Archemoros, the Candlebearer

Archemoros, the Candlebearer

16 STR, 14 DEX, 15 WIL, black sickle (d8)

• He appears only as a figure cloaked in shadow, a pale candle's flame flickering in an outstretched grey hand, reflecting in dark, hooded eyes.
• Immune to harm from mortal threats.
• Can travel through shadows.
• Light dims at his approach, refusing to illuminate his form.
• Critical Damage: The target is subjected to terrifying visions of the things they fear most. The visions persist until the fear is conquered, Archemoros is banished, or until the target is left in total darkness.
• Only pure, heavenly light may banish him--even the light of the dullest star.

There is an old story about a man who loved a woman.

One day, the woman grew ill, and it appeared that she would die; but the man could not accept this. Each day, from morning till night he prostrated himself before her sick bed and pleaded with the gods to spare her. Each day his petitions went unanswered.

Finally, one day as the sun loomed low in the sky, Death itself appeared to claim the woman's soul. Not knowing what else to do, the man threw himself at Death's feet and repeated his petition. And Death listened, for Death is nothing if not patient.

When the man's complaint was done, Death nodded. Then spoke. "Thy cause is pitiable, and there is none more suited to the task then I." However, Death could not give this man his wish for free--there must be a price--for Death is cheap, and Life is most precious indeed.

"I will spare this woman, and spare her a long and healthy life as thou hast bidden me. But in exchange" said Death, "the heavens shall forsake thee, and thou shalt serve me 'til the price is paid: ten thousand souls, fallen in fear, claimed and delivered, as is my due." At this the man was elated, and wept tears of joy--for how many beneath the sun die in one day only? And who does not fear their dying?

And so the deal was struck, the woman lived--and a long and healthy life it was.

But the man, to his surprise, did not. And it was but a year and a month before he met his end--thrown from a horse's back--and in a moment found himself again in Death's grim company, for Death is never late.

The man protested: "It isn't fair!" cried he. But he knew the truth, and so did Death, for Death cannot be tricked. And so his charge was laid upon him: ten thousand souls, fallen in fear, claimed and delivered, as was Death's due.

But Death is also cruel, for the man had not understood the nature of his agreement, and no sooner was Death's black mantle upon his shoulders then he understood: to be "forsaken by the heavens", he thought, meant only the delay of his eternal reward--instead he found, through agony most deep, forewarned that he should never again see the light of sun, or moon, or even dimmest star.

And this, they say, is how foolish Archemoros came to be imprisoned beneath the earth--not by chains, save those of debt, and not by walls, save those which hide him from the scornful rays of heaven's light. There he waits, cloaked in shadow, illuminated only by the ghostly light of his deathly candle, seeking the souls of those who wander in places dark and deep, to pay his debt--and learn his lesson--for above all else Death is mercy, in the end.

Commentary

That got a bit long there. I hope you enjoyed it though; it took me forever to come up with the last line! 

This idea ultimately started with a death cult. I imagined masked cultists living in tombs, silently carrying little candles around, and I asked myself... why are they doing that? The candle, specifically, was a nice evocative image, and so I fixed on that and figured they're doing it in imitation. That spawned the idea of this grim-reaper-esque figure who stalks dark halls carrying a candle in his outstretched hand. I wanted more to it though than just "it's the grim reaper, guys", and that's how the story evolved. Mostly it's just a fleshed out ad-hoc justification for why he works the way he does (the real reason is just "because I thought it'd be cool"). 

Anyways, I think the cult angle is a little ironic: Archemoros probably hates those guys in actual fact, and they probably heard a much distorted version of his story, or took entirely the wrong lesson from it--they think you can conquer death and become a demi-god or something like that. They're not very smart.