Iovka, Goddess of Nature

Overview

Iovka is the primal Goddess of Nature and Wilderness. She is the guardian of plants and beasts, and mistress of winds and tide, granting her dominion of nature's bounty and fury. Thanks to her, mortals learned how to live in harmony with nature and thrive amidst the many dangers on land, in the sea and above ground. It is she who bestowed upon mortals the bow and spear so that they could hunt and eat. Hunting and building shelter is natural, the construction of roads, bridges and farms at the cost of natural beauty is a great abomination. Those that earn her ire fall prey to the dangers of the world and the many animals and plants she gifted with deadly abilities. Few deities wept as much as she did when they were forced to depart the world, as a parting gift she placed spirit animals within the world to guide mortals in her absence.
Iovka's depiction vary greatly based on the locale she is venerated in, however she is universally depicted as a woman dressed in thick hides with bone-necklaces, her hair is a tangled black mess surrounding a massive antlered crown growing out of her head. She wields a spear and is surrounded by animals common for the environment. These include spiders, wolves, bears, eagles, rhinos, snakes, sharks... sometimes her lower body is animal-like, particularly when depicted by coastal folk

Followers

Her followers are those living in harmony with nature out in the wilderness where they are it's stewards and protectors. All who rely on the weather however pray to her, both for favorable winds, cold breezes in the summer and for torrents to sweep away their enemies. They are often at odds with city folk though sometimes come to arrangements with rural villages when they are able to come to a mutually beneficial arrangement. Ancient idols, charms and wards are used stave off the many monsters and creatures that dwell within the most dangerous parts of nature itself. Many take on veneration of the spirit animals of the world, taking them as clan or tribe animals. Some among them believe that these spirit animals are their reincarnated ancestors guiding them towards their future. Huntsmen, fisherman, sailors, monster-slayers, rangers, druids, woodland folk and tribal folk are drawn to her teachings for various reasons.   
Favored Weapon: Spear
Anathema: -

Temples

Iovka's faith relies on ancient wooden shrines, stone circles, menhirs and monoliths. Larger temples are build in natural caves, hallow trees or out of driftwood . In the center is often a small pool of clear water used for ritualistic purpose more than drinking. It's waters becoming murky is seen as a sign of ill omen.

Divine Tenets

Protect the wilderness from civilization's advance.
Live in harmony with nature, give what it requires and do not waste that which you take
Hunt abominations and all monstrous things that have no place within this world

Relations

Iovka is the eldest amidst her sisters Nara and Krava whom she has a cordial relationships with both. She is often opposed to Kruzec whose followers usually live in spite of nature. While she respects Zargov as a bringer of entropy, she despises his unnatural creations.

Divine Domains

Nature & Tempest - Survival, Weather, Harmony

Divine Symbols & Sigils

Worldtree encircled by it's own roots and branches, with water filling the empty space between.

Alignment

Unaligned

Quotes & Catchphrases

The land belongs to all.