Editing The Seventh Sigil/archived

{{Infobox_character|name=The Seventh Sigil|image=Cultist mask.jpg|field1=Organization|field2=Leadership|value1=Cult|value2=Seven Rulers}}'''{{PAGENAME}} '''is a secret, realm-spanning cabal of undead lords who united their dark powers to extend necromancy’s reach. Named for both the seventh school of magic and the seven undying masters who lead it, the Sigil weaves networks of undead across kingdoms and cults alike.

== About ==
The Seventh Sigil is less a cult than a council of undying tyrants. Each Lord commands vast networks of undead, necromancers, and dark priests, yet they act as one when the Sigil is invoked. Their reach is subtle but vast: they whisper to desperate kings, bolster failing armies with skeletal reinforcements, and trade in blasphemous magic that others dare not touch. Mortals often mistake them for scattered necromancers or rival death cults, but in truth these fragments are all threads of a single web. They do not necessarily vie for outward world domination, but to instead subtly control the world from the shadows. Members of the cult believe that true ascendance and enlightenment can only come from undeath.

The Seventh Sigil operates like a shadow empire, its influence spread across the realm in discrete, compartmentalized cells. Each pocket functions independently, with its own undead minions, mortal agents, and secret caches of necromantic knowledge, ensuring that the failure of one agent does not compromise the others. The cult prefers subtlety over brute force, manipulating rulers, funding wars, and spreading plagues from the shadows rather than openly marching armies of the dead.

== Origins ==
[[File:Undead_cultist.jpg|right|frameless]]
The origins of the Seventh Sigil lie in an age when the great masters of undeath walked alone, carving out petty fiefdoms of bones and shadows. Liches raised towers of desolation, vampires ruled from hidden crypts, and mummy lords clung to forgotten empires, each obsessed with their own eternal existence. Yet these isolated reigns often faltered; lich phylacteries were shattered, vampires were staked, and undead armies crumbled when mortals rose in defiance. It was in the ashes of these repeated failures that a revelation spread among the undying: survival and supremacy demanded unity. From whispered bargains and profane rituals of binding came the first convening of seven powerful undead, their pact sealing the birth of the Seventh Sigil. Rumors place the date of the order's origins somewhere in the mid-to-late [[BR]] era.

The decision to take their name from necromancy itself, the seventh school of magic, was no mere vanity. It was a declaration of their intent to embody and expand that school beyond any mortal comprehension, elevating necromancy to the highest of arcane paths. The Seven swore to pool their knowledge, share their minions, and build networks of cultists and agents that could move unseen across continents. What one Lord could not achieve alone, seven could accomplish together, and soon their influence stretched across continents. Even in those early centuries, the Sigil was more than a cult: it was an undead conspiracy, woven by beings who embraced undeath as their true nature.
[[File:Undead_summoner.jpg|left|frameless]]

== Operations ==
The Seventh Sigil functions less like a single empire and more like a web of conspiracies. Each thread of the web belongs to one of the Seven Sigils or their servants, and no thread ever fully overlaps with another. A lone monastery might secretly serve as a breeding ground for necromancers, while a forgotten battlefield could be quietly harvested for rotting corpses. To outside eyes these pockets of activity look unrelated, but in truth they are carefully aligned pieces of a greater machine.

Rarely does the Sigil raise banners or march openly into war, it just wouldn't be prudent. Their true strength lies in letting others fight their battles while they pull the strings from the shadows. Undead are not hurled en masse onto the field unless absolutely necessary; instead they are slipped into armies, seeded into cities, or hidden in the earth until the moment of need. A ruler may never know that the mercenary company that saved their throne was bought with the Sigil’s coin, or that the plague of walking corpses besieging their rivals was released by the same hand.

The order’s economy of power is as important as its necromancy. Gold flows through them in subtle currents, fueling bribes, trade, and entire false identities. Forbidden texts pass quietly from one hand to another, stitched into the spines of innocuous tomes or hidden beneath monastery floors. Even other cults and factions, sometimes unknowingly, serve in their schemes, purchasing undead monstrosities and cursed artifacts to use toward their own goals. No matter how fractured the Seventh Sigil appears, its disparate arms always serve a singular purpose: to ensure the dead will never rest, and the living will never rule unchallenged. Though over the years, the cults interests turned away from just undead, and instead towards the majesty and terror of Dracoliches, reanimated and undead [[Dragon|dragons]].
[[File:Dracolich.jpg|right|frameless]]

=== Dracoliches ===
The Seventh Sigil’s fascination with dracoliches began during [[the War of Many Names]], when dragons became central figures on battlefields across the realm. To the order, these creatures represented the perfect undead: immense power, near-impervious scales, and an innate mastery of magic. By stripping dragons of their mortality and rebinding them as dracoliches, the Sigil found a way to create undying engines of death that no mortal could match. The process of binding a dragon’s soul to its bones is perilous, often requiring entire cults to sacrifice themselves in ritual, but each success adds a weapon of terrible magnitude to the order’s arsenal.

