Shar’iish’ta
The Creator
Most prominent of the Old Ones, Shar'iish'ta (sharr-EESH-tah) has played a role in the affairs of Tarien since she first took guardianship of it with Jez'bali'dahn in the Age of Clouds. Often referred to as the mother of Tarien, she endeavors to protect it from those that would push the world too far from its center of a balance.
Unlike other gods, who are mere children before her, she has no anthropomorphic form in either legend or art. Instead, her spirit flows through the land itself, her power radiating from the rocks beneath one's feet, the snow-capped mountains, and towering trees of the forest. It permeates the greatest creatures that walk the Bertagin Savanah and the smallest mice that scurry through the alleys of Karradone. She speaks not in visions and dreams. Indeed, she speaks not in words at all. Her presence and will are merely felt by those attuned to the land.
History/Relationships
After being left by the other Old Ones to watch over Tarien, Shar'iish'ta and Jez'bali'dahn intended to simply watch. They allowed the gods to manage the realm that the Old Ones had created but soon grew disillusioned with petty squabbles that they had. Aghast at the horrors they unleashed on Tarien, she stepped in, tapping the power of the slumbering Old Ones to first reprimand and then banish the Gods themselves from the land.
Once again feeling her work finished, she allowed the races of Tarien to learn and grow from a distance. In time, satisfied that they could take care of themselves she slumbered while her counterpart, Jez'bali'dahn to a more active role in the affairs of mortals, awakening only when the great apocalypse ended the Age of Sun.
Finally, understanding that the without her steadying hand the nature of mortals would continue to push her creation to extremes, she vowed to keep a watchful eye on their affairs. Jez'bali'dahn retreated to slumber and the great Age of Clouds passed as one of balance and growth.
Throughout the Age of Waves, Shar'iish'ta has maintained her vigil. While generally content to allow events to unfold as they might, her ocassional nudge has righted the path of history when one mortal race or another veers too far from the balance at the center.
Dogma
Followers of Shar'iish'ta feel strongly about preserving the natural wonders of Tarien. For most, that means embracing its wild places and ensuring that they flourish. Deep in their hearts, her followers know that left unchecked, mortals with create wonders that, due to the weak nature of most mortals, would upset that balance, endangering all of creation. They often resist, sometimes actively, advances in technology and have been known to slow the advance of civilization should it encroach too closely on the wild places that are Shar'iish'ta's essence.
Church/Priesthood
After sending the holy Shar'rah among the mortals to better educate them on the importance of this keeping Tarien's path as one toward the center, many of Shar'iish'ta's followers believe that it is there duty to preserve the balance. Most do this work through the Order of Shar'iish'ta, gently nudging events in one or another to preserve it. Long have they been rumored to work from the shadows, shaping history ever so slightly to preserve the balance. Kings and Emperor's might consider them meddlesome, but all respect the power of the Order and have braved its wrath.
Others, however, find the Order itself to be against Shar'iish'ta's true nature. These followers, exiting outside the organization, feel that the Order is too rigid in its interpretations of her will and that the best way to worship the Creator is to allow history to unfold on its own. While these loners are often frowned upon by more radical members of the Order, its Elders believe that they too are part of Shar'iishta's plan.
"You must find both the Shar'rah and the others. Only with the lost books ancient wisdom and the elp of the Pre-Ordained can you stave off the darkness that is coming and restore balance."
Religions
Alignment
Neutral
Children
Ruled Locations
Ankh
Main Temple
Shar'iish'sta's Shrine
Portfolio
Balance, Natural World, Tarien
Head of Order
Darequai E’thenilil
Shar'iish'ta's Shrine