Velera, Goddess of Death
Name: Velara, The Veiled Shepherd, The Void-Caller, The Black Beast
Domains: Death, Transition, Fate, Rebirth
Symbol: A delicate veil hanging over a crescent moon, with wisps of shadow trailing behind. Some cultures represent her symbol as a veil draped over a skull, while others use a night-blooming flower surrounded by stars.
Description: Velara, The Veiled Shepherd, is the goddess of death and transition, revered by those who respect the natural cycle of life and the mysteries of what lies beyond. She is often depicted as a serene, shadowy figure, her face hidden beneath a veil that separates the living from the dead. Unlike some deities of death who revel in decay and destruction, Velara is seen as a guide who helps souls pass from the world of the living to the afterlife with dignity and care. She ensures that death is not to be feared, but embraced as part of the natural order.
The Folk have varying interpretations of Velara depending on their culture. To some, she is a benevolent guardian who helps ease the passage of those who die peacefully. To others, she is a mysterious, neutral force—cold but fair, who neither hastens nor delays anyone's time. Her followers believe that she has woven the threads of fate for every living being, and when their time comes, she gently cuts the thread to allow them to pass into the next realm.
Velara is often associated with night, the full moon, and quiet places like graveyards, ancient ruins, or deep forests where the veil between life and death is thinnest. Her presence is often felt in times of great transition, such as during wars or cataclysmic events, but she also attends to individuals who die alone and forgotten, ensuring no soul is ever truly abandoned.
Myths and Stories:
The Thread of Eternity: One of Velara’s most famous myths is that of the Thread of Eternity, a symbolic representation of every life as a thread in her vast loom. She weaves the tapestry of fate, and when a soul’s thread reaches its end, she cuts it with her silver shears. The myth suggests that she alone knows the length of each thread, and even gods are bound by her decisions.
The Midnight Bloom: A legend tells of a magical flower, the Midnight Bloom, which only blossoms at the moment of death. Velara is said to plant one for every life she takes, a sign of her nurturing nature, even in death. Her followers often seek out these rare flowers, believing they hold the key to understanding their own mortality and the afterlife.
The Shepherd and The Dragon: In an ancient tale, Velara is said to have had a confrontation with a powerful dragon who sought to escape his fate and avoid death. Velara, calm and unyielding, faced the dragon and simply waited, knowing all beings must eventually meet her. After centuries of hiding and resisting, the dragon bowed to the inevitable and followed her willingly into the afterlife, marking her power over all living things, even dragons.
Role in the Current World:
Velara plays a particularly important role in this world where the balance of life, death, and power is so precarious. The Folk view death as part of their existence, and Velara’s worship is widespread, though her followers tend to be secretive, contemplative, and reserved. Her temples are often quiet sanctuaries, found near cemeteries or places associated with endings, like battlefield memorials or sacred groves.
Her presence is also subtly felt in political intrigue, as factions and rulers quietly offer prayers to her, seeking to understand their fate or to ask for her guidance when facing death in war or turmoil.
Followers and Cults:
Velara’s followers are divided between two main sects: The Keepers of the Veil: These priests and monks see themselves as custodians of death’s mysteries, aiding in burial rites, and comforting the dying. They believe in the peace of death and the inevitability of all souls passing through the veil. They often serve as advisors, even to powerful rulers, helping them prepare for death and maintain balance in life.
The Nightblades: A secretive order of assassins and warriors who worship Velara in her more merciless aspect. They believe that death is a gift that should be delivered to those who disturb the balance of the world. They are sometimes hired by rulers or factions, but they also act independently, seeking out those who defy the natural cycle of life and death.
Personality and Nature:
Velara is not cruel or malevolent but rather serene, patient, and impartial. She is often seen as a neutral figure in divine politics, for her power is one that none can escape, no matter how they fight against it. While some might try to cheat death, Velara is content to wait, knowing that all things, even gods, will come to her in time.
Throughout Thlay, Velara could become central to the story as necromancers' defiance of death could spark the goddess’s interest or wrath, leading to consequences not only for him but for those who follow him, and even The Folk, who must navigate the delicate balance of life, death, and power.
