Design a Death God

[Mercule]

The god of death IMC is good-aligned. He is more a guardian of the gate and protector of the dead. His priests are generally pacifists as they are prohibited from causing death (doormen, not ushers). Likewise, they usually don't heal people because that would interfere in things. There is an order, though, that fits the "Knights of the Chalice" PrC pretty well, though. There's also one that acts as reapers, but they're generally considered heretics.

Anyway, undead: Normally, this god has a hate on for undead -- they were created by the god of nightmares and insanity to mock him. But, sometimes, followers will offer up their bodies (or even their minds) after death. Some of the larger temples have skeleton servants to do things like clean, because of this. Some of the deathless in BoED and ECS make good options for other volunteers beyond death, too.

 

[kigmatzomat]

Hmmm, my god of Death is the gatekeeper and guide for souls. He's neutral evil but only because he is a very distant and uncaring god. He wants your soul to go to its final resting place so he doesn't have to deal with it anymore, not because he likes you. Heaven, Hell, all the same to him.

The god of undead is a different thing, a divine abherration born of a maggot. It likes the texture of dead flesh but enjoyed the flavor imparted by suffering spirits. Voila! Undead! The maggot made procreating undead so it didn't have to keep making it's own meals. Out of gluttony, it began a war with the rest of the world.

Living things fell before the undead and rose up to join the rotting ranks. Death took the meanest, foulest souls and sent them into the fray as the only foe that would not swell the Undead forces. All the gods joined forces, learning the arts of turning or rebuking, and this incorporeal army carried the day.

Undeath was imprisoned and Death is his keeper. Death allows the small number of shadows, specters, wraiths, and ghosts to roam the earth in case he needs more forces. If they grow to great he takes them to their final resting place (hence no shadow armies.).

 

[Gentlegamer]

A true death god is one who enforces a religion obsessed with the afterlife.