Erlik

Erlik, also known as the Flame Lord, was a minor god of the eastern steppes until his word was carried among the Hyrkanians by a prophet named Tarim.  Erlik's avatar is, indeed, the Living Tarim, appearing in this guise as a human whose face is hidden under a hooded robe.  The Living Tarim sits on a throne in the inner sanctum of Erlik's golden temple in Agraphur.

For this obscure and harsh god, who believes that the soul must be tempered through trial and deprivation, was adopted by those Hyrkanian tribes who went on to found the Turanian Empire, ensuring his everlasting glory.

It is said that Erlik was the first man on earth, but that he was never given a soul by his creator.  When he sought to create life himself to fill the void within him, he was punished by banishment into the depths of the earth.  This not only forged his harsh character, it also made him king of the underworld.  It is in this role that he is named God of the Yellow Hand of Death.

The path of Erlik and the Living Tarim is a difficult one indeed to follow, and many of his priests - who must be male - stray at least partially from it, partaking of alcohol or fornication.  Those however that do follow the strict prescriptions of the Revelations of Tarim are able to wield great power, and terrible necromancy.  They can sink into the earth and command the undead.

, and grants powerful necromantic magic to those of his priests who follow the Révélations of Tarim, that they might raise "those who lack breath".