Saint Maphestar the Unkindled
Its two bodies now joined, the terralith opened its circular maw, revealing row upon row of giant flat teeth. Staring up into its throat, Maphestar now understood how the stone temple had been devoured. The creature let out a bellow which sounded like a thousand furnaces roaring at once. Magma flew from its jaws like spittle. Its scaled body began to glow from the heat which grew within its heart.
Fortify me against this evil, Bulwark, and I will end it, Maphestar intoned.
Her weapons and armor long turned to slag, her clothes to ash, the elf stood naked and proud as the wurm's head lowered to engulf her. Raising her eyes she stared through the burning gullet to the molten belly which awaited her. She pressed her hands to her chest in the sign of the Bulwark, and as the gnashing teeth closed around her, Maphestar smiled, and was radiant.
Mental characteristics
Naxiqota Cotuitl, the daughter of a minor Quetzuitl noble, was born into relative wealth and comfort, and was afforded all the rights and privileges due to one of her class. She spent her early centuries studying art, music, writing, and the religion of her people. By all accounts her upbringing was perfectly normal by the standards of her time.
Then in her adolescence the Broken War came to her doorstep. Her quiet and peaceful life was upended by the horde of demons lead by gargantuan terraliths. The Yoxchopan Empire had been preparing for a possible invasion, and its cities and most productive farmlands were fortified and defended, but not so outlying villages and towns. Naxiqota was at her family's villa in one of these villages when it was caught in a surprise attack. During her family's frantic escape, Naxiqota witnessed firsthand the horrific violence of demonic warfare, watching in helpless terror as men, women, and children were mercilessly cut down.
But when doom was all around and escape impossible, a holy light bathed the area, and an armored figure upon a radiant pegasus descended from above. The demons turned their hatred on this new arrival as they interposed itself between the horde and its would-be victims. The knight dismounted, and upon their shield Naxiqota saw a device: a yellow scythe upon a blue heater. The knight unslung the shield, presented it towards the howling demons, and beat it with a mailed fist. A wave of shimmering light appeared in front of the demons, who immediately began hurling themselves and spells at it: the light shimmered but stopped them.
Then the pegasus turned towards the frightened villagers, and spoke into each of their minds.
"No time! Follow!" it said, and galloped off, leading the people away from the stayed demons. Outside the town the survivors stopped to catch their breath, and Naxiqota looked back. The barrier of holy light flickered, and then with a loud crack it vanished entirely. She heard the distant howl of demonic glee, followed by the nearby whinny of the dismayed pegasus. "Not yet safe! Flee more!" it cried into their minds, and the survivors followed, eventually to safety.
Naxiqota never learned the strange knight's name, who knowingly sacrificed themself to save her and others. But she did remember the device they bore, and eventually learned that it belonged to the Order of the Scythe and Shield, a religious order of knights sworn to protect and defend the weak and defenseless. She renounced her wealth, her status, and family, and joined the Order as Maphestar.
- Saved numerous towns from destruction by demonic forces.
- Led the defense of Itatlan when it was besieged by a demon prince.
- Defeated the ancient terralith leading the invasion of Yoxchopan, famously by drowning it from within after it swallowed her.
- Pursued the defeated demons into other regions still beset by their war, and won many victories.
- Felled Burphrithorz, the Demon Prince who led the invasion, in single combat. Mortally wounded, her final act was to forfeit her duly-earned spiritual rewards in order to banish the remaining demons and forever prevent Burphrithorz from returning.
- Canonized by the Order of Scythe and Shield; Remains interred in Itatlan.
Life
156367 PS
156894 PS
527 years old
Entry for Summer Camp 2019
Answering: "
Write about an influential woman in your world and what they achieved."
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