Talia (tah-lee-uh)
The Rain Maiden
Talia, the Lady of the Seas and Weather, is one of the Nisme that make up The Four. Her domain includes storms and rain, as well as watch over the seas and maritime travel. Her focus on the natural world and maintaining balance and order is often considered to be the direct opposite of her "sister" Gaela, much like Damara and Helī are considered opposites. While some in the world offer tributes to Talia to ward off bad weather and destructive storms, most people give her offerings to bring rain to their communities or end drought, something that is necessary for crop growth and general life. Sailors also pray for Talia's protection as they travel across the seas.
One of the most commonly known facts about Talia is her longstanding relationship with Damara, which has produced three children. Before this relationship began, Talia mothered one child with Gaela, known as Síohann, the Watcher in the Wilds. Síohann's role was to help Talia tend the forests and maintain The Balance between nature and the growing kingdoms of mankind. At some point after this is when Talia fell in love with Damara and the two began their lasting relationship. The first of their children was Eamon, the Great Arbiter. He was raised to keep order in the world and help bring justice to evildoers. At some time after the birth of Eamon, Talia was kidnapped by Morwyn and forced to bear a child for him. Known as Haalvin, the Wrathful Storm, this child corrupted nature to bring destruction and wrath down on the world. Morwyn reportedly had plans to father more children with Talia, but luckily she was rescued from his realm by a coalition of powerful entities led by her son Eamon. After returning to her home realm and taking some time to heal, Talia resumed her romantic relationship with Damara, and they birthed a further two children together. Leyth, the Verdant Matron, and Morgran, the Smith, were these two and show the dedication and lasting love between the two powerful deities, overcoming darkness and tragedy.
Like Helī - though nowhere near as intense - Talia has a mixed reception among the laypeople of Ayndrinor. Many have seen the destructive power of storms - floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, etc. - and blame her for allowing these things to happen, instead of attributing them to the malevolence of Haalvin. Her dedicated priests do their best to combat this notion, primarily by being publicly visible in ports, rural homesteads, and areas particularly vulnerable to natural disasters. These priests do more intercession between the people and the deity than most other priests, simply to combat this misinformation and mixed feelings people have about Talia.
Divine Domains
Tempest
Nature
Nature
Divine Symbols & Sigils
Sigil: lightning bolt across a water droplet
Divine Symbol: Greataxe or Javelin
Tenets of Faith
- Respect nature and the seas; they can provide life and sustenance but they can also kill and destroy.
- Study the weather and the signs of nature, to better prepare for what is to come.
- Take care of the land. Do not overwork it or strip it of its life and livelihood.
Physical Description
Identifying Characteristics
Talia is generally depicted as a dwarf female with short dark hair that dances with lightning in it. Her eyes are sometime depicted as grey, like storm clouds, though soft and welcoming; other depictions display her with multi-color eyes, one blue like the rain and one electric yellow like lightning. She is sometimes depicted wearing soft silks or cotton clothes, while other interpretations have her in heavy armor wielding lightning bolts as javelins.
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