Ever since the [[dragonborn]] lich Sythyra Wyrmheart joined the ranks of Seven Sigils, this pursuit has only accelerated. She has turned entire sects of the Sigil into dragon-hunting cults, obsessed with capturing eggs, bones, or living wyrms to fuel her grim experiments. For the Sigil, dracoliches are more than weapons, they are symbols, trophies of dominance over the strongest beings of Quelmar.

== The Seven Sigils ==
The Seven Sigils are the undying masters of the Seventh Sigil, seven powerful undead whose combined will shapes the fate of undead and mortals alike. Each commands vast networks of minions, cults, and necromantic secrets, yet together they form a council whose influence stretches across continents. Feared, whispered about, and rarely seen, the Seven Sigils embody the pinnacle of necromantic power, guiding the Sigil’s dark ambitions with patience, cunning, and authority.
[[File:Karthorix.jpg|thumb|Karthorix, Wizard of the Black Tower]]

=== Karthorix, Wizard of the Black Tower ===
Karthorix is an ancient wizard and lich, possibly the oldest member of the Seventh Sigil. Master of necromancy and other arcane arts, Karthorix has long outgrown any desire to control kingdoms or amass power, seeking only to continue learning in peace. Though a being of undeath, Karthorix’s temperament leans more toward curiosity than cruelty, displaying malevolence only when mortals or rival factions threaten his existence. Many of the souls bound to his phylacteries are willingly offered, and his true phylactery is hidden within a nondescript book tucked deep in the endless libraries of the [[The ArchCrystal Tower|ArchCrystal Tower]].

Karthorix’s domain, the Black Tower, rises from the Pine Barrens of [[Osugbo]] like a shadowed monolith. Its interior defies reality, expanding far beyond the exterior’s narrow spire. Within, twisting corridors of laboratories, sanctums, and libraries unfold endlessly, each chamber a testament to centuries of study. Karthorix maintains a network of loyal necromancer apprentices, each carefully trained and often left to pursue their own experiments under his guidance. Though others perceive him as part of the Seventh Sigil’s malign influence, in truth Karthorix wishes only to be left undisturbed, a scholar of undeath seeking the secrets of life, death, and what lies beyond.
[[File:Vaelthys.jpg|left|thumb|Vaelthys the Unmoored]]

=== Vaelthys the Unmoored ===
Vaelthys was once a queen of a distant realm, but that was until her world was shattered by [[Old One|ancient horrors]] from beyond the stars. To survive, she offered herself to these eldritch entities, becoming their herald and transformed into an eldritch lich. Though she appears as a beautiful queen with porcelain-toned skin cracked with veins of gold, her true nature is incomprehensibly alien.

Vaelthys is singularly devoted to the will of her eldritch masters, seeking to bring their influence and agents into the world of Quelmar. Her magic warps reality itself, and her presence bends minds, twisting perception and sanity. Unlike other members of the Sigil, her network consists not of mortals or undead in the traditional sense, but of cults and beings altered by alien forces, all spreading the quiet, creeping influence of her patrons. This has caused her to be the most distant member of the Seventh Sigil.
[[File:Morgon.jpg|thumb|Morgon the Ebon Shepherd]]

=== Morgon the Ebon Shepherd ===
Morgon is a lich and devoted priest of death, animated and empowered by dark gods gods of undeath. Unlike some of the more reclusive members of the Seventh Sigil, Morgon thrives in the role of organizer and commander, leading his own vast cult of undead and mortals alike. His followers span continents, bound to his will through fear, devotion, and the promise of dark power. Morgon’s network is the largest within the Sigil, encompassing countless necromancers, death priests, and animated servants, all ready to be deployed at his behest.

The Ebon Shepherd is no stranger to peril; opposition from holy orders and rival powers forces him into constant movement. Morgon frequently relocates his base of operations, establishing new enclaves and spreading his cult’s influence wherever he travels. Wherever he sets foot, death and undeath march in lockstep, and rumors of his ever-growing host chill even the most seasoned generals. Morgon’s ambition is clear: to serve his dark masters, extend their dominion, and ensure that the Seventh Sigil remains the most feared necromantic power in existence.
[[File:Dame_Layla.jpg|left|thumb|Dame Layla Vorgrave, the Breaker of Hosts]]

=== Dame Layla Vorgrave, the Breaker of Hosts ===
Dame Layla Vorgrave was once a devoted paladin of [[Pelor]], championing the god of light with unwavering faith. Her life shattered when she rejected the illicit advances of the head priest, who, claiming heresy, excommunicated her and ordered her burned at the stake. Death did not claim herm however; she rose as a death knight, reborn in unholy hatred and swearing vengeance on all churches, priests, and holy orders that would wield faith as a weapon.

