Dalerain VII: The Winter Queen

Cheneitha
Winter Queen, Lady of Ice, Frost Maiden
Power of the Dalerain
Major AoC: Cold, Frost, Ice, Winter
Minor AoC: Frost, Death by Cold, Stagnation, or Being Trapped.
Symbol: A snowflake, a snowy owl.
Allies: None
Enemies: Brigit, Umoth
Avatar: Cleric 12 / Fighter 11 / Wizard 12

Cheneitha appears as a young woman of medium height, with silver-white hair and pale, almost colorless, blue eyes, clad in a robe of white fur and a gown of white silk. In combat she wears crystalline scale mail and helm and carries a spear of ice called Frausein, or Littlefrost. She is vain, and often wears pale or colorless jewels, and enjoys these as gifts. 

In a few rare myths, Cheneitha is represented as as a sister to Brigit, or Alaron and Eial, but tempted away from them and into Kajalla's influence. At one point she was part of a trinity of goddess, including Kajalla the Crone and Malis the False; her place in recent centuries has been overtaken by Yilwyn, the Bleak Maiden. She rarely deals with the Crone anymore, but any rumors of her desire to reconcile with her sister(s) are swiftly extinguished by her priesthood and probably untrue.

Cheneitha is worshiped by ice elementalists and those seeking to keep things as they are; she is appeased by nearly everyone. She is generous with those who please her, but fickle in her attentions; those who are not vigilant find her whims have turned against them. Her priests are solitary between themselves, preferring to surround themselves with minions and cohorts rather than rivals. They hope to win their goddess’s favor by eliminating warmth and the heat of change from the world, and bring unchanging cold. They often use undead in these tasks, and some see undeath as the ultimate existence, stagnant and cold.

Cheneitha is rare among the Dalerain in her rulership of a material realm, the High Ice. This desolate, glacial land has slowly expanded its reach over the centuries, and now covers almost everything beyond the Kameurhorns. Her interest in the High Ice has waned as its influence has grown, and the goals of the High Ice, whatever they may be, are increasingly determined by a shadowy power or powers embedded in the deepest ice.

Winterlady /Winterlord (3e)
Domains: Battle, Cold, Summoning, Water
Skills: Intuit Direction, Wilderness Lore
Favored Weapon: Spear.
Bonuses: +2 class bonus to Intuit Direction and Wilderness Lore checks in winter or arctic conditions.

The image is by Harald Siepermann; original is here http://haraldsiepermann.blogspot.com/2008/07/blog-post.html .  I probably shouldn't use it, since I didn't ask permission, but the Dulac Snow Queen is so...staring. 

Dalerain VI: Guardian of the Dawn [3e]

ASHARA
The Oathtaker, Guardian of the Dawn, Promised Lady

Demi-power of the Dalerain
Major AoC: Honor, Oaths, Pacts, Dawn
Minor AoC: Hope, Promise of Better Things, Faith
Symbol: Rays of light coming over a horizon, a golden hind, a padlock with no keyhole, a golden handprint
Allies: Brigit, Kaduv, Madate
Enemies: Kajalla, Malis
Avatar: Wizard 20 / Cleric 5

Ashara takes the form of a half-elven female when she creates an avatar. She has dark brown hair and grey eyes, and she radiates an aura of respect and determination. The Promised Lady carries a magical staff called Leithendau, or Light in Darkness, the properties of which appear to be under her complete control. She sometimes leaves an imprint of her hand in gold as a sign; much time and energy has been devoted to unravelling the prophetic secrets of these divine relics.

Ashara is a youthful deity, only recently ascended to the ranks of the Dalerain. Her companions include Fistine, the only other prominent half-elven Dalerain, and Brigit, the Bright Lady of fire and poetry. She loathes the malicious falsehoods of Malis and Kajalla, and takes every opportunity she can to thwart the objectives of the two older divinities. She frequently involves herself with her priests, granting council, aid, and even intercession if necessary.

Ashara is worshipped by those hoping for improvements in their life, and good and honorable sorcerers, wizards, and bards, and her favor is sought by nearly everyone at one time or another. Her faithful trust that poor circumstances will get better, and those that keep faith and honor are rewarded. They are vigilant against the undead, holding that undeath is a promise of repose frustrated, and that to free the undead to pass on is one of the greatest gifts they can give.

