Nocturnara, Goddess of the Cycle

Represents:

Death, rebirth, transformation, and the afterlife

Worship:

Elaborate funeral rites and ceremonies marking major life transitions, often incorporating elements from ancient elven traditions.

Followers:

Those involved in traditional burial practices, elves seeking connection with ancestral spirits

Physical Appearance:

Nocturnara is portrayed as a mysterious elven figure, one half of her body resembling a new-born babe, the other half an ancient crone. Her form seems to fade in and out of existence, like a mirage. She's draped in a cloak of deepest black, dotted with twinkling stars. Her eyes are eclipses, rings of fire around absolute darkness.

Pleases:

Accepting the natural cycle of life and death
honoring ancestors
embracing personal growth and change
finding meaning in endings.

Displeases:

Attempting to cheat death unnaturally
disrespecting the dead
fearing change
clinging to the past at the expense of growth.

Temple/Worship Sites:

Nocturnara's temples are circular structures divided into light and dark halves, representing the duality of life and death. The light side celebrates births and transformations, while the dark side honors the departed and facilitates mourning. A perpetual twilight fills the central chamber, where devotees contemplate the ever-turning wheel of existence.

Simple Shrine:

A simple shrine to Nocturnara might be a small reflecting pool surrounded by stones of various ages - from rough new pebbles to ancient, weathered boulders. People often leave tokens representing significant life changes or memories of loved ones who have passed.