Morbina was born from the union of Zopha and Nyxollox, inheriting from her parents a fundamental contradiction: her mother represents knowledge and understanding, while her father represents entropy and transformation. Morbina is, quite literally, the embodiment of transition—the moment when one state becomes another, when life becomes death, when health becomes infirmity.

Unlike her brother Salvius, who emerged from the same birth convinced of his righteousness, Morbina understood something darker and more complex from the moment of her existence: that she did not represent evil, but necessity. In a world where populations could grow without bound, where disease did not exist, existence itself would become unsustainable. She was not cruel—she was balance itself.

In the earliest days of her existence, Morbina observed the world as mortals lived it. She saw villages without disease become overcrowded, stagnant, plagued by hunger and despair. She saw forests choked with sickness consume themselves in rot. She saw populations that should have collapsed through starvation or conflict survive through the careful culling that disease provided.

Then Salvius was born. Her twin brother emerged with a clarity of moral purpose that she found simultaneously beautiful and naive. He saw disease as an enemy to be fought, suffering as something to be eliminated. He did not understand, or would not accept, that in fighting disease entirely, he fought the very mechanism that kept the world in balance.

Morbina did not despise her brother. Instead, she felt a deep and aching sorrow. She watched him gain worship through the simple promise of healing, while she—who maintained the greater balance—was feared and vilified. Yet she continued her work, because the work had to be done.

Over the centuries, a philosopher named Sage Elara emerged who could see what most could not: that Morbina's role, while painful, was genuinely necessary. Elara spent her life studying the patterns of disease, the rhythms of population, the way that carefully managed affliction actually produced healthier, more resilient societies in the long term.

Elara wrote treatises that reframed Morbina's role. She did not deny the suffering; she acknowledged it fully. But she argued that the suffering was not pointless cruelty—it was a form of teaching, a way that the world maintained itself. Elara established sanctuaries where the sick were treated with dignity, where their suffering was witnessed and honored rather than merely endured or fought against.

When Elara died, Morbina herself was said to have appeared to her—not to take her life, but to thank her. And with that thank-you came a revelation: Morbina would work with those who understood her, who could help others see that disease was not an enemy but a necessity, and that the proper response was not elimination but adaptation.

What followed was gradual. Slowly, across generations, a parallel priesthood formed alongside Salvius's faith. Where Salvius's clerics rushed to cure, Morbina's priests stepped back to understand. Where Salvius preached the abolition of disease, Morbina's followers preached the wisdom of accepting it, managing it, learning from it.

This created tension—tension that continues to this day. Salvius looks at his sister and sees a murderer. Morbina looks at her brother and sees a fool who will destroy the world through kindness. The truth, as is often the case, lies in the space between them.

Morbina's bargain with mortals is uncomfortable and honest in equal measure.

The faithful of Morbina understand existence as fundamentally cyclical. These principles guide their understanding:

(See also: claw/Soul_Coins_and_Divine_Economy)

Morbina accumulates power through acceptance of mortality and the wisdom gained through disease.

Temples dedicated to Morbina are places of reflection, acceptance, and understanding rather than places of energy or exultation.

These temples are typically located on the outskirts of cities or in secluded areas, symbolizing the boundary between life and death, health and sickness. The construction uses dark, weathered stone that ages gracefully, sometimes becoming overgrown with moss and vine—a visual reminder that all things return to the earth.

The exterior features an archway carved with patterns of intertwining vines and botanical forms that represent both growth and decay. Statues of Morbina appear in multiple aspects: sometimes as a sorrowful figure, tears streaming, acknowledging the pain; other times as a powerful deity, firm and resolute, representing the necessity and dignity of the cycle.

The interior is organized around contemplation. The central altar holds objects representing both healing and disease: medicinal herbs alongside symbols of pathogens. Light is dim but never dark, creating an atmosphere of peaceful introspection. Separate chambers provide space for meditation and prayer, their walls inscribed with teachings about mortality and acceptance.

A significant feature is the Hall of Offerings, where the afflicted and their families can leave tokens and symbols: a piece of cloth from someone who has recovered, a dried flower representing someone who has passed, written names of those lost to disease. These offerings are preserved and regularly read aloud as an act of acknowledgment—the dead are remembered, and through remembrance, they remain part of the community.

