Hertha (her-tha)
Hertha is the Petrian goddess of creation and the harmony of the natural world. The Moss Mother was born at the start of creation from one of the five God Seeds by Nu, making her the original goddess of creation. When the Elemental Planes clashed eons ago and gave birth to the The Materiel Plane and Mundus, it was Hertha who filled the worlds with the lushness of life that would provide for its first inhabitants. Born with a heart full of love for all things that grow it was a natural progression for Hertha to oversee the beasts and plants of the world.
As the goddess developed, she too grew with the world, going from a fiery and inspired youth to a wisened keeper of nature. Far from a pascifist observer, the Erdmutter acts as a direct reflection of nature's balance in all its savage and graceful glory. Her Prime, Spirits, and Chosen are often gifted with the power to assume supernaturally large animal forms or wield the elements. Throughout history, she has been consistently at odds with the destructive Lotan, whose cataclysmic machinations regularly disturb the balance of Hertha's realms.
Do not let this reputation of motherly kindness as a passive approach to revering nature, her personality reflects both natures beauty and its ferocity, she is prone to outbursts of violent retribution to mortals who openly disrepect her holy grounds, beasts and the elements are her arbiters of vengeance on those who dare carelessly carve through the verdant places of the world.
She is generally a quiet and wise being of personality and patience to deliver unto her followers. Some of her more loyal followers have even reported that she has quite the sense of humor when the moment calls for it, often using her disarming appearance to subvert peoples expections with a light hearted quip, prank or a silly story.
To die is a normal part of life; this sacred balance is a huge part of Hertha's faith and teaching. With this in mind, Hertha and her followers despise undeath and the unnatural extension of life. They also harbor a deep respect for the twin gods of life and death, Aiffus and Sol; in fact, many people worship all three together, with a particular focus on the natural degeneration of all living things as they return to the natural world. Followers of Hertha are encouraged to embrace life and respect the decay of all things. Circle of the Spore Druids often serve this purpose in a very literal sense.
Contrasting these pleasant friendships, Hertha is a mortal enemy of Lotan, the god of cataclysm and destruction. Natural disasters and damage to the natural world are perfectly normal in the great balance; however, Lotan and his followers take an active and vindictive approach to their unholy escapades of carnage. During the Five Centuries War, Hertha and Lotans forces wreaked havoc all throughout the Cosmology, participating in near-apocalyptic skirmishes. To this day, the bad blood between these two major gods spills into the hearts of their worshippers, often breaking out into wilderness battles that level entire grottos.
The cows of the Grovelands grazed upon this holy plant and touched it with their natural essence, eventually the grazed grass began to show buds of some new plant which Hertha tended lovingly. Growing from these magical plants were the first of the Firbolgs or Grovetenders, these half-cow divine beings were gentle and wise, beginning their divine mission of repairing the damage done by the conflict.
Once the land had been healed and the Firbolgs mission complete, Hertha looked upon her new people with pride and with the love of a mother, some of them wished to spread her word and tend the groves of worlds beyond. The Erdmutter then opened a gateway into one of the nearby oak trees and allowed her children to leave the Grovelands and seek worlds beyond, the Firbolgs of the modern world are supposedly all descendants of these divine guardians of the natural world.
As the goddess developed, she too grew with the world, going from a fiery and inspired youth to a wisened keeper of nature. Far from a pascifist observer, the Erdmutter acts as a direct reflection of nature's balance in all its savage and graceful glory. Her Prime, Spirits, and Chosen are often gifted with the power to assume supernaturally large animal forms or wield the elements. Throughout history, she has been consistently at odds with the destructive Lotan, whose cataclysmic machinations regularly disturb the balance of Hertha's realms.
Description
It could be said that there is no true way to describe Hertha; her physical form in the Valderian Grovelands is a shifting verdant grove that changes with the seasons. If she so chooses, she may take the form of a great beast or a mighty elemental. Typically, she appears to visitors of her realm as a large, vaguely elvish treeant-like figure with beautiful hanging moss off her horn-like treetop hair, a dress of colorful leaves and foliage adorns her torso, and her skin is a beautiful pale oak wooden texture. When she appears in visions or dreams to her followers, she will often take the form of a totem animal or her avatar, The Moss Lady, who takes the visage of a grandmotherly sage in a moss-like dress with flowers in her greyed hair.Personality
The Verdant Empress is famed for her comforting presence, often described as being immediately familiar to those who seek her wisdom. She wastes little time asking for convaluted rituals or sacrifices, she much prefers the practical and realistic approach towards mastering nature and one's own destiny. She generally takes a metaphysical approach to guiding her worshippers, appearing as a vision in a pool of water or a feeling eminating from a special piece of land, her followers generally regard her advice as being warm and tender.Do not let this reputation of motherly kindness as a passive approach to revering nature, her personality reflects both natures beauty and its ferocity, she is prone to outbursts of violent retribution to mortals who openly disrepect her holy grounds, beasts and the elements are her arbiters of vengeance on those who dare carelessly carve through the verdant places of the world.
