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Originally posted by Gray Richardson

Kelemvor almost certainly has Myrkul's alias. For those that believe in Myrkul and pray to him as their Paramount deity, Kelemvor probably probably responds to the extent that they feel a presence or some being on the other end of their prayers. Kelemvor would do so in the name of Myrkul, and their faith would be sustained "knowing" that their god is "still alive," despite the rumors.

Upon their death, their spirits would go to the Fugue Plane. Now, here's the tricky part. Kelemvor would probably send an agent to them out in the plain, where they were waiting to be collected by an agent of Myrkul. Would the agent tell the spirit he was from Myrkul? Or level with them and explain what's what? And allow them the choice to come into the city under Kelemvor's aegis?

That's a good question. I'm not sure which way it would be presented to the spirit. Of course, if he continues to maintain he is Myrkul, the spirit will choose to go with. If he levels with the spirit, the spirit has the option to stay or go. If the spirit chooses Kelemvor at that point, no problem. If the spirit refuses Kelemvor and continues to wait, then no other agents of any other deities can talk with that spirit.

Now there's an exception, which is that if the spirit had two patrons, or multiple patrons, then agents of each of those patrons can try to convince the spirit to come with them.

Also, the spirit can be approached by Devils who are allowed to make a pitch to go with them to join the forces of Hell. But they can't lie or directly deceive the spirit. (They probably have ways of dancing around the edges of that pledge not to lie) They can sometimes be pretty persuasive.

Also, while that spirit is waiting, it may be subject to being captured in periodic Demon raids on the Fugue. The longer it waits without being collected, the greater that risk.

Finally, if the spirit ultimately refuses to go on to an afterlife with any god or Devil that may try to collect it, then eventually the soul will be called to judgment. It will feel compelled to wander into the City and present itself to Kelemvor to be weighed.

Kelemvor would very likely present the soul with a final choice at that moment. Join his crew, or be found faithless and sentenced to the wall. Ultimately, it would be up to the soul, at that moment, to decide its own fate. If it accepts Kelemvor, it becomes the same as any of his other faithful. If it maintains it's sole loyalty to a dead god, then it would probably indeed be found "faithless" and be put into the Wall.

That assumes that Kelemvor allows the soul the choice. He might possibly have the right to claim the soul outright if he has possession of the Myrkul alias. The finer points of law on this matter are not all known and may be up to the DM at this juncture.

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Originally posted by Gray Richardson

Myrkul, though, is not exactly "dead". His soul currently resides in the Crown of Horns, last I recall.

To the extent that those folks who pray to the god of the Dead, thinking his name is Myrkul, are praying to the portfolio and not the name, it doesn't matter how they conceive of the personification of the concept. For those folks that did not get the memo that Myrkul "died" and Kelemvor replaced him, it doesn't really matter to them anyway who answer's their "The Dead" related portfolio prayers. Were they to learn that Kelemvor had stepped in, those folks would probably not be all too put out, or would quickly make an adjustment.

To those who were devoted in particular to the personality of Myrkul, those that identify with him so much that they would indeed mind very much to find he was replaced, the alias thing becomes less of a shortcut than a fraud. They may have qualms about going with Kelemvor's agent once they arrive at the Fugue, if they are given the choice.

I would not necessarily argue with you that there should maybe be a cost to a god for adopting another god's alias. Yes, depending on circumstances, a god should have to spend a little effort and perhaps personal expense to claim an alias.

But in this case, Kelemvor would be unopposed. No other god is trying to claim Myrkul's portfolio or name, neither is Myrkul himself challenging Kelemvor for it. Therefore, I would think this particular alias should be free for the taking. In fact, I wouldn't think that it would even need taking or claiming by Kelemvor, but would just be his by default as all prayers to the previous portfolio-holder's name should accrue to the new portfolio-holder automatically, in the absence of a challenge by any other opposing god.

Heck, just for the sake of argument, lets assume Kelemvor never took, or even rejected Myrkul's alias. Upon her death, the Myrkul worshiper would go the the Fugue regardless and wait around for an agent of Myrkul to show up to collect her.

Assuming she didn't have a second or multiple patrons, no other god's agent can approach her. Them's the rules. Only devils can make their pitch, and she might get carried off in a demon raid if she's not lucky (that is, assuming she wouldn't like that sort of thing).

At this point, as ruler of the Fugue, Kelemvor could just decide to send his own agent anyway to explain things to her and ask her if she wants to convert. I see no reason why he couldn't decide to do that.

But even if he doesn't. Once she sits around for awhile, a couple weeks or months, and doesn't get collected by anyone, she will feel "the call" to present herself at the City to be judged.

Okay, now she shows up before Kelemvor again. Same deal. As her judge he can explain things, tell her that Myrkul is dead, that Kelemvor has stepped into his shoes, and ask her if she wants to accept him as her patron then and there.

It all amounts to the same thing. By this point, assuming she didn't run off to join the devils or get dragged off to the Abyss, she will finally be standing before Kelemvor with a choice to make? Become his faithful, or go to the Wall of the Faithless.

Ultimately, the choice will be in her own hands. Kelemvor or the Wall? Her fate will be hers to choose.

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