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Aerna, goddess of the Steel Realms
Aerna the Mother; Aerna is the divine Entity of Light principal of home and hearth, motherhood, family, rest and recovery, weaving and cloth-making, and patron of healers. She is one of the four chief deities of the Lightbringers, directly opposed to the bloodthirsty and conquering Unholy Trio and the forces of darkness. She is the ultimate symbol and personification of the softer image of motherhood. She is not a warrior, but a healer, and embraces self-sacrifice and non-violence. Her dominant church is that of “The Tender of Hearth and Home” and promises her followers (like all those of the Lightbringer denominations) the afterlife of the Home of the Safe Hearth. She is, next to Gaia, the most popular god of the Steel Realms. Those seeking to become her Follower should see the Characters of Faith for the Steel Realms.
Symbol: Her symbol incorporates the universal symbol of peace, the white bow. It is the golden rope loop with a white bow. The loop is “Aerna’s Pity”, that entitles its bearer a safe place on a penny hang (it secures the wearers head/shoulders off the floor in a common room).
Role: The Bright Balm of Light; Dispeller of Fear; Restorer of Health; Mother of the Lightbringers
General Motto: "The tended hearth is a happy home."
Favored Avatar: A matronly mother, calm and always smiling, red hair, brown eyes full of mercy and a crown of light.
The modern age is heavily defined by the clash of faiths in the "Affray of Darkness and Light" - part of the The Calamitous History of The Steel Realms - in which the goddess plays a significant part; To this end, they HAVE affirmed participation in The Godspeak Accord.
The Struggle with the Dark: They are part of the Unified Pantheon of the Lightbringers and have no followers dedicated to the Garden of Light – though those desiring to look after their sons, brothers, fathers, etc. go to tend the hearth of the kitchens that provide their sustenance.
Safe and Secure: This place/order uses the Great Traveler (Light of the Careful Traveler) system for ensuring safe and successful passage of important followers, messages, and goods.
Healing the Land: The planet of Helca has endured much destruction, in multiple eras. Her clergy is instrumental in the project of healing the land and Reclaiming the Wyld.
A Bulwark Against the Lich Lords: It is well known that the powers of Merkaine and Aerna work best to fight against the cold death of the Fangedfrost and servants of the Cold Bargain of the Lich Lords.
Home and Happiness: The Principality of Rhylan in Rhyl is home to the High Temple of Aerna. Despite her greater association with the wyld elemental faith, the great spirit of Merii is often called the ‘Handmaiden of Aerna’ – her singing in the halls with Aerna’s High Priestess of the Hearth Home temple is legendary.
Chronicle/Facts of Aerna’s Presence
Knowledge is broken down by ease of discovery/availability & Meticulous Record Keeping may improve usability; Any attempt to know more than what's Pervasive will require a reference, source, knowledge, check, or access to someone who can get or provide either of these. Specific Lores may increase the chance of knowing specific elements.
Pervasive Knowledge / Very Easy Difficulty
Information Sources: Mundane Reference | Associated Phenomenology Only | Specific Lore
For those native to or long-dwelling in the region, ALL Common Knowledge may be Pervasive.
Common Knowledge / Easy Difficulty
For those native to or long-dwelling in the region, ALL Common Knowledge may be Pervasive.
Scarce Knowledge / Hard Difficulty
Stolen Blood-Fire
CY 8600 On one of the Transit of Western Fire quests, a vampire blood knight of the Lich Lords sought to take in the blood of the World-Daughter. Trishin, the daughter of Merkaine, was killed by the vampire spilling the blood-fire on the ground; This is the eternal fire at Trishin’s Withering in the town of Tranmere.
Afterward the Killing: The World-Daughter of Merkaine was killed by the vampire minion of the Lich Lords, with some of the blood of Merkaine held captive and bent to the will of the Lich Lords, her fire-within sect power was lessened. Aerna gained in popularity and influence in the north.
The Hunt for Revenge: For six years, the new World-Daughter of Kaerslein – Elemental Consort of Water hunted the vampire known as “Flame-Ender” in the north – using all her power to bend the elements to shield her. She fought and slew it near Ara-Luu, leading a force of vampires they turned with their corrupted power trying to cross the mountains. She drew on her elemental power, freezing the vampires in place. Each one fought her individually as she freed them, until her sister’s killer was revealed. She pierced him with an ice spike, and drank all the blood that came out, finishing the vampire. She used her elemental power to grind the corpse into pulp, and its bones to dust. She melded with the snow once her sister’s blood had been freed and cleansed of corruption through her taking it in. She sacrificed herself to keep the flame alive and finish her journey. She returned to the site where her sister was killed, burning on the inside the whole way. She finally succumbed at the site of her sister’s death. Her burned bones are as a saint in a local church at Tranmere..