Of Aeliad

OF AELIAD

THE GREAT AWAKENING
In the beginning, there is chaos. All that exists are the Elements themselves, raw, unbridled, without form or purpose – Aeros, Aguos, Ignos, Terros, Helios and Thanatos. They are each separated from each other by the unbreakable force the druids refer to as Eden, a force of pure existence and creation.

And the structure of the universe was thus: that there were six Planes of existence, each being the home of one of the Elements, and they floated freely around and among each other; and the space between them was what we now refer to as the Astral Plane, the unlimited dimension of emptiness and what is believed to be the source of all creation in the universe, the body of Eden.

Somewhere in this time, amid this sea of chaos, the six primal forces in the cosmos became self-aware. Each inhabited its own reality, each simply being the collective mind of its respective Elemental force. But they were quite aware of each other. Seeking more in the universe, the four minds of Aeros, Aguos, Ignos and Terros engineered to bind together the forces of positive and negative energy in a grand experiment. At this point, the Planes shifted and intersected each other, aligning to form the Inner Circle of the cosmos and creating a seventh Plane of existence, the Material Plane. They then used their power to combine and seal together Helios and Thanatos, forcing the two to coexist at the center of the Circle. The result was the first true life on the newly formed Material Plane.

THE PLANAR EXPLOSION
Helios and Thanatos did not appreciate this. They sought to break free. Their first attempt at this failed, but the effort had a great effect. It sent a cosmic ripple out from the center of the universe. The half from Helios rippled mainly through the Planes of Aeros and Aguos, while the half from Thanatos traveled through Ignos and Terros. The ripple reached far past the Inner Circle to the furthest reaches of the void, where the energy exploded into new existence, creating the eighth and ninth Planes. High above the Inner Circle lay the magnificent realm of Celestia, and below sat the festering pit of Enfernia.

At their second attempt, Helios and Thanatos managed to break free of their planar bonds. This had an even larger effect on the universe than their first attempt. First, the two planes left a sort of shadows in the spaces that they had occupied. The result was the formation of the tenth and eleventh Planes; the Ethereal Plane occupied the shadow of Helios, and the Umbral Plane inhabited the spectre left by Thanatos.

THE ORIGIN OF THE GODS
The second effect was more complicated. The Inner Circle was exploded outwards by an unfathomable force. The Planes of Air, Water, Fire and Earth no longer intersected each other at the Material Plane. The impact of the explosion shattered the minds of each Elemental force into a near-infinite number of pieces. Each shard of sentience was then able to form into its own self and take physical form, thus creating life on each Elemental Plane. But the greatest of each shard was formed into the deities, governors of the creatures of their respective Planes. Helios and Thanatos, freed from their bonds, somehow emulated this process, though their respective Planes are much more scarcely populated than those of their peers, and their deific bodies are somewhat greater in stature.

And the gods worked for eons in the wake of their experiment, shaping their respective Planes as they saw fit and ruling over the lesser creatures that inhabited them. Now, when sentient creatures began to appear on the Material Plane, the deities started to take an interest in observing their interactions. Although the energies of all the Elemental forces had created the physical matter of the Material Plane, and Helios and Thanatos were the key to birthing the truly living creatures that inhabited it, it is in this period that the gods began to pour their direct influence onto their child. Each deity took a great interest in the dealings of a particular race of beings and led them into the world, helping them develop and sharing their knowledge with them. The deities became the patron gods of the early civilizations of their respective races on the earth.

THE GOLDEN AGE
Life had begun to spread vigorously throughout Aeliad, all the races still curious and fresh from the hands of their gods. The Trall immediately began claiming large amounts of territory inside and outside of the desert, beginning an extensive but somewhat unstable network of tribal communities. Eventually, they dared to stray into the realm of the Elves along the Eastern coasts. The Elves took great offense to the trespassers. The immediate response of the Elves was war, and the two races would remain at each other's throats for the rest of the age. Some Elves thought it better to peacefully relocate to the North and West, but even they still hold their long grudge against the Trall. Humanity stayed close to the rivers and coasts, usually out of the way of the what they considered to be the dangerous races until they worked together to form a stronger, well-developed community. The Dwarves quickly developed their Kingdom of Amethyst and became very closed-off from the rest of the world. The Halflings remained in their thriving country, and shared much with their Human friends. Most insidious of the races, the Drow brooded in their dark caverns, virtually unheard of by the other races.