True
Domains: Glory, Good, Law, Magic, Spells
Favored Weapon: Quarterstaff
Suggested Prestige Classes: Contemplative, Hunter of the Dead, Sacred Exorcist, Templar

Dalerain V: Lady of Vengeance [Dalerain]

Adosil
Lady of Vengeance, The Feuding Goddess, the Viper Who Bites Twice

Demi-power of the Dalerain
Major AoC: Humiliation, Revenge, Spite
Minor AoC: Plotting, Ironic Justice
Symbol: A black banner, a snake consuming it's own tail, a twisted arrow or crossbow bolt
Allies: Kajalla, Talabas
Enemies: Madate
Avatar: Rogue 16 / Sorcerer 8

Adosil takes the shape of either a woman or a man, with curly black hair and green eyes. She carries a crossbow in any form, and can bestow it as a gift upon anyone who has won her favor with a particularly appropriate or long-held revenge (it is a hand or small crossbow +3, and creates it's own missiles when cocked). Her own crossbow is known as Blessings Returned.

Adosil is one of the younger Dalerain, and nurses many grudges for real and imagined slights from the other powers. Her only allies among the powers are Kajalla, who is doubtlessly friendly with the Lady of Vengeance for her own reasons, and Talabas, who enjoys the opportunities for destruction Adosil brings him.

She is sought out by those who feel they have been wronged and long for vengeance, and appeased by cautious people who seek to avoid offending others. Her priests and followers never forget a slight, whether real or imagined, and will nurse a grudge for years, plotting revenge. They are dangerous in their tenacity and unforgiveness -- the followers of the Feuding Goddess neither forgive nor forget.

Dalerain IV: Evergreen King [Dalerain]

Samaan
Lord of the Green, Evergreen King
Power of the Dalerain
Major AoC: Forests
Minor AoC: Animals, Primacy of Nature over Civilization
Symbol: An oak tree or leaf, a wolf of leaves and branches
Allies: Alaron, Eial
Enemies: Umoth, Ragavar, Urjin
Avatar: Barbarian 5 / Druid 15 / Ranger 15

Samaan usually appears as a eight-foot tall man with a long, stern face, antlers, grey hair and beard, and ragged clothes. In this form he carries a quarterstaff called Soltreow, or One Tree. He may also appear as a antlered dire wolf, or a wolf with leaves and branches in place of flesh and bone.

Samaan spends most of his time in the Wyrld, wandering the forest lands he holds dominion over. He visits Alaron and Eial in their sacred places in the Wyrld, but otherwise prefers to keep to himself. Any divinities seeking council with him must locate and travel to him. His relationship with Uller is respectful but cautious; both powers are dislike interference in their domains, and have clashed on occasion, though these conflicts are rare and brief. He neutrally regards the other elemental powers, notably Aela, Eides, Larril, Tamati, and Linon. He appreciates both destruction and growth as natural and necessary aspects of forest life, but opposes their support of mortal endeavors towards taming the land (or, in Tamati’s case, filling it with bloodshed). The Forest King’s greatest wrath is reserved for deities that twist and destroy the woodlands, most particularly Umoth, Ragavar, and Urjin the Rotted God.

The Lord of the Green is worshipped by those who live in, or make their living from, woodlands and forests. Rangers and barbarians often worship him, and forest druids may leave offerings at his shrines and holy sites in addition to their own worship of the Wyrld. Undead are regarded as unnatural, but only singled out for destruction when they become a hazard to the forest life.

Dalerain III: Queen of Celebration [3e]

MAEBD
Lady of the Grape and Bottle, the Whimful Goddess, Queen of Celebration

Power of the Dalerain
Major AoC: Wine, Impulsiveness, Acting, Drama
Minor AoC: Vineyards, Drunks, Fools, Actors
Symbol: A flagon overflowing with grapes, an upside-down rabbit.
Allies: Gwydion, Linon, Tlazis
Enemies:
Avatar: Bard 25
Maebd appears as a small woman, with long, dark, curled hair, flashing green eyes, and rosy cheeks. She favors low-cut gowns that threaten an explosion of bosom with every move she makes, and always carries a flagon, tankard, flask, cup, stein, or goblet. She also carries a small knife, usually concealed beneath her skirts. The goblet is known as Solesus, or One too Many, and the knife is Jolinfil, or Joypricker. Maebd does not dally in faint emotions; she is overwhelming in her joy, towering in her anger, drowning in her tears, and exhausting in her passion.

The Queen of Celebration is the daughter or Linon, the Lord of the Fields, and half-sister to Noluan, the Lord of Sails. She is on good terms with her father, but relations between her and Jaerana, the goddess of the hearth, are restricted to the proper preparation of brewing ingredients. Reunions with her half-brother are boisterous revels. She is likewise on good terms with the Temptress, Tlazis, and is fervently, flagrantly, in love with Uller…except when she’s not. Few of the gods find her worthy offensive or dangerous enough to consider an enemy.

