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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rhialto" data-source="post: 167069" data-attributes="member: 630">ASTUR VERMISS ARCHSEXTON AND HIGH PSYCHOPOMP OF THANATOSThe Church of Thanatos is a great power on Tur An Tiel, and it is lead by a man who is expert at bringing that power to bear.  Astur Vermiss has been head of the Church for nearly a decade now, and he has managed to unite almost all of the various quarrelsome sects that pledge their faith to the Dark Reaper of Souls.  (A handful of secretive chaotic sects do not acknowledge his authority, but they are of minor importance.)  Vermiss is a commanding half-elf, of majestic appearance.  He is a calm, cold man, methodical in his actions, and deliberate in his speech.  Vermiss holds a great deal of authority in Seilen, his home, an object of universal respect and fear.  Vermiss is pleasant in demeanor, always smiling, and never raising his voice.  Somehow, this does not make him less intimidating.  Vermiss began life as a street urchin in the dark alleys of Seilen.  He would have probably ended his life either as a nameless corpse, or a Grey Rat, had he not made the apparent mistake of trying to lift the purse of a Sexton of Thanatos.  The Sexton would have taken the boy's head off on the spot, had not his grim acceptance of death stirred the priest's interest.  He was taken back to the Onyx Temple, and given the name of Astur Vermiss, beginning training as an acolyte of the Lord of the Charnal House.  The boy proved a brilliant student.  Within four years, he had climbed high in the church, secretary to the Master of the Temple.  Astur was considered a man destined for great things in the Church.  Few had any idea of how great.On the death of the Master of the Temple, Vermiss entered the List to replace him.  Few thought that such a young priest would have a chance--but at the end of the Contest, only Vermiss was left standing in the chamber.  The instatement of such a young priest as Master of one of Thanatos's most prominent temple was viewed with feelings of great trepidition--and when Vermiss declared himself chosen of Thanatos, Archsexton, and High Psychopomp, they seemed to have been born out more than any had thought possible.  The Archsexton Uried Lathos called the young half-elf to Sleurithia for immediate 'discipline'--however Lathos was the one who was 'disciplined' along with half of his Upper Chamber.  Reaffirming his postion as Archsexton, Vermiss moved the position to Seilen (already one of the most important cities of the Faith) and called for an immediate declaration of loyalty from the other temples.  Most gave it, but those who didn't fell as fast Lathos had.Since then Vermiss has ruled the Church with an iron fist.  He is an important man in Advisory Council meetings, and numerous rumors attach him romantically with the Regent--though no one would dare say those rumors to the faces of the Chosen of Thanatos, OR the Lady of Steel.  In many respects, he would seem to possess all that he could have once desired.  Still, there is a restlessness to him these days that many have noted.  Perhaps having conquered so much, he is looking for more challenges--and that is a frightening thought...</blockquote>

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