There is also a Sanctuary of Solace, a quiet area dedicated to those mourning loss. Here, grief counselors trained in Morbina's teachings offer guidance. The sanctuary contains libraries of texts about how others have faced mortality, how grief transforms, and how to honor those who have died by continuing to live well.

Many temples house extensive libraries and study areas, filled with texts on medicine, disease, ecology, and the natural balance. These are not merely storage spaces but active centers of learning—scholars come to study patterns of disease, to understand how plagues shape societies, to learn wisdom from the afflictions of the past.

The priesthood of Morbina is organized around circles of understanding rather than hierarchy.

At the center are the Guardians of Equilibrium, wise individuals who have devoted their lives to understanding the patterns of disease and their role in the world. These are not appointed but recognized—they emerge through demonstrated wisdom and the respect of their peers.

Each major temple or sanctuary has a Circle of Healers: physicians, herbalists, scholars, and grief counselors who work together to support their communities. These circles are relatively autonomous, sharing knowledge with other circles but not answering to a central authority.

The faith also recognizes Orders within its structure. The Order of the Natural Balance emphasizes the ecological and philosophical aspects of Morbina's teachings. The Order of the Healer's Hand focuses on practical medicine and care for the afflicted. These orders sometimes have different emphases but work together rather than in opposition.

Decision-making within Morbina's faith is deliberative and consensus-based. Major theological or practical questions are debated by the priesthood across the faith's regions, and decisions emerge through discussion rather than fiat. This reflects Morbina's fundamental doctrine: that balance is maintained through many voices and perspectives working in concert, not through singular authority.

Conversion to Morbina's faith typically comes through personal crisis—an encounter with mortality that cannot be avoided.

Soft entry often begins when someone faces illness or grief and finds that Morbina's framework makes sense in ways other faiths do not. Rather than demanding that suffering be fought endlessly, Morbina's priests ask: "What is this teaching you? What will you learn?" Many come to the faith through healers who practice Morbina's way, finding that the philosophy produces better outcomes than pure denial.

Initiation into Morbina's priesthood is a formal commitment. The initiate must spend a period—typically a month—in one of Morbina's sanctuaries, serving the afflicted and meditating on mortality. They are required to name someone they have known who died, and to acknowledge what that death taught them. They must explicitly state their acceptance of their own mortality, not as a fatalistic surrender but as a conscious acknowledgment of reality. They are then marked with a symbol (often a small scarification or tattoo of the Ouroboros) and given a small token—usually a dried flower or preserved leaf—to carry as a reminder of the cycle.

What makes an enemy rather than a convert: Active denial of disease's necessity. Attempts to eradicate disease entirely through force rather than understanding. Those who mock the afflicted or who refuse to accept their own mortality. Most significantly: those who follow only Salvius and deny Morbina's role entirely. The faith does not often meet such people with hostility, but recognizes them as operating from fundamentally incompatible worldviews.

A devoted follower of Morbina carries themselves with a particular quiet grace born of clear-eyed acceptance.

Date: End of winter, marking the transition to spring.

This festival celebrates the passage through hardship and the beginning of recovery. In communities that have been struck by winter plague or disease, this day marks the point where fewer new cases are occurring and survival rates increase. It is part mourning and part celebration—mourning for those not present to see the spring, but also celebrating the survival of the community itself.

The festival includes the release of white doves or butterflies, symbols of souls freed from the grip of illness and loss. The community gathers for a feast, though it is a modest one—not riotous celebration but rather a shared acknowledgment of having made it through. Stories are told of individual recoveries and of the specific lessons learned during the difficult season.

Date: At the height of any epidemic or major disease outbreak.

This is not a fixed date but rather an observance held whenever Morbina's presence is strongly felt through illness. The community gathers at a Morbina sanctuary or temple for a night-long vigil. The Veil of Suffering (a sacred cloth or tapestry) is displayed prominently. Throughout the night, the stories of the afflicted are shared, not hidden. Names are spoken. The community bears witness to what is happening, refusing to look away from the reality of suffering.

Candles are lit for each person known to be gravely ill. Healers and priests move among the gathering, offering comfort through presence and prayer. By dawn, there is a sense that Morbina's presence has been acknowledged, that the community will now move forward with clearer understanding.

Date: Observed annually on the anniversary of significant epidemics or at the new year.

