The Face of Death is an artbook dedicated to Wraith: The Oblivion. It served as a preview for the game, which was released two months later on August 15.
Summary[]
From the White Wolf catalog:
- Face death. Walk beside the Reaper. Glimpse life after life. Flickering beyond the Shroud.
- Welcome to the theater of one man's mortality. The tableau of his lonely journey -- you, who have felt Night's cold razor. You, whom Fear has touched inside.
- Dare you stare into Oblivion's mirror? Dare you stare into the eyes of the Restless?
- Dare you see the Face of Death?
Background information[]
The "plot" of The Face of Death follows a wraith named Kirk on his journey through the Shadowlands, from reaping until he decides to take up the work of the Ferrymen. Along the way, it introduces many of the concepts and terms found in Wraith.
The rest of Kirk's Story would continue in Sam Chupp's Sins of the Fathers. And another book connected to The Face of Death is Necropolis: Atlanta.
Some of the illustrations within would be reused as covers for the following books: Love Beyond Death and Midnight Express.
The Face of Death is reprinted in 2018's WTO: Wraith: The Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition 
.
Memorable Quotes[]
"The irony is that death, even in death, can't be escaped. And neither can the fear. So deal with it."
Characters[]
- Kirk Rourke - Renegade Wraith
- While not named, illustrations depict the following characters from Sins of the Fathers:
- Jebediah O'Rourke, Anna Rourke, Mama Rourke, Proud Susie, Sharon
Terminology[]
Arcanos, Charon, Code of Charon, Drones, Ferryman, Haunts, Heretics, Hierarchy, Larva, Legion, Masks, Necropolis, Oblivion, Puppetry, Reaper, Relics, Renegade, Shadow, Shadowlands, Spectres, Stygia, Tempest, Thralls, Transcendence, Void, Wraiths,
References[]
| Previous release | Game Books | Next release |
|---|---|---|
| None | Wraith: The Oblivion books | WTO: Wraith: The Oblivion Rulebook
|