Kasamei

The sister of shadow and silence, Kasamei is the space between the stars and the darkness that, through absence, builds presence. Kasamei is the goddess of three interrelated domains: Darkness, Death, and Prophecy. Kasamei’s primary responsibility is to bring the souls of the Dead to the Next Gate–a threshold whose true boundaries are known to not even Kasamei. As one of the two goddesses of Death, Kasamei not only shepherds Mortals to their final Death but also counsels and teaches on Death and dying. She is a consummate teacher and enjoys sharing her lessons with Mortals.

Kasamei also controls the realm of Prophecy, the shadowy sibling of her sister’s realm, Revelation. Whereas Revelation is the truth of what will come, Prophecy is the potential of how such truth may be reached. Revelation often comes to Mortals in bursts of radiant clarity–Prophecy is often darker and even frightening. Kasamei, therefore, is a guide to help true Seers understand the Omens they seek.

Surprising to some, Kasamei also controls the Realm of Love. While initially odd, Love is the experience both sharpened and challenged by Kasamei’s other Realms, and the Goddess takes pride in helping Mortals understand the connections.

T’Zyri and Kasamei have an uneasy relationship. As the goddesses connected with dying, they work together by necessity. However, Kasamei’s Seers often (inadvertently) view secrets of the Book of Deeds. While T’Zyri keeps her machinations to herself, it is likely that she holds resentment for the goddess. Kasamei holds resentment for few, however, and attempts to reconcile the hostility between the two.

The Devout of Kasamei

Of the gods, Kasamei has the closest intimacy with her worshippers. She has alighted to the Mortal World many times, and her personal benevolence is well known. It is also not without critique.

Unlike her sister, Kasamei accepts all followers. Of the Gods, save perhaps Gu’Labir, she is the most accepting and, save in very rare circumstances, welcomes all into her ranks.

While her followers are unsurprisingly diverse, however, many of them are those who pursue and revere the natural process of Death. Under Kasamei’s guidance, these individuals learn to help all Mortals understand the inevitable end, as well as the potential of a boundless journey unknown to the Living.

In addition to the aforementioned Devout, Kasamei’s followers are often those sleepers who–in darkness–receive true Prophecy. Worship of Kasamei is often not chosen but a necessity, lest unguided Seers go mad.

Kasamei and the Layfolk

Kasamei is the one deity that all Mortals will eventually meet and, for this reason, she is one whose worship is common in households across the realm. While worship of Kasamei is rarely the only worship in Layfolk households, she is nonetheless attended to in even the least pious of communities. Of course, some Layfolk resent Kasamei: the Layfolk, unlike the Devout, are not afforded the possibility of resurrection, and Kasamei is sometimes regarded as complicit in this.

Costuming and Appearance

Kasamei’s followers dress variously though, compared to other sects, dress humbly. Dark colors are favored, as are loose robes in the goddess’s colors.

Followers often accent their clothing with the goddesses symbols. In particular, many followers of Kasamei will mantles, cloaks, hats, or other accessories decorated with dark feathers.

The Blessed

The Blessed of Kasamei, like those of Steramestei, are obvious: their bodies, particularly their faces, are marked in washes of black and silver stars.