Umôrdhoth sustains itself by preying upon the dead and dying from its residence in the Vault of Earthly Demise—part charnel pit, part cathedral to the eater of the dead. The reach of its spectral coils adds a ghastly element of terror to battlefields and graveyards, and the mere presence of Umôrdhoth on Earth can turn regions into desolate wastelands, haunted by its tendrils and minions.
Some of the writings that describe Umôrdhoth claim that it is a “just” being: that it only claims its due and asks for nothing more. While this may be true, it collects its dues as relentlessly as death itself. Should someone stand in the way of its charnel feast, Umôrdhoth is all too willing to consume them, condemning them to the horror of an infinite living decay as they are endlessly devoured.
Umôrdhoth manifests as a towering worm of shadow and smoke, wrapped in grasping tendrils of coagulated darkness. Its core is ribbed with glowing crimson bands, as if a smoldering fire were burning within or its shadowy “skin” had split to reveal the raw, red muscle beneath. The very air around Umôrdhoth is thick with the acrid scent of burned flesh.
Ghoul Cults
Worshippers of Umôrdhoth are a unique and enigmatic group, drawn together by a shared fascination with the macabre, death, and the unseen forces that lurk in the dark. They might be scholars, occultists, or individuals disillusioned with conventional beliefs, seeking a deeper understanding of existence that conquers the boundaries of life and death. These cults are marked by curious rituals, ghastly chants, the worship of ghouls as Umôrdhoth’s hounds, and the haunting presence of followers who wear animal skulls as masks.
The secrecy surrounding the ghoul cults is maintained through elaborate initiation rites and oaths of silence. As the members come from all walks of life, often only a blood offering or another equally harrowing test guarantees acceptance. Once initiated, members become part of a clandestine society, bound by their shared devotion to the ravenous Ancient One.
The cult’s disciples view themselves as custodians of the cycle of life and death, and any attempt to disrupt this cycle may result in their becoming Umôrdhoth’s next meal. Many of its cultists have a strict prohibition against the use of embalming fluid, as they consider the preservation of the dead through embalming to be sacrilegious, interrupting the natural process of decay.
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