Rhea, the Divine Matron

Radiant Heart of Gailardia

Rhea is known as the Goddess of Creation's Light and is referred to as the Divine Matron.
She is considered the goddess of creation, light, and reality.
Legend says that Rhea was born from a clash of light and darkness at the center of the Infinite Void and sent drifting through the cosmos. As the Void sought to devour her light, she formed countless stars in her wake to mask her presence, until one day she could finally rest at the edge of the universe. Still she rests to this day as the world tree began to take shape around her astral form, enveloping both herself and its realms to forever remain hidden from the hungering calamity beyond the stars. Hers is the heart at its center, for she is the very core of Gailardia itself.

Appearance

Rhea is often depicted as the very embodiment of light itself; a radiant beacon soaring across the heavens, bringing life to all worlds in her wake. This has many associate her with the sun but others shape this being of light into other forms, such as a golden halo or a luminous bird. As legend speaks of her as the mother of the Drakanii, some even depict her as a mighty draconic being, her feathered wings the very shield protecting the world tree from the ravenous hunt of the Void.
Depictions of a humanoid form often make her out to be a celestial being, her body shimmering in the radiant colors of mana. Others grant her more draconic features akin to the Dragonborn. However, no true depictions of her exist in all the realms as none, not even the Draconic Lords themselves, have ever gazed upon her true form. As such, her depictions stem entirely from legends and visions of prophecy, her very existence often put into question as none who have ever lived have known to witness her divinity.

Personality

Much like her appearance remains a mystery, little is known of Rhea's true self beyond legends woven in ages past. Those who know her best are said to be the deities, of which only a select few are said to have been graced with her voice. Many more mortals throughout history are said to have been blessed with her grace through visions. Regardless of the interactions between deities or mortals alike, Rhea remains an illusive and mysterious soul.
Her voice is said to ring like chiming bells, carrying a sense of deep care and motherly compassion for her children. Each word spoken touches the soul and fills the recipient with warmth and power, those chosen few empowered to serve her will. However, this also leads to Rhea being very commanding, her words nothing short of divine law above any other deity. Should anyone fail to follow her guidance, they'll know only suffering as their very essence cries out until they obey.
Her voice is known to have reached people from all corners of the world tree, souls walking all paths of life. Her words have lead the world into both joy and anguish, all to preserve the divine balance said to ward off the Void. While her actions may lead to the suffering of others, those of faith believe it to be a necessary sacrifice in order to safeguard her children for all eternity, no matter the cost or the pain it may inflict upon her own heart.

Abilities

While it's difficult to gauge her powers without any true display of force, it's widely believed that Rhea holds the power of creation itself. Her powers are said to have created the world tree surrounding Gailardia, giving rise to its many realms and of course the deities that rule over them. Many believe that since all things originate from her light, she could bring an end to all her creations with a single thought if she so desired, making any opposition bar the Void itself a fool's errand.
As a being of light, it's believed that if anyone should ever find themselves in her presence, they would be struck down by the warm radiance of the heavens, leaving the soul blinded and broken at best or reduced to nothingness at worst. As her only interactions with others come through visions of prophecy, many speculate that she can see the future, of which she deems only a few worthy to guide the world forward. Due to her supreme nature, it's widely accepted that Rhea's power stands far beyond all other deities combined.

Worship

The high elves are the most common followers of Rhea due to their extensive studies of astral energy and the light of mana. However, due to her lacking presence compared to others, it's a more distant faith than most and often substituted with worship towards the Celestine pantheon. While Rhea may maintain a status as a supreme deity, the Celestine deities serve as proxies for Rhea and are often said to act in her stead. Those who do adamantly favor Rhea directly are those truly devoted to the light and perfect balance across the realms. Others are scholars delving into the most ancient texts in search of truth about the origins of the world tree.
Her true followers rarely engage with matters of the world around them, choosing to watch from afar at most times. Only if they deem the need for correction do they actively engage in the outside world, otherwise confined to their monasteries or other religious sites, rarely ever allowing others to gaze upon their sacred halls. The only times they travel the world is to bring enlightenment to others and seek to educate others on their faith. Until called upon by their goddess, they await her blessing through visions of clarity, a very rare gift to receive and one soon spoken of in every corner of the realms.

Commandments

• Embrace the light of creation. Let its beauty guide your path towards a future eternal.
• Shape the world. Sculpt the gifts of the light to better the lives of its children.
• Temperance for all things. One must never be consumed by the wonders of creation.

Notable Relations

Allegiances

• Yune - Yune is said to be the only deity to have ever beheld Rhea's true voice, serving as her speaker and as such is believed to be her most favored child.
• Izuka - Few can claim to comprehend the song of creation, a gift which Rhea bestowed on Izuka to aid his siblings in shaping the world as per her guidance.
• Varin - Next to her children, Varin holds the most favor with Rhea due to his fealty, for which she named him king with the power to command all beneath him.

Oppositions

• Camus - Camus' failure to stand beside his brethren is said to have sparked an immense fury in Rhea, her hand responsible for his banishment.
• Zhaarn - Although Rhea holds little mention in the annals of history, her followers are often bolstered in their endeavors against Zhaarn, marking him as an enemy.
• Mateus - Standing directly opposed as the embodiments of the primordial forces of the cosmos, Rhea and Mateus are destined to clash till the end of time.

Divinity

Goddess of Creation's Light

Title(s)

Mother of the Gods
Will of the Land
Bringer of Life

Moral Compass

Goal

Symbol

White orb /w blue center

Phrase

May the eternal light guide your path

Religion

Anarrea

Reputation

Exalted

Presence

Exclusive

Plane

Cruxis 

Realm

The Cradle of Light