Caladris
(a.k.a. The Keeper of Blades)
Caladris manifests as a figure of lethal grace and disciplined power. His skin appears as burnished silver or polished steel with subtle patterns resembling intricate blade-work that catch light in hypnotic ripples when he moves. His face combines elven beauty with warrior's discipline—angular features, high cheekbones, and eyes of quicksilver that reflect light like perfectly polished blades. His hair flows like liquid metal, appearing almost solid when still but moving with surprising fluidity in motion, occasionally forming temporary edge-patterns that foretell combat outcomes. His body appears lean and perfectly proportioned for combat, with musculature that suggests speed and precision rather than brute strength. He typically wears armor of impossible lightness that seems to flow between solid and liquid states, adorned with intricate knotwork patterns symbolizing the binding nature of oaths and honor.
Worship of Caladris centers around discipline, justified protection, and honorable combat. His followers include wardens, blade-dancers, duelists, protectors of sacred sites, and those who've sworn oaths of vengeance for legitimate wrongs. Devotional practices involve martial training as moving meditation, ritual blade maintenance, and the recitation of ancestral battle-poems that preserve both techniques and ethical codes. Many adherents maintain "honor blades"—ceremonial weapons never used in actual combat but carried as symbols of their personal oaths and commitments.
Sacred spaces dedicated to Caladris typically exist in forest clearings or atop defensible hills, featuring "Blade Circles"—arrangements of ancient swords planted in stone, their hilts forming a perfect circle around a central dueling space. These historic weapons, many belonging to legendary elven heroes, are said to observe and judge those who practice or duel within their circle. Near these circles often stand "Oath Trees"—ancient specimens with metallic bark resulting from centuries of ceremonial blade-touching, where warriors have pressed their weapons against the living wood while swearing binding commitments. The trees gradually incorporate the trace metals, developing distinctive silver-streaked patterns that elven loremasters can read like historical records.
Throughout the year, followers observe ceremonies tied to significant historical battles or legendary duels. The most important is the "Blade Renewal"—a day when all weapons are ritually cleaned, sharpened, and blessed, followed by exhibition duels that demonstrate martial prowess without causing harm. During these gatherings, young elves may be recognized as adults through the "First Blade Ceremony," receiving weapons that symbolize both their right to self-defense and their responsibility to protect others. For those pursuing justified vengeance, Caladris's priests oversee the "Silvering Ritual," where a specially forged blade is anointed with the petitioner's tears and a drop of their blood, creating a weapon specifically dedicated to resolving the injustice—though strict codes govern what constitutes legitimate vengeance versus mere revenge, with the latter considered a perversion of Caladris's domain.
Divine Domains
War, Honor, Vengeance, and Protection
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