This day involves reading from the Tome of Afflictions, an ancient record of diseases throughout history and their effects on societies. The readings are not merely medical records but include philosophical reflections—how did this plague change the world? What new wisdom did it produce? What adaptations did it force?

The day is contemplative and scholarly. Communities gather to discuss patterns, to understand how current health and disease situations mirror those of the past, to recognize humanity's resilience through repeated testing. It is a day of quiet study rather than formal ceremony.

Date: Following the end of a major epidemic.

Once a major disease has passed, survivors gather to celebrate their own survival and to honor those who did not survive. The festival is one of mixed emotions—genuine joy at survival, genuine sorrow for those lost. Survivors share their stories of recovery, offering hope to others who may face future illness.

The festival includes ritual bathing—not to cleanse impurity (which is not a concept in Morbina's faith) but rather to mark transition. To wash away the weight of illness and loss and to begin again, knowing what you now know. A person who has recovered from near-death offers a blessing to the community: "We have been tested. We have survived. We understand now what we did not understand before."

When a new disease or epidemic arises, the priesthood performs this ceremony to recognize Morbina's presence and to help the community understand what is happening. The ritual begins with the collection of a sample related to the illness: a vial of blood or other bodily fluid, or a piece of cloth from the afflicted. This is brought before the high priestess, who places it on the altar. Incense is burned, and prayers are spoken acknowledging that disease has entered the community.

The purpose of the ritual is not to invoke Morbina's mercy or to ask for the disease to be removed, but rather to say: "We see you. We know what is happening. We will learn from this." The acknowledgment itself is believed to grant clarity and the ability to respond more wisely.

When the first death occurs from a new disease, a solemn ceremony brings the community together. The deceased is wrapped in a white shroud, and the Glass Tear of Sorrow—the most sacred relic—is displayed. This is a moment of formal mourning and acknowledgment that the disease is real and carries consequence. Prayers are offered asking not for the disease to stop but for Morbina to show compassion: to limit suffering where possible, to teach those who survive.

The ceremony serves as a transition point—the disease has moved from abstract concept to lived reality. The community now understands that this is not merely an illness but a presence that will change them.

Performed regularly during epidemics and also during times of unusual health. Participants form two lines, one representing health and one representing disease. They walk in parallel, chanting hymns dedicated to Morbina. At the temple entrance, they intertwine their lines—a physical representation of the inseparability of health and disease.

Inside the temple, participants place offerings on the Balance Scale, a sacred artifact that the priesthood maintains. On one side go symbols of health (flowers, representations of wellness). On the other go symbols of disease. The scale is kept in perfect balance, representing the eternal equilibrium. As offerings are placed, prayers are spoken asking Morbina to maintain this balance—not to eradicate disease, but to prevent it from overwhelming health entirely.

Families of the gravely afflicted can request that the temple hold a night-long vigil. The Veil of Suffering is draped over the main altar, and candles are lit around it. Throughout the night, community members gather to sit with the family, to share stories of recovery and resilience, to hold space for hope without denying the reality that death is possible.

Healers present offer practical medical updates and guidance. The priesthood offers spiritual support. But the central act is simply bearing witness—the community is telling the afflicted and their family: "We see your struggle. It matters. You are not alone in this."

Held annually to celebrate the end of a major epidemic, or held when epidemics have passed and the community wishes to integrate the lessons learned. A grand gathering brings together healers, scholars, survivors, and families of the deceased. The Tome of Afflictions is read aloud—the records of past plagues and how they changed the world.

Stories are shared of individual transformations—people changed by having faced mortality, perspectives shifted, values reordered. The community eats together, dances together, sings together. There is genuine celebration, but it is celebration that acknowledges what was lost to make it possible. The message is clear: "We have been tested. We have survived. We are different now, and that difference is precious."

During ceremonies, priesthood members wear long, flowing robes dyed in shades of green and brown—the colors of decay and regrowth. The robes are embroidered with patterns resembling botanical forms: the structures of bacteria, the curves of viral particles, the branching patterns of fungal growth. The embroidery is intricate but subtle, beautiful in a way that reminds the observer that these tiny things hold vast power.

A semi-transparent veil worn by high priestesses during major ceremonies. The veil is embroidered with Morbina's holy symbol repeated in intricate patterns. Wearing the veil signals the priestess's willingness to hold space for others' suffering—to not turn away but to witness and hold compassion.

