New Player Information

Famula is an Immortal who is largely synonymous with death. When someone dies, the Immortal Vri meets them and takes them to Judgement and then, wherever it is that souls go. But some choose not to go with Vri and they become, for want of a better word, ghosts. Famula offers these ghosts a chance to pass on to the Great Beyond. She is avidly against Necromancy Domain Magic and she is neutral in the war.

As the Immortal of Servitude, Famula is often seen as a very serious, stoic Immortal. She is not going to give a mark lightly. But her mark is likely to be of interest to a player whose pc serves (either as a slave or voluntarily) and who is willing to be a "Ghost Whisperer" - it also works well for investigators, especially those who might solve murders and so on.

History

Famula is the last of Cierel’s children. She is grim, and stoic, often said to lack humor by many, but is regarded for her wisdom. She has remained neutral in the war, because she so often tends to the dead, that in her eyes, taking a side in conflict is pointless. However, she does not decry or criticize the soldiers who fight as she believes that service is the only way for someone to find true peace in death, be that to country, lord, master or in fact who or what ever is appropriate to the individual. Servitude is how one earns honor, to Famula, and how one then earns their way to being served in some way.

As she walks over graveyards, or any earth with bodily remains, she instantaneously experiences the last living moments of the dead within herself and she is immediately aware of whether they have moved on to there Vri takes them or if they have, in fact, lingered. If the experience tells her the person who died was not at peace with their death, or with what they had accomplished in life, then Famula may choose to cause their souls to rise as a Wisp. [For more details on Wisps and their contract with Famula, see the Wisp race page]. Ultimately, she weighs every soul individually, and tends to each of them impartially.

Famula, after the Great Shattering occurred, experienced grief in a more calculated way than most. She has a hard time getting on with all of her siblings except Moseke due to her blunt and colder personality, She and Moseke both grieved in a private way and, while she likes Desnind well enough, Famula had no interest in remaining there, and thus she decided to travel the world aimlessly on her own for a while.She visits Desnind more than most places, both to see her sister and because of the faction there which worships her. Some believe there is another reason but it is unknown.

As she traveled, she stopped to ferry souls of the dying and dead to the Afterlife, often with little knowledge of the friends and family of the dying one. Most were at peace with themselves, some not, but she handled each death with little room for heart. If the soul was eager to stay on and she felt it worthy of such an honour, she resurrected it as one of her servants, so that she was always well guarded and had companions to keep conversation with on lonely nights. When whatever regrets or conflicts they had about dying are resolved, and their Purpose is completed, they naturally pass on to the Afterlife, and she finds another servant to replace them.

As the war began, this duty became overbearing. At first she could hardly adapt to all the souls that needed tending to. She could hear their voices calling out to her. A human soldier, Kiriam, was found dying on the battlefield with blood spilling from his wounds.

"Why will you not let your soul pass on in peace?" she asked as he still tried to reach for his sword, men climbing over him already as though he were a corpse.

"They- they need me," he choked out.

"Your body is ready to die. Surely you know this." Her servants cupped his feet, and he kicked at them wildly.

"Never!" He cried through coughs of blood. "As long as I serve my country, and as long as we must defend our land from the likes of you, I will never give...never, stop..can’t…." Even as he was weakening, the knife was pointed at her. She sighed, and waited for his last breath.

Kiriam became one of her servants. He eventually became one she grew very fond of. While she always remained impartial in the war, Kiriam helped teach her empathy when taking the souls and raising them up again. He helped her give meaning to the servitude, and look upon her servants with more consideration and respect. Five years after his service began, he approached her in his Wisp form, while summoned from her lantern.

"It’s time for me to go." His eyes were fighting back emotions.

"Why is that?" For once, Famula’s crimson eyes were soft.

He dared not look upon her face or touch her. His body began fading. "I have nothing left to regret about my service to my people, because I have served you."

Famula said nothing. She took his ethereal hand in hers, and felt him as he faded away, no more words or glances between them. In her private cemetery, unknown to even all but the closest and most respected of her followers, legend says she erected a tombstone in his honor. It was Kiriam’s humble spirit that inspired her to seek so many souls to shepherd into Resurrection - so they, too, may find peace in their death.