Domains: Death, Transition, Fate, Rebirth
Symbol: A delicate veil hanging over a crescent moon, with wisps of shadow trailing behind. Some cultures represent her symbol as a veil draped over a skull, while others use a night-blooming flower surrounded by stars.
Description: Velara, The Veiled Shepherd, is the goddess of death and transition, revered by those who respect the natural cycle of life and the mysteries of what lies beyond. She is often depicted as a serene, shadowy figure, her face hidden beneath a veil that separates the living from the dead. Unlike some deities of death who revel in decay and destruction, Velara is seen as a guide who helps souls pass from the world of the living to the afterlife with dignity and care. She ensures that death is not to be feared, but embraced as part of the natural order.
The Folk have varying interpretations of Velara depending on their culture. To some, she is a benevolent guardian who helps ease the passage of those who die peacefully. To others, she is a mysterious, neutral force—cold but fair, who neither hastens nor delays anyone's time. Her followers believe that she has woven the threads of fate for every living being, and when their time comes, she gently cuts the thread to allow them to pass into the next realm.
Velara is often associated with night, the full moon, and quiet places like graveyards, ancient ruins, or deep forests where the veil between life and death is thinnest. Her presence is often felt in times of great transition, such as during wars or cataclysmic events, but she also attends to individuals who die alone and forgotten, ensuring no soul is ever truly abandoned.
Myths and Stories:
The Thread of Eternity: One of Velara’s most famous myths is that of the Thread of Eternity, a symbolic representation of every life as a thread in her vast loom. She weaves the tapestry of fate, and when a soul’s thread reaches its end, she cuts it with her silver shears. The myth suggests that she alone knows the length of each thread, and even gods are bound by her decisions.
The Midnight Bloom: A legend tells of a magical flower, the Midnight Bloom, which only blossoms at the moment of death. Velara is said to plant one for every life she takes, a sign of her nurturing nature, even in death. Her followers often seek out these rare flowers, believing they hold the key to understanding their own mortality and the afterlife.
The Shepherd and The Dragon: In an ancient tale, Velara is said to have had a confrontation with a powerful dragon who sought to escape his fate and avoid death. Velara, calm and unyielding, faced the dragon and simply waited, knowing all beings must eventually meet her. After centuries of hiding and resisting, the dragon bowed to the inevitable and followed her willingly into the afterlife, marking her power over all living things, even dragons.
Role in the Current World:
Velara plays a particularly important role in this world where the balance of life, death, and power is so precarious. The Folk view death as part of their existence, and Velara’s worship is widespread, though her followers tend to be secretive, contemplative, and reserved. Her temples are often quiet sanctuaries, found near cemeteries or places associated with endings, like battlefield memorials or sacred groves.
Her presence is also subtly felt in political intrigue, as factions and rulers quietly offer prayers to her, seeking to understand their fate or to ask for her guidance when facing death in war or turmoil.
Followers and Cults:
Velara’s followers are divided between two main sects: The Keepers of the Veil: These priests and monks see themselves as custodians of death’s mysteries, aiding in burial rites, and comforting the dying. They believe in the peace of death and the inevitability of all souls passing through the veil. They often serve as advisors, even to powerful rulers, helping them prepare for death and maintain balance in life.
The Nightblades: A secretive order of assassins and warriors who worship Velara in her more merciless aspect. They believe that death is a gift that should be delivered to those who disturb the balance of the world. They are sometimes hired by rulers or factions, but they also act independently, seeking out those who defy the natural cycle of life and death.
Personality and Nature:
Velara is not cruel or malevolent but rather serene, patient, and impartial. She is often seen as a neutral figure in divine politics, for her power is one that none can escape, no matter how they fight against it. While some might try to cheat death, Velara is content to wait, knowing that all things, even gods, will come to her in time.
Throughout Thlay, Velara could become central to the story as necromancers' defiance of death could spark the goddess’s interest or wrath, leading to consequences not only for him but for those who follow him, and even The Folk, who must navigate the delicate balance of life, death, and power.
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