Ak'araj, God of Wayfaring

Ak'araj is the God of Wayfaring, and serves in the court of Artellan, God of Flora in Arboria. She is also the creator of the ak'arii.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

The Vardanta region c. 3600 was home to the Nasirian tribe, among others. They were forced to live a nomadic lifestyle as the tyrannical calissae possessed no regard for the lives of mortals. As likely to be caught in the crossfire of a battle as being trampled by giants merely travelling from one place to another, they moved as needed to stay safe. Suheila was a woman of the tribe who worked to scout ahead and lead the tribe through safe passage. She had fallen in love with the son of their sheikh, Payam. He was a brazen and defiant man, a personality that sparked conflict with the local rulers. His brazenness eventually caught up with him, and he confronted a group of giants who threatened the tribe. The giants, seeing the colorful feathered cloak that Payam and the other wore, laughed. They worked their ancient magic to transform Payam and the few he stood with into large birds with long multi-colored plumage. The giants, delighted at their trick, left the rest of the tribe to mourn their losses. Suheila was horrified and despaired as her love was forever changed. The birds stayed with the tribe, seeming to retain some semblance of their human consciousness. Every night Payam would roost in Suheila's tent and sing her a lullaby as she fell asleep. The birds became scouts and sentries for the tribe, helping them to stay safe with warning calls.
The Nasirian tribe persisted and continued to travel with their aqawsi by their side. Suheila continued to work as an aljawaal for the tribe, a wayfarer, and Payam was her constant companion. Even as she grew past her age to have a family, Suheila never took any other lovers and had no children of her own. As an accomplished and respected aljawaal, the tribe did not bother her about it. Most tended to pity her as well, looking upon her and Payam with sadness. But she had found happiness in her wandering, spending time in the jungles with the birds and the beasts. She looked to the skies as much as she looked to the ground and came to love all the bird-kinds that kept them company. Payam sang to her and taught the other birds melodies, and she sang with them. Her heart was full of love and peace with what was around her, and she lived a long life despite the hardships they faced.
Aristophane looked down upon Suheila with compassion, sharing her delight for the animals that surrounded them. Suheila and Payam had embraced the transformation that occurred and found beauty after a tragedy, and the God-Queen was gladdened by it. Seeing someone whose heart was steadfast and her love so enchanting, Aristophane came to her as a bird in Suheila's final days of life on Aedelor. She sang to the woman the sweetest birdsong she'd ever heard and offered for her to fly to the heavens with her. Suheila would accept only if Payam could also join them, and Aristophane was moved to grant her wish.
Suheila ascended with the Menagerie and took the new name of Ak'araj, Goddess of Wayfaring. About the cosmos she wanders, helping show the path to those who seek it, a beautiful shining bird always at her shoulder.

Social

Contacts & Relations

Ak'araj serves on the court of Artellan with Enonya, Goddess of the Hunt and Teocoatl, God of Healing as peers. She plotted along with Enonya to sabotage the kin of Teocoatl in order to gain the favor of the Everknot.

Divine Classification

God

Pronouns

She/Her