OF THE PATRONAGE
Aixania, the Governess of Aguos, shined upon the noble Elves along the lake and showered them with her love and knowledge. They received from her a great understanding and appreciation for the arts and the world around them. The Elves became the first philosophers and historians and mapmakers on the earth. Their Lady showed them the way to build sailing ships in which to sail across the seas, and those that returned from their voyages recorded what they found on the other side of the world, but most of that knowledge remained hidden from even their own kind. Eventually, some found the means to exist deep in the depths of the waters, living in harmony with the creatures beneath the surface while those on the surface remained in their quest for knowledge.

In the harsh wastelands of the scorching desert, Malenfere, the Governor of Ignos, came across the fierce race of the Trall, who were struggling to survive the blistering days and freezing nights. But the Trall marched on with a warrior's resolve, the females as fierce as any of the men. The god saw their strength and admired their great fortitude and tenacity. He fed their fiery passion to survive, and they flourished, and built the first settlements in the desert. He gave them the power to defend themselves against the terrors in the wastes, and to expand their influence throughout the land, crushing all those who stood in the way of their advancement. Their tribal society soon ruled the desert.

The sorcerous ways of the Drow caught the eye of Morodrum, the Governor of Thanatos. He observed their dark society underneath the earth. The Drow did not fear death, they embraced it. They made sacrifices to the dark god to feed his hunger and to keep their numbers in check. To the Drow, who shared their territory with some of the deadliest creatures in Aeliad, death was simply a part of life, and possibly a means to great power. They had dabbled in the art of Necromancy, seeking to gain mastery over life and death. The Governor of Death smiled his smirking smile upon them, aiding them in their search for the secrets of life beyond death.

Harbolin, the Governor of Terros, discovered the Dwarves hiding in the hills and the mountains, and he was attracted and bemused by their love of finely crafted things, both beautiful and practical. The stern deity was enchanted by the idea of such wonderful things emerging from the earth he had created, and he urged the Dwarves to delve even deeper and uncover the treasures beneath the mountains. He lent them the strength to hew through the rock and stone as well as through the predators that lay underground. They began to carve out what was to become the Great Kingdom of Amethyst and discovered all the different sorts of jewels and metals with which they crafted marvelous works of art and battle.

The kind eye of Lycanon, the Governor of Helios, gazed upon the humble race of Halflings, who valued good food and song over hoards of gold and glory in battle. Halflings inhabited the beautiful places in Aeliad – the green pastures and golden fields of the Great Plains and along the peacefully flowing rivers. Lycanon saw through what others would call quaint, saw the wisdom in their simple ways, but he also realized their vulnerability. He rejoiced for their merriment and happiness and gave them the strength to defend their beloved peace against attack. The sun has shone benevolently upon the lands of the Halflings since even the oldest and wisest Thain can remember.

The Humans proved to be the most versatile and resilient of all the races, and they were spread out all over Aeliad. Possessing no special talents besides their sheer will to survive, the Humans were forced to defend themselves against many different and vicious dangers in the world. In spite of all the adversity they faced, Humanity maintained fledgling empires, lucrative trading operations with the other races, and a diverse culture. Spiria, the Governess of Aeros, was impressed by their great willpower and adaptability. She saw how in some ways they resembled the currents of the wind, changing to suit their environment. Their opportunistic behavior also seemed to fancy her, as she shared the same whimsical nature. She blessed them on their travels and lent them fleetness of foot and mind.

THE TERRIBLE ERA
Some time afterwards, for reasons unknown, Morodrum became insane with a ravenous hunger for souls. He burst forth from his home of Thanatos and swept like a dark cloud over the Material Plane. No longer content with the natural cycle of life and death, he sought to feast upon as many lives as he could and began to reap the Material Plane unceasingly and at random. This was the start of the Unbalancing.