Appearance

At 5'6", Famula stands at a less intimidating height for a woman. What intimidates all who see her are the crimson souls who carry her four feet above the ground with the weight of their ethereal mass. Her eyes glow a deep crimson, her hip-length hair shines a dark silver-blue. The souls she has possessed to serve her have lost their original form, and take whatever shape she needs them to for her service. She can also dismiss them into a lantern she carries with her at all times. The lower half of her cloak is draped in chains. She walks barefoot most places, with tinted gray skin, in a plain crisp black dress. Everywhere she walks or travels, a layer of fog follows her.

Memories of the Past

Famula's relationship with Cierel was much like her relationship with most of the other Immortals in that it was virtually non-existent. That being said, Famula has always been glad of this as it meant she didn't turn out sadistically evil like Audrae or Sintra, or deeply disturbed like Lisirra. However, at times Famula wonders if her isolation was intended by her creator, as Cierel never sought any relationship with her youngest creation. The implications of such behavior worry Famula, leading her to wonder about her creators motives.

Famula wanders Idalos looking to help the souls of the departed pass on in peace. Due to the frequency of war in Idalos, this makes her whereabouts difficult to determine. At the current time, she is as likely to be seen in one place as another, although she does tend to frequent Desnind slightly more regularly than elsewhere.

Relationships with other Immortals

Famula maintains an isolated and stoic persona with most of the other Immortals and does not choose to get involved in their politics. There are, however, a few notable exceptions. Her sister Moseke is someone Famula has always had a good relationship with, sharing many traits with her. She has a good working relationship with Vri and appreciates him and the work he does; the two of them share knowledge of the destination of souls once judged. That relationship is a strong one and is strengthened by Famula's fondness for Jesine, Vri's mortalborn daughter whom she has always shared a close bond with.

Conversely, Famula has an aversion to Aelig and his chaotic ways. She has no time for his nonsense and she holds a similar impatience for Kata who she sees as a spoiled and needy child who is far too much like her creator. Finally, Famula bears no love for Faldrun and believes his nature to be too volatile -the three of them are beings of chaos as she sees it and she wishes nothing to do with them.

Famula's relationship with Ashan is an interesting one. Both Immortals are interested in the soul, both consider themselves protectors of the spiritual world. However, with Ashan representing freedom and Famula servitude, there are some mixed feelings between the two.

Opinions on Magic

The Spark is a parasite and Famula sees it clearly on the souls of those who practice the arcane. Her disdain is primarily upon the magics of Necromancy, for the way they both cultivate abilities to entrap, subjugate, and enslave souls against their will. However, all other Domain magic shares a condemnation from the Immortal. Few forces in Idalos can rend a soul beyond repair but Flaying can and is within the capabilities of every mage. As the caretaker of the dead, the destruction of a mortal's essence is an egregious blasphemy. In life, mages are pushed by their Spark toward the role of the destroyer, the unmaker, and Famula will not allow herself to side with them.

She holds no ill will to the souls of such mages and tends to each who remain on Idalos with uncommon tenderness. She has been known to pluck the dormant Sparks from a former mage's soul, taking the time to allow them their opportunity at resolution before leading them on. It is sometimes said among her followers that there are additional reasons for her distaste for Domain magic, reasons that may be revealed to her most trusted confidants.

Famula does not mark mages, although those who particularly court her ire may find themselves cursed. While she does not forbid her servant's interaction with the arcane (outside Necromancers), she charges them with keeping wary of their actions, their agendas, their hunger. Little can be done for the mage in life, but a Zuuda is always capable of assisting them in death.

Opinions on Mortals

In more recent arcs, Famula has been noted to be more positive about mortals and their emotional souls. She maintains her neutrality, however, and is very sure that judgement is not hers to give. For those souls she chooses to become Wisps, she always has a special and specific relationship with them.

Racial Specifics

Famula has no noticeable preference for any races other, of course, than ghosts. Those souls who have not passed on for whatever reason are of interest to her and she works to help them pass over, and her followers are tasked with the same.

Worship

Famula demands service. Empty words and meaningless prayers hold no interest for her, she is concerned with actions. Appropriate worship, as far as Famula is concerned, is determined by the individual and their social status. She expects her followers to serve in whatever way is most appropriate. Historically, some have chosen to draw Famula's notice through sacrifice. Bloodletting is a small but observable ritual among some worshipers of Famula who believe that by offering her their blood, they give permission for her to take it and know them, judge their intentions.

Some will bloodlet over the grave of soldiers who died in battle, asking Famula help them move on should their troubled souls still linger.

Notable Threads:

Here will go notable appearances.

Useful Links

Q & A Thread: If you have any questions or spot any issues, please check out the Q & A Thread!