Since that night, Layla has become a legendary blade for hire, serving in nearly every major war across Quelmar. Her martial prowess is unmatched, and she commands respect and fear on the battlefield, her blackened armor and cursed blade leaving devastation in her wake. Though some call her cruel, she fights with purpose, her vendetta against the faithful driving her forward, and her loyalty lies only with the Seventh Sigil, whose goals align with her hunger for vengeance and mastery of war. This has made her the most dedicated member of the order. Her network consists of veteran warriors and soldiers bound to her service, forming an elite cadre of mortal and undead fighters wherever she travels.
[[File:Neburak.jpg|thumb|Neburak the Veiled Sun]]

=== Neburak the Veiled Sun ===
Neburak, known as the Veiled Sun, is an ancient mummy lord whose mortal reign over a desert empire in the dunes of Pteris has long been erased from history. When his kingdom fell and he was buried beneath the sands for untold centuries, his will did not waver; he returned to the world as a being of undeath, his body preserved and wrapped in linens etched with arcane glyphs and ancient hymns. Now, he commands the desert itself, bending sands, storms, and the dead to his desire, ensuring that nothing survives unchallenged in the lands he claims.

Neburak’s network is a secretive and fanatical cult of desert necromancers, priests, and tomb-bound servants, all devoted to maintaining his dominion and furthering the will of the Seventh Sigil. His knowledge of ancient magic and long-lost rituals makes him a repository of secrets forgotten by even the oldest wizards and liches. Despite his distant demeanor, his will is as demanding as the desert.
[[File:Lord_Valmere.jpg|left|thumb|Lord Valmere Duskborn, the Fang Ascendent]]

=== Lord Valmere Duskborn, the Fang Ascendent ===
Valmere Duskborn is a strikingly handsome vampire, eternally youthful in appearance yet brimming with cunning, ambition, and ruthless intelligence. Once a lieutenant to Lord Caltherion Nocthrae, he betrayed and devoured his master, seizing both his position within the Seventh Sigil and his vast coffers of wealth. Like his predecessor, Valmere is a master of blood magic, but he has desires far beyond undeath and magic: he seeks wealth, power, and adoration above all else.

Valmere’s network spans nobles, merchants, and secret cults, all drawn by his charisma, promise of favor, or fear of his wrath. Unlike some of the more philosophical or martial members of the Sigil, Valmere thrives on influence and manipulation, leveraging his resources to cement his authority and expand his personal dominion. Though he owes allegiance to the Seventh Sigil, he views it as a tool rather than a master, always calculating the ways its power can elevate him further.
[[File:Sythyra.jpg|thumb|Sythyra Wyrmheart]]

=== Sythyra Wyrmheart ===
Sythyra Wyrmheart is a female skeletal [[dragonborn]] lich and the newest member of the Seventh Sigil. Once a proud dragonborn sorceress, she embraced undeath to transcend mortality and pursue mastery over the most fearsome of creatures: [[Dragon|dragons]]. Her obsession with draconic necromancy has reshaped her priorities within the Sigil, driving the order to focus on the creation of undead dragons and dracoliches, forging weapons and champions of unparalleled terror.

Sythyra’s network is smaller than some of the elder members, but intensely specialized. Her apprentices, both mortal and undead, are trained in the art of raising and binding draconic souls, and her laboratories are filled with skeletal wings, clawed bones, and alchemical wards for preserving the might of dragons beyond death. Though young compared to the other Lords, her vision is bold, and her influence is rapidly shifting the Sigil’s ambitions toward the skies, where undead wyrms will serve as the ultimate instruments of the order’s dominion.

== Lost Members of the Order ==
Becoming undead isn't necessarily difficult, the hard part is staying undead all while divine orders and righteous adventurers are ready to kill you at a moments notice. Given this, its not surprising that some members of the Seventh Sigil have sadly been destroyed over the long centuries of its existence. What surprising is that its only been two, and only one of them were destroyed by outsiders.
[[File:Lord_Catherion.jpg|thumb|Lord Catherion, the Father of the Night-Feast (Deceased)]]

=== Lord Catherion, the Father of the Night-Feast ===
Lord Caltherion Nocthrae was one of the original members of the Seventh Sigil, an ancient vampire whose mastery of blood magic was unrivaled. His form had drifted far from humanity, resembling more a great bat than a man, cloaked in white fur and wings that could envelop entire rooms. Caltherion was not only feared for his arcane prowess but also revered for his wealth, which funded much of the Sigil’s operations; his coffers were vast, amassed over centuries through subtle manipulation, tribute, and conquest.

