Essay Palid Princess - Followers practices and beliefs

[Queen Belle]

The Esoteric Understanding of Undeath:

1. The Unending Cycle of Transformation: While mortals perceive a linear progression from life to death, my devotees recognize a ceaseless cycle of metamorphosis. Undeath is not stagnation but an act of becoming – a step into a liminal existence where flesh gives way to a new essence. It's a fusion of self and unliving matter that allows the undead to become their ideal selves over long epochs, free of fleshly constraints, able to change freely, with each step. A ghoul is just that initial step in what could evolve into an unholy vampire of legend through refinement over time, even changing into new forms of existence entirely. With that change brings evolution to other planes beyond Golarion itself. Each reanimation of my influence is a potential seed of change in some form or fashion that becomes more apparent as it takes shape through time itself. They don’t see a limitation in change in one particular direction but a way to grow eternally beyond what could be expected of most life forms. The act of undeath itself holds infinite layers.
2. The Divine Resonance Within Necromancy: Necromancy, in the hands of my clergy, transcends mere manipulation of flesh. It is a divine symphony, using death energies to compose the new creations of existence. My divine essence infuses each animation, weaving new unlife into being, leaving small portions of myself behind with every success, so in doing so these acts become a way that I too shall continue forever and never be lost. To understand my favor through unholy magic such as this grants that knowledge also to those that seek to serve me, so as to give power beyond measure, creating those that could rise to be forces that even mortals must show consideration too when speaking or contemplating our designs.
3. The Shattering of the Soul-Shackle: The clerics of Pharasma preach of the soul's supposed 'proper journey'. We instead perceive that the soul is tethered to the physical form. Through undeath, my followers work on severing these chains. They seek not just immortality, but the liberation of their own consciousness through these means. The essence trapped in the form of the deceased can also become the means of unlocking even further growth within the realm of their crafts as new forms are found, studied, manipulated, and made one with each successive ritual, making that singular being capable of things never expected of simple mortal beings. There is no true death in our practice only limitless potential. In the act of rejecting her ideals my followers seek to evolve far past her limited form of existence, allowing each act to give me strength and influence by defying her at every possible juncture that they are afforded through her ignorance of our potential.
4. The Gluttony of Experience as the Highest Aim: My brand of gluttony is far deeper than any base urge. It's an insatiable hunger to taste the totality of existence, even when no flesh should have the option or is even considered possible in any measure. Undead do not have to merely repeat the actions of mortals they become capable of actions no life would otherwise dare consider. The accumulation of unlife, dark lore, and influence over mortals, even with all the risks it brings, are all equally valid forms of nourishment for both the unliving as well as those who make their unlife possible. Thus, true devotees follow every pathway, be it power or lore, each unique opportunity allows them a taste to add to the never-ending feast, bringing themselves and I together on a path of eternal advancement into greatness beyond reckoning. For why should all possibilities not be open? If I should hold an end goal and then stagnate after that victory then it should also be asked of myself; “why that particular choice?” For my choices are made for all not just to my current whims. We should evolve always for my designs, not only by my design, which grants greater favor in return, showing those true followers to be one in understanding with my wishes. The mortal desires that are simple in base desires have their usefulness, of course, as this simple beginning of all life creates opportunity in the long view for these deeper levels that they are simply unequipped for at current moment of their progression, and therefore the lesser urges become merely foundations that the grand temple of progress rests upon, through each and every life that I reach out for my own design, never abandoning it or those who do their best to serve in kind. For my design is never ending just like unlife should also not end either.

Transcendental Practices and Rituals:

• The Ritual of Perpetual Hunger: A sacred practice where devoted practitioners fast, meditating on their longing to forever exist beyond their own fleshly constraints until the first bite is of an acceptable and worthy new creation of our own design. The ceremony continues after the consumption is finished to represent the never-ending hunger and thirst to continue onward evermore beyond expectations. In each and every meal there is both the taste of the beginning, where we started and the potential that lies ahead which should fuel more and new acts. A ceremony for understanding in reflection what was gained. Thus the consumption of knowledge becomes something to be coveted and worshiped. Not only with food in general or from just flesh or body parts. There are many avenues to be sampled and to learn of the past by doing so. Even what should seemingly hold no flavor or meaning in others' eyes is worthy of sampling as all aspects offer a unique taste. In particular locations such as Ustalav or even deep in the vast ruins of Osirion itself the secrets held there often require that an item of age should be consumed to taste of it what secrets it had held in ages gone. Each such act a great reward for an open mind and those with strong stomach as some have unique and unexpected changes to all involved.
• Communion with Ancient Blights: Devotees seeking transcendent insights journey to forgotten places, such as the sites of old plagues within The Gravelands and within Osirion's fallen barrows, to meditate on the nature of corruption itself. They open themselves up to such sickness, embracing decay as a vehicle of new existence through new growth that stems from our worship. Even the bones left there speak of unique change if understood by the right supplicant. Allowing growth into powers and knowledge most can only hope of achieving. With some areas carrying secrets that require great resolve from the follower and the potential that the seeker would find nothing but maddening chaos and failure is often just another risk we take in pursuit of perfection and greatness. Such practices should never stop. No potential unlearned for fear of something as mundane as pain or the potential to perish as true devotees live, breath, think, feel as beings much like us yet still unlike them as the desire and hunger burns eternal to find a path toward the greatness of their Goddess, the Pallid Princess of Decay.
• The Dance of Rebirth and Re-death: Elaborate, ritualistic dances often accompanied by death chants where initiates go through a metaphorical journey through decay, ending in re-animation – representing their commitment to their goals with true devotion. The re-death at the end is to make it known that to be reborn you must truly destroy that old self and with the new unlife allow our great goals to become reality.