Acien Tali

"She is older than the oldest forests. You have seen her face in the branches of trees, the stones on a hill, or the rivulets of a stream. She is eternal. She is in all untouched things. She is Our Lady of All Wilds." — Archdruid Trocantor

The Lady of All Wilds

Acien Tali is the primary nature goddess worshipped across the realms and the patron deity of Druidism. She goes by many names and was once called Talessra when she was a member of the Heavenly Council. She is associated with the moon, animals, plants, trees, freshwater, centaurs, lycanthropes, and the druids. Though depicted and referred to as a hybrid goddess, she also described in more animistic terms. Many believe that she dwells within the trees, the earth, the rocks and rivers and lakes and every wild thing untouched by mortal hands. Many druid circles consider Acien Tali to have been the first druid and to have been the first being to learn how to change forms beneath the moons of Calo and Tali. For this reason, many druid circles consider Acien Tali to be their patron goddess and their stories and legends are all considered to be a part of her folkloric scripture.

Divine Domains

Acien Tali is associated with the moon, animals, plants, trees, freshwater, centaurs, lycanthropes, and the druids. Her divine domains are Life and Nature.

Holy Books & Codes

Though she is mentioned in "The Talessra Metamorphosis" myth in the "Book of Calorba," Acien Tali is not described in her present form. Much of the scripture or codes of her faith comes from oral traditions and animistic beliefs passed down from generation to generation. More over, few of her faithful are actually literate in mortal script and so any information is recorded in Druidic, a complex kind of pictography that incorporates natural elements and magical symbols to connote meanings.

Divine Symbols & Sigils

Acien Tali's divine symbol is a pine needle wreath surrounding an animal print. Her sacred colors are emerald green and mousy brown.

Tenets of Faith

Followers of Acien Tali believe that the spirits of dead beasts and true animals live for a time in the wild paradise of the Golden Boughs serving Acien Tali before they are reincarnated again, continuing the circle of life.
Those that swear upon her and are called to uphold the Oath of the Ancients have four simple but guiding principles:

• Kindle the Light: Through your acts of mercy, kindness, and forgiveness, kindle the light of hope in the world and beat back despair.

• Shelter the Light:Where there is good beautify, love, and laughter in the world, stand against the wickedness that would swallow it. Where life flourishes, stand against that which would render it barren.

• Preserve Your Own Light: Delight in song and laughter, in beauty and art. If you allow light to die in your own heart, you cannot preserve it in the world around you.

• Be the Light: Be a glorious beacon for all who life in despair. Let the light of your joy and courage shine forth in all your deed.

Holidays

Followers of Acien Tali keep a lunar calendar but do not celebrate particular monthly feasts. However, Acien Tali's faithful do observe the Winter and Summer Solstice as well as the Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes. Often they incorporate rituals and traditions from fey religions during these seasonal celebrations.

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

Acien Tali is typically depicted as a female centaur, with the body of a doe and the waist and arms and face of a female humanoid. She often also has antlers growing from her head. Some say her face can be seen in the branches of trees, the stones on a hill, or the rivulets of a stream.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Long ago, during the Dawn Era when the world was still new and wild, Talessra and her twin sister Calorba went hunting for deer at the foot of the Celestial Mountains. While hunting, Talessra disappeared. As Calorba looked for her, she saw a beautiful white doe and a handsome black stag rutting together. Calorba, having been sent hunting for food, threw two spears at the doe and the stag. The doe transformed into Talessra and the stag became Ókan, the Beast in Shadow. Ókan was injured but managed to flee. Calorba rushed to her sister and did not pursue the Beast in Shadow.
As Talessra lay dying, Calorba shed a single tear under the light of a full moon. The Old Magic was strong that night and Talessra lived though bound in a half-beast form. She sprouted proud antlers like those of a mighty elk. Her torso grew soft deerskin fur and she stood as a centaur with the body of the limber doe and the breasts and arms of a mortal. Her face was speckled in spots like the newborn fawn. Her eyes were cool as if drawn from a woodland pool and her hair became a tangle of moss and vines. From then on she became known as Acien Tali; the Lady of All Wilds.
But the injured Ókan was watching from a nearby tree and using that same Old Magic, he cursed Calorba, causing her to always see Acien Tali as a monstrous lycanthrope in need of slaying. Calorba, with tears in her eyes, drove Acien Tali from the Celestial Mountains and out of the pantheon of the Heavenly Council.
After her rape at the hands of Ókan and her transformation from Talessra, Acien Tali vowed watch over nature in all its forms so that it would not fall to ruin at the hands of the Unspoken or by the machinations of civilization. She comforts the orphaned creatures of the wood and sows seeds and cones after a wildfire. She shelters the lost and provides mortals with wood and medicine from her branches. Yet she also seeks vengeance against those that would abuse her gifts. From the Material Plane to the deep paths of the Feywild to her home in the Golden Boughs, Acien Tali now resides in all places where wild things dare to grow without restraint.

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

After her rape at the hands of Ókan and her transformation from Talessra, Acien Tali vowed watch over nature in all its forms so that it would not fall to ruin at the hands of the Unspoken or by the machinations of civilization.

Social

Family Ties

Acien Tali was once a member of the Heavenly Council and was the daughter of Uriah⁣ and Porcia. She is the twin sister of Calorba, the Beast's Foe, but their relationship has been fractured since Ókan, the Beast in Shadow, cursed her.

The Thrice Woven Knot, a symbol of druidism and Acien Tali

Divine Classification

Deity

Religions

• Druidism

Alignment

Neutral Good

Current Location

Golden Boughs

Realm

Golden Boughs

Honorary & Occupational Titles

The First Druid; The Green; The Daughter of the Moon; The Mother of Animals; The First Centaur; The Lady of the Wood; Guardian of the Hunted; Warden of the Wood; Treestrider; Protector of the Lycan;

Current Residence

The Golden Boughs

Other Affiliations

• Heavenly Council

Related Myths

• "The Talessra Metamorphosis"

Hallowed Arms

Acien Tali needs no Hallowed Arms for she can transform into any beast and maul them with her magical horns, antlers, fangs, teeth, claws, hooves, venom, or spikes.

Holy Orders:

• Acolyte: Greenfoot

• Cleric: Green Priest

• Acien Tali is the patron of all the major druid circles.

• A special order of paladins called the Order of the Antlers upholds her will through an Oath of the Ancients.

Animal Harbinger:

  Elk