Nox, the Shepherd of Death

Nox is the Shepherd of Death. He was created by Guul in the First Era, and since Guul was sealed away, Nox has largely taken over his domain. Nox is responsible for claiming the souls of those who die, and bringing them to the realm of whichever deity claims them.

The Librum ad Finem mentions Nox as one of the deities who will bring about the end of Somara.

Origins and Creations
Nox was created by Guul, with the purpose of aiding him in his schemes. To this end, he tasked Nox with delivering him the souls of every creature that died.

However, Talus and Vikyn attempted to intervene, and Nox and Vikyn fought bitterly on many occasions.

After the Elder Gods were sealed away, Nox took over the Domain of Death. Shortly afterward, he and Vikyn (who had taken over from Talus) reached an agreement: Nox would still claim the souls of the dead, but he would instead allow any deity to claim that soul, and would then deliver the soul to that deity's realm.

Appearance
Nox does not often appear to mortals, preferring to take on a more behind-the-scenes role. When Nox does show himself to them, he normally appears as a dark-robed, pale-skinned humanoid, often resembling an elf, with dark hair and pitch-black eyes. He wears a long black hooded robe and carries a scythe with him, the touch of which is said to be able to pull a creature's soul from its body. His torso is always covered by his robe, leading some to theorize that it is actually a void where he stores souls for transport, though this has never been confirmed. Though his head and face contains flesh, his arms and legs typically appear to be skeletal.

Personality
Nox is always reserved, sometimes to the point of complete silence. He is very patient and courteous, showing respect to the mortals he interacts with. Nox rarely shows much in the way of emotion, carrying out his tasks with a serious, often grim demeanor. Nox rarely seems to interfere in the affairs of mortals, save when they threaten his ability to carry out his task.

Worship
Nox has an interesting mix of worshipers. Some attempt to use the powers he occasionally grants as a means of attempting to avoid death, though he rarely (if ever) grants the secrets of immortality to his followers. These types of worshipers tend to be evildoers, and they typically attempt sacrifices to Nox in the form of souls to curry his favor. As a result, they are often shunned by society, and are relegated to cults or hidden worship. People who serve Nox in this way typically are clerics of the Death Domain, paladins of the Oath of Treachery, or warlocks of the Pact of the Undying.

There are some, however, who worship Nox in another manner. They seek to preserve the natural cycle of life and death, and see undead as a violation of this. The Brotherhood of the Black Skull is one such organization, a group operating in the southern half of Maltou, made up of clerics of the Grave Domain, druids of the Circle of Twilight, and paladins of the Oath of the Grave.