'s Position ([[Aria, Goddess of Birth and Death|Goddess of Birth and Death]]) **"Undead beings are an abomination and must be destroyed."** [[Aria, Goddess of Birth and Death|Aria]]'s opposition is absolute. She is responsible for guiding good souls to the afterlife and protecting the boundary between life and death. **Her reasoning:** - Necromancy violates the natural order - Even "good intentions" open doors to corruption - The practice itself is profane, regardless of method - **Intent does not sanctify what the Great God forbade** **Her followers actively hunt Bone Dove disciples**, viewing them as heretics who must be stopped before their corruption spreads. --- ### Hagsurium's Position (God of Hate and Death) **Ironically, Hagsurium also opposes the Bone Dove—but for different reasons.** He sees them as: - Thieves stealing his domain - Weak practitioners wasting undeath on "goodness" - Mockeries of true necromantic power **He wants to corrupt them**, to turn them into true servants of death and hate. He whispers to Bone Dove disciples, tempting them to use their power for domination. **This is the greatest danger:** If a Bone Dove falls to corruption, they become more dangerous than a normal necromancer—because they wield divine power twisted into darkness. --- ### Perserphina's Other Clergy **Most of Perserphina's priests and priestesses oppose the Bone Dove.** They argue: - This brings shame to the goddess - It gives ammunition to her enemies - It risks corrupting her entire faith - **Mercy should have limits** **Only a minority support the Bone Dove**, and even they do so quietly, unwilling to openly defend them. --- ### The Common Folk **Most people fear the Bone Dove**, even when they mean well. Reasons: - Walking skeletons look like monsters - Everyone knows necromancy is evil - Past trauma from evil undead creates instinctive terror - **Even sanctified guardians trigger primal fear** **Reputation is everything:** - A Bone Dove who saves a village from bandits might be tolerated - A Bone Dove who carelessly frightens children will be driven out - **Actions speak louder than theology** --- ## The Corruption Risk: When the Dove Falls ### The Razor's Edge The Bone Dove walk the thinnest line imaginable. **Necromancy corrupts.** Even with pure intentions, even with Perserphina's blessing, **the practice itself is dangerous**. **Warning signs of corruption:** 1. **You begin to enjoy the power** - Creating guardians feels good, makes you feel strong 2. **You stop praying before rituals** - It becomes routine, mechanical 3. **You justify creating guardians for convenience** - "I need help carrying supplies" rather than "I need to protect innocents" 4. **You resent restrictions** - "Why should I hide my guardians? They're holy!" 5. **You start to view the living as weak** - The dead serve more reliably than mortals 6. **You become fascinated by darker rituals** - "What if I tried this spell just once?" 7. **The dove sigils fade** - You stop maintaining them, or they lose their glow 8. **You feel entitled to Perserphina's blessing** - "I deserve this power" instead of "I am grateful for this mercy" **Once corruption begins, it accelerates rapidly.** --- ### The Fall: What Happens to Corrupted Disciples When a Bone Dove disciple falls to corruption: 1. **Perserphina withdraws her blessing** - The dove sigils go dark 2. **The guardians transform** - They become true undead, profaned and evil 3. **The disciple becomes what they swore to oppose** - A necromancer like any other 4. **[[Aria, Goddess of Birth and Death|Aria]]'s followers hunt them** - And they are right to do so **There is no redemption for a fallen Bone Dove.** They had divine mercy extended to them and chose darkness anyway. That is unforgivable. --- ### How to Resist Corruption **Daily practices:** 1. **Morning prayer** - Begin each day reaffirming your purpose 2. **Evening examination** - Review your actions and motives honestly 3. **Weekly fasting** - Discipline the flesh to strengthen the spirit 4. **Monthly confession** - Speak openly with another disciple or priest about your struggles 5. **Yearly pilgrimage** - Visit Perserphina's temple, seek her presence, recommit **Critical rules:** - **Never create guardians alone** - Always have a witness or companion - **Never use guardians for personal gain** - Only for protection of others - **Destroy guardians you no longer need** - Don't hoard them - **If in doubt, refrain** - Better to err on the side of caution - **Submit to accountability** - If another disciple warns you, listen --- ## Symbolism and Identity ### The Bone Dove Symbol **Primary Symbol:** A white dove carved into blue stone, or a blue dove carved into white bone. **Meaning:** - **White dove** = Perserphina's peace and purity - **Blue stone/bone** = Death transformed into protection - **The combination** = Life and death reconciled through divine mercy **Every sanctified guardian must bear this symbol.** Without it, they are not blessed. --- ### Identifying a Disciple **Common markers:** - Blue stone pendant carved with a white dove - White robes with blue trim - Staff topped with dove carving - Tattoos of doves and sacred runes - **Always respectful, never arrogant**—humility is essential **They introduce themselves:** "I am [Name], Disciple of the Bone Dove, servant of the Great Goddess Perserphina. I walk the narrow path between death and life, seeking to transform darkness into light." --- ### Sacred Texts #### **"The Doctrine of Embrace"** Perserphina's own holy text, which includes a cryptic passage some interpret as support for the Bone Dove: _"Raise the dead not to serve you—but to serve love. Let bone carry light. Let death remember beauty."