Alternatieve Namen
Beschrijving
Among the golden sands of the Southern deserts, Anu-Akma guards the tombs of royalty and stands against the scourges of age, madness, and the evil undead. Deep underground, his worship as Akma-Apophis takes a darker turn, combined with the rites of a devil he conquered long ago. There he is venerated as the greatest patron of the Ghoul Empire and Lord of the Underworld. And in that form, he came also to the Twilight Empire of the ghouls and thus into the Shadow Realm.
Anu-Akma promotes purity and preserves order, watching over the timely and dignified death of all. His priests anoint those of royal blood to rise again as mummies or liches, and gnoll mortuary guards and guides protect the vast ossuaries and cemeteries from desecration.
His ghoulish followers, meanwhile, await each human or goblin burial as a new source of flesh for feasting while Anu-Akma preserves the souls of those unfortunate corpses.
When portrayed by humans and desert folk, Anu-Akma is a tall and muscular jackal-headed man whose flesh seems made of the starry night sky. His eyes are golden, and he wears the garb of Southland royalty. Beneath the earth and in the Shadow Realm, his images portray a faceless darkness beneath heavy robes and mummy wrappings. He holds his arms wide, welcoming all into his cold domain.
Worshippers
Anu-Akma is worshipped by umbral humans of Southern heritage—especially the elderly and ill, hoping for an easy journey to the afterlife. The ghouls and darakhul also follow Anu-Akma faithfully.
Symbols and Books
Anu-Akma's symbols are a golden ankh and a golden scythe. In some cases, the scythe blade is curved inward, and the handles are placed so that the scythe resembles an ankh. Other symbols include the vulture, three human skulls, or a human skull with golden ankhs painted around its eye sockets.
His most famous holy text is The Preservation of Bodies and Migration of Souls. The funerary wrappings of AnuAkma's high priests include the complete text.
Shrines and Priests
Anu-Akma's temples are warm, small, and comfortable for the elderly and infirm. Divinations tell his followers when death approaches, and they are encouraged to move into a temple, eating and growing strong for their journey into the Underworld. These temples are guarded against the unclean ghouls that whisper lies and horrors to the faithful. The current high priest in the Shadow Realm is Protector of Souls Sen-Nefer of the Twilight Empire in Blackstone.
Masks
The greatest mask of Anu-Akma is Anubis. The two are so conjoined that no one is certain which face is the true one. Charun is rumored to be a mask of Anu-Akma, and both churches distrust each other. Darker still, the hunger god Vardesain might be a mask of Anu-Akma. Among the ghouls, he is sometimes called the Earth Father and confused with Charun or Khespotan.
Other Faiths
Anu-Akma pretends to be a servant, but those who know him see a king. When his priests meet those of other faiths, they know the truth of things and conduct themselves accordingly. In the end, even the priests of other gods rest in the tombs and cemeteries that Anu-Akma watches.
What Anu-Akma Demands
Respect the ghosts and spirits of the ancestors and their resting places. Rob no tomb. You are the purifier of life and a custodian of death, so prepare those around you for their journey and destination. Remind even the youngest that time is short. Be strict and efficient in your work: laziness serves no one, least of all yourself. Destroy anyone who blasphemes against the paradise of the Underworld.