Theia the Liberator
Her Divinity, Theia Vytaro (a.k.a. The Liberator)
When the moon is quarter full and joined by its smaller moon, Theia is made regent of the world.
Theia is the liberator, the chain-breaker, the fighter for slaves and the downtrodden. She was the first paladin, and according to legend she slumbers at the bottom of the sea, waiting to battle the forces of evil at the end of the world.
Theia is often classified as one of the least influential or powerful of the Lunar Pantheon, because she often refuses to advice or assist people who hold lands or titles. Monarchs, merchants, high priests, and generals are often mystified, uncertain when she will answer normally or when she will decry them a tyrant and scold them for the next twenty minutes. To her, there is absolute logical consistency: she refuses to assist the exploitation and oppression of lower class groups. She will provide aid for those seeking to fight plague or famine, and she will provide emotional and personal advice- but she firmly refuses to aid in the wielding of power.
Paladins of Theia typically come in two varieties: Paladins of Rebellion and Anti-Paladins.
Paladins of Rebellion are warriors who swear themselves to protect the common person- the farmers, the miners, the poor, the enslaved. They formed large networks many centuries ago to battle the slave trade, and now use their webs of secret hideouts and contacts to smuggle agents and supplies across international borders into places where people are fighting for their freedom. Revolts against overtaxation, exploitation, or revocations of minority rights often find Paladins of Rebellion leaping in. This massive network has some massive holes (Desmia and Sonev most glaringly- these two gaps roughly divide the network into West and East) but have managed to persist remarkably well over time. Sometimes they involve paladins or cults to Wimbo Aizitu, Theia's ancient ally- but since the two have fallen apart, both groups have become far more distant to avoid their patrons' displeasure. Paladins of rebellion are often slandered as trouble-makers, bandits, and deviants who bring war and suffering wherever they go- any paladin of rebellion who reveals their identity can never hope to retire peacefully or travel out of disguise. It is worth nothing that some of that slander has some hint of truth to it, as overly bold paladins of rebellion have been known to escalate conflicts and make matters worse at times. That said, most poor communities still usually think of these paladins fondly, and have been known to offer aid and protection to them.
Anti-paladins are somewhat ironically named for agents of the First Paladin. They are better understood as Paladin Hunters: those who hunt down and slay agents of other Lunar Gods who bring shame to the title of paladin. All Lunar Gods have their exceptions, those paladins who are too useful to stop supporting just because they commit some abuses here and there. Anti-paladins hunt those exceptions, and work to scare others away from temptation.
Divine Domains
Theia is often considered Goddess of Freedom, Bravery, Warriors, Undersea life, Farmers, and Last Chances. She is often associated with Leviathans, Birds of Prey, Iron, and Hedge Magic.
Divine Symbols & Sigils
- A quarter moon wrapped around a small full moon
- An eagle carrying a spear or sword
- A crowned ram
- A broken chain
- A mountain beneath the sea
Divine Goals & Aspirations
- The end of all forms of slavery
- The destruction of exploitative labor systems
- The destruction of centralized states
- The success of popular peasant/miner/poor movements targeting the upper classes
- That all warriors follow a code of honor that limits their violence towards their foes in an honorable way
- The destruction of those who would abuse the title of paladin
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Theia was born in a rural valley community in South-Central Nafena, and trained from a young age to act as a protector and hunter for the village. Independent from the major states at the time, Theia's community found itself preyed upon by bandit-merchants, who besieged and enslaved the community when she was 19. Given her skill in combat, she was sold as a gladiator in a nearby city. Rented as both a show-fighter and a bodyguard, Theia had high status but deep resentment- which she used to stage a slave revolt at age 27. This revolt was semi-successful, and her band became a guerrilla group of semi-bandits that lurked along the edges of the states, providing safe-harbor for those fleeing captivity.
Through her quick wits and loyal forces, she was able to survive against the much better prepared forces sent against her. After three years, it seemed certain that eventually her luck would run out... and then her prayers were answered. Halcyon came to her in a dream and granted her magical abilities- to injure her foes, heal her allies, inspire her soldiers, and summon better equipment. She was able to share this gift with her companions, and together they formed an elite fighting force that not only survived but won again and again. Breaking through the enemy lines, she was able to free the island of Vytara and seize it for her own. Slaves, oppressed farmers, all those who sought a better life flocked to her banner and built the Free City of Vytara there- a beacon of light amidst the darkness. And yet, the other lands persisted in their attacks. Theia had no administrative experience and took every failure personally. Her emotional stability deteriorated as the attacks kept coming, as the plans kept falling apart. The Masked One intervened, offering to raise her spirits by disguising her and whisking her away to parties abroad. And while the Masked One never actually listened, they offered Theia a space to vent about her problems, which gave her a sense of support and meaning.
After Theia became fifty, her legend was cemented across the land- Vytara had stood strong for two decades and inspired massive slave revolts across the land. Theia and the entire island of Vytara were sent into an ageless, stasis-like sleep and the island was sent to the bottom of the ocean. The Gods wove spells to protect the isle from disturbance, and it remains slumbering to this day- waiting for the day that the Gods themselves manifest physically at the nearby stone altar, to raise Vytara from the depths.
While Theia technically never died, her dreaming mind lives in Paradise with the rest of the Lunar Pantheon.
Relationships
Divine Classification
Demigod
Species
Life
490 DE
440 DE
50 years old
Spouses
Siblings
Children
Eyes
Green
Hair
Short black hair
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Dark brown
Height
5'10"
Related Plots
Founded Settlements
Ruled Locations
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