Many years ago, when the Empire was still young and peace was unknown, a young noblewoman of Varana had been blessed with four sons. As they came of age, this noble lady became obsessed with her sons' safety. She had lost her husband in battle the year before, and her sons were her world ( as it should be for any mother of Varana). The foibles of the fairer sex are well known, and thinking with her heart she forgot that to die in battle for the glory of the Empire is a male's right. This woman instead brought her sons to the temple of Peralia where she gifted the temple all of her jewels and wordly goods, asking that the goddess intercede with her husband Culnul, Lord of the Dead. At such love, it is said that the gentle Peralia was moved.

A light shimmered in the temple, and the woman was shocked to see a beautiful figure. She was dressed in ruby colored robes, embroidered in ebony. Her dark her shown raven in the flickering lights of the temple, her skin the color of alabaster and her dark eyes shining with compassion. The noblewoman and her sons all dropped to their knees in front of the great goddess, not raising their eyes even when her sweet voice echoed in their ears.

"Your devotion to your sons, and your faith in your goddess has pleased me. Because of this, I will grant to your sons my greatest gift."

Now it is not known if this woman had intended to ask that her sons become immortal, or if she merely sought a more peaceful ending than a death on the battlefield, but what happened next is certain. All four young men sunk down to the floor dead, a peaceful smile on each of their faces.

The woman looked horrified then stammered to the great goddess, "My Lady...why?"

The goddess gazed at her with her dark beautiful eyes and responded softly. "I said that I would grant them my greatest gift, and the greatest gift in my power to give is a peaceful death."


The gentle Peralia is the guardian of souls and rules the Realm of the dead at her husband Culnul's side. Whereas many look upon Culnul with fear, Peralia is often invoked to protect the souls of the dead. It is often believed that the souls of the innocent and the just are in her safekeeping. And where those that die a violent death are considered to be claimed by Culnul, those who die peacefully in their sleep are said to be taken by Peralia.

It is said to die for the glory of the Empire is a glorious death. However, the maimed, the deathly ill, the deformed, and the insane are a drain of the families and the economy of the Empire. This is when most of the nobility and the governing bodies turn to the temple of Peralia.

Ministers of Peralia's Blessed Gifts
The High Clergy of Peralia have trained members of their priesthood to be Minister's of Peralia's Blessed Gifts. It is the duty of these priests and priestesses to give a peaceful death to the suffering and the infirm.

When babies are born deformed or too weak to survive, an offering of a ruby is made to the temple to insure a swift and peaceful end. When a solider is maimed in battle and is deemed useless to the Empire, they often choose to give offering to Peralia for a merciful death. In times of plague or sickness, the Empire makes an offering to the temple and those beyond hope for recovery are taken into Peralia's embrace.

The Ministers are said to be as gentle and beautiful as the goddess the serve. They come in the darkest of night, and in private ritual they deliver a painless death. It is said that all chosen to receive this gift are found with a peaceful smile on their faces. They are commanded by the Higher clergy of the temple, and never take payment directly.

Even so, occasionally someone will dispute the deaths. At times the Ministers are accused of murder, but it must be said that these charges are usually dismissed. It is the common belief that none, not even the Brotherhood of the Scales, wish to anger Peralia or more importantly her husband Culnul.