Tale of Blight!

Vel, a 600-year-old vampire who tasked himself with the retrieval of The Excalibur after the hero's death. However, as soon as he's reached the holy blade, one of the 11 greater beings (inhuman monstrosities who have transcended mortal limit) slaughters him gruesomely, ending Vel's goal of preventing such a weapon to reach the hands of beings more malicious than him. A mysterious amount of time later however, Vel finds his conscience and memories fused together with Meir, an optimistic young noble who has lived far longer than he should have. Stuck in a weak body, with an optimistic mindset, Meir escapes the cell he's stuck in and also escapes the town infested with undead. Meir however ends up finding himself in a world way darker than he expected- one that has fallen to the brink of utter destruction.

What has happened since Vel's death?

Why are bright and holy creatures so interested in him?

Most importantly, where have most of the deities went?