Arkay: The Keeper of Cycles

Alignment: Neutral Good
Domains: Life, Grave
Symbol: A circle bisected by a vertical line, representing the cycle of birth and death.
Portfolio: Life, death, funerary rites, the sanctity of the soul, natural order.
Favored Weapon: Scythe or ceremonial staff.
Holy Colors: White and black, symbolizing purity and mortality.

Core Tenets of Arkay

1. Respect the Cycle: Life and death are sacred and inseparable. To disrupt this balance—through undeath or unnatural resurrection—is a grave sin.

2. Honor the Departed: The dead must be laid to rest with dignity. Desecration of graves or corpses is an affront to Arkay.

3. Guard the Soul: Souls must pass on to their rightful afterlife. Necromancy and soul entrapment are considered blasphemous.

4. Celebrate Life: While death is inevitable, life should be cherished and protected.

Arkay’s Role in the World

Arkay is revered as the Guardian of the Passage, ensuring that mortal souls transition from life to death without interference. His clergy often serve as:

• Funeral priests, conducting burial rites.

• Wardens against necromancy, hunting undead and those who defile the cycle.

• Healers, preserving life until its natural end.

Arkay’s influence is strongest in regions where death is feared or misunderstood. His temples often double as hospices and graveyards, places of solace for the dying and mourning.

Arkay’s Clergy

• Titles: Mortarchs, Keepers of the Cycle, Gravewardens.

• Appearance: Robes of white and black, adorned with silver charms shaped like circles.

• Rituals:

  • The Last Benediction: A prayer whispered over the dying to ease their passage.

  • The Rite of Sealing: Performed to sanctify graves and prevent undead rising.

  • The Vigil of Passing: A night-long ceremony marking the soul’s journey beyond.

Arkay’s Enemies

• Necromancers and Liches: Those who seek to bind souls or create undead.

• Cult of Worms (or similar): A secretive group devoted to undeath and corruption of the cycle.

• Fiends of the Lower Planes: Demons who steal souls for infernal bargains.

Arkay in D&D Mechanics

• Suggested Domains:

  • Life Domain: For healers and hospice priests.

  • Grave Domain: For those who guard the dead and fight necromancy.

• Sacred Oaths for Paladins:

  • Oath of the Eternal Cycle: Focused on protecting life and ensuring death’s sanctity.

• Forbidden Magic:

  • Animate Dead, Create Undead, Soul Cage—considered heretical.

Adventure Hooks

1. The Broken Cycle: A lich has shattered the natural order, and Arkay’s clergy seeks heroes to restore balance.

2. The Stolen Souls: A demon cult is harvesting souls, preventing them from reaching the afterlife.

3. The Silent Graveyard: Corpses vanish from a consecrated cemetery—signs point to a necromantic conspiracy.

Gravewarden of Arkay

Medium humanoid (any race), Neutral Good

Armor Class 16 (chain shirt, shield)

Hit Points 84 (13d8 + 26)

Speed 30 ft.

Saving Throws Wis +7, Cha +5

Skills Religion +4, Medicine +7

Damage Resistances Necrotic

Senses Passive Perception 14

Languages Common, Celestial

Challenge 6 (2,300 XP)

Proficiency Bonus +3

Special Traits

Divine Cycle (Aura): Undead within 30 ft. of the Gravewarden have disadvantage on attack rolls and saving throws against Turn Undead.

Keeper of Souls: The Gravewarden automatically senses the presence of undead within 120 ft. and knows their approximate number and direction.

Spellcasting

The Gravewarden is a 9th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks). It has the following cleric spells prepared:

• Cantrips (at will): Spare the Dying, Sacred Flame, Thaumaturgy

• 1st level (4 slots): Bless, Cure Wounds, Protection from Evil and Good

• 2nd level (3 slots): Lesser Restoration, Spiritual Weapon

• 3rd level (3 slots): Revivify, Dispel Magic

• 4th level (3 slots): Death Ward, Guardian of Faith

• 5th level (1 slot): Raise Dead, Dispel Evil and Good

Actions

Mace of Sanctity. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage plus 7 (2d6) radiant damage.

Turn Undead (Channel Divinity, Recharges after Short or Long Rest): As an action, undead within 30 ft. must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 15) or be turned for 1 minute.

Reactions

Seal the Grave: When an undead creature within 30 ft. is reduced to 0 hit points, the Gravewarden can use its reaction to prevent it from reanimating or being resurrected for 24 hours.

Equipment

• Holy staff with Arkay’s symbol (counts as a focus)

• Book of funerary rites

• Chain shirt under robes