Sarenrae

The Dawnflower

Alignment: Neutral-Good
Realm: Everlight (Nirvana)
Temples: cathedrals, churches, infirmaries, standing stones
Worshippers: healers, mediators, philanthropists, the redeemed
Sacred Animal: dove
Sacred Colors: blue and gold
Sarenrae is one of the most popular deities by virtue of her association with the life-giving sun and her perpetual offer to help anyone be their best, even when they have made mistakes. Most people thank her for her kind work to channel the sun’s power for everyone’s safety and livelihood, and thank her clergy for granting her healing power to all who need it. Mortals look to the Dawnflower as an example of boundless love, exquisite kindness, and true patience. They pray to her to heal the sick, lift up the downtrodden, and illuminate darkness of circumstance as well as darkness of spirit. Her followers aspire to emulate her through generosity, nurturing, truthfulness, and selfless courage. They oppose evil everywhere with words first, and when necessary, with scimitar and flame.
Sarenrae is also much revered as a symbol of renewed hope, having selflessly led the charge against Rovagug to save the world from utter destruction in the mythic past. It was she who cast Rovagug into his terrible tomb within the worldand set the fire of the sun within his prison to weaken the Rough Beast and prevent his escape. She has the aspect of an angel, having originated as one of the mightiest angels before establishing herself as a true deity, and she resumes this aspect of a burning avenger when she encounters evil too entrenched for even her to redeem it.
Sarenrae’s holy text is The Birth of Light and Truth. It records her struggles as an angel before mortal history began and also offers guidance on resisting evils of convenience, standing against cruelty in the world, and teaching and redeeming an evil soul. Preachers often publicly cite the text in passionate sermons when condemning cruelty and corruption, giving the faithful a reputation as fiery zealots. In places like Zurun, this puts many of her followers in conflict with those in power who allow or even support evils like slavery—in recent times, she has stripped her blessings from those among the faith who condoned such evils, though after the Dawnflower’s temper cooled, she has publicly offered redemption to disgraced faithful who are willing to repent.
The church of Sarenrae is devoted to healing all ills, nourishing body and spirit, and correcting evils. It is a flexible, quasi-familial organization that calls its members to go where they are needed. Most people recognize Sarenrae’s bright, soaring temples, which allow services to be performed in direct sunlight.  Sarenite services are traditionally joyous, with singing and dancing. Milestones in familybuilding and personal growth are especially celebrated, including adoption, marriages, coming of age, and recognizing a former evildoer as rehabilitated.
Clergy are called to do many kinds of good in the world. They feed the hungry, tend the ill, heal the injured, and guide the lost. Many are trained as diplomats and advisers in the hope of maintaining peace and ensuring that governments are just and merciful. They also counsel those with torn spirits, mediate disputes, and rehabilitate those who have wronged others. Although most day-to-day work of the church is peaceful, its members practice swordplay and magic both as a form of meditative art and as preparation to strike down irredeemable evil with merciful speed.
Those who have done great wrongs but feel regret sometimes join Sarenrae’s church because the goddess offers a chance at redemption even to people who have committed terrible evils. The reflective and intimate Candlemark holiday on the winter solstice—celebrating the personal reasons that each individual follower joined the church—has special significance to these followers, as well as new practitioners and those in trying times.

Divine Domains

Healing, Honesty, Redemption, and the Sun

Divine Symbols & Sigils

Divine Classification

God