Sieva

the Feathered, of Marriage, the Watcher

Sieva is the goddess of marriage, protection, and womanhood. She represents the ideal wife in that she is dignified, motherly, dutiful, supportive, and strong; but her wrathful jealousy stands as a warning against infidelity. Like most other gods and goddesses, Sieva has a strong warlike aspect that is responsible for providing women the courage and might to defend their homes and offspring against invasions foreign and domestic. She also is known for her persecution of the bastard children of Veträ, but in doing so often drives them to accomplish tremendous feats. In this way, she is the adversary that makes men of boys and forges girls into women. Sieva appears as a fearfully beautiful and dignified woman wearing a robe of falcon feathers and accompanied by a panther as black as her long, flowing hair is golden.

Morality

Sieva is fiercely loyal to those who worship her and follow her ideals, above all, a sense of duty to women or one’s family as represented by Sense of Duty (All Women or Family) [-10 or -5]. She also values those who conduct themselves with honor, do not lie, and make personal sacrifices for the good their fellow; take Code of Honor (Gentleman’s), Truthfulness, and Selflessness, respectively, to model these virtues. Finally, as with all deities, Sieva has a host of ceremonies and rituals surrounding her worship. Those how attend to these religiously should take Disciplines of Faith (Mysticism or Ritualism), as appropriate.

Divine Servitors

Sieva’s servitors appear as comely women wearing the red ribbon of marriage about their right wrist and usually have Good. This is often accompanied by other elements, depending on the asect of Sieva the servitor embodies. Those who represent steadfastness have Wisdom, and those who are defenders of homesteads have War or Peace. It is also quite common for servitors of Sieva to have the Winged lens, as well.

Shrines

Sieva’s shrines are rarely freestanding structures, but rather portable affairs that are carried in procession during weddings. These are supported by two or more poles and bear a likeness of the goddess adorned in falcon feathers and crowned in stars and holding the marriage ribbon. She is carried at the head of the wedding precession by the groomsmen who set her on a prepared dais to oversee the ceremony. In the final act of marriage, the ribbon is taken from Sieva’s hands and used to bind the hands of the bride and groom to each other. In the pantheon, Sieva’s shrine sits to Vetra’s left and depicts her in her common form holding a bell above a cauldron and accompanied by a panther. Offerings of cow’s blood are poured into the cauldron and wreathes of stephanotis set about her feet.

Divine Favor

Sieva hears the prayers of women protecting others and those protecting women. Her priests and priestesses are healers of injured bodies and relationships, and her holy warriors are fierce protectors of women, children, and those who cannot defend themselves. Abilities marked with an asterisk (*) have Accessibility, Only in the defense of others (-20%) and Temporary Disadvantage, Bloodlust (12) (-10%). Abilities Affliction, with one of Malediction, Melee Attack, or Sense-Based and either Advantage for any ability with an asterisk (*) or Negated Disadvantage for Cowardice, Combat Paralysis, Pacifism, or any other disadvantage that directly impedes fighting for survival; Damage Resistance, with Force Field; Danger Sense; Enhanced Defenses (Any Enhanced Move*; Extra Attack, with Multi-Strike*; Fearlessness; Hard to Kill*; Hard to Subdue*; Healing; Indomitable; Injury Tolerance, with Damage Reduction*; Lifting ST*; Luck, with Defensive; Mind Control, with Emotion Control; Regeneration; Resistant or Immunity to any physical or supernatural effect; Serendipity; Static (Divine, Magic, or Spirit Striking ST*; Super Jump*; True Faith, with Turning; Unfazeable; Unkillable 1*; Visualization, with Blessing.