Portfolio: Light (Sun, moon, and stars), guidance, exploration, journeys
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Titles: The Everfire, the World Torch, the Mother of Lights, Our Lady of Light, Lady Sun
Keeper, Star Sorceress, the Moon Mistress, She Who Wanders (the skies)
Domain: Planes of Perpetual Light
Holy Text: Radiata Eternus (Book of Eternal Light)
Symbols: A lit torch surrounded by the sun, moon, and a star at triangle points
Chosen Weapon: Bastard Sword (sun), Morning Star (moon), or Shuriken/Chahkram (stars)
Dogma: “None who dwell within the Light shall be lost, for blessed is the Light of the Sun, Moon, and Stars. Each light is strong in its own right, and each has its season of power. The light of the sun serves to lay bare the truth and stand before the world boldly, to face the darkness openly. The Light of the Moon was made to stand in the darkness, to protect and provide succor in the night. The Light of the Stars has ever guided mortals to their destinations and foretold the future. Follow the path of light and seek to ever bring light to the darkness. Where there is no light, true believers will shine like the lights in the sky.
“Mortality is a series of journeys. Never be afraid to take up the road and move toward a new destination. To wander and explore is a holy act, and all who wander under the Light do so with the blessing of the Everfire. Take up your journey with faith in She Who Wanders, for she will wander beside you. In the season of home and hearth, enable others to take up the road until the Great Eternal Journey calls you onward.”
Worshippers: Guides, explorers, travelers, caravan leaders, wanders, cartographers, the lost, spellcasters, diviners, candle makers, torchbearers, diplomats, settlers
History: When Hemeena first entered the world of Aeinia, her arrival was heralded by a full day where the sun, moon, and stars were all visible at once, and this was her sign to mortal kind that the Lights in the Sky had a new mistress, and it was also her covenant that the light of the world would never fail again. As the chaos of the Shattering Era came to an end, Hemeena had exercised much of her divine power bringing all celestial bodies to their proper orbit again, and she was severely weakened. Seeking a chance to replenish her divine energies as the Outer Gods slowly worked to regain the followers who would feed their astral power on Aeinia, Hemeena temporarily entrusted the rulership of light to Na-lok, a lesser power of mountain heights and contemplation. In a tragic betrayal, Na-lok used this opportunity to darken the skies for a full day and ascend as the God of Night and Darkness causing Hemeena to both break her covenant to mortals and earning her undying enmity. The Everfire retook rulership of the skies with no contest as the Brother of Shadows had already stolen what he wanted, and although Na-lok has since returned to the fold of the Outer Gods, Hemeena remains ever wary of his treachery.
As Goddess of Light and Guidance, Hemeena seeks to aid mortals in finding their way in whatever context that means, whether it involves reaching an actual destination or determining in what direction they need to take their lives. At times this duty brings the goddess great sadness because the destinies of many men and women are tied to tragedy, ruin, and evil. Wherever possible, the Moon Mistress seeks to circumvent these dark fates and present the mortal in question with another path. Rarely do these intercessions yield fruit, but Hemeena appears before Morthios, God of Fate, at the midnight hour each night to seek his favor and mercy on behalf of some lost soul on the edge of ruin.
Hemeena’s magical torch “Everbright” is connected to the sun, moon, and stars. As long as the celestial bodies burn in the skies, Everbright cannot be darkened or diminished in any way. No being can hide within the light of the torch, and it is believed that while she holds the torch, Hemeena herself cannot be deceived or misled. Hemeena is always depicted as carrying her talisman, but she does have the power to lend mortals an aspect of the World Torch on a holy quest in her service or when a change in destiny is being sought. If Hemeena’s torch light is ever extinguished, it will be a sign that the Forces have been freed from the neither and that the Mother of Lights illumination has been extinguished.
The Clergy of the Church of Radiance: The Church of Radiance is unique among the different religions of the Outer Gods in that it actually constitutes three different organizations within one faith. Priests of the Mother of Lights always identify themselves as “in the service of the sun” or “under service of the stars” to distinguish themselves by their duties, and each order serves in a manner reflective of the source of light they venerate.
In the Service of the Sun: Sun Priests are bold and decisive leaders in their communities. They often work alone or in small groups to guide and bolster communities in moving forward to advance their modernity. Sun Priests work in the open as a way of inspiring others to be bold and unafraid of change. Their purpose is not so much to be the agent of change who makes decisions, but to empower others to do so. It is said in the service of the sun that no one should fear to face the future with a cleric of Hemeena by their side. Sun Priests are the bane of undead, blessed with the power to channel direct sunlight through their faith, and their reputation as hunters of the dead are rightly earned; vampires have been known to flee in terror at the mere sight of them.
In the Service of the Moon: Moon Priests travel the most of all the three orders, and their work takes them into many dark and dangerous places. Moon Priests are charged with the protection of all who must travel in the darkness, whether that be on the surface or underground. They wander far and wide hoping to guide people to their destination or to find another path. Moon Priests are unafraid to embrace a lost cause or sneak into an enemy’s lair with little chance of success in pursuit of aiding another. Of all three orders, the moon is the most likely to engage in subterfuge or work in secret. Moon Priests are the bane of evil lycanthropes, blessed with the power to channel moonfire which is deadly to them. Many clerics in the service of the moon are shape changers themselves, either lycanthropes or changelings.
In the Service of the Stars: Star Priests concern themselves with the prevention of dangerous future events. Practiced in the arts of divination, the star priests seek to strike at evil before it takes root or before calamity can come to fruition. The most skilled in magic of the three orders, Star Priests also work as enchanters for all the clergy and specialize in using magic to fight the enemies of the church. Those in the service of the stars often travel to the most remote locations, investigating and protecting sites of power. Star Priests do not merely guide the lost where they find them, but rather they actively seek out those who are lost far from their homes, share secret knowledge with them, and move mountains to guide them towards their greater destiny. It is said that it is impossible for anyone traveling with a Star Priest to become lost.
Titles
(1st) Seeker
(5th) Light Bringer
(11th) Star Seer/Sun Lord, Lady/Moon Knight
(15th) Grand Illuminator (Must lead a congregation of priests)
(20th) Light Mother/Father
(21st) Matriarch/Patriarch of the Heavens