All clergy and devoted followers wear this pendant featuring Morbina's holy symbol—the serpent consuming its own tail, encircling the wilted rose. It is a constant reminder of the cycle that cannot be broken, only participated in.

Soft leather gloves worn during rituals involving the sick or materials representing disease. The gloves are a symbol of careful attention—handling what is dangerous or delicate with respect and caution. They represent both the practical reality of working with disease and the emotional reality of engaging with others' suffering.

Footwear made from natural materials—plant-based leathers, woven plant fibers. The sandals are often adorned with small charms or tokens representing various ailments and the plants that can help treat them. They represent the connection between the earth and the cycle of life and death—rooted in natural process, acknowledging that humans are animals too, subject to the same cycles as all living things.

A sash worn across the chest, typically in a color that contrasts with the Robe of Affliction. The sash is embroidered with the image of a perfectly balanced scale. The sash represents the priestess's commitment to maintaining balance and acknowledging that both health and disease have their place.

For high-ranking clergy, a staff topped with a representation of Morbina's holy symbol. The staff is used during rituals to direct the congregation's focus and to ground the priestess's own energy during ceremonies. It is treated with reverence as a tool for focusing intention.

Lorian was a charismatic bard and wanderer who traveled across lands, spreading joy through music and story. His songs were complex—not merely celebrating happiness but acknowledging the full spectrum of human experience, including the inevitability of disease and death. He composed a particularly hauntingly beautiful ballad dedicated to Morbina, in which he acknowledged her role not as evil but as necessary, and thanked her for what her presence meant about the preciousness of life.

When Lorian contracted a rare and deadly illness, he was still relatively young, still at the height of his creative and physical power. He did not rage against his illness but rather engaged with it—learning from his body's messages, documenting his experience, transforming his suffering into song and verse even as his condition worsened.

As he lay dying, Morbina herself is said to have appeared to him, shrouded in shadow and sorrow. She did not save him; instead, she whispered words of comfort and acknowledgment. When Lorian took his final breath, a single tear fell from the goddess's face onto his cheek. That tear became a relic, preserved as the Glass Tear of Sorrow, and Lorian's final ballad became the faith's most sacred hymn—a song that speaks of the goddess with love rather than fear, that acknowledges suffering while also celebrating the life that contained that suffering.

Varnak stands as a cautionary tale within Morbina's faith. He was a dark sorcerer who became obsessed with the power of disease. Unlike Morbina's priests, who seek to understand disease as part of the natural balance, Varnak sought to weaponize it. He believed that by harnessing the might of plagues, he could control populations and bend nations to his will.

Varnak practiced forbidden rites, delved deep into corrupted texts, and spoke incantations designed to invoke the deadliest afflictions. His actions caused untold suffering and devastation. Villages were decimated by plagues he summoned. Entire regions fell into famine as their populations died.

Morbina, while recognizing his devotion to understanding disease, was appalled by his perversion of that understanding. She does not demand that disease be gentle, but she does demand that it serve the natural balance, not personal ambition. When Varnak attempted to unleash a cataclysmic plague designed to conquer an entire nation, he fell victim to it himself—a poetic justice that many within Morbina's faith believe was the goddess's own intervention. In dying to his own plague, Varnak was incorporated into the cycle he tried to control. He became not a master of disease but a victim of his own ignorance.

Elara spent her life studying the natural world with a scholar's precision and a philosopher's heart. She observed patterns no one else could see: the way that carefully managed disease actually produced healthier populations in the long term; how populations that faced regular culling through plague developed greater resilience; how the fear of disease drove humans to create sanitation and community practices that benefited everyone.

Elara advocated not for accepting disease passively but for understanding it deeply and working with it rather than against it. She established the first sanctuaries where the sick were treated with dignity and compassion while also being studied. She taught that disease was not the enemy but a teacher whose lessons were worth learning.

When Elara died at an advanced age, her work had transformed how many healers approached medicine. Rather than seeing disease as an enemy to be destroyed, they began to see it as something to be understood, managed, adapted to. Elara's writings became foundational texts in Morbina's faith, and she is remembered as the one who gave the faith its philosophical coherence—who showed that accepting Morbina's role did not mean being passive or fatalistic, but rather being deeply engaged with the realities of existence.

