Galatea, the Life Giver
"The Life She has given us is sacred and blessed. The better we live, the brighter we shine in Her eyes. To Galatea our souls are the most beautiful thing in creation and shine brighter than any star. I for one, could not think of a Goddess more deserving of my love and devotion." ~ Rue Silverscale, High Priestess of Galatea
Residing in the High Heavens, Galatea is the Goddess of Life, Healing, and Rebirth. However this was not her first home, nor was she originally born of the Divine. Galatea is the newest of the pantheon of Vanigraad. She was once a mortal, like any other. During her time as a mortal, she was a great healer and alchemist. Her potions and poultices easing the suffering of hundreds from a small hut outside of a village long forgotten by time. It was outside her hut she came across a traveler. An old man, weary with travel and caked with dust from the road. She led him inside and found he was suffering from a disease she could not identify. This would not deter Galatea however, as she worked tirelessly for four days and four nights, giving the man any sort of medicine she could muster. During this time, the old man regaled her with stories of his youth. His adventures, his loves, his loses, and his triumphs. She listened and marveled at the life the old man had lived, telling him she wished she could have seen life through his weathered eyes. But for all her work and sleepless nights, the old man passed on the fifth morning.
Galatea wrapped the man in a soft, snow white shroud and took to a high cliff overlooking the Great Green Sea, where the smell of the sea carried on the wind as waves crashed against the cliffs below. She buried him there so that he might be at peace in the world he so loved in life. With the last stone of his grave in place, light shone down upon her, as Kirana descended from the heavens above. She disguised herself as the old man to test if there was true goodness left in mortals, and Galatea passed her test in spectacular fashion. For all the good that she had done, Kirana offered her a chance to continue caring for mortals for an eternity to come. A place in the High Heavens.
As the goddess of Healing and Life, Galatea probably cares more for mortals than any other god or goddess. She is excited by the powerful, bright spark that burns within every mortal's soul. There is something there that simply is not present within her immortal brethren. The fleeting, flickering nature of mortality fascinates her immensely. In her deepest thoughts, she wonders if it is this mortality that actually makes mortals superior to the gods in some way. A thought she keeps to herself, lest it anger the others and perhaps set them against her.
In pursuit and protection of her beliefs. Galatea does everything in her power to aid mortals in the protection of their lives. She is the source of all healing energy in the realms, be it clerical, magical, or otherwise, in the form of potions, spells, or other enchanted items. There are times, when her power is at its peak, that she looks down on Vanigraad, searching for those in need. If she finds wounded beings that she deems worthy of her blessings, she may provide pure and complete healing to that being. Freeing them from disease, fatal wounds, breaking curses, even restoring missing limbs.
Galatea also possesses the power to rescue souls from beyond the veil of death. Though such power does come at tremendous cost to Galatea herself. Further, the more powerful the mortal she saves, the greater the exertion required on her part. As such, she is forced to drain some life energy from the mortal being rescued, as well as from the cleric or individual requesting her aid in the resurrection should that be the case. Often a small price to pay for the caster, and the mortal being rescued.
Galatea also presides over the rebirth of all living things. Moving souls from one life, to another in a Great Cycle should the soul want a second chance. This chance she offers freely to any who wish it. For who is she to deny a chance to live a better life than the one before. Due to her facilitation of this process, as well as the many other blessings she offers to the mortals below. Galatea is a goddess that is prayed to by many beings of all religions and ethos. Her devoted worshipers and clerics tend to be extremely helpful individuals — often willing to assist others at tremendous hardship to themselves.
Divine Domains
- Life
- Healing
- Rebirth
Divine Symbols & Sigils
- Sigil of the Spark
- Healing Magic
- The Phoenix
Tenets of Faith
- Offer healing to all, regardless of belief. The right to Life is unflinching.
- First, do no harm, but if Life is threatened. Do what you must.
Divine Goals & Aspirations
Galatea has no desire to move up or down within the Divine balance. She finds peace in her care taking of mortals and wishes nothing more than to see them flourish and grow. So that their Sparks may burn ever brighter. Some find her contentment with her place admirable, while others, a weakness. Galatea however, has never found herself at odds with her divine brethren. A claim few others can make.
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