Velmorra (VELL-mor-uh)

Shepherd of Souls Velmorra (a.k.a. Lady of Passing)

Velmorra, once a mortal, is now revered as the Goddess of Death, Souls, and Fate. Her divine purpose stems from her role as the first soul to pass from life into death, a transition that defined her eternal mission. Chosen by Umboros, the Titan of the Underworld, Velmorra ascended to divinity as the shepherd of souls, ensuring that no mortal would ever journey into the unknown alone.
Her domain spans the intricate threads of mortality, birth, and reincarnation, weaving the destinies of all living beings into the grand tapestry of existence. Velmorra’s presence brings peace to the grieving, solace to the lost, and guidance to those facing the ultimate transition. She is not a figure of fear but one of compassion, deeply empathetic to the mortal plight.
Velmorra is often depicted as a striking figure with raven-black hair, ethereal elvish features, and an air of both quiet sorrow and resolute strength. Her association with moths and owls reflects her duality: the moths as silent guides to souls in the night, and the owls as vigilant observers of fate’s unfolding.
Her temples are places of both mourning and celebration, where blood rituals and offerings of life essence are used to commune with her presence. She is a goddess of transitions, entrusted with shepherding souls through birth, life, and death, ensuring balance and harmony in the eternal cycle.
Velmorra’s story resonates deeply with mortals, reminding them that death is not an end but a passage to something greater, overseen by a goddess who once walked among them.

Divine Domains

• Death: Ensuring every soul’s passage is peaceful and orderly.
• Souls: Guarding the essence of life and guiding reincarnation.
• Fate: Weaving the threads of destiny, ensuring balance and harmony in the mortal and divine realms.

Artifacts

The Shroud of Eternity

A flowing, ethereal cloak made of black silk interwoven with shimmering silver threads that seem to move like starlight. The cloak is said to have been woven by Velmorra herself using threads of fate. It allows the wearer to pass unseen through the veil between life and death, grants the ability to perceive and guide lost souls and protects against necromantic magic and curses. The Shroud is used by the Shepherds of the Veil in the most sacred rituals, symbolizing Velmorra’s presence as they guide souls into her care.

The Soulkeeper’s Lantern

A silver lantern adorned with intricate moth motifs. The flame within is eternal, glowing softly with an otherworldly blue light. It can reveal the presence of lingering spirits or souls trapped in the mortal realm, provides a calming effect on restless or vengeful spirits and allows the bearer to communicate with the deceased under Velmorra’s guidance.
It is said that Velmorra entrusted the first Soulkeeper’s Lantern to a mortal champion who sought to ease the suffering of lost souls. Each flame is believed to be a fragment of her own essence.

The Mourning Chalice

A chalice crafted from obsidian and silver, inlaid with tiny moth and owl motifs. When filled, the liquid within shimmers like moonlight. Drinking from the chalice grants visions of past lives or glimpses of the afterlife, can heal emotional wounds and enhances the ability of priests to communicate with Velmorra during rituals.
The chalice is used in blood rituals within Velmorra’s temples, symbolizing the sacred connection between life, death, and rebirth. Each artifact reflects Velmorra’s dual nature as a guide through life and death, embodying her compassion, wisdom, and role in maintaining balance.

Divine Symbols & Sigils

The Veil’s Crest

A circular sigil depicting a moth with outstretched wings, its body forming the shape of an hourglass. The moth’s wings are decorated with crescent moons and stars, symbolizing the passage of time and the mysteries of the night. It represents Velmorra’s role as the guide of souls and the balance between life, death, and rebirth. The hourglass symbolizes the finite nature of mortal life and the inevitability of fate.

The Blackened Rose

A stylized black rose surrounded by delicate silver thorns. Drops of blood are depicted dripping from the petals, forming a pool at the base. It signifies the beauty and sorrow of life and death, as well as the sacrifices made during the transition between realms. It is often associated with rituals involving blood, a sacred offering in Velmorra’s temples.

The Thread of Fate

A sigil depicting a silver thread winding through an owl’s eye, coiled into a loop at the bottom and trailing off into infinity. It symbolizes Velmorra’s connection to destiny and the intricate weaving of each soul’s journey. The owl’s eye represents wisdom and vigilance, while the infinite thread highlights the eternal cycle of life and death.

Tenets of Faith

1. Honor the Cycle
Life and death are sacred parts of the eternal cycle. Embrace both beginnings and endings as natural and necessary transitions.
2. Respect the Departed
Treat the dead with reverence. Their souls are on a journey, and it is the duty of the living to aid them through rituals, remembrance, and respect.
3. Trust in Fate
Fate weaves the tapestry of existence. Accept the paths laid before you, but strive to face challenges with courage and dignity.
4. The Blood is Sacred
Blood is a powerful vessel of life and connection. It binds the living to the spiritual and can be used in rituals to honor Velmorra or commune with the departed.
5. Guide and Protect
Assist lost souls and those in mourning. Help them find peace and guide them toward their next chapter.
6. Seek Balance
Death is not to be feared or worshipped in excess; it is a natural part of existence. Strive for balance between the joy of life and the solemnity of death.
7. Cherish the Moth and Owl
Velmorra’s sacred creatures symbolize transition and wisdom. Protect and honor them as they carry her blessings.
8. Prepare for the End
Live in a way that prepares your soul for its journey beyond life. Act with integrity, love, and care for others.
9. Rebirth is Hope
Death is not the end but a transformation. Trust in Velmorra’s guidance to shepherd souls to new beginnings, whether in this life or the next.