What ensued on the Material Plane was not a time of peace. It was a dark time indeed. Natural disasters of all forms wracked the world. The earth shook. The winds raged. The seas writhed and flooded the land. The ancient mountains awoke and erupted with flame. During this time, the races fought against nature and against each other, struggling to maintain their civilization. It is understood that the tensions from racial expansions initiated fighting on a worldwide scale. It was the Drow that started it. They unleashed their armies en masse upon the neighboring kingdom of the Dwarves. It was then that the other races realized what the Drow had been doing all the last age – they had been gathering strength to take the world of the Dwarves and their fortune and their territory. The Dwarves were easily overwhelmed and the Drow began to look past them and on to the others.

The Trall took advantage of the situation and began to expand further into the Elven lands, but were soon swept up in the conflict against the Drow and were forced to abandon their new territory and retreat to the desert. Humans and Halflings came to the assistance of the exhausted Elven and Dwarven forces. Everywhere there was death, chaos, and destruction. Of course, all this proceeded to give Morodrum massive amounts of energy, and his followers were given strength in turn from their dark deity. This was the hour of despair.

THE BATTLE OF EDEN
It was during this time that the gods again took physical form on the Material Plane, during the struggle to shackle Morodrum back into Thanatos and preserve the life they had created. The four Elemental gods succeeded in the end, three having sacrificed their physical forms. Malenfere struck the final blow, driving Morodrum back to his home. The turning point had been reached. The deific shackles on their dark god caused the Drow to falter. Without the power of Morodrum at their disposal, the other struggling races were finally able to keep the Drow at bay and, after a long struggle, force them back into their deep home under the Northern Wastes.

But Malenfere, greatly weakened by the battle, was approached by a mortal, the creature called Hextor, who proceeded to attack the god of Fire and take immortality by force. He succeeded. 

Divinity is not something one can merely step into. It is perhaps the most intangible quality one can possess, and certainly the most potent. A man does not even in his wildest fantasies dream of obtaining that power. The gods are sacred and untouchable, necessary, and the world would be lost without them. The mere idea of becoming one is blasphemous. How Hextor did what he did, not even the wisest sages know. Perhaps even the gods themselves do not know. They had managed to avert total catastrophe, but in doing so, they unknowingly allowed the rise of one who would come to be known as the Tyrant. One thing is for certain – the gods did not approve of this new turn of events.

OF HEXTOR
This is a being whose full title has been lost to the blood of history. There are several different legends regarding the identity of Hextor before the Terrible Era. Some are ridiculous or lack credibility. Some said he was the military leader of some forgotten king across the seas. Another claims him to be a blacksmith. One of the most prominent and detailed accounts claims that he was in fact a grand emperor who reigned over the old civilization in the Scarab Desert as Lord of the Trall. Even in his high authority the Lord craved more power over the land and its inhabitants. His arrogance and lust for greater power extended to finding a means of rising above the status of a mere mortal and enslaving the entire world as a god, or so the tale says.

Perhaps it was not entirely a bad thing for Hextor to rise. He had the mind of a politician as well as a warrior, and his first initiative was to restore a semblance of order in the aftermath of Morodrum's wrath and the Battle of Eden. Having (for lack of a better term) eaten Malenfere, he had the prerogative to govern Ignos, but he was restricted in his actions. Hextor's occupation of the Plane was causing a cosmic unbalance that would have eventually unraveled the Inner Circle and torn apart the Material Plane had he not acted swiftly. He reinforced command upon the Plane of Fire in the guise of Malenfere, and instated the Pyrian Trinity, a body of the three most powerful elementals in Ignos, to maintain order over their lessers and keep each other in check. Satisfied that all was well with the Plane of Fire as well as the Circle, Hextor severed his tie to Ignos and departed for an unknown location, where he began constructing his design to overtake the Material Plane and gain utter control over it.

