Herimetha

Herimetha, also known as The Lady of a Thousand Petals, and The Incorruptible, and as Harsii in Siptah, is a goddess of kindness, beauty, and healing and is generally worshiped by artists and healers. She is one of the major deities of the Khanian Pantheon.

Description

Appearance

Herimetha, the Lady of a Thousand Petals, is depicted in religious art as a tall and strikingly beautiful woman with coal-black hair and golden eyes, often draped in luxurious violet, pink, and yellow silks. She is the epitome of beauty, radiating an aura of elegance and grace wherever she goes. Her followers often depict her with a serene expression, conveying her compassionate and forgiving nature.
Believers of Herimetha often adorn themselves with her holy symbol, a calla lily, especially one that is pink or purple in color, symbolizing prosperity and abundance. Her followers often wear clothes in shades of violet and yellow to represent their devotion to the goddess of beauty and healing. Many also carry a small charm or amulet with the symbol of the calla lily to remind them of their devotion to Herimetha.
In addition to religious art, Herimetha's followers often express their devotion to the goddess through music and dance. Herimetha is known for inspiring artists and musicians to create works of great beauty, and her followers often use these art forms to worship and honor the goddess. Her temples are filled with dancers, and the walls are covered with ornate frescoes and murals. Priests of Herimetha often sew bells into the fabric of their clothing, so their every move will be accompanied by music.

Personality

Worshipers of Herimetha find her to be a gentle and loving goddess who values beauty, healing, forgiveness, and kindness above all else. She is known for her breathtaking beauty, and many worshipers are drawn to her grace and elegance. Those who call upon her name are often seeking help in matters of the heart, whether it be healing from a broken heart or finding love in a new place. Herimetha is also invoked by gamblers, who hope to have her luck on their side.
While Herimetha is a patron to artists, she does not value natural talent as much as she does hard work and perseverance. Those who struggle to create beautiful art are often seen as more worthy of her favor than those who are gifted but do not put in the effort. This has led some to view her as a demanding goddess, but her worshipers know that she only wants to see them succeed and reach their full potential. Clerics of Herimetha are often artists themselves, and they use their talents to spread her message of love and beauty throughout the world.
Despite her gentle nature, Herimetha has a complicated relationship with her half-brother Anaximander, the god of Murder. Herimetha views him with a mixture of fear and sadness, remembering the kind being he once was, but aware of the destruction and pain he causes. Some worshipers believe that Herimetha's focus on forgiveness and kindness is a response to the violence and cruelty that Anaximander represents, and that her light is needed to counterbalance his darkness.

Commandments

Commandments of The Incorruptible

---

• Love yourself and others, forgive those who wrong you, and spread kindness wherever you go.
• Use your talents to create beautiful things that inspire and heal, and appreciate the effort of others who do the same.
• Seek to understand and alleviate the pain and suffering of those around you, and never use undue violence or harm to achieve your goals.

Biography

Background

According to Khanian mythology, Herimetha was born to the mother-goddess Atara and an unknown father, making her the half-sister of Anaximander , the god of mercy. Despite their differences, Herimetha and Anaximander were once very close, and she often tried to help him see the beauty and kindness in the world. However, Anaximander's heart was consumed by jealousy and rage, and he eventually betrayed his sister by attacking her in an event known as Herimetha's Sorrow. The details of this event are shrouded in mystery, but it is said that Herimetha was devastated by the attack and has never fully recovered.
After Herimetha's Sorrow, Anaximander, who was punished by the other gods with crucifixion, against his sister's protests, became known as the God of Murder and was feared by mortals and gods alike. Herimetha, on the other hand, withdrew from the world and focused on healing her wounds, both physical and emotional. Despite her pain, she never lost her faith in the goodness of people and continued to be a beacon of hope and kindness to her followers. In time, she became known as the Lady of a Thousand Petals, a name that speaks to her beauty and grace, as well as her ability to heal and restore.
To this day, Herimetha remains a beloved figure in Khania and the Western Continent, and her story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of jealousy and betrayal. Many of her followers look to her as a source of inspiration and guidance, especially when they are feeling lost or alone. Herimetha's Sorrow is remembered every year on the anniversary of the attack, and her followers offer prayers and sacrifices in the hopes of easing their goddess's pain. Despite the tragedy of her past, Herimetha remains a symbol of hope and healing, a testament to the power of forgiveness and kindness in even the darkest of times.

Worshippers

The followers of the goddess Herimetha are as diverse as the virtues she represents. Among them are her dedicated clergy who consider themselves artists, and strive to create beauty and kindness in the world in their goddess's honor. But there are other groups who have pledged their allegiance to the Lady of a Thousand Petals, such as the Lys Hospitalier, who have taken on a more practical approach to Herimetha's sphere of healing. They are a group of medics and healers who travel far and wide, attending to the needs of the sick and the poor, and are funded by the temples of Herimetha.
Herimetha also has a contingent of paladins known as the Knights of the Lily, who have sworn to defend the weak and spread kindness and beauty wherever they go. These paladins are known for their impeccable manners and their gentle demeanor, and they are trained to use their sword only as a last resort. Instead, they use their diplomatic skills and their soothing words to quell conflicts and bring people together. They are recognized by their golden lily symbol, emblazoned on their shields and armor.
Overall, the followers of Herimetha are driven by a desire to make the world a more beautiful and kind place. They are often artists, healers, and diplomats who work tirelessly to spread joy and comfort to those who need it most. They are also known for their charity and generosity, and many of them see their work as a way of paying homage to their goddess, who embodies all that is good and pure in the world.

Known Followers

• Morrimi Hullheart: A member of the Unnamed Adventuring Party and cleric of Herimetha. Operated as a member of the Lys Hospitalier prior to joining the party.
• Merrick Goldhand: Knight-Captain of the Knights of the Lily in Malakaya, and a devoted servant of Herimetha.
• Lyra Sunflower: The High-Priestess of Herimetha at the Font of Healing in Malakaya. Officiated the wedding of Tarrin Falidore and Mikayla Shipbreaker.
• Mother Songbird: The Abbess of the Chapel of the Lily of the Lys Hospitalier.
• Sister Petal: The Prioress of the Chapel of the Lily.
• Kaelen Thornblade: Knight-Exemplar of the Knights of the Lily.

Herimetha

Deity Information

---

Type
Major Deity

---

Title
The Incorruptible

---

Province
Beauty, Art, Kindness

---

Common Symbol
Calla Lily, Golden Braid

---

Gender
Feminine

---

Pronouns
She/Her

---

Alignment
Neutral Good

---

Home Plane
Empyrion

---

Realm
Wellspring

---

Worship

---

Major Temples

• Font of Healing
• High Temple of Herimetha

---

Associated Domains

• Creation
• Healing
• Introspection
• Luck