Erotas

Keeper of Hearts Erotas (a.k.a. Lover’s Flame)

Erotas, known as the Eternal Flame, wandered through the early realms, sharing the essence of love and creating connections between the first beings of Tanaria. With an open heart, they brought forth the many forms of love—romantic, familial, platonic, and selfless—planting these seeds within the hearts of mortals and deities alike. Their unions with gods and mortals alike gave rise to divine offspring, each symbolizing a unique facet of love’s powerful influence.
Erotas embodies unconditional acceptance and believes that love is the world's most potent force, capable of mending even the deepest wounds and bridging even the greatest divides. They are seen as a patron of kindness and compassion, and their presence is felt in every act of loyalty, every bond of friendship, and every embrace that ignites warmth. To follow Erotas is to embrace all forms of love as sacred, for love, Erotas teaches, is the ultimate bond that transcends realms, lifetimes, and fates.

Divine Children:

1. Airo: The god of sexual passion, depicted as a young, attractive figure often surrounded by symbols of desire and romance.
2. Jalanji: The god of deep friendship, depicted as a strong and reliable figure, often shown with companions.
3. Luda: The goddess of playful love, depicted as a carefree and joyful figure, often shown dancing or playing.
4. Agapos: The god of universal love, depicted as a serene and compassionate figure, often shown with open arms.
5. Endra: The god of longstanding love, depicted as a wise and patient figure, often shown with a partner.
6. Selara: The goddess of self-love, depicted as a confident and radiant figure, often shown looking into a mirror or embracing herself.
7. Irel: The goddess of family love, depicted as a nurturing and caring figure, often shown with children.
8. Zelaph: The god of obsessive love, depicted as an intense and brooding figure, often shown with a fixation on an object or person.

Divine Domains

• Love: Erotas embodies the full spectrum of love, from deep romantic bonds to friendships and familial ties. They encourage mortals and gods alike to cherish connections that bring warmth and unity.
• Desire: Erotas embraces the natural passions of mortal and divine beings, reminding them of the beauty and vitality that desire brings to existence. Through desire, beings find motivation, creativity, and the strength to pursue what they cherish.
• Compassion: Erotas teaches that compassion bridges divides, softens hearts, and transforms conflict into understanding. Compassion is considered the highest form of divine love, essential to growth, forgiveness, and empathy.
• Healing: Erotas’ influence encompasses emotional and spiritual healing, offering solace to the broken-hearted, the grieving, and those scarred by life’s hardships.

Artifacts

The Heartstone Chalice
A goblet crafted from rose-hued crystal, gifted by Erotas to their followers. When filled with water or wine, the chalice can mend broken hearts and bring comfort to those in emotional pain. During sacred rituals, priests use the Heartstone Chalice to bless unions or soothe those who seek solace.
Veil of Grace
A delicate, shimmering veil that embodies Erotas' presence. Those who wear it are said to become more empathetic, gaining the ability to see and feel the emotions of those around them. It’s often used by high priests during ceremonies to deepen connections between partners or family members.
Bonded Rings
Two rings forged from intertwined strands of silver and gold, representing the unity and strength of love. When exchanged, these rings bind their wearers in a spiritual sense, allowing them to sense each other’s emotions and, in times of need, lend each other strength. The rings are often used in weddings and other ceremonies of union.
The Emberstone Amulet
An amulet that glows with a soft, warm light when held by those in love. This stone can rekindle affection in estranged couples and is a favored tool of the Order of the Heartfire, used to inspire courage in followers and rekindle their devotion. It is a symbol of the passion that burns within every heart touched by Erotas.