She is generally a quiet and wise being of personality and patience to deliver unto her followers. Some of her more loyal followers have even reported that she has quite the sense of humor when the moment calls for it, often using her disarming appearance to subvert peoples expections with a light hearted quip, prank or a silly story.
"The hut could be generously described as 'charming' and resided in the center of an overgrown thicket. The medicine woman I was meant to meet with asked me to call her The Moss Lady. Of course I knew what was really going on and was beside myself with excitement to share a mug of tea with the Erdmutter herself. You can imagine my surprise when our conversation was quite suddenly interupted by the raining of hundreds upon hundreds of live frogs! Using my cloak as a shield against the maelstrom of amphibious rain, I turn to see the old woman almost doubled over with laughter and holding the door open for her green friends to leap out into the yard. This was merely the first of many of Hertha's 'jokes' and my heart became filled with a warm anticipation of the conversation to come."
-Hallikast, Jonah. "Tea Time with the Gods" . Valle Philosophers Guild Publishing Inc. 98 FA
Relationships
Hertha has a deep connection between the four gods of the elements and the twin gods, Aiffus and Sol. Gallus, Terrus, Pyrus, and Aquas each derive a portion of their power from Herthas control of the balance. Her followers are encouraged to engratiate themselves with the followers of the elemental gods to support the balance of the natural world and raw elemental power.To die is a normal part of life; this sacred balance is a huge part of Hertha's faith and teaching. With this in mind, Hertha and her followers despise undeath and the unnatural extension of life. They also harbor a deep respect for the twin gods of life and death, Aiffus and Sol; in fact, many people worship all three together, with a particular focus on the natural degeneration of all living things as they return to the natural world. Followers of Hertha are encouraged to embrace life and respect the decay of all things. Circle of the Spore Druids often serve this purpose in a very literal sense.
Contrasting these pleasant friendships, Hertha is a mortal enemy of Lotan, the god of cataclysm and destruction. Natural disasters and damage to the natural world are perfectly normal in the great balance; however, Lotan and his followers take an active and vindictive approach to their unholy escapades of carnage. During the Five Centuries War, Hertha and Lotans forces wreaked havoc all throughout the Cosmology, participating in near-apocalyptic skirmishes. To this day, the bad blood between these two major gods spills into the hearts of their worshippers, often breaking out into wilderness battles that level entire grottos.
Creation of Firbolgs
Not long after the conclusion of the The Five Century War Hertha was faced with the devastation of her realm, it dawned on her that the groves and woodlands would need far more tending than her or her animal servants were capable of providing. Heartbroken at the damage dealt to the natural world Hertha began to weep, dampening the soil. As the mythology goes, the spots which were wet from her tears eventually began to grow grass, touched with divine emotion.The cows of the Grovelands grazed upon this holy plant and touched it with their natural essence, eventually the grazed grass began to show buds of some new plant which Hertha tended lovingly. Growing from these magical plants were the first of the Firbolgs or Grovetenders, these half-cow divine beings were gentle and wise, beginning their divine mission of repairing the damage done by the conflict.
Once the land had been healed and the Firbolgs mission complete, Hertha looked upon her new people with pride and with the love of a mother, some of them wished to spread her word and tend the groves of worlds beyond. The Erdmutter then opened a gateway into one of the nearby oak trees and allowed her children to leave the Grovelands and seek worlds beyond, the Firbolgs of the modern world are supposedly all descendants of these divine guardians of the natural world.
Divine Domains
Hertha is the nurturer of life, weaving the threads of vitality into the tapestry of existence. Through her divine touch, she grants fertility to the land, oversees the growth of flora and fauna, and bestows the blessing of abundance upon her followers.
In the cycle of life, Hertha governs the gentle transition from existence to the embrace of the earth. She ensures that the passage into the afterlife is a natural and harmonious journey, guiding departed souls to become one with the essence of the world.
Hertha's dominion over nature extends from the whispering leaves to the towering mountains. As the guardian of ecosystems and the cycles of the seasons, she maintains the delicate balance of the natural world, fostering biodiversity and overseeing the intricate dance of life and death in the wild.
She also embodies the wisdom that emanates from the heart of nature. Her divine knowledge encompasses the secrets of the earth, the language of plants and animals, and the interconnectedness of all living things. Seekers of knowledge turn to Hertha for insights into the mysteries of creation and the profound truths embedded in the natural order.
In the cycle of life, Hertha governs the gentle transition from existence to the embrace of the earth. She ensures that the passage into the afterlife is a natural and harmonious journey, guiding departed souls to become one with the essence of the world.
Hertha's dominion over nature extends from the whispering leaves to the towering mountains. As the guardian of ecosystems and the cycles of the seasons, she maintains the delicate balance of the natural world, fostering biodiversity and overseeing the intricate dance of life and death in the wild.
She also embodies the wisdom that emanates from the heart of nature. Her divine knowledge encompasses the secrets of the earth, the language of plants and animals, and the interconnectedness of all living things. Seekers of knowledge turn to Hertha for insights into the mysteries of creation and the profound truths embedded in the natural order.
