Grim Borderlands Town - Still Image (Patreon)

I'm a big fan of the Grimdark fantasy genre and how it often depicts the 'realism' or at least, darker side of the medieval world. This genre is going to have a decent influence on some of the locations in my world, and this Borderlands Town is the first real dive into that. My world is mostly a human one, and on the borderlands of civilization, life is particularly cheap. Any rebellion against the status quo is met with harsh consequences. But no matter who you are, or how you die, your body must, I repeat, MUST be looked over by one of the death priest who cover their faces with black and white porcelain masks and that occupy every town in the new world. One lesson learned early by the new inhabitants of this land is that the dead sometimes do not stay dead for long. And with the knowledge and use of magic almost lost from this world, the understanding of why this is has also never been understood. But, the people know that a body must be "processed" quickly after death, otherwise more death may quickly follow.

As always, let me know what you think of this one and what story ideas it inspires for you. Why have these people been subjected to this ritual crucifixion? What does the death priests ritual death ceremony or "processing" looks like? What is happening in this town?