Saranna
Saranna, Mistress of Magic, and both Enemy and Friend to All, is a goddess that is perhaps one of the strangest – and in a pantheon such as this, that is saying something. Not strange in sense of her story, or even who or what she is, but in the decisions she has made and the beliefs she has, and the journey she has made. She is the only god on Torthe who has been within every ‘realm’ of the gods at one time or another.
She was born to Iliaern and Asaldine, their only offspring. She is of a similar age, as far as gods can be, to Raspastin, and the two deities were seen as offering hope for a union between Knowledge and Magic, protecting the Golden Throne from the many defections since its creation.
Saranna was always a serious god-child, and as with Raspastin, she grew slowly, gradually becoming a young adult through feeding on the magic unleashed by spells across Torthe. Whilst she was less curious than her future love, she still held a deep love for magic and what it could offer. Her parents raised her to offer hope, to be the one who would find the spells that would seal the Otherworld Gates for an eternity. And for a time, it seemed she was content to work towards this goal. She married Raspastin, bore their two children Ephras and Larassa, but when Raspastin was lost, and the Golden Throne said they could not act to rescue him for fear of unleashing the Void, she hardened her heart, and left, joining the Wanderers.
For a time, she was happy in that strange and motley crew. They met occasionally, but mostly kept themselves alone, and each was a disappointing conversationalist in their own way, particularly Khraxxara. Yet she learned a great deal from them, learning of the hypocrisy of the Golden Throne, how they covered for her father’s shame, and let Asaldine sacrifice her form for their survival. It was during this time, that she discovered the Ethereal Plane for the first time, spending many years wandering its mysterious paths, walking hand in hand with Shadowent into the Shadowfell, following her daughter Larassa into the Feywild. She sought spells and magic, from the deepest and most hidden places she could find, seeking an answer to how she could liberate her love, and best friend, Raspastin. Sometimes she would lose herself amongst the planes for years at a time, and each time she would return, she would be changed a little. Of all the gods, she is the one who has seen the strangeness of their world – how it is separated in its own microcosm from the rest of the multiverse, how the whispers from other worlds never seem to reach this world.
On her journeys to other planes, she also saw how time was curled, twisted and fragmented around Torthe, and she came to believe that the world was not a refuge, but a prison, where exiles were left to suffer for an eternity.
When she finally returned, she came to become one of the Dethroned. Her spells took a darker turn, and she used her magic to raise hundreds of fallen creatures to a legion led by her. She led a Great Uprising against the Golden Throne, deceiving her former Wanderers, including her own daughters, to weaken their former comrades. Khraxxara brought a terrible storm against the Divine Palace, Ulantarr bound the gods with his mist and confusions, Larassa brought the weight of love’s loss upon their hearts, Zesillian left his post for the first time in a millennia, and the tramp of his chains spread fear in their hearts. Aesa weakened the Golden Throne with her corruption, Shadowent cast her dark veil over their dreams and added to Larassa’s love-lorn loss. Sybinyll sent her legions of sword-saints against the greatest champions of the Throne, and even Abrastis stirred one of his eyes open, and slowed time against the Golden Ones. Saranna had promised the Wanderers a new order, a place where all views were respected, not just the edicts of the Golden Throne.
And yet, when the Golden Ones were weakened, Saranna’s true deceit was revealed, and the Dethroned Ones attacked. For a long time, the gods servants cowered and quaked, and Saranna’s terrifying undead legions marched alongside Vaskull’s nightmares, with Nefferlasta’s forgotten servants, and all the other tainted spirits of Torthe. And for a brief moment, it looked as if she would be successful. A goddess, youngest save Raspastin, was moments away from humbling the Throne, from casting it down and unlocking all the wards that kept the world prisoner.
Once again, however, Nefferlasta played both sides, and she used her powers to alert her distant sister, and the other gods of the Moon Court. For ten years, there was war in the skies of Torthe, and a terrible loss resulted. It is during this time, they say, that the seeds of Etruska’s fall were sown. Saranna did something to the island, deep within the earth, a slow-bearing fruit. Finally, with the Wanderers turning against her coalition in disgust, Saranna was brought low, and her newfound allies deserted her.
For more years uncounted, Saranna explored again. Her companion, a white raven, Alice, who she had returned to undeath upon her return, became her only source of friendship. How long she wandered, wondering whether she had seen the truth, or not, few can say. But it is rumoured, and written in some scrolls, that in the darkest of paths, she saw Alice soar into the thickets of the Shadowfell, and from its depths she saw the familiar glinting eyes of Henry, her husband’s old cat.
Looking into those eyes, she could remember those moments of companionship, the true purpose of her life – not to find the spell to seal the Void, that was the work of the Golden Throne and she would never again work for them. But perhaps the work of her heart, to rescue and liberate Raspastin could be her new purpose – and the Moon Rulers were full of gods that sought to liberate and restore freedoms and love.
She appealed to Dieterra, and after much persuasion, each of the Moon Court gave her a penance to complete. Divine penance, it lasted for centuries, until finally, when all three moons were at their half, she took her place amongst the Moon Court, with Alice on one shoulder, and her husband’s Henry on the other.
Now, she dedicates her life to maintaining Balance, and to freeing her love.
Tenets of Faith
- No magic item, or scroll, should be destroyed in any form, save through the Purple Flame;
- Magic is not evil or good, but aspects can pull mortals towards either;
- Follow the Paths and lose yourself in them, the Mistress will find you again;
- Always, always, always listen for the words of Raspastin, he may not speak, but they are there – this is our highest goal;
- Watch and learn, to see the truth of Torthe – refuge or prison, haven or hell – we must understand, and then act.
- Collect magic, learn it, share it.
- Share the wonder of magic with commoners and non-wizards alike – Torthe is hopeless and despairing enough without hiding my light.
- True and deep enemy of the Calculix and the Blight;
- Both enemy, ally, friend and foe, to all other gods, including her son and daughter
- Love and wife to Raspastin.
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