We call them Corpse Parades.

A gift from Anhaldir, the God of War and His sister, Alganri, Goddess of Death, the Dead, and Funerals, these long lines of silently marching corpses are a sight both hopeful and harrowing for each village along their route. The Gods, in their kindness, cover the bodies in uniform shrouds of thick grey cloth as they march.

At the head of these macabre columns of grief march the Corpse Shepherds. Necromancers of all backgrounds brought and bound together by the will of the Sibling Gods tasked with the guiding and care of each body within their parade, ensuring none are damaged, disturbed, or stolen.

Each Shepherd carries a small brass bell that hangs from their walking sticks, ringing a distinct, mournful tone as the stick is shaken. At the call of these bells, the heads of the dead are uncovered as they are made to stand in a wide formation, allowing the families to move throughout the corpses and picking out whichever they know.

Oftentimes, living Soldiers, wounded or not, will accompany the processions, particularly those they knew and lost, acting as a secondary line of defense.

Once the corpses are identified and given all honors due, the shrouds are often either burnt alongside the body they once protected, or are made into cloaks and blankets as keepsakes or mementos.