Latest revision as of 15:00, 18 June 2015

Name: Lilianthe
Titles: Four Winds, Mistress of Storms, The Oceanborn, The Green Lady
Nature: Lilianthe is a moody deity, but one who delights in her time of power in the world. She spends most of her time in a state of wild bliss and works enthusiastically to reawaken the world after the winter months. It is said, however, that that she often grows angry towards the end of the day, often bringing her frustration to mortals in the form of storms.
Gender: Female
Time of Power: Morning
Portfolio: Air, Water, Rain, Storm, Joy, Growth, Nature, Spring
Favored Alignments: Chaotic (any)
Restricted Alignments: Lawful (any)
Allows Druids?: Yes
Allows Spirit Shamans? No
Allows Paladins?: No
Favored Weapon: Longbow
Symbol: A simple tree branch with a single leaf
Domains: Animal, Plant, Air, Travel, Luck

As the world begins to warm from it's Winter slumber, and the rains of Spring begin, the world comes alive again with life and color for the first time in months. The barren soils and branches erupt into vivid greens and an explosion of life occurs as the power of Spring takes hold. These days are marked by comfortable temperatures, humid air and frequent rains. Spring is a time of joy for mortals, and of beginnings and progress. It is in these times that the harvest of the future will be planted. The time of Spring is also marked by the most violent storms and torrential floods which may threaten all life as they sweep the land, an assault of nature on the land and everything which lives on it. And yet, these rains still feed the plants and flowers just the same as any other storm.

Lilianthe is almost always depicted as a young woman, and depending on region she is most often adorned with plants growing up her body and in her hair, with older images from coastal areas depicting her covered in sea foam, shells and corals. Her expression varies, but when depicted as angry she is almost always shown with with lightning dancing around her. She is also said to wield Stormfront, an ornate longbow that appears to be made out of wood. It gives the sense of a simple ornament until She decides to use it. When She draws the string back, a shaft of wood grows from the center of the bow towards the string, forming an arrow. The skies darken with storm clouds, and winds pick up. When an arrow is released, almost always towards the sky, gale-force winds direct it to Her target, frozen rain buffets the area, lightning strikes near or on target, and a thousand arrows rain down. When the sudden storm calms, Lilianthe may have each and every shaft stuck on the ground grow roots, and expand in tangling vines or all-concealing trees. Mortals can wield Stormfront at will if it were to ever be found, but without Lilianthe's permission, drawing the string back is like attempting to bend an ancient oak and arrows do not sprout.

Holy Symbols of Lilianthe are usually carved by Her cleric with living wood, ideally with a fresh branch, although the cleric remains responsible to repair the tree's loss. It is said that Lilianthe grants the symbol of her most devout followers a blessing in which they seem as alive as the day it was carved from it's mother tree. In spring, the symbol may even spout tiny flowers from the the branch. The death of one of Her clerics typically signals a new tree rooted from the symbol. For this reason, clerics of Lilianthe tend to respect trees that seem to grow in peculiar places, such as lone trees on a prairie or growing through stone-set ground.

The church of Lilianthe has changed much in the last few decades. Once intensely involved in spreading happiness and joy, and sponsoring games and performances, they are now more focused on protecting the wild lands and creatures, encouraging the planting season and the praise of all things natural. While not recognized by the church, there are also sects of Stormlords who revere Lilianthe's anger over all else, while others work to protect the populace from Lilianthe's rare anger.

The Lady of Spring is commonly revered by naturalists, bards, farmers, and the young or young at heart.