Divine Symbols & Sigils

• The Flaming Heart
A symbol of both love and desire, the Flaming Heart is often depicted as a heart-shaped flame. This emblem represents the warmth, passion, and energy Erotas brings into every bond. It is widely used by the Order of the Heartfire in their rituals and personal adornments.
• The Linked Rings
The Linked Rings symbolize unity and eternal connection. This sigil, two interlocking circles or rings, is a sacred image within the Empyrian Fellowship and is often engraved into ritual items, jewelry, and temple doorways as a reminder of shared love and fellowship.
• The Open Hand
The Open Hand signifies compassion and is a symbol of giving, trust, and shared vulnerability. Used as a gesture of peace and in ceremonies where bonds are renewed, it serves as a reminder of Erotas’ call for kindness and empathy.
• The Heartstone Lily
A stylized lily or blossom known as the Heartstone Lily represents purity, beauty, and healing. Often seen in the Fellowship’s temples, this symbol is placed as a mark of Erotas' healing and compassionate side. The Heartstone Lily is a favored emblem in blessings and is commonly incorporated into holy garments and tapestries.

Tenets of Faith

1. Cherish Love in All Forms
Recognize and honor love in its many expressions—romantic, familial, friendship, and compassion. Love is sacred, and to cherish it is to honor Erotas.
2. Seek Connection and Unity
Strive to build bonds and find unity with others. Connection enriches the soul, and unity brings strength to both individuals and communities.
3. Practice Kindness and Compassion
Approach all beings with kindness and empathy. Love is a force of healing, and compassion for others is the purest form of devotion.
4. Embrace Passion and Desire
Recognize that desire, in all its forms, is a vital part of life. Seek what brings joy, and live life fully and passionately in celebration of Erotas’s gifts.
5. Forgive and Heal
Practice forgiveness and help others find healing. Love, even in difficult times, has the power to mend wounds and bring harmony to discord.
6. Honor Beauty and Art
See beauty in the world and celebrate it through art, music, and expression. Creativity and beauty bring people together, and their creation is an act of devotion.

Holidays

Festival of Hearts

First day of Velnir (Spring)
The Festival of Hearts celebrates love in all forms—romantic, familial, and friendship. People exchange tokens of affection, such as flowers and small gifts, and communities gather for feasts, music, and dancing. Temples dedicated to Erotas open their doors for blessings, and many followers renew vows or make commitments. This day is one of both celebration and reflection, reminding everyone of the power of love to unite and uplift.

Day of the Sacred Flame

Second full moon of Aurumeth (Late Summer)
Dedicated to the passionate and transformative aspect of love, the Day of the Sacred Flame is celebrated with firelight ceremonies, where people reflect on their desires and aspirations. Temples light symbolic flames, and individuals and couples write down their heartfelt wishes or unfulfilled desires, casting them into the flames to symbolize release or transformation. This holiday encourages followers to embrace life’s passion and live with purpose.

The Embrace of Compassion

Last day of Sombriel (Late Autumn)
This holiday is dedicated to love as compassion and kindness. On this day, followers volunteer to help the less fortunate, showing devotion through acts of service and charity. Temples hold healing rites, and the community often gathers for peaceful vigils. The Embrace of Compassion is a quiet, heartfelt observance of Erotas's teachings on empathy, forgiveness, and unconditional love.

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

Erotas is often depicted as an androgynous figure of ethereal beauty, with flowing robes that shimmer in every hue of the rainbow. Their eyes are pools of deep, compassionate light, capable of seeing into the hearts of all beings. Their hair flows like liquid gold, radiating warmth and comfort.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

