Neerubis

Neerubis is a fictional deity featured in fantasy literature, role-playing games, and related media. The figure is commonly associated with death, burial, and the preservation of memory, functioning in some settings as a psychopomp who guides souls to the afterlife and as a patron of historical remembrance. In various traditions, Neerubis can be depicted as an anthropomorphic jackal-headed guardian or as a robed, non-anthropomorphic presence that embodies memory and fate. The name’s etymology is not standardized across works and often serves to evoke themes of passage and guardianship.

Worship and practices: In-game and narrative traditions, temples dedicated to Neerubis—often described as Gatehouses of Memory—host rites that blend funerary observances with commemorative acts. Common practices include vigils at tombs, recitation of ancestral names, and offerings such as ink, parchment, or preserved oils intended to preserve memory rather than merely to petition the deity. Some sects emphasize public remembrance, while others focus on intimate rites for families and clans.

Iconography and symbols: Neerubis’ imagery typically emphasizes themes of death and memory. Iconic representations include jackal-headed figures, mirrors or shield-like objects, and symbols such as lunar hourglasses, black obelisks, and intersecting paths that signify the journey of souls and the recording of history.

History and influence: The cult is described in inscriptions and lore from desert regions within several fantasy settings, influencing burial architecture, necropolises, and mnemonic practices. In modern fiction and games, Neerubis is used to explore questions of memory, loss, and the ethics of necromancy through a neutral, mythic lens.