Aelae, the Blooming Breath

Domain: Life, Spring, Innocence, Joy Titles: The First Blossom, Lady of Gentle Winds Symbol: A blooming flower held in wind
Origin Among Mortals: Aelae came into being in a breath — soft and warm — shared between a mother and her newborn, between lovers in a spring field, between a child and a songbird.
She was not forged in pain or crisis, but in reprieve from them. Amidst the weariness of mortal life, even in an age of strife, there was always a moment — however fleeting — of peace. A laugh, a bloom, a breeze. From these moments of innocence and unguarded joy, the essence of Aelae took form.
She is not naivety, but the will to smile despite sorrow. Not ignorance, but the precious defiance of despair. She is the goddess of the first laugh, the renewal of green after frost, and the quiet happiness of being alive.
Nature of the Blooming Breath: Aelae is life in its purest, most gentle expression. She is not untouched by suffering — she simply chooses not to carry it. She is rebirth after loss, innocence preserved against the dark, the joy that returns even when joy once seemed impossible.
She does not ask for worship. She inspires it — in laughter, in song, in the planting of seeds and the giving of unearned kindness. To feel beauty and delight in the small things is to touch her presence.
But make no mistake — she is not weak. Joy in a broken world is an act of quiet rebellion, and Aelae is its fiercest protector.
Manifestation & Imagery: Aelae appears in visions as a figure wreathed in petals and sunlight, skin kissed with dew, laughter dancing in her voice. Her presence carries the scent of spring rain and the hush of wind in tall grass.
Her symbol — a blooming flower cradled by wind — is worn by midwives, artists, and children. It is etched into garden stones, painted on lanterns, and hung in cradles to protect newborns.
Worship and Followers: Aelae's followers, known as the Verdant, do not always wear her colors or shout her name — but they carry her in every kindness.
They tend gardens in ruined cities, raise orphans with lullabies, and sing in defiance of cruelty. Her clergy are healers, musicians, caretakers — some martial, most not — who wield joy as both balm and blade.
Her sacred places are meadows untouched by war, springs where laughter echoes, and anywhere someone finds hope when they had none.
After the Dark Awakening: Many believed Aelae would vanish when the world cracked — that innocence and joy would become luxuries too fragile to endure.
But she remained. Faint, flickering, like a flower growing from ash. Her presence is rarer now, but when it appears — it brings healing in more ways than flesh.
The Verdant now often work in secret, tending small sanctuaries and planting seeds in places others fear to tread. A single flower blooming in a battlefield is said to be a mark of Aelae’s breath — a promise that even ruin cannot endure forever.
Notable Sayings & Myths:
"The world did not deserve joy — so she gave it anyway."
The Laugh That Stilled the Blade: A tale where a child’s laughter causes a war-weary soldier to drop their sword, realizing they had forgotten why they fought.
The Breath of Petals: A myth where Aelae weaves a crown of flowers for Death himself — and in return, he grants one soul per year the right to live again.