In the dawn of existence, Erotas emerged as one of the first deities born of cosmic energy, a being created not of need or necessity but of desire and connection. Unlike many deities forged for war, order, or survival, Erotas was shaped by the intangible force of love—a guiding power meant to balance and soften the harsh edges of creation. As they journeyed across the nascent lands of Tanaria, Erotas reached out to other deities, discovering that love could manifest in countless ways: as loyalty, compassion, desire, selflessness, and even sacrifice. These bonds enriched the gods’ lives and brought balance to the often chaotic forces within the world.
Erotas’ interactions with mortals were no less impactful. They walked among the people of Tanaria, taking on various forms to understand the breadth of mortal emotions and teach the beauty of connection. Through fleeting relationships with mortals, Erotas learned of heartache and longing and accepted these emotions as intrinsic parts of love’s spectrum. In their union with gods, spirits, and mortals alike, Erotas became a parent to many divine offspring, each embodying a unique aspect of love: the joy of new love, the loyalty of friendship, the strength of familial ties, and the beauty of self-sacrifice.
Their most famous lover was Callen, the goddess of light and wisdom. Together, they shared a profound connection that symbolized the perfect union of warmth and understanding. From this union came the concept of love as a guiding light—a source of comfort and hope that continues to inspire mortals and immortals alike.
Over time, the teachings and presence of Erotas became a silent yet unwavering force in Tanaria. To this day, their influence remains in every act of compassion, every celebration of union, and every quiet moment shared between loved ones. Though Erotas’ appearance is rare, their legacy endures, woven into the fabric of Tanarian culture and the hearts of those who seek love in all its forms.

Erotas and Callen

Erotas and Callen's love blossomed in the early days of creation, before her profound bond with Seraphis took root. At the time, Callen was still discovering her divine purpose as a goddess of light, warmth, and wisdom. Her connection with Erotas was transformative, awakening her to the depth and complexity of love beyond the guiding radiance she embodied. Their relationship was one of warmth and gentle understanding, marked by shared moments that brought Callen closer to understanding the emotional depth that love could bring to her role.
When Seraphis entered Callen’s life, it wasn’t so much a replacement as it was an evolution. Seraphis’ valor and sense of honor resonated deeply with Callen’s wisdom and compassion, creating a bond rooted in mutual respect, loyalty, and a fierce desire to protect what they both cherished. While Erotas had shown Callen the softer, embracing side of love, Seraphis brought a more profound sense of devotion and guardianship to their union—a love that could stand unwavering in the face of chaos.
The love between Erotas and Callen was never a point of contention between her and Seraphis. In fact, Erotas’ presence served as a source of understanding and encouragement, allowing Callen to embrace both loves in her heart. Erotas viewed Callen and Seraphis’ bond as a powerful testament to the many forms love can take and openly celebrated their union. Their respect for Callen’s relationship with Seraphis only deepened their own friendship with both deities, illustrating how love in Tanaria could transcend boundaries and definitions without diminishing its significance.
After Seraphis’ apparent death, Erotas was there to comfort Callen, supporting her through her grief. They honored Seraphis' memory alongside Callen, sharing in the weight of her loss while still cherishing the love they once shared. The depth of Callen’s love for Seraphis, reflected in her creation of the moon Callista, would always carry a piece of Erotas’ understanding—a reminder that love could endure, transform, and inspire, even in sorrow.

Gender Identity

Erotas embodies a fluid and androgynous form, transcending traditional gender definitions. They often present in a way that blurs masculine and feminine qualities, aligning with their role as a deity of universal love and connection. As the embodiment of all forms of love, Erotas embraces a gender-fluid identity, adapting their appearance and mannerisms to resonate with those they connect with, mortal or divine.

Sexuality

Erotas is pansexual, drawn to souls rather than physical forms or genders. Their connections with others are based on emotional depth, mutual respect, and the power of shared love and compassion. Erotas’ relationships often transcend physical attraction, as they believe love exists in many forms—romantic, platonic, spiritual, and beyond—and they fully embrace each one, bringing comfort, passion, and healing wherever their heart leads them.