Holidays

Night of Passing

Midway through the night of the Winter Solstice.
This solemn holiday is dedicated to honoring those who have passed away. Families light candles in their homes and offer blood (traditionally from a small cut on the hand) at Velmorra’s altars to guide the spirits of the departed safely to their next destination. It is a time of quiet reflection and remembrance.

The Veil's Passage

Midway through the harvest season (Sombriel 15th)
A day to honor the thin veil between the living and the dead. Temples open their doors for ceremonies where families commune with their lost loved ones through rituals involving blood offerings and candlelight. It is believed that Velmorra's presence is strongest on this day, and her guidance can be felt in dreams.

The Day of Final Rest

Once every decade (on the 35th day of Umbriel's lunar cycle)
A rare holiday that commemorates those who have passed without finding peace. Followers gather to perform rites that help wandering or vengeful souls move on, often through large ceremonies of prayer, fire, and song. It is seen as a deeply spiritual and purifying day for both mortals and the restless dead.

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

Velmorra is an ethereal figure with raven-black hair that flows in cascading waves, seeming to blend seamlessly with the shadows that surround her. Her pale, luminous skin is unblemished, glowing faintly with an otherworldly light that contrasts with the dark depths of her aura. Her piercing eyes, a deep shade of molten copper, shimmer with an enigmatic intensity, reflecting the wisdom and compassion of one who has shepherded countless souls. Delicate freckles dust her high cheekbones, adding a subtle, mortal touch to her otherwise divine visage.
Velmorra's elvish features, including elegantly pointed ears, give her an ageless and otherworldly charm. Her figure is often clad in flowing, obsidian-hued robes interwoven with silver threads that resemble constellations. The delicate embroidery glints softly, evoking the intertwining of life, death, and destiny.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

In the earliest days of Tanaria, when the world was new and untouched by the passage of time, Velmorra was the first mortal to live and, consequently, the first to die. She was a mortal of extraordinary compassion and insight, gifted with a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of life. Her passing left a void in the world, as no process for the transition of souls had yet been established.
When her soul reached The Ethereal Plane, she found herself before Umboros, the Titan of the Underworld, who was still shaping the realm of the dead. Moved by her wisdom and the care she had shown in life, Umboros saw in Velmorra a kindred spirit—someone who could carry the burden of guiding souls with dignity and compassion.
He offered her a choice: to rest in peace or to take on the mantle of shepherd of souls, ensuring no other soul would ever be lost or abandoned in the void between life and death. Velmorra accepted, not fully understanding the enormity of the task but driven by her desire to bring comfort and purpose to others.
Upon accepting, Velmorra’s mortal form was forever altered. Her soul was imbued with divine power, and she ascended as the Goddess of Death, Souls, and Fate. The transition was not immediate—Velmorra had to learn the intricacies of her new role, guided by Umboros, who became her mentor and closest ally.
Her connection to moths was born from this moment, as moths began to gather around her in the Ethereal Plane, drawn to her gentle presence. They became her messengers, carrying whispers of fate to the living and guiding lost souls to her. Likewise, owls, with their silent wisdom and watchful eyes, came to symbolize her vigilance over the balance of life and death.

Her Early Days as a Goddess

In the beginning, Velmorra struggled with the weight of her duty. The cries of the grieving and the confusion of lost souls haunted her. She found solace in her growing understanding of the cycle of existence, recognizing that death was not an end but a transition. Her compassionate nature softened the harshness of mortality, and she became known not as a punisher but as a guide, helping souls find their place in the grand tapestry of fate. As she matured in her role, Velmorra established her domain over death, fate and souls.
Umboros remains Velmorra’s closest confidant and supporter, though their dynamic evolved as she grew into her divinity. While Umboros governs the underworld itself, Velmorra became its steward, embodying the movement and flow of souls. The two share a bond of mutual respect, working in tandem to maintain the balance of life and death.

The Mournful Yet Reverent Figure

Though revered as a goddess, Velmorra is often depicted with a mournful air, reflecting her eternal empathy for the living and the dead. Her worshippers honor her not with fear but with gratitude, recognizing her as a protector who ensures that no one faces the journey beyond alone.
Her ascension from mortal to divine makes her deeply empathetic to mortals. She remembers what it was to live and love, and this memory guides her every action as she weaves the threads of life and death into a harmonious whole.

"Velmorra’s touch is not an end, but a beginning—a thread pulled from the loom, to be rewoven in the tapestry of eternity."

— Eryndel the Elder, High Priestess of the Eternal Veil

Divine Classification

Prime Deity

Religions

• Order of Arelian

Species

Prime Deities

Realm

The Ethereal Plane

Church/Cult

Church of the Eternal Cycle

Honorary & Occupational Titles

Shepherd of Souls, Weaver of Fate, Mistress of the Eternal Cycle, The Silent Guide, The Mourning Star, Keeper of the Threads, Lady of Passing
Maiden Name: Velmorra Delynth (her mortal surname, now seldom spoken except in ancient texts)

Pronouns

She/Her

Sex

Female

Gender

Woman

Presentation

Feminine

Aligned Organization

Church of the Eternal Cycle