A NEW AGE
This was an age of reconstruction and of enlightenment, on the Material Plane as well as the Inner Circle. The gods are, for the most part, absent from this period, and without the guidance of their deities, some members of the races began to stray from the path chosen for them. The Patronage was mostly forgotten, and fell into legend. Clerical worship of the gods was almost completely thrown to the wayside. Those who still revered the old ways were shunned and patrons of the gods were often treated no differently from the evil and treacherous sorcerers from the Badlands. But even in the midst of the world’s newfound disgust with religion, one god remained. If you recall, Lycanon played no part during the Terrible Era, as he could take no form on the Material Plane, and so the Governor of Helios had survived the Battle with his full strength intact. That influence was put to its full use during the Reconstruction. This era marked the beginning of a new Patronage.

A few years after the Battle of Eden, a man came out of the East. Throughout most of the Reconstruction, this man took it upon himself to rebuild the relations between the races and to give what help he could to the Human masses, who had suffered most grievously from the assaults of the Drow. His efforts were known world-wide, and especially among the Humans, who made him their saint and champion. The charity of this man was, if possible, only outshined by his prowess in battle. He was called "Invincible," and it was said that no living man could match his swordsmanship. This man developed quite a large number of individuals who shared his faith in this cause, and he and his followers formed the First Church in Aeliad. The Church was not as we think of a church in these days, but rather a sort of fraternal order of goodwill. It was also somewhat of a police force that kept order in and defended the cities. For two decades the Church protected the Coast, but it met its end after the destruction of Kartslan, which we now know as Tyrus. The Invincible and the Church fell into legend. This man's name was Heironeous, and he was the brother of the Tyrant. He was the living emissary of Lycanon in Aeliad.

THE RISING POWER
Following the reconstruction of Tyrus, a new organization appeared in the kingdom of Men. Hextor had somehow created a religious group that worshipped him and committed to his ways of brutal dictatorship and the idea of survival of the fittest. This cult soon took nearly total control over Tyrus, functioning as the power behind the throne. The Circle of Hextor sought to gain control over the rest of the dominion of Man, but dared not approach the capitol of Mynoren for the wrath of the Last Lightbringer, Derian Alderos, and the Blade of Purity. So, Hextor's followers moved east to the Azure Mountains, and created a fortress base, which would later become the city of Galewind, situated on the largest and most-used pass over the mountains in an effort to control trade between Mynoren and the eastern kingdoms, Asylve, Calophaen, and the Dwarven Kingdom of Amethyst.



OF THE SIX

LYCANON- The Governor of Helios
Lycanon is the giver of Life, the guardian of all existence in Aeliad. He resides in the Hall of Marble in Edenia. Though unwilling in the creation of Aeliad, he was greatly bemused and interested in it later. Lycanon is the only deity to have never taken physical form on the Material Plane; his presence has been felt there, but never has he taken a body unto himself. Even during the Battle of Eden, he relegated himself to the sidelines, lest the others failed to stop Morodrum, forcing him to take matters into his own hands, which would have resulted in almost complete annihilation of the Material Plane. Lycanon is also the friend of celestials, and he has taken part in the Blood Wars against the armies of the Nine Hells and the hordes of the Abyss.

The rise of Hextor greatly troubled Lycanon, but after Hextor's disappearance from the Planes of the Inner Circle, Lycanon turned his attention elsewhere. He took it upon himself to give aid to the good races of Aeliad during the beginning of the Second Age, sending the mortal Heironeous as his herald to lead the way during the reconstruction of the western kingdoms. After the return of Hextor and his follower's campaign against the kingdoms of Men, Lycanon raised Heironeous from the dead and into godhood, endowing him with the power and responsibility to stop Hextor and his servants.

Lycanon is the patron deity of the Halfling race, protecting their peace-loving culture against the dangers in the world. As he is quite aware, that peace is vulnerable, as Halflings were never renowned for their great battle-prowess; and so Lycanon has sought the aid of Humans in securing peace for their community. Many of Humans and the other good races also count among his followers, especially in the Kingdom of Mynoren, the great ally of the Halfling society on the Great Plains. Lycanon teaches his followers the value of life and love. He is a gracious and forgiving deity, but is often forced to show his wrath towards those who wrong him or his followers. His clerics are trained to root out the evils in the world, to protect the weak and spread his teachings to those who wish to listen. His followers tend to be zealous, but not overly so. Lycanon offers his followers the power to heal the sick, the light to guide the way, and the strength to protect the innocent.

