The Sunrise Lord (Heathen God)

The Sunrise Lord is a Sun God who is also the god of death. Maybe good for a desert culture where the sun bleaches bones clean. The sun is thought of a glowing skull in the sky.

Also Since Sun gives life- perhaps the god of circle of life and death. Perhaps a guide through the whole cycle of life and death. A father figure and mentor and a comfort figure.

A God that people turn to when things get bad. Not a god who causes death, because he himself dies each day, but a god who helps people overcome death, because these people believe in reincarnation. How could they not when they worship a being who dies each night only to be reborn on the dawn then also dying each winter solstice on to rise again after three days and and start the whirl of season all over again.

The Sunrise Lord grants powers of healing and ressurection that are more powerful than normal clerical powers in a Traditional Fantasy setting, but require a full night (the time of ressurection) to take effect. The powers of his clerics also waxes or wanes depending upon the length of day (longer is better).

The Sunrise Lord also requires a tithe, something of significant value must be sacrificed by each of his followers, by fire, on the winter solstice in order to cause his ressurection for the new year.