NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ilbranteloth" data-source="post: 6784748" data-attributes="member: 6778044">Maybe that's out there somewhere, but I don't recall it. The Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide begins 'The Afterlife' section with the words, "most humans believe..." That wording also hints at the fact that not all races believe in the same afterlife in the Realms, although that may or may not have relevance after they pass. It seems to me that all intelligent races end up on the Fugue Plain to be collected, although some may bypass it by the grace of their God.In Elminster's Forgotten Realms it goes into greater detail on people's beliefs, and it also has the tone of just that, beliefs, and the way they tend to show those beliefs. I don't think the average farmer, craftsman, or townsfolk really puts any more thought into the God's existence than they do that the Sun will rise in the day and the moon will rise in the night. The way I read it, the vast majority of Realmsfolk go about their business paying fealty to the Gods which they know are real in the sense that they've heard enough stories, along with the faithful (clerics, paladins, and other divine classes), reinforcing this belief. Historically, it's not all that different from any pre-renaissance civilization where few questioned the reality of the Gods, and fewer still did so openly. Of course, some of that was due to potential consequences in their mortal life, but for the most part it's just something that 'is' and isn't questioned.I'm also not sure I see the wall as punishment per se, although it was probably in that spirit that Myrkul created the wall. I've always sort of seen is as a function of the fact that a Deities power was related to the strength and faith of their followers. Myrkul got stuck with the faithless, since they were of no value to the Deities once dead, and had no home other than Mykul's domain. Hmmm? What should be done with them? Since as mortals those souls did not care about the Gods, why should the Gods care about them after they passed? Cruel, but I think it's largely a case of 'not my problem.' The way the world and the afterlife is designed is one of free will. The good Deities will do what they can to protect and guide the people, but it's ultimately up to mortals to decide how they will live, and the consequences are well defined amongst the Gods once they reach the afterlife. As much as they might like to save more, it's just not something they can do, the poor souls have chosen their fate whether they realize it or not.But, other than perhaps hearing of those that have visited the planes via magic, or those that have returned (and may or may not remember much), most people probably only have as much of an understanding of the afterlife. In fact, the faithful of a given God probably describe the afterlife in a manner befitting their deity, and the consequences of not living their tenets are probably different depending on the teachings of that Deity, rather than the reality of what actually happens. For example, clergy of Mystra might teach their followers that a life not in Mystra's service in life will lead to an eternity without access to the Art. Certainly Cyric's clergy would characterize an afterlife without Cyric as far worse than it might really be, and Banites may teach of an eternity of oppression and torture by the Black Hand himself if they do not yield to his will on Toril.Ilbranteloth</blockquote>

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