Portfolio: Peace, prosperity, the sun.

Domains: Healing, Protection, Sun.

Favored Weapon: Mace, Morgenstern.


MORODRUM- The Governor of Thanatos
Morodrum is the godly embodiment of Death in the universe, who resides in the Hall of Obsidian in Edenia. Morodrum was originally forced into his role as reaper of souls during the creation of the Material Plane. At first, he was jealous of his siblings' power to actually shape and create life, but over time he gradually accepted his charge with enthusiasm. He, like all the other deities, eventually discovered a race in Aeliad that he deemed worthy of his guidance, specifically, the Drow. Unlike many of the other 'ignorant' creatures in Aeliad, the Drow very much understood the nature of Death instead of blindly fearing it. Unfortunately, his growing sense of responsibility would ultimately lead to his downfall.

Morodrum was targeted by the mortal Hextor as part of his scheme to steal immortality. Through Hextor's efforts, Morodrum was essentially stripped of his station, his power, his responsibility, and was forced to watch in horror the effects of a world without Death. This torment broke Morodrum's spirit and drove him into the depths of utter insanity. Spending his time thrashing around blindly in anger and despair, he was unfortunately allowed to manifest on the Material Plane when Hextor created a portal to Thanatos. After taking revenge on his tormentor, Morodrum reverted back to his most primal state of mind and began to reap the Material Plane unceasingly and at random. Eventually, he was directly confronted by the other deities on the Plains of Beauty and his reign of Death was ended. His physical form was destroyed, and the crows dragged his shackled spirit back to his home on Thanatos. The crows took over his duties on the Material Plane, delivering the souls of the dead to Thanatos as he lay in slumber, his strength and sanity slowly returning to him.

While not evil, always Morodrum has been somewhat antagonistic towards his siblings (most especially Lycanon), a trait which stems from his jealously of their power to create. While initially hesitant towards his duties, Morodrum became more and more interested in the world and how he fit into the grand experiment his siblings had created, especially after discovering the Drow and witnessing their art of Necromancy. This dark magic actually seemed to create something from Death, and Morodrum could not help but become fascinated with it. Some would say he perhaps became a bit too eager in his duties and almost arrogant at times, which made him susceptible to the madness Hextor forced upon him. Morodrum never completely recovered from his madness, and his personality has been permanently twisted into something brooding and mischievous. He now takes a perverse pleasure in harvesting souls, and even twisting them into profane mockeries of life. The other deities recognize this as a potential threat to the entire world, should he ever be allowed back onto the Material Plane.

Portfolio: Death, magic, punishment.

Domains: Death, Magic, Trickery.

Favored Weapon: Scythe, Voldhaine.


MALENFERE- The Governor of Ignos
Malenfere is the Elemental god of Fire, a personification of strength, passion, and struggle. He resides in the Hall of Iron in Edenia. He is sometimes looked upon as a defender of Eden and after conflict commissioned the weapons which Harbolin made. Throughout the ages, whenever soldiers march into battle, they are driven forward by the flames of Malenfere. He is the patron deity of the Trall, whose tribal society reflects his love of battle and reverie.

When the insane Morodrum broke loose and threatened the world, he led his siblings into battle against him. Malenfere proved the last one standing in the wake of the battle, his flaming axe having defeated the mad Death. Unfortunately, weary from the fighting, he was approached by the mortal Hextor, who attacked Malenfere and stole immortality for himself. Hextor usurped Malenfere's position as the governor of Ignos in the wake of the Terrible Era and kept the Plane of Fire from spiraling into absolute chaos. The spirit of Malenfere fell into a deep torpor and was left bound with the power of Hextor until the rise of Heironeous, whereupon he was reborn from the flames of struggle and released from his slumber. The infant Malenfere was delivered by Heironeous back to his home on Ignos, where he would soon recover his full strength and regain his throne in the City of Brass.

