Myrkul

Myrkul is a deity within the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of Dungeons & Dragons, associated with death, decay, and the end of all things. She is one of the most prominent figures in the pantheon of deities that govern the world. Myrkul is often depicted as a skeletal figure, sometimes robed, carrying a scythe or other implements of death. Her symbol is a skull with a crown of thorns.

The history of Myrkul is intertwined with the gods Bane and Bhaal, forming a dark trinity of evil deities. Together, they sought to dominate the Realms through fear and destruction. Myrkul's ultimate goal was to see all life extinguished, returning the world to a state of primordial nothingness. Her followers were typically necromancers, assassins, and those who embraced despair and the inevitability of death. They often performed dark rituals and sought to hasten the decay of life.

During the Time of Troubles, a period when gods walked the mortal plane, Myrkul was slain by the combined efforts of the gods and mortals. However, her essence was not entirely destroyed. Later, a mortal named Karsus attempted to steal the divine power of Mystra, the goddess of magic, in a bid to achieve godhood. While Karsus's attempt failed catastrophically, his actions inadvertently allowed a fragment of Myrkul's divine spark to return to the mortal realm. This fragment eventually coalesced into a new form, re-establishing Myrkul as a deity. The reborn Myrkul is often depicted with a renewed focus on death's inevitability and the preservation of the cycle of life and death, though her darker aspects and desire for dominion over the end of things remain. Her followers continue to be those who revere death and the cessation of existence.