Wenta

Wenta, the Alewife

"When the harvest is gathered and the hard work is done, raise your cup to Wenta! Let laughter flow like ale, and let no friend drink alone."

Overview

Wenta, known as The Alewife, is the Oeridian goddess of Autumn, Harvest, Celebration, and Revelry. She embodies the joy of the changing seasons, the bounty of the land, and the warmth of fellowship. Her influence is felt wherever good company gathers to drink, feast, and tell stories.

Unlike her sister Atroa, who represents the renewal of spring, Wenta symbolizes the culmination of the year's labor—the golden fields, the full larders, and the well-earned merriment that follows. Farmers give thanks to her for bountiful crops, while brewers and innkeepers keep her symbol above their hearths, knowing that where Wenta is honored, business thrives and cups never go empty.

Appearance

Wenta is depicted as a **ruddy-cheeked, full-bodied woman with a wild mane of auburn hair**, often adorned with **autumn leaves and grapevines**. Her laughter is said to shake the rafters, and her eyes gleam with the warmth of a well-lit tavern.

She wears **golden harvest robes** with **a wide belt**, from which hang small gourds, barley stalks, and hops. She is frequently shown holding **a brimming tankard** in one hand and **a sheaf of wheat** in the other, representing the bounty of the land and the cheer it brings.

Dogma & Worship

Wenta’s followers believe that life’s toils must be balanced with joy. Her clergy do not dwell in temples but instead serve at feasts, markets, and festivals, ensuring that none go thirsty and that laughter flows as freely as the drink.

Beliefs of Wenta’s Faithful:

• A full harvest deserves a full cup—celebrate the fruits of your labor.
• No one should drink alone—good company makes for strong spirits.
• Autumn is fleeting—enjoy the moment, for winter waits ahead.
• A hard day's work is best ended with laughter, warmth, and ale.

Priests of Wenta often work as **brewers, innkeepers, or entertainers**, and they are welcome guests at any harvest gathering. It is considered bad luck to deny a Wentan priest a drink, just as it is bad form to let them drink alone.

Symbols & Holy Items

• Holy Symbol: A foaming tankard or a wheat sheaf wrapped in grapevines.
• Sacred Animals: Foxes, badgers, and crows—creatures that thrive in autumn’s abundance.
• Favored Weapon: A stout cudgel or walking staff, often carved with grape leaves and hops.
• Blessed Relic: The Everfull Tankard, a vessel said to always refill when raised in true celebration.

Relations with Other Deities

Wenta is one of the **Five Oeridian Wind Gods**, closely tied to the changing seasons. She is particularly fond of her sister **Sotillion**, the goddess of Summer, with whom she often shares feasts. She also gets along well with **Olidammara**, the god of revelry, as their domains frequently overlap.

She is, however, at odds with **Telchur, god of Winter**, who she sees as a **joyless, cold-hearted wretch** always waiting to end the celebration. In many tales, Wenta tries to delay his arrival by throwing great harvest festivals, though inevitably, winter always comes.

Legends & Myths

"She toasted the harvest with the sun itself, and the fields blushed golden beneath her gaze."

The First Brew One of Wenta’s most beloved myths tells of how she **gifted mortals with the secret of brewing ale**. According to legend, long ago, when the first farmers tilled the land, their labors were hard, and their celebrations were dull. Wenta, seeing their struggle, whispered to them the way of **fermenting grains into drink**, and thus, the first ale was made. Since that day, no great harvest has ever gone uncelebrated.

The Last Feast Another tale speaks of a cold year when **Telchur sought to bring winter early, freezing the land before the harvest could be gathered**. Wenta, refusing to let her people starve, called forth a great feast, where the warmth of joy and drink kept the frost at bay. It is said that as long as people honor her with cheer and merriment, winter will always wait for autumn to have its due.

Final Thoughts

Wenta’s presence is felt in the warmth of a crowded tavern, the scent of baked bread and roasting meat, and the laughter that echoes through an autumn festival. She is the **goddess of good company, the final feast before winter, and the last golden days before the chill sets in**. To honor her is to celebrate life itself—before the long night comes.