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Chapter 4: Religion:
Deities
Adrasteia
Goddess of Rivers and Streams |
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| Gender: Female |
Rank:
Major |
| Avatars:
Elisar of the Plains, Serena |
Consort(s):
Virtus (husband), Alcyoneus and Cebren (lovers). |
| Nature:
Chaotic |
Ethos:
Benign |
| Domains:
Water, Travel, Nature, Hearth |
Favored
Weapon: Quarterstaff |
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Spontaneous Spell: Create
Water |
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Principal Creative/Concern Attribute: Rivers,
streams |
Other Concerns: Travel (especially by river),
Fish, servants; some minor interest in agriculture, especially
in dry, irrigated regions.
Allies: Betshaba (mother), Pavor (son),
Alcyoneus (lover), Virtus (husband), Podalirius, Cebren
(lover), Orestea, Minos (grandson), Luna and Themis
Foes: Alcina, Taltos, all Taltosian deities,
but especially Orthus, Epimetheus and Podarge |
Other Information
Dwelling Place: Though Adrasteia has a riverside
home in the Celestial plane, she spends most of her time in the
Empyreal plane with her husband, Virtus. She enjoys a great deal of
private time, and has taken at least two Entital lovers (Alcyoneus
and Cebren). When visiting her lovers, she can be found either in
her riverside home or in their chambers.
Weapons: The morning star is sacred to Adrasteia,
and her stylized morning star, called the Aquatiste, is always in
her hand or at her side. The trident, borrowed from her mother, is
also a weapon typically associated with Adrasteia.
Armor: Adrasteia rarely finds the need to wear
armor, but wears light chain mail when necessary. When touching
river-water, she is completely invulnerable to all except Taltos and
the Taltosian deities.
Attendants: St. Orem of the Red Heart, St. Catrine
of the Barge, St. Claire the Handmaiden
Descriptive and Miscellaneous Information:
Adrasteia is typically depicted as an aged woman with white hair
pulled close to her head. She usually carries her Aquatiste in her
left hand and a full pitcher in the other. Her clothes are simple
peasant clothes, often painted light blue and gray. She is rarely
depicted with her trident and when she is it is almost always laying
on the ground before her.
Priesthood and Worship
Requirements for Priesthood: There are few who are
interested in becoming priests of Adrasteia, as worship of this
goddess is often closely connected with that of Betshaba. Those
temples to Betshaba that do have a priestess of Adrasteia, however,
are considered to be truly blessed .
Acolytes of the order must serve under either a Priest of
Adrasteia or of Betshaba for at least seven years before they are
allowed to become Priests or Monks. There are no further ranks
within this Church, as there are no full temples dedicated to
Adrasteia, only shrines within temples of Betshaba.
Customs: Priests and monks to Adrasteia (typically
women, though there is no taboo against men in the order) primarily
serve as messengers and attendants in temples to Betshaba, but they
sometimes will wander the nearby countryside helping those who fish
or work at a riverside. Some, particularly adherents to St. Claire
the Handmaiden, will also rove slave quarters and fields where
slaves are used to check on their condition. Those slave-masters who
are found to own mistreated slaves often find themselves at the
business end of an extremely long lecture.
Furthermore, priests to Adrasteia receive a +1 level for
caster level checks and spell effects when they are standing in the
waters of a stream or river .
Restrictions/Taboos: Priests of Adrasteia must bath
in a river or stream at least once a week or they suffer a -1 level
penalty to level checks . Furthermore, they must faithfully serve
someone, whether it be a priest of Betshaba or a more secular person
(though it need not be a noble, in the latter case). Raising a
weapon against one's ecclesiastical or secular superior is one of
the gravest sins those who follow Adrasteia can commit, and doing so
almost always results in the loss of priestly status by the offender
until he can repent his crime (unless, the victim was of an evil
sort, in which case the sin is often forgiven after a day's prayer).
Symbols: Adrasteia's symbol is that of two blue,
wavy lines over which is superimposed a nine pointed star.
Important Holy Days: Adrasteia claims no holy days
as her own, but is instead worshipped on those days sacred to
Betshaba.
Garments and adornments: Members of the clergy are
required to wear light blue and gray robes adorned with the symbols
of their faith. They may not wear lavish adornments, as humility and
service is paramount to the faith.
Laity: There are very few laity of Adrasteia
outside the ranks of servants and slaves. Those who serve, however,
venerate her beyond a mere patron, and it is said that she will ease
the pain of those servants who pray to her for succor.
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