Lok

God of Gravestones

Lok is the stoic god associated with death, gravestones, myths of bygone eras, and retribution. His form is that of a humanoid made of stone and roots that tangle together to make an intricate and articulating being covered in runes that shimmer as if they were inlaid with molten, white gold. Lok is only associated with one pantheon, the Pantheon of Death, where he resides over funeral rites and memorials to both good and evil deeds that persist beyond the life of a creature. Among those who seek his expertise, he is known as the god of gravestones, the primary patron of those who stand watch over final resting places. Within his pantheon, Lok is the most hostile deity towards the Undead, with immense hatred leveled at those who would disturb the souls or the bodies of the departed to defile or leverage their stories from life. Lok's form is generally depicted as consistent, a giant of a creature that towers over mortals and appears to be hewn from stone and gnarled, black roots that bind the stone together and animate the body as a whole. This god is often depicted in the scenery of other works, hidden in the background among shadows. When he is the subject of a depiction, it is often a silhouette or an obscured depiction where the entirety of the being is broken up by plumes of smoke, or ruins, or, in the most popular depictions, gravestones. This god is often depicted surveying battlefields, following after calamities take place, or quietly looming among the graves. His only adornment aside from the runes across his body is a huge shovel that appears to be hewn from an ancient, unknown type of stone.
His tenants involve stoicism, respect for the dead, adherence to ceremony, and while he is not a true historian, he delights in the songs and stories spun by Bards about heroes or villains that have long passed. The personality of Lok is patient, quiet, and contemplative, as he spends great lengths of time in absolute silence or walking among the marble shelves of his domain to remember those who have long since passed. His personality is best understood through walking in the shoes of those who revere him the most: gravekeepers, mourners, and those who sing songs of tragedy and heroism. He is patron to those who preside over sacred places that honor the dead, providing powerful defenses against those who would seek to defile the bodies of the deceased with dark necromancy used to foul ends. The demographic that worships him is diverse, though few seek him out unless their livelihood or circumstances require his exact expertise.

Divine Domains

Lok is involved in one domain; his identity in the Domain of Death is steeped in tradition, suggesting a past that predates the creation of the mortal realm in Isekai. Those who worship Lok will acknowledge him as a god of the grave, of burials, of celebration of good, and damnation of evil through eternal imprisonment. Lok is routinely approached for blessing either directly or through rituals conducted during burials to safeguard against the use of necromancy or to turn it against those who would employ it. In this respect, he is the god of choice for gravekeepers and Clerics of harsh environments that face death or adversity on a daily basis.

Death

Lok is considered to be a primary god within the Pantheon of Death because of his involvement in the process of burial, remembrance, and myth. When it comes to aspects of death, his influence extends into burial rites, protections against the Undead, songs and stories of the departed, shrines that honor heroes, and graves of sealing for evil beings. When it comes to death, he is the god of those who mourn and those who remember sacrifice. Through the ceremonies of death, the lives of mortals are remembered, and they are sent to the afterlife with a herald that proclaims their deeds. Lok's focus is based on how mortals navigate the reality of death and how the world must progress despite the loss, recognition of death as a sorrowful parting for those who are beloved, or as the eternal prison of wickedness, summarizes his presence in the pantheon.

Holy Books & Codes

The religious text of Lok is called the Last Rite, a text of ceremonies in the form of poetry and ballads that is traditionally rendered in the Chóma script. It contains details that have been used for thousands of years to honor the departed based upon their station, their exploits, their species, and even their tendency of faith if they served the gods. Each of these ballads relates the rituals and observances along with ballads that contain stories of the earliest heroes of each species, to include accounts that would have otherwise been lost of figures like Damascus, First King of Humans. These ballads indirectly reference acts of charity, kindness, morality, evil, and justice, with commentary omitted save for the rites or sealings placed upon the gravesites that serve to solidify Lok's views on morality. Of particular interest is the detail and attention given to medical practice, preservation, handling of bodies, and respectful repair of the deceased that became foundational knowledge in medical practice.
This is one of the few holy texts that provides detailed instructions on the nature of blessings and curses, making it a primary text for those beginning their journey as a Cleric, warden, or guardian of sites that remember the past. The practices involved in Lok's rituals have inspired modern methodology for memory recovery and restorative techniques for mental trauma that do not involve physical healing. Few of the ballads and poems from the Last Rite are considered bright or merry, reserving their performances for solemn events of great tragedy or victory.

Holidays

The holiday dedicated to Lok is the 6th of Fall's Morning, known simply as Remembrance; this is a day quietly set aside for the observance of those who have passed, with emphasis on remembrance and carrying forward the will of great people, whether they be heroes or close family members. Those who participate in this holiday observe it early in the morning or late at night, setting their affairs in order and then making a journey, whether short or long, to a place of importance to them. Many use this time to visit battlefields, shrines of heroes, temples, or sacred places that guard against calamities, or grave sites where loved ones have been laid to rest. Tradition dictates that a candle is placed at the gravesite of someone that you wish to remember. While the candle burns, it is customary to review the deeds of this person in life, whether it be silently in solitude or as a testimony given to those who do not yet know the story.
In this manner rememberance is encouraged, lighting the candle from one person to another and from one generation to the next. It is said that Lok uses the candlelight cast by those who remember the departed to write the stories that are stored in the Temple of the Departed. These stories live on as they are remembered, told, spread, and carried into a new generation. While a person may visit a few memorials through this day, they will only light the candle at one so that they recount or pass on a memory of true significance to them to confirm that Lok has recorded the life of their departed.
While somber, this holiday is observed widely and by many species in every country in the world. Some say that the gods themselves have a similar practice and that they are the source of the tradition.

Divine Classification

Deity

Realm

Temple of the Departed

Church/Cult

Grave Whisperers

Ruled Locations

• Temple Graveyard
• Temple of the Departed
• The Necropolis

Tenets of Faith

Lok's favor is earned through observance of the past, respect of the departed, and strength of spirit. In remembering the past, the way forward is paved, and the efforts of those since passed remain as the safeguards for the future. Above all, he rewards those who use the strength of history to create an earnest future.
There is a season for all things that must come to pass; the season for observance is upon those who would bear the weight of tomorrow's world.
It is only through the efforts of good, whether great or small, that evil is cast down. No contribution to the world should go without notice.
Stoicism, patience, longsuffering, and wisdom are treasures that cannot be attained through magic or idle ramblings. Seek what is obtainable through experience.
To forget is the greatest finality of a mortal life.

Divine Symbols & Sigils

The primary symbol of Lok is the ancient shovel, a runic item that is often depicted as being hewn from an amalgamation of stone and decorated with runes of sealing. This symbol is usually created through the technique of mashing crushed stone of various kinds together into a form and then tracing over the resulting item in black ink because the stone that Lok uses is unrecognizable to experts in the mortal realm. The shovel is worn, cracked, and may be covered in vines or moss, depicting the patience and timelessness of the mysterious being that weilds it. Legends say that Lok's shovel can unearth the past of grand heroes, bringing to light deeds that should not be forgotten, while at the same time it can tamp down the burial site of wickedness to condemn them to a lightless, soundless, and timeless prison.
The name of the shovel in oral tradition is Sheol.