The Matron of the Wilds

The Earth-Mother, the Wise Guardian of All that Grows

Like her sister, the Green Goddess, the Matron of the Wilds is one of the oldest gods of the pantheon. She witnessed the birth of the universe, but saw no part of creating any of its peoples. Instead, she created the wild places of the world, its innumerable plants and animals, and continues to rule them all to this day. She has since come around to humanoid races, but sees civilization as a blemish on the land, encouraging her priests to oppose the spread of cities and empires. In return, she provides them the ability to survive in the inhospitable wilderness. The Matron of the Wilds has no qualms with the savagery of nature, either: the hungry wolf and raging storm are just as much hers as singing birds and shady trees.

Divine Domains

• The Matron of the Wilds is the goddess of the natural world, and oversees plants, animals, and weather phenomenon. Unlike the Green Goddess, she also represents the destructive parts of nature; predatory animals and the hunt, natural disasters, and harsh climates.

• Clerics of the Matron of the Wilds would choose between the Life, Nature, or Tempest domains, although clerics and druids worship her interchangeably. Paladins in her service would swear the Oath of Ancients.

Holy Books & Codes

• No holy texts exist that relate to the Matron of the Wilds. She prefers to instruct them directly through communion, and sees the creation of paper or the carving of stone or wood as pointlessly despoiling their natural essence.

Divine Symbols & Sigils

• The symbol of the Matron of the Wilds is a paw or animal's claw emblazoned upon a five-pointed leaf. Rather than being carved into wood or metal, it is typically painted on a surface using pigments that have been blessed by a cleric, giving the image its holy properties. Adventuring clerics might put it on a shield or armor.

• Oak is sacred to the Matron of the Wilds; the wood from dead oaks is treated and used to make holy symbols, as well as shields and weapons for clerics.

• Groves and clearings are typically considered sanctified spaces to her clerics, and are maintained and used for worship like churches.

Tenets of Faith

• Protect the Wild Places of the world from Destruction. Oppose the Spread of cities and empires.

• Nature is in Harmonic Balance, and so You must Be, too. Avoid the Blazing Light of Good, but do not Lurk in the Shadows of Evil. Embrace the cruel and ugly Aspects of Nature, like you would the beautiful Ones.

• Hunt and Destroy aberrant monsters. Remember: the Wilderness does not Show Mercy, nor Should You.

Divine Classification

Deity

Alignment

True Neutral