Burial customs (need some help)(my players GO AWAY)

[Henry]

I was hoping for some creative ideas from this artesian idea well of a community much thanks in advance.

Situation: the PCs are all affiliated with (tightly or loosely) the Local Zhentarim faction in the Waterdeep campaign i’m running for them. One of the PCs died in their first mission. Due to the circumstances, the body is unrecoverable (not that the local Black Network would be all about funerals necessarily). Beyond the ancient customs of “sitting up with the dead” and Libations (“pouring one out”), or the U.S. Southern custom of “reminiscing over a ton of fried food”, i’m not familiar with many other funeral customs, and was hoping to pick the brains of others here, for funeral customs or rituals either past or present or even fictional that someone like a mercenary guild or rogues guild might perform for a fallen member, especially one whose remains were not recovered. I plan to open next session with such a remembrance, perhaps at the Yawning Portal.

I even thought about the military tradition of the “missing man table”, but didn’t know if that would fit such an organization, even with the vague military parallels. Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Leatherhead]

The Zhentarim are more like the mafia than a military organization. Any kind of expensive or otherwise extravagant funeral procession leading to a temple would be fitting. Be sure to include an appropriate presence of mourners, professional or otherwise. And mind that the normal populace would steer clear of the streets during it all, due to fear of the Zhents, and their enemies.

Also of note, they currently worship Bane, who's rituals often include the sacrifice of an intelligent being, usually one of their enemies. Depending on who killed the PC, I could easily see some kind of gangland retaliatory kidnapping, followed by a private sacrifice of the kidnapped on an onyx alter at midnight.

 

[Yunru]

Combined with the body being unrecoverable, you could have a live burial of one of the enemies.

 

[Henry]

The Zhentarim are more like the mafia than a military organization. Any kind of expensive or otherwise extravagant funeral procession leading to a temple would be fitting. Be sure to include an appropriate presence of mourners, professional or otherwise. And mind that the normal populace would steer clear of the streets during it all, due to fear of the Zhents, and their enemies.

Also of note, they currently worship Bane, who's rituals often include the sacrifice of an intelligent being, usually one of their enemies. Depending on who killed the PC, I could easily see some kind of gangland retaliatory kidnapping, followed by a private sacrifice of the kidnapped on an onyx alter at midnight.

This actually refers to the branch that are more mercenary and less Bane-worshipping, the “Black Network” faction. Unfortunately, what killed the PC was a Grey Ooze that they ultimately ran from, and who got away into the sewers — everyone in the enemy faction they attacked has already been killed — though a gang war is already brewing, and the enemy faction is why they were there in the first place, so there is that... thanks for the thoughts!

I’m currently thinking of a “fallen comerade table” ritual — perhaps with an empty chair, a plate, a bag of coins to represent their due they never got to cash in on, a large knife to represent the life of the blade that they agreed to live by (and die by), and then a tankard that everyone processionally pours a bit of their ale into, to represent having one another’s back, and the vengeance they’ll repay on their behalf. But any other ideas, or inspirations from other cultures anyone might suggest are welcome.

 

[Quickleaf]

Maybe a belonging of the deceased must change hands? The Black Network is all about the transactional economy free from tariffs and regulations, right? Maybe when you receive this item, which is passed about the room during the night it's customary to say "to the black earth, all are crowned" (or some such), and then proceed with the ritual tankard pouring / gold donation to the family that lost their son (and to pay for the wake).