How they refer to themselves: the Gardeners or the Keepers of Equilibrium

This sect emphasizes the ecological and philosophical aspects of Morbina's teachings. They study disease in the context of broader ecosystem balances, understanding how culling through illness maintains healthy populations of all species, not just humans. The Order maintains extensive gardens and archives documenting these patterns.

The Order's members are often scholars, herbalists, and environmental stewards. They see Morbina not primarily as a cause of suffering but as a manifestation of nature's perfect wisdom. Their practice involves detailed observation of natural systems and the teaching of others to see disease in this broader context.

The Order emphasizes adaptation and coexistence with disease rather than combat. They develop understanding of how to live sustainably in a world where disease exists and will always exist. Their sanctuaries are often located in natural settings—gardens, forests, near water—where the cycles of life and death are visibly apparent.

How they refer to themselves: the Healers of Morbina or the Compassionate Hand

This sect focuses on the practical care of the afflicted. While accepting Morbina's role, they also work to ease suffering where possible. They are physicians, herbalists, nurses—those who understand that accepting disease's necessity does not mean refusing to help people through it.

The Healers develop sophisticated medical practices informed by centuries of observation. They understand which diseases can be treated and how; which are best managed through comfort care; which naturally resolve; which are incurable. They bring both knowledge and compassion to their work.

The Healers maintain sanctuaries and healing centers throughout the world. They are often the face of Morbina's faith to the general population—people see them as caring for the sick, and gradually come to understand that accepting Morbina's role does not mean being uncaring.

How they refer to themselves: the Enlightened through Suffering or the Truth-Seekers

This heresy argues that Morbina's plagues are not merely natural but are actually necessary for individual spiritual growth—that everyone must willingly expose themselves to disease to achieve true understanding. They believe that seeking to avoid sickness disrupts the natural spiritual path.

The mainstream faith rejects this as a dangerous misreading. Accepting disease's existence is not the same as deliberately pursuing it. Understanding Morbina's role does not require self-harm. This heresy takes an important truth and perverts it into justification for recklessness and suffering that serves no purpose.

How they refer to themselves: the Overcomers or the Triumphant

This heresy posits that Morbina's true desire is not to inflict disease but to test humanity's ability to overcome it. They argue that by mastering medicine and eradicating diseases, they are fulfilling Morbina's ultimate plan—that she is a goddess of challenges, and disease is the challenge she has set.

The mainstream faith sees this as almost identical to Salvius's teaching, just with Morbina's name attached. This heresy denies the fundamental truth that balance is maintained through the coexistence of health and disease, not through the triumph of one over the other.

Founder: Seraphina Darkthorn

Seraphina claims to have received a special revelation from Morbina revealing that the wilted rose in the goddess's symbol actually represents a secret elixir that grants immunity from all diseases. She teaches that once this elixir is found and consumed, the initiate becomes Morbina's chosen one—immortal and invulnerable.

This cult is dangerous because it misinterprets Morbina's fundamental teachings. Rather than accepting mortality, the cult seeks to escape it. Rather than understanding disease, they pursue a fantasy of immunity. The mainstream faith considers them deluded and works to counter their teachings.

Founder: Malachai the Unveiled

Malachai claims that the Ouroboros in Morbina's symbol is a lie—that the cycle of life, death, and rebirth can be broken. He teaches that disease is not part of any natural balance but is a curse that can be lifted if enough power is gathered. He believes that by "breaking the circle," humans can escape the natural order entirely and achieve immortality.

Members of this cult engage in dangerous rituals aimed at breaking the cycle—often harming themselves and others in the process. They are considered among the most dangerous of Morbina's corrupted offshoots.

Founder: Elysia Weepwillow

Elysia, a former high priestess, claims to have been visited by Morbina in a dream where she was given a vial containing the goddess's tear. She asserts that this tear has power to either cure any disease or inflict incurable plagues. She teaches that Morbina can be bargained with—that through significant sacrifices, one can persuade her to use this tear for personal benefit.

The mainstream faith denounces this cult as fundamentally misunderstanding Morbina's nature. Morbina is not a being to be bargained with through sacrifice; she is an aspect of natural order. The cult attracts people who are desperate for cures or vengeful toward others, perverting Morbina's teachings into a tool for personal gain.

(See: Cosmology/Physical Realms/The Shattered Domain)