Senescia

Not all of what is found below is common knowledge

Name: Senescia
Titles: The Plaguebearer, The Gravekeeper, The Rotting Lady, The Parasitic Mother, The Raging Rot, The Lady of Pain
Nature: Anger defines Senescia. It burns in the core of her rotting being, but no one knows why She is angry perhaps not even Herself.
Gender: Female
Time of Power: Late evening, especially after midnight
Portfolio: Disease, Parasites, Decay, Suffering, Pain, Undeath, Rage, Disproportionate Revenge
Favored Alignments: Any Evil
Restricted Alignments: Any Good and Lawful Neutral
Allows Druids?: Yes
Allows Spirit Shamans?: No
Allows Paladins?: No
Favored Weapon: Bastard Sword
Symbol: A rotting arm, fingers outstretched in agony
Domains: Destruction, Pestilence/Decay, Fury, Undeath, Trickery

Decay was once a patient, never yielding force that most accepted and perhaps even learned to live with. Decay was slow and came to all with the same strength, never tiring but never unfair, never unequal in its pursuit of all things. It was well known that decay even would show some mercy on the knowledge gathered over time and keep it safe. But what once was is no longer a guide to what will be. The splitting or sundering of the Overseers caused decay to change drastically. While still present and acting upon all things, decay had acquired a second face. Where Lethe was patient, Senescia was swift. Where Lethe touches all things at their proper time, Senescia is a maelstrom of uncaring destruction. Where Lethe would see all knowledge preserved regardless of the fate of the empire, Senescia destroys all that are unworthy or unfit including whatever pitiful knowledge they managed to acquire.

Senescia's wrath knows no limits as she visits her fury upon those that would dare challenge her or her most beloved creations. Though Senescia would see the world brought down to nothing, all the lands suffering a perpetual pestilence and inhabited only by her children, she is not rash nor is she consumed beyond reason with her need for revenge. She encourages those that would serve her to carry out her will through any means necessary. Senescia demands results, but cares not upon the methodology employed. Senescia's followers are granted the ability to command the Undead but they are not gifted with natural protections from them. Her followers must wrest control of the wills from the undead servants or prove unworthy of their patroness' divine gifts and join their never ending ranks.

Senescia is described as a woman of imposing height, encased in armor of bones and concealed behind a mask that bares the semblance of the most beautiful woman ever witnessed. The description of the woman is never the same, leading some to believe the mask shows each person their ideal vision of a woman. Beneath the mask, however, can be see decomposing flesh and muscle. It is said in tall tales upon Torica, that any looking upon the true face of Senescia are instantly made into an undead servant that feels all of the pains of decaying but never the sweet release of death. This punishment would be most reserved for those servants of Senescia that ever betray her trust.

The crafting of Senescia's Holy Symbols almost invariably include dead organic matter preserved in some way, often wood or bone. In extreme cases, parts of properly embalmed animals (or worse) have been used to that extent, with reportedly astonishing success.

The church of Senescia is fragmented and disorganized, most often condensing into secretive cults or singular preachers, often acting in secret to sow disease and undeath. Each of these groups tends to be insular and have it's own customs and norms, but the spread of disease and undeath is always among the primary goals of such groups. Some such groups and followers demand tribute in exchange for protection against disease and undeath. Senescia is not impatient and knows that a time will eventually come when tribute will be missed, and her followers will be all the stronger for having reaped it. Others seeking to ward off The Rotting Lady's touch often craft or purchase small charms made of gold ore to protect against Senescia's touch. It is believed that due to gold's resistance to rust, it is proof against Her. This opinion has been growing quite popular recently, but it is unwise to to wear such charms openly around the followers of Senescia as many take violent offense. Her followers warn those who would use such charms that they do not protect against Her, and wearing them will only provoke her mighty wrath. Senescia also has a small following of druids, whom worship Her primal aspects of disease, parasites and rot; all things utterly necessary to the natural order of things. However, these druids also deny Her aspect of Undeath, and are no more tolerant of undeath than any other druid.

The Lady of Pain is typically worshiped by the insane, the masochistic, the vengeful, the diseased, sentient parasites and those who revel in spreading sickness and misery.

Since the events of the Rising and the defeat of Senescia's avatar, many debate whether Senescia herself is still 'alive' or as powerful as she once was. Certainly she seems to be less active in the world, and her followers far fewer.