Selmara
(a.k.a. The Veilkeeper)
Selmara appears as a tall, ethereal woman with skin as pale as moonlight that seems slightly translucent, revealing suggestions of stars beneath the surface. Her eyes are pale grey like the moon Veylnis, giving her an otherworldly gaze that seems to see both the present and all possible futures simultaneously. Her hair flows in long, black strands that move as if underwater regardless of wind, sometimes appearing to merge with shadows or moonlight. She wears leather clothing of deepest black and that seem to contain glimpses of constellations when they shift. Around her neck hangs an ancient silver key—the symbol of her role as keeper of the veil between life and death. Unlike the grim, skeletal figures of death in some mythologies, Selmara possesses a gentle, almost playful beauty, embodying the concept of death as a natural transition rather than something to be feared.
Worship of Selmara centers around acceptance of life's final transition and respect for fate's design. Her followers include morticians, midwives (who witness both birth and sometimes death), diviners, judges, and those who've had near-death experiences. Devotees often wear silver crescent moon pendants and observe rituals during the full and new moons. Worship practices include silent meditation by moonlight, the tending of memorial gardens, and the creation of "fate threads"—intricate knotwork representing the interconnection of lives and events.
Temples to Selmara are designed to track lunar movements, with open ceiling sections allowing moonlight to illuminate specific areas on different nights. Their architecture blends comforting and solemn elements, creating spaces that feel simultaneously peaceful and mysterious. Many temples contain "reflection pools" filled with still, dark water for scrying and contemplation of life's impermanence. The walls are often adorned with silver mirrors that priests cover during ceremonies to symbolize the veil between worlds. During Selmaren, these temples host ceremonies remembering those who passed in the previous year, with families bringing mementos to place on memorial altars. Small roadside shrines to Selmara mark crossroads and cemeteries, providing places for travelers to leave offerings for safe passage and for mourners to find comfort. These shrines typically feature a simple crescent moon symbol and a small bowl for offerings of water that reflects the night sky.
Divine Domains
Divine Symbols & Sigils
Holidays
Veil's End (The 30th of Selmaren) - A day of the dead where the veil between life and death is thinnest.
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