Accomplishments & Achievements

• The Creation of Divine Love Aspects: Through their unions with both mortals and deities, Erotas sired several divine children, each representing a unique facet of love. These children embody aspects such as friendship, familial love, romantic passion, self-love, and devotion. Each offspring serves as a reminder of Erotas' impact on the world and how love takes many forms.
• Founding of the Empyrian Fellowship: Erotas established the Empyrian Fellowship, a group of devoted followers, priests, and scholars dedicated to spreading the virtues of love, compassion, and understanding. Through this organization, they created places of sanctuary, where individuals from all walks of life could find acceptance, healing, and the strength of community.
• Inspiring the Festival of Heartsong: In their honor, the Festival of Heartsong is celebrated annually, where people gather to celebrate all forms of love. This event fosters connections, heals grievances, and inspires new bonds. It has become a tradition in many cultures across Tanaria, solidifying Erotas' influence over mortal lives.
• Healing the Rift between Realms: In an era where tensions between mortals and otherworldly beings reached a peak, Erotas served as a mediator, bridging gaps and creating pacts of peace. Their efforts helped foster harmony between humans, elves, dwarves, and other races, as well as between realms such as the Feywild and the mortal plane.
• The Eternal Bond with Callen: Erotas’ love for Callen brought warmth and joy to the goddess, inspiring others in the divine realm. Their bond is seen as a symbol of unbreakable affection and understanding, despite Callen’s later connection with Seraphis. The depth of their relationship with Callen encouraged the other gods to consider love as a force of unity, rather than mere indulgence.

Failures & Embarrassments

• The Fracturing of the Empyrian Fellowship: Although Erotas intended the Empyrian Fellowship to be a sanctuary of love and acceptance, internal strife occasionally caused divisions. Conflicts arose between followers who interpreted Erotas’ teachings differently, leading to schisms within the Fellowship. Erotas regards these fractures as a painful reminder of how love’s intentions can be clouded by human ego and pride.
• The Creation of Jealous Passions: In their early days, Erotas did not foresee how love could turn to jealousy and possessiveness. Their teachings on love’s purity inadvertently contributed to possessive relationships and envy. Erotas now acknowledges that love’s intensity can sometimes lead to destructive emotions, and they strive to teach the importance of balance and emotional resilience.
• The Heartbound Companions’ Rivalry: Long ago, Erotas gifted two mortal champions with a powerful love bond, hoping to inspire greatness in them. However, the champions grew jealous of each other’s success, becoming bitter rivals. Their rivalry led to a tragic end, leaving Erotas with a deep regret for not foreseeing how love, without humility, can lead to ruin.
• The Scorned Affection of Malakar: Erotas once shared a fleeting connection with Malakar, the god of chaos, in an attempt to bring him closer to the divine virtues of love. However, Malakar twisted this connection into bitterness and possessive obsession. This unintended consequence of Erotas’ open-hearted nature haunted them, as Malakar’s twisted perception of love led to disastrous attempts to disrupt the bonds between other gods, particularly targeting Callen and Seraphis’ union.
• The Unheeded Warning to Mortals: Erotas once gave a prophecy to a mortal kingdom, urging them to embrace compassion over conquest. However, their warning was ignored, and the kingdom fell into ruin through civil war. This failure to instill love in the hearts of those mortals weighs heavily on Erotas, reminding them that even divine guidance cannot always alter free will.

In every act of kindness, in every hand that reaches for another, Erotas is present.

— Blessing spoken at the Festival of Heartsong

Divine Classification

Supreme God

Species

Prime Deities

Realm

Material Plane

Church/Cult

The Order of the Heartfire

Honorary & Occupational Titles

The Eternal Flame, The Passionate One, Keeper of Hearts, The Heart’s Muse, Lover’s Flame, Desire Incarnate

Pronouns

They/Them

Gender

Genderfluid

Presentation

Androgynous, embodying a harmonious blend of masculine and feminine beauty, often adapting slightly to the perception of the viewer.

Eyes

Bright, captivating, and often shifting in shades from deep blues to warm pinks, reflecting the full spectrum of love's intensity.

Hair

Flowing and iridescent, ranging from silver to soft pastel hues, reflecting the colors of dawn and dusk.

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Glowing, porcelain-like, with an ethereal sheen that seems to radiate warmth and kindness.

Height

Tall, elegant stature, approximately 6’5” (198 cm)

Weight

Light and graceful, around 150 lbs (68 kg)

Aligned Organization

The Order of the Heartfire

Other Affiliations

• Empyrian Fellowship