Malenfere is somewhat proud and bordering on arrogant at times. He respects and values his siblings, but still believes himself to be superior. What began as a cruel joke and spite towards Aixania after the grievance of the Trall blossomed into his patronage of them, and the two deities have been at each other’s throats since the early days of the Patronage. He values strength and survival above all else, and expects his followers to be strong of body and mind, often testing them to root out the weak. A lust for power is sometimes founds among his worshippers, who often view the end as justifying the means. Typical followers of Malenfere include his patron race, the Trall, Humans (especially those who inhabit the desert), and some Dwarves. No self-respecting Elf would worship Malenfere, due to the intense and long-standing rivalry between the Elves and the Trall, and Aixania and Malenfere.

Portfolio: Conquest, hunting, strength, war.

Domains: Destruction, Fire, War.

Favored Weapon: Axe, Tuhrag.


HARBOLIN- The Governor of Terros
Harbolin is the master of the Earth, who possesses a stern gaze, a fiery heart and a resolve of forged iron. He resides in the Hall of Stone in Edenia. He has a great love of beautiful craft of stone and of metal, and takes great pride that such marvels are come from the earth he shaped. In the early days he was given by Malenfere the Fire of the Forge, and it was Harbolin who forged the first weapons for his kindred and lent his great vitality to the building of their communal home in Eden. He is the patron deity of the Dwarven race, and it was he who discovered the Dwarves and led them into the world, funding their efforts as they carved out a great long kingdom upon the Azure Mountains, which he himself raised to be their home.

When the Age of Terror swept across Aeliad, Harbolin fought alongside his siblings against Morodrum’s wrath. The hammer fall of the Scragborn shook the very earth as he fought, but ere the battle ended he was forced to withdraw. Gravely wounded, and he sealed himself in a casket of stone while he recovered his strength. When the time came, he would burst forth with renewed vigor and return to the Hall of Marble and his mighty throne.

Harbolin is regarded more as an older brother than a father to the Dwarves, and he harbors a particular disdain for the Drow, whom he accuses of attempting to pervert his followers and lure them into the dark. Harbolin has little interest in the dealings of the other gods and their patrons, and he is somewhat insular, a trait which he shares with the Dwarves. He is rather stubborn, his will as hard as stone. He is slow to anger, and sometimes slow to forgive, and he lacks patience for niceties or deception, which he regards as having the same intent, and therefore he is straightforward but not uncouth, and he respects and is well-respected by the other deities. Other than the Dwarves, some members of other races, specifically Humans, worship Harbolin, such as miners and great craftsman who wish for his blessing in their work.

Portfolio: Architecture, craft, the earth.

Domains: Earth, Plant, Strength.

Favored Weapon: Warhammer, Scragborn.


AIXANIA- The Governess of Aguos
Aixania is the patron deity of the noble Elves on the land and in the seas, the stern lady of the Water. She resides in the Hall of Emerald in Edenia. It was she among all her siblings that first ventured into Aeliad and first marvelled at its beauty. It was she who gave knowledge to the Elves and taught them to harness the power of magic. It was with her aid that the Elves discovered the means to live underneath the waves and build their undersea realm of Haisle'Aynh. Aixania is wise and noble, and very generous towards her loving subjects. To the Elves, Aixania is a kind, almost motherly figure. However, her kind demeanor is violently stripped away and replaced with the fury of a raging tempest when dealing with the Trall, due to her ages-long rivalry with her brother Malenfere and the Trall's past offenses against the Elves. Aixania taught her children the art of swordplay and powerful magics with which to defend themselves from their Trall enemies.

Aixania assisted in the Battle of Eden alongside her siblings, hampering Morodrum with her powerful magics. But she was not a warrior, and was eventually cut down by the Voldhaine during the battle. The Elves felt her pain as her physical form was destroyed, and they sent the gulls to carry her spirit home to Aguos. They placed her at the bottom of the Crystal Reef, where she would lie in slumber for some time, recovering her strength.

Elves are the primary worshippers of Aixania, but some Humans also count among her followers, especially sailors and those who live on or around the seas. Aixania values knowledge above all else, and her followers are taught to gain wisdom from wherever they can, and to pass on that knowledge to any who wish to learn. This includes the art of magic, which was a gift to the Elves from Aixania herself.

