Lirael
Lirael is an Ascendant Divinity, the Concordant Mediator, the Keeper of Resonant Truths, the Voice of Unity, and the Melody Unbroken. Lirael is steadfast in her belief that harmony is the highest ideal, even if achieving it requires difficult choices. She is revered for her wisdom but feared for her unyielding insistence that the greater good often demands personal sacrifice.
Lirael’s presence is marked by a faint, resonating chime that seems to echo from deep within the soul. It is said those who hear her true tone are forever changed, gaining clarity but also burdened by the weight of her truths.
Lirael ensures that chaos does not overwhelm harmony. She believes that the balance of the universe depends on individuals and societies striving toward collective unity. Mortals who falter in this pursuit often find themselves subtly guided—or harshly corrected—by her will. Her philosophy can be uplifting or oppressive, depending on how one perceives her demands for sacrifice.
Beliefs and Worshippers
Lirael’s followers are often those who seek clarity, purpose, and unity in their lives. Her faith appeals to leaders, mediators, and those who value the greater good over individual desires. Her worship is organized yet not rigid; ceremonies focus on collective participation and the creation of harmony through shared effort. Music, particularly choral singing, is a key part of her rites, as is the crafting of intricate mosaics using a breadth of materials, symbolizing unity through diversity.
Her priests are known as Resonants, and their duties include mediating disputes, providing counsel, and maintaining sacred sites known as Halls of Resonance, where bells, chimes, wind-harps, and other instruments create a continuous, soothing melody.
Lirael’s teachings emphasize:
- Sacrifice for the Greater Good: Individual desires must sometimes yield to communal needs.
- Unity Through Diversity: Differences can create harmony when guided by shared purpose.
- The Resonance of Truth: Lies and selfishness disrupt the cosmic melody.
Depictions
Lirael is often depicted as a tall, serene human woman with cascading robes that shimmer like bizmuth. She carries a set of chimes hung like a balancing scale. Her eyes are said to reflect endless patterns, like the shifting caustings of light passing through water. Lirael is often shown surrounded by a choir of followers, and artwork of her tends to include fractals and elaborate repeating patterns
History
During the Divine Wars, Lirael emerged as a key mediator among the Divinities. She argued that unchecked conflict would destroy the harmony of the planes and called for unity among the Ascendant to counterbalance the chaos unleashed by their Descendant counterparts. Her voice carried great weight, and it was her resonant tone that inspired the first truce, though not all Divinities heeded her call.
Unlike most Divinities, Lirael was not an active instigator during the Divine Wars, but was still rejected by the Fae for her refusal to accept the Immortal Interdictions. Lirael believes the best path to concord lies in her direct intervention in mortal affairs.
One of Lirael’s greatest sorrows is the story of Lyvras, a mortal city that fell into chaos due to infighting among its leaders. Despite her efforts to guide them toward unity, their refusal to yield led to the city’s destruction. She transformed its ruins into a Bell of Remembrance, which now hangs in her grandest temple in Avyrwyn as a cautionary symbol of discord
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