Discuss:Chruch of Wee Jas... Anti or Pro Undead

[just__al]

In my campaign the Church is the representative of a lawful neutral god of death.

Being lawful neutral they want to uphold the natural order of birth --> life --> death

Undeath is unnatural and a blasphemy to Wee Jas. All undead must be destroyed without question.

Agree? Yes? No? Why not?

 

[The Lemon Merchant]

I agree, undeath could be interpreted as unnatural and blasphemous to this particular sect of Wee Jas followers. This sect may be in the majority works with like minded religions toward the eradication of undead. However, this is just one interpretation. Others that follow Wee Jas, may disagree with these teachings and have a different thought on undeath. There's all sorts of theological development that could take place here, but I'm at work and can't really delve into the subject. Hopefully someone else with post further thoughts.

 

[Dakkareth]

Mmhhh ... I could very well imagine, that clerics of Wee Jas would do everything to ensure that blasphemous undead are destroyed.

Undead created by the clergy of Wee Jas are something entirely different, of course, as something that serves the Lady of Book and Bone can't be blasphemous

 

[Tiberius]

I would say that at least part of the Church smiles upon undead, given that she gives the Death domain to her faithful. Included in that domain are such spells as Animate Dead, Create Undead, and Create Greater Undead, so there are probably a few factions going around saying that since the Lady grants the ability to create undead, they are ok.

-Tiberius

 

[VictorSim]

I don't have my books here but doesn't Wee Jas only allow their clerics to Rebuke/Command Undead instead of Turn/Destroying undead? Since Rebuke is used to bolster undead and in effect help undead while Turn is used to destroy undead, it would seem to indicate to me that Wee Jas is pro-undead.

victor

 

[Tonguez]

I'd contend that Wee-Jas despises unintelligent undead -zombies,skeletons etc- (they are UN-dead, blasphemous and a form of theft from her dominion).

However Ghosts and similar spirits would be quite welcome in her Temples

Not sure about the Living Dead (ie Intelligent undead) - I would be quite happy with a Liche Cleric of Wee-Jas and might even have such as High-Preist!
Ghouls and Vampires however hmmmm

 

[Aaron L]

I imagine different sects whithin the church. Maybe the Lawful Neutral sect hates undead, but the Lawful Evil sect likes them?

And isn't Wee Jas just LN (instead of LN/LE) now? If so, there would be a Lawful Good sect that could hunt and destroy undead, while the LN sect is, well, neutral, and the LE sect actively creates them.

 

[MarauderX]

I would see the undead as the ultimate punishers for Wee Jas. They would return to right wrongs, or other such things. I think they would be the best commandos to do the job, and would let any cleric of WJ summon undead without a problem. After all, aren't the slain the perfect minions to settle a score?

 

[WizarDru]

In my campaign the Church is the representative of a lawful neutral god of death.

Being lawful neutral they want to uphold the natural order of birth --> life --> death

Undeath is unnatural and a blasphemy to Wee Jas. All undead must be destroyed without question.

Agree? Yes? No? Why not?

From nyrdyv.com, one of the many Living Greyhawk resources available (see also Onwal, Perrenland, and other triads):

Wee Jas [Intermediate God]:
Wee Jas is the Suloise Power of magic and death. She is portrayed as an attractive, well-dressed young woman, but her necklace - an ivory skull set against a ring of fine fire rubies - gives away her nature. Wee Jas is primarily lawful, but she inclines toward evil through her preoccupation with power.

Wee Jas is not widely revered even among Suel folk, although it is said that some of the Scarlet Brotherhood look to her magical powers with devotion. However, funeral rites among the Suel, even the barbarians, usually involve a small offering to her to protect the soul of the departed. She is a protector of the dead, and her priests are only rarely allowed to command undead creatures, having to commune with Wee Jas to see if this is acceptable to her.

Services to Wee Jas include the reverent flattery of fine icons of her (she is a vain Power), offerings of finery and gems, and magical fires.

Wee Jas's Priests:
Wee Jas's priests are officiators at funerals, maintainers of graveyards, and ardent students of magic and arcane lore. The priesthood has rigid ordering and demands absolute obedience from its juniors.

How Wee Jas' faith works is entirely dependent on the DM's interpetation of her dogma. Remembering that she wasn't originally a death goddess can put it in perspective, but different sects might view it differently. In my game, the followers of Wee Jas range from experts of death and the mastery of undeath, to those who are evil necromancers, to hunters of the dead. They run a wide gamut...but they are all either fascinated with magic, death or the comingling of the two.

 

[Rel]

The player of the Paladin of Wee Jas in one of my campaigns certainly takes a dim view of the undead. He views them as souls who have tried to cheat her of her right to judge them. For regular old evil foes, he is hastening them on to the afterlife where Wee Jas can deal with them before they further upset the balance on the Prime Material Plane.