Mënes

the Fawn-Slayer, the Lamp-Bearer, the Three-Formed, the Untamable Goddess

Mënes is the goddess of a great many things, but primarily of faeries, magic, and pathways. Her ties to the moon link her to darkness, cycles, menses, fertility, and women. She rules the wilderness of land, sea, and air; and is often associates with beauty, war, and death. Mënes appears as a youthful maiden wearing a cloak of falcon feathers and carrying a torch, and she is usually accompanied by a pack of great hounds or scores upon scores of cats. Morality Menes is a chaotic deity whose priorities are most in tune with faeries, magic, and wandering. She is a regular patron of faeries and those who work to protect and serve them – Sense of Duty (Faeries) [-10]. Tied in with faeries are the twin ideas of art and magic, and it is through these that she anoints the majority of her priests and priestesses, all of whom typically have Obsession (Perfect My Art) [-10]. Finally, the wild-eyed wandering monk is an archetype among her clergy; such have Vow (Never Sleep Indoors and/or Own No More Than What Can Be Carried). Additionally, Menes is a bloody goddess with ties to menses through her governance of the lunar cycle. This gives her ties to blood and blood sacrifices similar to Yaunävä, who shares similar aspects. Finally, all clerics of Menes may have one of Disciplines of Faith (Mysticism, Ritual Sacrifice, or Ritualism). Divine Servitors A great host of spirits attend the Lamp-Bearer, among whom are counted kings and queens, wild elementals, and dedicated servitor spirits. The lattermost of these have a dizzying array of elements, any of which may be appropriate. This includes Light for the Menes’ lunar aspects, Darkness for the night through which it shines, Beauty for the arts and artistry, Deception for faeries, Travel for pathways, and Chaos for luck. Any of these may be combined with each other or with Good or Evil, both of which apply equally to her servitors. Note that Evil servitors are simply more malicious than the typical divine servitor. Shrines Dedicated shrines to Menes are usually found on the fringes of civilization where they serve as a point of light in the dark wilderness to which supplicants can flock. These edifices take the shape of rotundas on whose columns hang a torch each outward and whose interior is lit by the moon via an oculus directly above a circular alter. The proportions and exact locations of these shrines are selected to enhance magical energies in the immediate vicinity, and if possible, tap into local ley lines. This, combined with the blessings of Menes, make her shrines potent magical locations (treat the grounds as having High Mana). Shrines in larger temples have a representation of the goddess crowned with the moon holding a torch whose light is never allowed to be extinguished. For this reason and their connection to magic, everburning torches are often employed. A small alter with a basin for deer blood sacrifices flanked by candles usually sits at Menes’ feet. Divine Favor Mënes hears prayers concerning magic, the arts, and pathways as general prayers. She grants learned prayers, in addition to the standard general set, mostly based on the following advantages. Abilities Afflictions that “bless” or “curse” via Advantage, Disadvantage, Negated Advantage, or Negated Disadvantage; Allies (minor faerie spirits), with Summonable; Alternate Form, with Projected Form; Appearance, with Glamour; Chameleon, with Glamour; Damage Resistance, with Limited, Magic (-20% Detect, for blessed or cursed items, wishes, etc.; Detect, for faeries, faerie magic, etc.; Detect, for magical creatures, spells, wizards, etc.; Duplication, with Construct; Elastic Skin, with Glamour; Energy Reserve (Mana Enhanced Defenses; Illusion; Invisibility; Jumper (Spirit), with Limited Access, The Veil (-20% Luck, with Wishing; Magery; Magic Resistance; Mana Damper; Mana Enhancer; Medium, with Specialized, Faeries (-50% Mimicry, with Glamour; Mind Shield, often with Limited, Magic (-50% Morph, with Cosmetic; Neutralize (Magic), but not with Power Theft; See Invisible (Faeries See Invisible; Serendipity, with Wishing; Silence, with Glamour; Spirit Empathy, with Specialized, Faeries (-50% Static (Magic and True Faith (Faeries), with Turning.