Helī (hell-ee)
The Dark Queen
Helī, Queen of the Dead and Diseased, is one of the Nisme represented by The Four. Unlike the other three, Helī is considered part of the Dark Pantheon due to her divine portfolio involving death and disease - as well as her involvement in the creation/birth of several of the Dark Pantheon's deities. This divine portfolio is in direct opposition to that of Damara, and the two are considered polar opposites - though not mortal enemies - by most scholars and priests. The dichotomous but cordial relationship between the two deities is something scholars and laypeople have pondered for centuries; it seems contradictory to mortals' morality and world experience.
Unlike many of the other founding deities, Helī has lived a mostly solitary existence, taking few lovers and birthing few children. The first of the children of The Four (known as the Deirid) is believed to have been Helī's child with Damara: Olmytria, the Shepherd of the Fallen. Many believe this relationship was borne of necessity and not fondness; Helī needed a helper to ferry the dead from wherever they fell to the various places in the afterlife, including her own home plane of Hades. At some point after Olmytria ascended and assumed their divine role, Helī produced a child with Gaela that would come to be known as Ádh'Ri, the Maiden of Fortune. The only other known child of Helī is the one she produced with Divone, though no one is sure whether that was coerced or what reason could have been behind it. This child is Khemozh, the Hex Maiden, goddess of decay, destruction, curses, and bad luck.
Helī occupies an odd space in the pantheon and ecclesiastical conversations on Ayndrinor. Hades is a negative energy plane, and the goddess of death is generally considered to be evil and unwanted by many laypeople. Yet, it is undeniable that the paragon of goodness Damara does not have a hostile relationship with Helī. This problem of mortal morality compared to astral morality has confounded all but the most enlightened scholars and priests since Ayndrinor was created. Many are perfectly happy to point to Helī's consorting with Divone and creation of Khemozh as proof of her inherent malevolence, but the circumstances surrounding that union are still unknown and shrouded in rumor.
Like the rest of The Four, Helī has priests dedicated individually to her, though these priests usually practice in secret as openly worshiping Helī is forbidden in many places around the world. Somewhat paradoxically, many undertakers and funeral priests say prayers and give offerings to Helī as part of their regular interment ceremonies, and this is an accepted practice almost everywhere. Apart from this, prayers and offerings to Helī are included by most people in their worship of The Four, to stave off death for themselves, their families, and any pets or livestock they have.
Divine Domains
Death
Divine Symbols & Sigils
Sigil: skull with a diagonal scythe through it
Divine Symbol: black scythe
Tenets of Faith
- The universe needs things to die so other things can be born.
- Disease and death are necessary parts of existence and should be welcomed.
- Whether through cremation, burial, or other means, all creatures deserve a proper send-off.
- Those who pervert death and foster undeath deserve the harshest punishment and rebuke possible.
Physical Description
Identifying Characteristics
Helī is generally described as a human woman wearing a robe and carrying her signature black scythe. Her hair is long, straight, and black as the darkest night. Her eyes shine with pure silver and can see into all planes where things die.
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