Lirathis
(a.k.a. The Verdant Hand)
Lirathis manifests as a figure of wild, vital beauty and primal connection to nature. His skin appears as rich brown bark or moss-covered stone, with patterns resembling growth rings of ancient trees that hint at countless centuries of existence. Throughout the seasons, his skin changes—sprouting small flowers in spring, lush green leaves in summer, vibrant autumn colors, and dormant buds in winter. His face appears weathered yet ageless, with features that seem partially formed from natural elements—eyes of amber sap that reflect sunlight like honey, hair of flowing green vines or autumn leaves depending on the season. His body structure seems fluid, sometimes appearing more tree-like, other times more clearly humanoid, but always connected to the earth through root-like tendrils that momentarily form when he stands still. He typically wears minimal clothing woven from living plants that grow and change with him, adorned with symbols of the seasonal cycle crafted from natural materials.
Worship of Lirathis centers around growth, healing, and harmonious coexistence with nature. His followers include druids, herbalists, healers, gardeners, and those who work to maintain balance between civilization and wilderness. Devotional practices involve tending sacred groves, brewing healing elixirs according to ancient recipes passed through generations, and participating in seasonal planting and harvesting rituals. Many adherents carry small pouches of soil from their birthplaces, symbolizing their connection to Lirathis through the land that nurtured them.
Sacred spaces dedicated to Lirathis exist where cultivation and wildness meet harmoniously—forest gardens, healing glens, and ancient groves tended through generations of elven stewardship. These locations typically feature "Verdant Circles"—arrangements of standing stones covered in moss and lichen, with specific medicinal and symbolic plants growing between them according to ancient patterns. At the center often grows a "Heart Tree"—a specimen representing the ideal balance of strength and nurturing that Lirathis embodies. These trees, carefully tended for millennia, develop distinctive patterns and properties not found elsewhere, producing fruits, sap, or leaves with exceptional healing properties harvested only during specific celestial alignments.
Throughout the year, followers observe rituals tied to seasonal transitions, with major celebrations occurring at solstices and equinoxes. The "Spring Awakening" involves ceremonial planting and blessing of seeds, while the "Autumn Gathering" focuses on harvesting and preserving nature's bounty. During these celebrations, elven communities create elaborate "growth mandalas"—arrangements of plants, stones, and natural objects that map relationships between different aspects of the ecosystem, serving both as worship and educational tools. For individual healing needs, supplicants participate in "Renewal Immersions"—ritualistic treatments where they're partially buried in sacred soil, covered with specific healing herbs, and tended by Lirathis's priests while the community chants healing songs that have remained unchanged for millennia.
Divine Domains
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