Artifacts
Verdant Hearthstone; A mystical gem believed to contain a fragment of Hertha's essence. It is said to radiate healing energy and is used in rituals to channel the goddess's blessings. The Heartstone is carefully guarded by a select group of Hertha's most devout followers.
Herthas Embrace; A sacred grove where Hertha's presence is particularly strong. Within this enchanted space, the boundaries between the mortal and divine realms blur. Pilgrims seek solace and communion with the goddess, and it's believed that visions and guidance are more accessible within the embrace of Gaea.
Hertha has numerous staffs and wands of magical power spread throughout the realms for her followers to find and wield in her name.
Herthas Embrace; A sacred grove where Hertha's presence is particularly strong. Within this enchanted space, the boundaries between the mortal and divine realms blur. Pilgrims seek solace and communion with the goddess, and it's believed that visions and guidance are more accessible within the embrace of Gaea.
Hertha has numerous staffs and wands of magical power spread throughout the realms for her followers to find and wield in her name.
Divine Symbols & Sigils
Different religious orders have different interpretations of Hertha's divine symbol, though some consistent design details are the four symbols of the elements encircling a wreath and a spiraling tree at its center.
A popular design for a Hertha holy symbol, often carved on a sanded wooden coin or chiseled into animal bone.
Tenets of Faith
Worshippers of Nature Sovereign firmly believe that the most sincere way to revere their goddess is to find their place in the Perfect Harmony, what this may mean for them changes by individual. Many hold to the idea that this balance is achieved by mastering the symmetry of the natural world and civilization, to live your truth without waste or needless harm. Often times shamans of Hertha will integrate themselves into the biomes of nature they feel they have kinship with or befriend animals they feel are holy, for druids this may mean learning to live off of hostal land like the Ferav 'Vee Lau Jungles or live amongst a den of wild creatures.
Holidays
Celebrated during the vernal equinox, the festival of Renewal marks the awakening of the earth from its winter slumber. Hertha's followers gather in sacred groves, adorned with vibrant floral wreaths and robes made of woven vines. Rituals include the planting of seeds, symbolic of new beginnings, and communal dances that mimic the natural rhythm of growth and vitality. Offerings of fresh herbs and fruits are given as gifts to other followers, expressing gratitude for the goddess's life-giving touch.
As the sun reaches its zenith, the Revelry festival unfolds in joyous celebration of the peak of summer. Hertha's devotees gather in sunlit clearings, engaging in lively dances and music that echo through the forest. Bonfires are kindled to symbolize the warmth and radiance of Hertha's presence. Offerings of ripe fruits and honey are shared with her followers, and the day is spent in communal feasting and expressions of gratitude for the abundant gifts of the season.
During the autumn equinox, followers of Hertha come together for the Harmony festival. Fields and orchards are adorned with colorful banners, and the air is filled with the scent of ripe fruits and fallen leaves. Rituals involve communal harvesting, where the bounty of the land is gathered and shared among the community.
As the world enters the quiet embrace of winter, the Solace in Stillness festival takes place during the winter solstice. Hertha's followers gather in candle-lit groves, dressed in garments woven with silver threads reminiscent of frost. The festival emphasizes reflection, meditation, and the appreciation of the beauty found in the hushed landscapes. Offerings of evergreen branches, symbolizing resilience and the promise of spring, are laid at the feet of altars dedicated to Hertha.
As the sun reaches its zenith, the Revelry festival unfolds in joyous celebration of the peak of summer. Hertha's devotees gather in sunlit clearings, engaging in lively dances and music that echo through the forest. Bonfires are kindled to symbolize the warmth and radiance of Hertha's presence. Offerings of ripe fruits and honey are shared with her followers, and the day is spent in communal feasting and expressions of gratitude for the abundant gifts of the season.
During the autumn equinox, followers of Hertha come together for the Harmony festival. Fields and orchards are adorned with colorful banners, and the air is filled with the scent of ripe fruits and fallen leaves. Rituals involve communal harvesting, where the bounty of the land is gathered and shared among the community.
As the world enters the quiet embrace of winter, the Solace in Stillness festival takes place during the winter solstice. Hertha's followers gather in candle-lit groves, dressed in garments woven with silver threads reminiscent of frost. The festival emphasizes reflection, meditation, and the appreciation of the beauty found in the hushed landscapes. Offerings of evergreen branches, symbolizing resilience and the promise of spring, are laid at the feet of altars dedicated to Hertha.
Titles
Moss Mother
Erdmutter
Natures Sovereign
The Verdant Empress
Lady of Leaves
The Roots of Mundus
Mahaanision Name- Yanmu
Alignment
NG
Domains
Nature
Knowledge
Life
Avatars
The Moss Lady
Worshipper Alignment
Moss Mother
Erdmutter
Natures Sovereign
The Verdant Empress
Lady of Leaves
The Roots of Mundus
Mahaanision Name- Yanmu
Alignment
NG
Domains
Nature
Knowledge
Life
Avatars
The Moss Lady
Divine Classification
Major Creation God
Realm
Church/Cult
Children
Pronouns
She/They
| CG | NG | |
| CN | NN | |
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