The Embrace of Death, Death’s Mother,  Qarantha, while not held in good will by all Cyriedonians, commands a steady yet forlorn stream of prayers borne from blind fear or relentless devotion. Her name echoes as a whispered plea, an entreaty to stave off calamities reminiscent of past cataclysms; or as begrudging tavern tales and hushed discussions among military ranks.

Though few, Qarantha’s temples are built to foster and uphold connections, as well as serving as intricate conduits for diplomacy between the nations of Cyriedon and the Quietus Legacy, the sole faction who stands resolute in its dedication to Death’s Mother. These sacred structures share a uniform design regardless of their size— a hypaethral construction of steel pillars meticulously arranged to evoke the form of an eye and a central steel altar draped in regal purple cloths, mirroring the appearance of an eye gazing intently into the heavens above.

Clerics who dedicate themselves to Qarantha navigate their lives shrouded in perpetual uncertainty and fluidity, a journey through a world torn between embracing them as brothers, or shunning them for their beliefs. Wherever these few devote may go, receptions vary greatly, shifting from undesired outcasts in certain towns to welcomed martyrs; most often than not, they are recipients of indifferent tolerance and asked to largely reduce the stay.

Her depiction commands remembrance of her influence over the events of Death’s birth: an armor-clad tiefling form boasting obsidian demon wings, yet posed to offer shadow and solace; bold and pronounced horns add a touch of regality to her visage; seven hovering blades, a reminder of the warrior she once was and the emblem of her mastery over fate’s intricacies; and a bundle baby cradled in her arms, a memento of the Irëdeule’s worst recorded disaster.

Odenha, Qarantha’s Aspect lives a quiet life with her wife, Rillia.