Atroa

Atroa, the Spring Breeze

"She whispers on the east wind, carrying the scent of fresh blossoms and the promise of renewal. Where she treads, the frost recedes, and the world stirs to life once more."

Overview

Atroa, known as The Spring Breeze, is the Oeridian goddess of Spring, Renewal, East Wind, and Youth. She embodies the fresh breath of life that sweeps away the last remnants of winter, bringing warmth, growth, and the rejuvenation of the world. As the gentlest of the **Five Winds**, she is beloved by farmers, travelers, and those seeking renewal in body or spirit.

Her domain is one of new beginnings—wherever the east wind carries her touch, life awakens. Worshippers invoke her name when planting crops, embarking on fresh journeys, or seeking healing from long illnesses. She is also revered by poets and lovers, who see her as the spark of first passion and youthful joy.

Appearance

Atroa is often depicted as a radiant young woman clad in flowing robes of **green, blue, and gold**, mirroring the fresh colors of early spring. Her **golden-blonde hair** flows endlessly, as if always caught in a gentle breeze. Her **emerald-green eyes** shine with warmth and renewal, and her presence is said to bring the scent of blooming flowers and fresh rain.

She is frequently portrayed holding a **delicate crystal vial**, said to contain the first thawed water of spring, from which mist rises like breath in the cold morning air. In other depictions, she carries a **garland of fresh blossoms**, a **lark perched upon her hand**, or a **silver sickle**, representing the cycle of seasons and the cutting away of winter’s grasp.

Dogma & Worship

The faithful of Atroa celebrate the first signs of spring with joyful **festivals of renewal**, where flowers are gathered, homes are aired out, and fields are blessed. Her priests wear robes of **soft green and sky blue**, and they often carry **small wind chimes** to let the breeze play its song.

Beliefs of Atroa’s Followers:

• Spring is a gift—embrace each dawn as a new beginning.
• The east wind carries renewal; do not fear change, for it brings growth.
• Youth is fleeting—cherish its joys, but do not waste it.
• Winter must pass before spring can bloom; endure hardships knowing warmth will come again.

Symbols & Holy Items

• Holy Symbol: A budding flower cradled by the wind.
• Sacred Animals: Larks, butterflies, young deer.
• Favored Weapon: A silver sickle, representing the cutting away of winter’s hold.
• Blessed Relic: The Crystal of the First Thaw, a vial said to hold the first melted snow of spring, forever brimming with renewal magic.

Relations with Other Deities

As one of the Five Oeridian Wind Gods, Atroa is part of the **Velaeri**, the seasonal deities. She is closest to her sister **Sotillion**, goddess of Summer, and works in harmony with **Velnius, god of the Sky and Rain**, to bring the changing seasons.

She is in direct opposition to **Telchur, the Winter’s Chill**, who resents her arrival each year. Some myths tell of Telchur imprisoning Atroa in ice, delaying spring’s arrival until she is freed by Sotillion or Delleb’s wisdom.

Legends & Myths

"She was not made of flesh, but of the wind itself—light as a whisper, swift as the racing dawn. Yet, when Telchur sought to keep the world frozen forever, it was she who called the storm and broke the ice, dancing through the sky until the frost fell away."

The Frost’s Last Grasp One of the most well-known myths of Atroa tells of how **Telchur, bitter in his cold isolation, sought to trap spring forever.** He sent a terrible storm to bind Atroa in ice, holding her captive in a mountain of frost. The world remained locked in winter, with crops failing and rivers frozen. Desperate, **Delleb the Wise** and **Sotillion the Summer Queen** sought her, and when they found her prison, they called upon the east wind itself. The gale rose in power until the mountain cracked, and Atroa, at last, burst free, carrying the first warmth of spring across the land.

The First Bloom A lesser-known tale speaks of a time when **Atroa fell in love with a mortal poet**, entranced by his words of beauty and devotion. She granted him the gift of eternal spring, but the gods decreed it unnatural. When his time came, the flowers he had touched did not wither but instead transformed into the first everlasting blooms—symbols of her love. **Priests of Atroa still carry these flowers in rituals of renewal and remembrance.**

Final Thoughts

Atroa’s presence is in the breeze that stirs after a long winter, the laughter of children playing in a sunlit meadow, and the first warmth that banishes the cold. She is a goddess of hope, of first love, of new beginnings. Though soft in form, she is unyielding in purpose—winter must always end, and life must always find a way.