Duirgurth (The Gatekeepers) (updated 2008/02/23)

The Gate Keepers, the Deaths, the Judges

The Alu, Avathars, and Baal believe that each person lead a series of lives, each of which consists of challenges put before them by the fates. At the end of each life man is judged by the Duirgurth on his ability to rise above the hardships he faced. If he is deemed worthy he is rewarded and his next life begins anew. If he is judged unworthy he must undergo purgatory in Ir-Kalla, a subterranean realm ruled by Hypsiglena, the dark earth mother who with her furies torments the weak and the foolish. After a purging of foolishness and ineptitude the man's life begins anew, but often without any remembrance of past lives and even greater challenges to overcome.

Death is significant and given great respect because it is the transition from one life to the next. However, death is often feared, for it is the time of judgment by the Duirgurth--the gatekeepers of death. Men who have steadily overcome their life's challenges have little to fear in death, although not all relish times of great change.

The Duirgurth are the many gods of death, each presiding over one of the many paths to death, violent or natural. Each possible fate is a locked gateway leading to a new life; each Duirgurth holds the keys to a single door, and is the judge and arbiter over who may pass through it. If one meets his end in battle then it is Kurg who judges him and allows him to pass. However, a cowardly man who died in battle would be left standing at the gates, until the furies come to carry him away to Hel. The Duirgurth are believed to be fair-minded, and may offer a reprieve or final challenge to one who met his end without sufficient opportunity to prove himself.

Given that the Duirgurth can quite literally consign one to Hel, they are beings deserving of the utmost reverence and respect. Only a true fool would deliberately spurn or anger one of the Duirgurth. Rather, the Duirgurth are deities to be appeased, particularly by the man who leads a dangerous life. Avathar soldiers pay copious tithes and sacrifices to Kurg, knowing that they will one day stand before Kurg's death gate in judgment. Avathar noblemen often pay princely sums to have a Necroalchemist divine the nature of their death. Many Avathar carry with them a gift (or gifts) to present to the Duirgurth upon their demise.

The Alu believe that each life is a prelude to the next, and that the hardships faced in one life exist to prepare them for even greater challenges in the next life. A man whose life is deeply troubled is given great respect--not pity--for he must have overcome many challenges in the past, and is being prepared for an even greater challenge. It is an Alu's purpose to rise above whatever the fates put in front of him. Life is the crucible of the soul. (Suffering builds character.) Some Alu believe that one chooses the manner of his own death by following a particular god.

Some Avathars follow Duirgurth Cults that seek to appease the Duirgurth by trading souls for their own. This practice is thought of as extreme even in Avathar culture, yet many outsiders to the Duirgurth faith believe this to be representative of all Avathars, and has tainted the view of an entire faith.

The Baal originally believe in eight Duirgurth, but now all worship and sacrifice to the Duirgurth gods is taboo. This stems from a religious schism where the Baal'Mot--priests of the Duirgurth--were purged from Baal lands. Now the Baal only worship the five Urumaiar gods rather than the original thirteen that Avathars continue to worship.

Outside of Alu, Baal, Avathar cultures, these grim gods are generally attributed for any disasters that arise, even to the greatest in history, such as the summoning of the Kaeden, fall of the Dragons into Wyrms, and the creation of the Dearg-dul undead during the "Battle of the Thousandfold Curses". Most Avathars are believed to practice the darker side of Duirgurth, transforming themselves into demi-vampires and Necromancers. The opposition is particularly strong in Alornean and Baal cultures where Duirgurth worshipers are generally considered unfit to live.

Worshipers: The Duirgurth are typically appeased rather than worshiped, for few could devote themselves to such grim powers. Anyone actually worshiping the Duirgurth would most likely be doing so in exchange for power.

Gods Appeased: Hyakki, Hypsiglena, Kurg, Reshuk, Tark, Tyaa, Vitra, and the five Uruimaiar

Gods Opposed: Most others, especially the gods of the Eldar and Baal.

Duirgurth Cults

Some black-hearted Avathars have sought to appease the Duirgurth by trading souls for their own. This practice is thought of as extreme even in Avathar culture, yet many outsiders to the Duirgurth faith believe this to be representative of all Avathars.

Kurgans

The Kurgans are fierce Avathars warriors who have taken pacts to offer up blood through Kurg's Gate--battle and murder. Avathar Necroalchemists often bargain with Reshuk, offering up souls through Reshuk's Gate--death by old age, disease or magic--in exchange for their own safe passage.

Necromancer Priests

Many so-called "Necromancer Priests" of Reshuk are actually Necroalchemists and Black Wizards who are buying insurance for the most likely means of their own death--not insane worshipers of death cults as many Alorns naively believe. Their arrangements with Reshuk are entirely rational rather than rising from an ideological basis...which is arguably even more disturbing.