Portfolio: Knowledge, magic, the seas.

Domains: Healing, Knowledge, Water.

Favored Weapon: Spear, Deep Partisan.


SPIRIA- The Governess of Aeros
Spiria is the deific manifestation of the Elemental force of Air, one of the six original beings in the universe. She resides in the Hall of Mithril in Edenia. During the Golden Age of Aeliad, Spiria took the Human race under her wings, becoming their patron deity. Like her siblings, Aixania, Harbolin, and Malenfere, the elder Spiria took it upon herself to intervene during the Terrible Era, and the four confronted the insane Morodrum on the Plains of Beauty, an event that would become known as the Battle of Eden. Spiria was not a warrior, and although she fought valiantly, she was inevitably overwhelmed by Morodrum and her physical form was destroyed. Her broken spirit was carried by the eagles back to Silver Citadel in Aeros, where it would lie dormant for some time. The Humans, along with the other races in Aeliad, were forced to leave their Patronage behind as they began to rebuild their world in the wake of the Terrible Era.

Spiria has always been somewhat of a whimsical young woman in terms of her personality, although her elder form (prior to the Battle of Eden) was a bit more solemn and serious, and the wrath she has shown towards the Weeper shows that she does have a bit of a dark side. Spiria is, above all, gracious and forgiving towards her subjects, even towards (besides the one notable exception) those who shun her guidance and turn to the darkness. She simply sighs and laments their loss with Baleful Harp in hand. Spiria has a love of communal activities and entertainment, most especially music. It has been said that many a weary traveler has been led homeward by the sound of her harp on the wind. The weapon she wielded at the Battle of Eden was in fact a harp, which she used effectively as a bow, with seven strings of silver bound on the frame, and she loosed arrows of fine mithril.

Portfolio: Commerce, entertainment, exploration, society.

Domains: Air, Luck, Travel.

Favored Weapon: Bow, Baleful Harp.


AVATARS

Aixania, Spiria, Malenfere, Harbolin, and Morodrum have all taken physical form on the Material Plane.

Aixania usually appears as a stern and beautiful Elf maiden swathed in a long, flowing robe of turquoise and various shades of blue and green. Her hair is as black as night and she has aquamarine eyes. She appears quite pale, and her lips and the tips of her fingers have a slight bluish tint. She wears no footwear or jewelry, and she carries a long, broad-bladed partisan as well as a rather old and worn tome of spells.

Spiria usually appears as a young Human woman with short, light brown hair and dark green eyes. She is very supple and lithe, and wears an outfit of a soft leather jacket, jerkin and trousers with tall shoes. She has decorated herself with many pieces of mithral jewelry. Her bow has many strings, and can actually be played as if it were a harp.

Malenfere usually appears as a rather large Trall male with long, wild black hair and dark eyes. His skin has a dark, reddish hue. He wears an outfit of reddish cloth and hard, black leather with studs of blackened iron. He carries a great, flaming axe of cold iron, and wears a worn, black gauntlet on his left arm. He has many golden tattoos that run along his body, which seem to occasionally shift of their own will.

Harbolin usually appears as a Dwarf master, stout and fierce. He has gray hair and a long, braided beard. His eyes are brown. He wears a robe of dark brown and dull green over his mighty armor, which is adorned with Dwarven runes and incantations. He carries a large, adamantium warhammer, fashioned with the likeness of a bull.

During the Terrible Era, Morodrum appeared in the form of an enormous, shadowy figure, vaguely humanoid, and cloaked all in black- a shifting mass of darkness from which the Voldhaine, the instruments of his wrath, emerged to reap all life.

After the rise of Hextor, the gods realized the extent of their vulnerability on the Material Plane, and therefore imposed a mandate upon themselves to take form on the Material Plane only in the direst of circumstances. The gods now send heralds in order to intervene in mortal affairs when the need so arises.

For more on the Six, see

Aevaliên  (ASR) History of the Six #1272624 by Bard

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