Despite his age and power, betrayal came from within. One of his own lieutenants, Valmere Duskborn, struck with cunning and ruthless ambition. Valmere poisoned Caltherion’s blood wine with an ancient toxin, and while Caltherion was in this weak state, Valmere devoured Caltherion and assumed his place within the Seventh Sigil.
[[File:Xyrris.jpg|left|thumb|Xyrris, the Lord of Strings]]

=== Xyrris, the Lord of Strings ===
Among the earliest founders of the Seventh Sigil was Xyrris, the Lord of Strings, a powerful lich and puppeteer. Draped in crimson robes and bound with countless red cords, Xyrris commanded his undead as if they were marionettes, tugging their strings with his long skeletal fingers. He never said a word, instead he spoke only through his puppets, each carrying fragments of his will and personality.

For centuries, Xyrris concealed himself within a traveling theater troupe, performing macabre plays that doubled as recruitment rituals and cover for his movements. His phylactery, a living doll infused with a fragment of his soul, remained hidden at the heart of the act. Eventually, a band of adventurers uncovered his secret, shattering the doll and silencing the puppet master for good. He would later be replaced by Sythyra Wyrmheart.

=== The Eighth Sigil ===
Ever since the Seventh Sigil was formed, there were rumors about a secret Eighth member of the order, only know by their title, "The Crow." These same rumors state that it was the Crow who came up with the idea for the order, bringing powerful undead together under one banner for the betterment of all mankind. Some say that after the order formed, the Seven Sigils killed the Crow, while others say that the Crow got bored of the order and simply vanished. Most still deny the Crow's existence all together.{{Worldbuilders}}But the stories refuse to die.

In smoky taverns, travelers whisper of a figure draped in black feathers who strode out of the Necrotic Wars. Neither alive nor dead, the Crow walked both realms with unnerving ease. Where the Seven Sigils clawed for dominion, the Crow saw only futility—armies of bone and flesh devouring each other when coexistence was possible.

Ancient texts split on their verdict: visionary or madman. The Crow’s idea was heresy—undead using their immortality not for conquest, but as stewards of the living. Death, after all, had given them a wisdom the breathing could never reach.

Betrayed? Ascended? Imagined? No one knows. What is certain: the Seventh Sigil reshaped the world. And in every whisper of wings, some swear the Crow still lingers.

'''The Necrotic Wars'''

Before the Sigil, undeath was chaos. Liches clung to towers of dust, vampire courts clawed each other bloody, necromancers whipped death knights into endless feuds. For three hundred years they warred among themselves as much as with the living. The so-called Necrotic Wars were less a war than a drawn-out apocalypse—lands stripped bare, cities drowned in rot, whole regions reduced to wandering corpses and silence.

It was into this ruin the Crow emerged.

'''Sightings & Rumors'''

437, Treaty of Mourning Fields

Three lich-lords gathered to betray one another. At dawn, a figure cloaked in ravens left them bound by the first pact in undead history. The lone survivor called them “a purpose, not a name.”

441, Ashfall Monastery

Monks sheltered a traveler who neither ate nor slept, but wrote treatises on necromantic ethics. Each signed with a single black feather.

445, Crimson Court

Vampire matriarch Lady Vess laughed at the Crow’s legend, yet fiddled with a black feather brooch as she denied them.

Even now, reports flicker—battlefields turned to treaties overnight, forbidden tomes left on scholars’ desks, always marked by feathers.

'''Disappearance Theories'''

* The Betrayal: The Seven saw the Crow as too dangerous, too knowing. They lured them to the Obsidian Spire and struck together, sealing a chamber where screams still echo on moonless nights.
* The Ascension: The Crow achieved their purpose and moved beyond flesh, becoming a voice of counsel to the gods of death.
* The Boredom: An immortal’s passing project—once complete, they drifted eastward like a child leaving behind a toy.
* The Myth: The Crow never existed, a story crafted to sanctify the Sigil’s rule. The feathers? Mere props in a legend.

'''Conflicting Accounts'''

* Scholar Meredith Pale dismisses the Crow as myth: “Negotiation, not a phantom, forged the Sigil.”
* Lord Kethris, one of the Seven, admitted meeting the Crow twice and sleeps with a blade at hand ever since.
* Folklore insists “the Crow” was a mantle carried by many.
* An anonymous Sigil letter confesses: “They were right, insufferably right. We killed them. The feathers are our guilt.”
* Archlich Verantis calls the legend a misread revenant, stripped of mystique.