Gaela (guy-el-la)
The Twilit Mistress
Gaela, the Mistress of the Moons, Shadow, and Magic, is one of the Nisme that make up The Four. Her divine portfolio oversees the cycles of the two moons and everything that prowls the night. With this, she is also considered the patron and originator of all magic in the world - as many scholars believe the cycle of the two moons has something to do with the power of arcane magic in the world of Ayndrinor.
As the patron of the moons and nighttime, Gaela's existence has largely been a solitary one; she has not had a long-time consort or partner like Damara and Talia. At some point in the early times of Ayndrinor's existence, Gaela did produce an offspring with Talia known as Síohann, the Watcher in the Wilds. Síohann assisted Talia with the upkeep of nature and helped preserve The Balance between the natural world and the growing kingdoms of mankind. At some other point, much later in the world's existence, the loneliness of Gaela led her to the other solitary figure of The Four, Helī. The two had a brief fling and produced one child: Ádh'Ri, the Maiden of Fortune. Ádh'Ri would go on to also become the patron of adventurers and mercenaries seeking their fortune across the world, and many would give extravagant offerings to Ádh'Ri in thanks for her luck and guardian eye.
Though not generally recognized as purely good as Damara, Gaela is known for watching over the world during nighttime and protecting people from nocturnal threats. For this reason, she has become the patron of monster hunters and demon slayers across the world, though their numbers are small. As the patron of all magic and arcane prowess in the world, Gaela gets her largest following from the mage community. All arcane colleges around the world have a temple or shrine to Gaela, and many archmages proudly wear amulets with her sigil. In this same community, there is constant vigilance against the negative deity of arcane knowledge: Divone, the Defiler. She seems to take a special interest in tempting mages and scholars with promises of wondrous might in exchange for helping her win world domination. For this reason, Gaela and her priests root out corruption and dark magic around the world, in addition to watching for other threats.
Perhaps due to her personification as a lonely, loveless figure, Gaela is also recognized as a patron and sometimes accomplice of secret lovers and trysts throughout the world. People have reported unexpected clouds cutting across the moon in an otherwise clear sky which aided them in sneaking to meet their loves. Many thieves and criminals also count Gaela as their patron, praying for her protection as they slink around the darkness undetected.
Divine Domains
Twilight
Trickery
Arcana
Trickery
Arcana
Divine Symbols & Sigils
Sigil: crescent moon with two clouds
Divine Symbol: Quarterstaff with moon crystal
Tenets of Faith
- Keep watch for things that hide in the night, that they may not hurt anyone or spread their malevolence.
- Pursue arcane knowledge for the betterment of society, not as a personal means to power.
- Watch the skies, for any perversion of the moons' cycles can indicate evil afoot.
- Know how to use the night and darkness as one's friend when hunting the unholy and evil.
Physical Description
Identifying Characteristics
Gaela is often described as a slender elven woman with long, braided platinum hair and dark eyes. She is often portrayed as wearing an elegant, ornate robe, though there are other depictions of her with body-conforming mage-style armor. She is always carrying a large tome marked with a crescent moon and sometimes also has a quarterstaff with a grapefruit sized moon crystal on its tip.
Portrait art by me using HeroForge
Divine Classification
Nisme
Religions
Alignment
Chaotic Neutral
Realm
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