Mother of Colors

Saint Aciei Santini

A Brief Life

How quick it is that people choose to wallow in their own miseries of life, then to work through a little pain and see how beautiful it is behind all of that? I fear if we do not change this cautious way of life then we may never change into something far better than we could ever imagine.

— Aciei, in a Confession to the Shrine of the Gods

The moment Aciei was born, birds sang, flowers blossomed, and the sun shined brighter and prouder than ever; winds carried warmth throughout the trees overhead and the village of Nascita knew, she would grow to become something truly special. In her toddler years, Aciei was quiet yet outgoing, she would help people whenever possible and lend an ear to anyone who had a story to share.

As Aciei grew in age, she grew in curiosity, and would always watch others and see how certain tasks are done with her favorite to watch being healers. This would lead to her becoming a nursing hand, and soon a full renowned healer amongst the whole region as well as a philosopher to some degree. In her teenage years, she would travel to other groups in the Nascita region of Union, at this point in time there were little magic and even less technology, so small settlements and tribes would often send people for help from others; and gave her the ground to spread her ideas of positivity to a largely negative state of mind.

As a young adult, Aciei's reputation for both physical and spiritual health had grown so much that she began to teach kids and teens the practice of healers and nursing hands. And it was during one of her later lessons that a sudden attack would take the settlement by storm, with a swarm of shapeshifting beasts as the attackers. In an effort to protect as many children as possible, Aciei and some of the other kids rounded up others and put them in a supplies hut to hide them from the assault. With help on its way, they bunkered down quiet and shaken, to stay alive until help came.

Eventually a few of the shapeshifters drifted in front of the hut, on the hunt for any survivors and creeping closer to where the children were. The closer they moved to the entrance of the hut, the more Aciei pushed the kids behind her and moved forward to act as a barrier between them, and fate would take its hold. The low and loud thuds from the elsewhere was a sure sign of a distant fight on its way, but it couldn't get there soon enough for suddenly one of the shapeshifters crashed through the door. The kids screamed and fought to get closer to the far side of the hut, while Aciei grabbed ahold of some wooden materials and fought the shapeshifter before the remainder shapeshifters went for her throat. One attack she managed to deflect and the other sank its teeth into her torso, but fate didn't pay attention to the plain and ordinary, and Aciei refused to go down without a fight. She wrestled her way out of a hold, and maintained their focus until help came; a large group of fighters from a nearby tribe took out the attackers and Aciei sank into the ground floor, surrounded by her students and flower petals that glowed with a vibrancy not previously witnessed by the people of Nascita.

The sudden appearance of petals around Aciei shocked everyone, for previously their eyes had only seen the world in monochrome, black and white and various grays. They especially stuck out as the rest of the world seemed to grow dark, the sky clouded over and cried, as the warm breeze turned cold, animals hid from the incoming storm and plants slumped into themselves. Her death was a travesty, Aciei had been a glowing beacon of positivity in the world, with her constant encouragements to look to the brighter side of any situation, even on the subject of future generations. You see, the general mindset of people at this time was filled with doubt and a constant paranoia for the worst, it was how they survived after all; but Aciei was the first to openly dream about another time.

Her funeral was well attended, but otherwise uneventful, no one shared stories or memories of her life because the pain to face the reality of her death was too great, instead hundreds of people gathered along a riverbed and cried silently as she was drifted off. Aciei's sacrifice was shared with the peoples throughout Union, and her story would be passed on for generations after the period of grief was finished; she would become one of the most important folk figures, not only in Ver or Nascita, but she would inspire people around all of Ultimus for generations to come.

Divine Domains

Colors, Sight, Positive Energy Aciei's sacrifice was shared with the peoples throughout Union, and her story would be passed on for generations to become one of the most important folk figures not only for Ver and Nascita, but it would inspire people around all of Ultimus.

Divine Symbols & Sigils

Powdered pigments, colorful flower bouquets, rainbows, light

Divine Goals & Aspirations

To provide light for a better future.

Social

Speech

Her voice was quiet and soothing, even when she raised her voice, and the rhythm of her speech flowed like water.

Divine Classification

Saint

Alignment

Neutral Good

Honorary & Occupational Titles

Mother of Color

Life

85 NW 112 NW 27 years old

Circumstances of Death

Self-Sacrifice/Martyrism

Birthplace

In what would be Nascita in Ver, Union

Gender

Female

Eyes

Almond shape, deep grey

Hair

Long natural waves, originally a mess of monochrome - now appears with all colors

Height

5'4"

Weight

165 lbs

Passing of Aciei is a celebration of life and death in her honor, the celebration takes place in the greater region of Nascita, which is in central Union. It's a 36-hour celebration the starts at 6 pm on the eve of spring solstice and runs through to 6 am the day after the solstice; participants wear all-white clothes throughout the celebration and are assigned tasks to help in the prep work for the end feast. It is non-participants jobs to run their businesses, cook and set up places for the end feast, host games and activities for children, and throw a special powdered pigment in an array of colors at any participants they see. The powdered pigments cause permanent stains to the clothes, and so they are kept as personal memories to look back on in the future.