Sorrow

The Weeping Goddess, Elend

The Weaping Goddess, Elend. Said to be the manifestation of the people of Koldric's raw sorrow and pain after all the abuse that they have suffered over the past hundred years. Whether she is real is a foolish question at this point. She has long since Ascended, living proof that humans have sewed their own destruction with their actions once again.

— Archdruid Jitrius

Symbolism

The symbol of Elend is generally viewed as a single mask shaped in the form of a weaping face, though she is also the source of the new common occurrence of wearing a black veil while in mourning causing it to be another symbol associated with her. The true symbol of the goddess is less often used, but is generally a torn noose, or gallows. Those wearing her symbol as true chosen of her will often wear a torn noose from their neck worn loosely.
Divine interventions and signs that are often given to her followers as signs tend to be in the form of a dream in which they stand atop a gallows with creaking, rotting nooses hanging around them and a blood red setting sun. Generally viewing a red sunset, or seeing a rope tied into a hangmans knot is seen as a warning sign from the goddess of mourning and suffering to come.

Beleifs

To listen, understand, and offer advice when asked. That is the way of Elend, and her church of the Weaping Goddess. The members beleive that only through offering gentle guidance and being a kind ear to listen to troubles of others can they ease the suffering of the world around them.
There is only one way to rise in rank within the Church, and that is simply to listen to the woes, pain, suffering and words of another without breaking down even slightly yourself. After having an entire session to endure the suffering and pain of the individual, you must then return to the church and write out in detail every single word that the person told you from nothing but memory. This shows the sincere dedication to the suffering of others and your desire to hear them, help them, that you have.
Afterward, you must then offer them ideas to help them in their sorrows until they report back to you saying that your words and advice have finally helped them. Only then, have you completed a single "woe", the more this is done the more woes of others you have taken without complaint on your shoulders. The more sorrow you endure, the higher in status you rise.

History

Sorrow was once the High Councelor of Ronia before it's fall, and change to the name of Koldric. Before the country became a simple slave-state reduced to producing weaponry for the Ceridian Empire. She was known for her grace, keen intellect, pride and tactical genius both politically and on the battlefield though she was no warrior herself. Having raised to the rank of High Counselor at the age of only thirty-two, and maintained that position for two elections until the war came to the doorstep of Ronia giving her a year extension before the country fell.
During her final battles, Elend saw the end result. No matter their superior technology and tactics, they were utterly outnumbered by zealots armed with slaves that had no choice but fanatically charge their walls. In a desperate attempt to end the war she made a deal with Rufus Everlight to surrender in return for their land's freedom in a similar political situation as a puppet state for the Empire to use for the creation of weaponry. Rufus agreed and returned to his home in Conlis. However, the Emperor changed this deal.
Instead, the moment that the Ronian's surrendered, they were captured. Anyone over the age of thirty taken away, and put against walls. Gunned down using their own tools of war without mercy. Initially inciting anger in the populace, until it continued. Every town, every village, every city. Their surrender had lead to a complete shattering of the oath the Emperor had offered as a truce to the Ronians. Instead, they were nearly wiped out as "punishment for their sins" using "weapons of the Daemon". Through it all, Elendilen was forced to watch her people being slaughtered.
Quickly, she and her entire cabinet were captured, and as their people stared in sorrow, betrayal under an inhuman, merciless near-genocide she was hung. Gagged, unable to even offer her people words of encouragement. She died watching the country she had poured her entire life into, burn before her. The people of Ronia gunned down by their own technology that they had made to protect them. Utterly defeated, Elendilen felt no rage or hatred, more than anything she felt only the purest of sorrow. For the loss of life, for the loss of culture, of dreams and hope, and for the very loss of humanity that her enemies had suffered.
For what kind of ruler had pushed their soldiers to such a point that they wept and puked even as they committed mass murder?
In the moment of her death, Elendilen felt only sorrow and pity. This action is what caught the eye of the original Ascended, Sorrow was an ancient god that had taken on the aspect millennia ago. He was close to reaching the next tier of his Ascension and desired a suitable replacement. This pure sorrow attracted his attention, and the god not only captured her soul but offered her his power. She would replace him as a lesser deity, as an aspect of sorrow and loss in its purest form. In return, she would serve him as one of his lesser aspects with his newest ascension.
Elendilen, desperate to try and give her people something, anything in the face of the torment the Ceridian Empire had spread across the continent, agreed. And so, Elendilen Saranel Zedenix was no more. She became instead, Sorrow. The Crying Goddess, Elend.

Elend, Goddess of Sorrow by 000Fesbra000

General

Alternate Names: Elend, Elendilen, etc.
Divine Power: Lesser
Domain(s): Mourning, Perseverence
Death: Hung as the original beloved High-Councilor of Ronia in the year 6,071 AR, publicly put to death after the surrender of the country to crush their spirits.

Avatar

Height: 4'10" (147cm)
Build: Emaciated
Hair: Black
Eyes: Black
Skin: Mocha, white scars on her wrists and throat.
Attire: Tatters and blood-stained black dresses with a torn rope loosened but still hanging from her throat, black marks falling down her cheeks from running makeup due to her weaping. A black veil usually worn over her features.

Church

Initiate: The first rank in the order represents any whom wish to join, but have yet to complete any of the forty-seven Woes. This is the rank for all new initiates to the church.
Acolyte: When an initiate has completed their first eleven woes, they are offered the position as Acolyte. Here they are taught magic that focus on relieving the pain of others in return for draining the user more heavily.
Priest: Should an Acolyte manage to complete up to twenty-two woes, they will be rewarded with the rank of Priest or Priestess. Their magical tutoring is increased, and they are placed in charge of a church.
Bishop: After the final of the forty-seven woes are completed, a Priest is raised to the position of Bishop. Here they are given the position as head of a large church generally found in a city with multiple priests working under them.
Archbishop: The final rank of the Church, an Archbishop is voted in by the other Bishops once every ten years. They are the ones viewed as "closest to sorrow", and are in charge of the church as a whole. One may only be Archbishop once in their lifetimes.