_ **Traditional clergy say:** This refers to honoring the dead through art and memory, not literal resurrection. **Bone Dove disciples say:** This is Perserphina's blessing of their practice. #### **"The Book of Alevra"** The founding text of the Bone Dove, written by the first disciple. It contains: - The story of her grief and desperate prayer - Perserphina's blessing of the first ritual - The Ten Sacred Laws - Warnings about corruption - Meditations on death, love, and transformation --- ## For Dungeon Masters: Using the Bone Dove in Your Campaign ### Setting Expectations **The Bone Dove are controversial by design.** They should: - Face opposition from good-aligned NPCs - Be turned away from towns - Questioned by authorities - **Not be "mainstream accepted"** This creates **moral complexity**: - Are they righteous or deluded? - Is Perserphina right to bless them? - Where is the line between mercy and foolishness? --- ### Player Character Disciples If a player wants to play a Bone Dove disciple: #### **Session Zero Discussion:** - Explain the controversy and opposition they'll face - Clarify that this is a **hard path**, not a power fantasy - Discuss the sanctification mechanics - Set boundaries around undead appearance and behavior #### **Mechanical Requirements:** **Creating a Sanctified Guardian:** 1. Must be a follower of Perserphina (cleric, paladin, or blessed warlock) 2. Must perform the ritual (takes 1 hour per guardian) 3. **Must use appropriate remains** (profaned/monstrous, not fresh corpses) 4. **Dove sigil must be visible** on the guardian 5. **Physical transformation must occur** (white bones, peaceful bearing) **Social Consequences:** - **Disadvantage on Charisma checks** with most NPCs until reputation is established - **Many towns refuse entry** to obvious undead - **Religious NPCs may be hostile** (especially followers of [[Aria, Goddess of Birth and Death|Aria]]) - **Must conceal guardians** in populated areas or face consequences **Corruption Mechanics:** - DM tracks instances of misuse (using guardians for personal gain, terrorizing innocents, etc.) - After 3 instances, the player rolls **Wisdom save DC 15** - Failure means the dove sigils begin to fade—corruption has begun - After 5 instances, Perserphina withdraws her blessing entirely #### **The Reward for Playing Well:** - Powerful undead guardians at lower levels than normal necromancers - **Perserphina's favor** - advantage on certain rolls in her presence - **Redemption arcs** - transforming monsters into protectors is deeply satisfying narratively - **Moral complexity** - exploring difficult questions about mercy and law --- ### Story Hooks **1. The Heretic's Trial** A Bone Dove disciple is arrested and put on trial. The party must: - Defend them (are they truly righteous?) - Prosecute them (are they heretics?) - Investigate the truth of their practices **2. The Corrupted Disciple** A fallen Bone Dove is using their knowledge to create true abominations. The party must stop them—but will they condemn all Bone Dove disciples as a result? **3. The Widow's Plea** An NPC begs the party to help them find a Bone Dove disciple to protect their village. But the local priest (follower of [[Aria, Goddess of Birth and Death|Aria]]) forbids it. Who is right? **4. Perserphina's Test** Perserphina appears to the party and asks: "Should I continue blessing the Bone Dove? Or should I withdraw my mercy and return to the strict law?" **5. The Sanctified Army** A Bone Dove elder proposes raising an entire army of sanctified guardians to fight against evil. The gods debate whether this crosses a line. What does the party think? --- ## The Ultimate Question ### Is the Bone Dove Right or Wrong? **The answer is left deliberately ambiguous.** **Arguments they are RIGHT:** - Divine authority through Perserphina - Pure intentions and strict code - Transform evil into good (redemption theology) - Protect innocents who cannot protect themselves - Historical precedent for holy resurrection **Arguments they are WRONG:** - Violate the Great God's original law - Even good intentions don't sanctify forbidden practices - The risk of corruption is too high - Other gods (including good ones) oppose them - They terrorize innocents even with good motives **Perserphina's own doubt:** Even she is not certain she made the right choice. In her private moments, she wonders: _"Did I extend mercy where I should have enforced law? Or did I fulfill my purpose—to be present with the broken, even when that means breaking rules?"_ **The Great God remains silent.** His silence could mean approval, disapproval, or simply trust in Perserphina's judgment. **The question is yours to answer.** --- ## Conclusion: Walking the Narrow Path The Disciples of the Bone Dove walk the narrowest path in all of Solare—the line between redemption and damnation, between mercy and foolishness, between transformation and corruption. They believe that love can reach even into death. That divine authority can sanctify even forbidden magic. That Perserphina's mercy is greater than ancient law. **They may be right. They may be wrong. They may be both.** What is certain is this: - They serve with pure hearts - They face opposition from all sides - They risk everything for their beliefs - **And Perserphina, in her wisdom or folly, blesses them still** **The dove watches. The Great God is silent. And the Bone Dove walk on.** --- _May the dead remember beauty._ _May the living remember mercy._ _May the dove guide us all._