The Whimful Goddess is worshipped by vinters, bartenders, drunks, enchanters, actors, thrill-seekers, daredevils, and party-goers. Her priests are flamboyant and outgoing (and even more so after a few morning drinks to get the day started). Evil priests may be malicious in their actions, selling fouled or tainted bottles of wine, but most clerics are innocent of any true darkness (though, to be warned…the darkest of her priests are the best at hiding in the light).

Winelady
Domains: Charm, Chaos, Luck, Madness, Plant.
Skills: Bluff, Profession (farmer, winemaker).
Favored Weapon: Club
Bonuses: +2 class bonus to saves vs nonmagical poisons.

Dalerain II: Lord of the Hunt [3e]

Uller
(Foreststrider, Lord of the Hunt)
Neutral Power of the Dalerain
Major AoC: Hunting, Archery, Wolves
Minor AoC: Trackers, woodsmen
Symbol: A wolf’s head
Allies: Sif, Catil, Alaron
Enemies: Ragavar, Tuar
Avatar: Druid 10 / Ranger 20
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Uller appears as a ten-foot tall man clad in leather, with unkempt beard and hair, and a pair of many-tined antlers sprouting from his head. If he wishes to pass unnoticed among people he takes on a more natural height, and wears a light helm or leather cap to conceal his smaller antlers. In any form he carries a longbow, called Griburhentun, or Hunter’s Reach, and a shortspear called Griburnter, or Final Touch.

Uller is the true brother of Sif, the goddess of battle, and the two of them are the only true full siblings in the Dalerain. In the earlier ages of the Wyrld, he, Catil, and Sif were the primary members in a band of divine heros responsible for many legendary feats. With Catil’s exile, the band fell apart, and it remains to be seen if Uller is interested in renewing his relationship with the Lord of the Forge. Other allies of the Foreststrider include Alaron, Eial, and most unlikely, Maebd. Uller’s relationship with Samaan is carefully neutral – they work together if necessary, but only then. He is bitter enemies with Ragavar, whom he helped to imprison, and Tuar, who has recently taken to challenging Uller’s position with the stalkers and seekers of the world.

The Lord of the Hunt is worshipped by woodsmen, hunters, trackers, trappers, loggers, and anyone who must travel through a wooded region. He is also sought out by archers (whether rangers or not), those who seek to find someone, and (suspected but not confirmed) a few neutral werewolves. Fanes to Uller are most common among the Vanar and Vorisk, and to a lesser degree among the Wiernaug woodfolk. Priests of the Foreststrider tend to be solitary and rugged, often multiclassing as rangers, barbarians, or fighters.
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Woodlord (Woodlady)
Domains: Animal, Forest, Strength
Skills: Wilderness Lore
Favored Weapon: Longbow
Bonuses: +2 class bonus to Wilderness Lore

Dalerain I: Lady of Swords [3e]

Sif
(Lady of Swords, Mistress of Blades, Battlemaiden)
Neutral Good Power of the Dalerain
Major AoC: Battle, Skill at Arms, Soldiers
Minor AoC: Women warriors, Protection of the Innocent
Symbol: A pair of longswords crossed in an "X", a hawk, an open-faced helm over a longsword
Allies: Ados, Catil, Uller
Enemies: Ragavar
Avatar: Fighter 20 / Rogue 10 / Wizard 5
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Sif appears as a tall, attractive Aesar, with blonde hair in a thick braid, grey eyes, and a steely gaze. She wears chainmail armor, a small shield with a hawk emblazoned on it, and a white longsword. The shield is called Aethinggul, or Unmoving; the longsword is called Matchless.

Sif is the warrior-goddess, the protector of women, and the patron of those who seek more than simple bloodshed. She is the child of Ados and the full sister of Uller, the Archer. Sif, her brother, and Catil, the God of Hammers, formed a triumvirate of hero-deities whose exploits furnished many of the tales and legends told today, as they shaped the world into its current form. She and Talabas the Slaughterer act as lieutenants to Tamati the Warqueen; she is not at all fond of Talabas’s methods, but so far has not deemed it worth risking Tamati’s wrath by actively working against the God of Blood. She is more bold in her stance against the Mad God – together with Catil and Uller, she has twice been responsible for containing Ragavar in his Abyssal prison.

Sif is a concerned, but not protective, deity. She expects self-reliance and fortitude from her followers, not incessant pleas for aid and assistance. She opposes the actions of Talabas the Slaughterer and Tamati in his role as the Strife-bringer, though both she and Talabas serve as Tamati’s lieutenants. She favors action over contemplation. Her favor is sought by both teachers and students of the martial arts, female warriors, and good-aligned soldiers.
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Swordlady (Swordlord)
Major Spheres: Grace, Protection, War
Minor Spheres: Death, Life
Favored Weapon: Longsword