Celia Lu

High Preist Celia K Lu

The wounded Cyanni Lieutenant, in a hacking fit, collapsed into the dirt as the blood loss and pain caught up to her. One of the Passaran representatives from Hindaros, a female Sparalus with grey-speckled brown feathers, immediately hopped forward to assist. Orange light began to arc and crackle around her small talons, while under her breath she muttered a spell to heal the injured Cyanni.
"Celia," the Olarus soldier screeched "Don't waste your magic on her; she and her kind deserve everything they get. Besides, they claim their doctors are so much more advanced. Let them handle her."
In spite of being less than half the size of the towering white and brown warrior, Celia straightened herself to face him and puffed out her chest. "She's dying now and none of them are Paragons like I am. I'm healing her."
Glaring at her, the soldier stepped back to let her continue. Celia returned to her spell, crouching down next to the coughing Cyanni lieutenant as she murmured a short incantation. Tendrils of liquid light slowly reached from her hand like a squid's tentacles and touched the lieutenant's bloodied chest and stump for a wrist. Slowly, the gashes in the skin came together and a new left hand formed to replace the severed one.
As the spell came to a close, Celia took the Cyanni's arm and lifted her out of the dirt. Tears streamed down the formerly-wounded lieutenant's face. Sobbing, the officer jumped at her and embraced her. She let the poor wreck of a Cyanni cry into her shoulder. "Shhhh, shhh, its okay. What's your name?"
"Alicia," the lieutenant replied, sobbing "Alicia Paz"

— Immediately prior to negotiations, post Cyanni War

Celia Lu, a talented magician of the light domain, was a young political and religious figure who was instrumental in shaping the post-war world after the devestating Cyanni War. She is most notable for being the youngest (at 16) birdfolk at the formal surrender of the Cyanni first republic, present throughout the reconstruction of the Treaty of Passaran, and becoming the first High Priest of the Order of light. She came to be known as a distinguished academic, charitable saint, and an influential religious figure.

Divine Domains

The Light Domain; healing and creation

Divine Symbols & Sigils

A broken sword, symbolizing her dedication to peace in spite of living through the fires of war

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Not much is known about Celia's life prior to entering the public eye. It is known that she was born somewhere within the Cyanni lost colonies and that shortly before the war they emigrated to the mainland. At some point she became embroiled in unknown secret operations during the war. Though it is unclear what happened during this time, whatever her actions were they lent her so much prominence and influence that she was present during the formal surrender of the Cyanni the day of the Queen's death. She ended up becoming a good friend of Alicia Paz, the lieutenant who went on to become Queen of the 2nd republic because of just how much the war devastated the country's chain of command.

Accomplishments & Achievements

Throughout the formation of the second treaty, she was a major factor in reshaping how it worked and subsequently the postwar world. Alongside the Altowood kiptrani she negotiated for more fair treatment of the Cyanni (though most of their efforts failed) and campaigned for the adoption of an international language, Chitturup. A lesser known fact was that she also opposed the unification of the three broken colonies into Constol (modern-day Jasani ), a decision which led to almost three centuries of ethnic conflict in the region.
After the war, Celia sharpened her skills as a magician, using these abilities and her influence to do charitable deeds. In her path to right the world's wrongs she crossed paths with the Order of light, a growing religion with similar beliefs as her though a differing creation story. Proving her worth to their devout adherents, they honorarily made her High Priest and gave her reign over their group. She gave credence to their organization and through her good deeds/proselytizing turned it from a miniscule sect to the single most powerful organization on the planet in less than a decade.

Failures & Embarrassments

However, by the ending of the century Celia's relationship with the Order had rapidly soured. Though she had been given complete control over the religion and had set up many a system for doing charitable work, it had become too large and unwieldy to control. Corruption had begun to seep into its new adherents, who unlike the original followers lacked the devotion and dedication that had been commonplace when she joined.
Meanwhile, subsects of the Order had begun to exert their significant influence on local governments in ways she didn't approve of. New laws were being drafted that banned dark magic, heaped upon new discrimination against Undead, and even giving them complete monopolies over religion, punishing non believers with fines and taxes. Meanwhile, world's understanding of magic and history was being shaped by sectarian doctrine she couldn't keep track of and didn't believe. Simply put, the Order had begun to stray from its original intentions and she couldn't stop it.

After Public Life

As this fact began to dawn on her she became more and more detached from her position, until one day she snapped. She publicly resigned from the Order in the year 200, with the reasoning published throughout the region of Hindaros and Jasani (though it got squashed by her own organization before it could spread much further). Many of the earlier members who had watched it grow beside her left as well. She immigrated to Altowood and was welcomed by their Del'shanur; later that year they honorarily granted her the title for her long list of deeds.
It is not known what happened afterwards, but some scattered evidence and apocryphal stories suggests that she became involved in archeology and magical academics. She wrote multiple books on the nature of magic and philosophy, many of which were lost to time. At some point between 201 and 206 she moved to an unknown manor somewhere in Havenwood Valley and disappeared completely. She likely died there. Government records indicate that a large funeral service was held in her honor and a extravagant tombstone commissioned, but where she was buried is completely unknown.

Social

Religious Views

Celia is known for becoming the first High Priest of the order of light, whom prior to her leadership was a tiny religion scattered throughout the globe. Through her good deeds and works of healing she spread the group's message and gave it prominence: she also set up the practice of traveling clerics who traverse the globe, doing magical works to help people.
However, over time she came to believe that the organization had corrupted the truth and light. It led to her very public resignation as High Priest. Although it is poorly documented, it is believed that at some point she joined The Watchful. Scholars think she knew of the legend of The Twelve Paragons and The Five Races. A few private documents suggest she even thought that she could be one of the Paragons and had associates who believed the same thing. Most of this history is buried as much as possible by the Order of Light.

Race
Sparalus

Divine Classification

Saint

Species

Avani

Church/Cult

Order of light

Honorary & Occupational Titles

Del'shanur (near the end of her life).

Date of Birth

19th of 7th lunas, 168

Life

168 201 33 years old

Circumstances of Death

It is unknown where, when, or if she actually died (though that is assumed). At some point after abandoning the Order of light she vanished from society.

Birthplace

The Lost Cyanni Colonies

Current Residence

unknown

Gender

Female

Eyes

Hazel. They glow Orange as she casts magic

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Brown with grey dots and patches covering her body. A small light orange patch on her back indicates she is likely Ta-Kahdro mixed race

Height

3.2 spans

Weight

38 flaps

Aligned Organization

Order of light

Other Affiliations

• Altowood