Full Name: Artela
Species: Immortal (Aedra)
Allegiance: Herself, Allied with Kyia
Religion: Agnostic
Social Status: 5 (vast personal and corporate wealth; draws as needed)
Age: Unknown
Eyes: Variable
Hair: Variable
Height: Variable
Physical Notes: In the past, she often appeared as a wandering scout, with simple and weathered leather jerkin, boots and leggings. She carried a short bow, a hunting knife, and a quiver of magical arrows whose properties are the subject of many dubious and contradictory legends. Artela has long, braided black hair, dark eyes, and skin that seems tanned by years of wandering and exposure. There is a rugged beauty about her.
Behavioral Notes: to be added
Supernatural Abilities: Immortal traits; aedric traits; magical prowess equivalent to high master wizard, with a specialization in natural and animal magics. Instead of a visible aura, she gives off a heady, earthy scent in the air, like the mixture of a dozen types of animal musk along with cinnamon, mint, and floral scents when she uses her powers, unless she deliberately chooses to mask it.
Titles
- Lady of the Hunt
- Mistress of Nature
- Mistress of Mercy
- Queen of Quenardya
Background
Artela was one of two goddess of nature, the other being her sister Lilith. Artela represents nature in its mutualistic aspect, in which individuals and even entirely different species form partnerships that help each other to survive and prosper. The flower that is pollinated by the insect, the fruit that disperses a tree's seeds while providing food to the animal, the algae and fungus that join together to become a lichen that can survive where neither could live separately — all of these embody Artela's ethos that mutualism and cooperation are the foundational principles of the natural world.1
With this aspect of nature, she also became the goddess of Mercy. However, even with cooperation and mercy she is not weak or squeemish- Death is a part of life and she was also considered a goddess of the Hunt.
Artela draws energy from the wild creatures; as such, she works to prevent the desecration or waste of nature's bounty. Mercy shown toward animals is a great way to get on her good side. She drew an energy "tax" from the nymphs who inhabit the trees, streams, lakes, caves, etc.
Artela was one of the three fallen goddesses that accompanied the Starchild, Merai, on a tour of Lightbringer communities around the world after the Great Fall— Akkala, Artela and Velena had been among the first of the deities to accept the validity of Iluvatar's judgment, and they sought to learn what they could by traveling among their worshipers, helping people as best they could.
Holy Symbol
The Forked Path — usually drawn as three lines radiating out from a common center, enclosed by an equilateral triangle whose vertices lie at the ends of the lines.
Symbolic Creatures
Deer (for gentleness), Falcon (for the hunter), Honeybee (for mutualism and cooperation).
Holy Day
Artela'kema June 3rd. The Lothanasi ceremony for this holy day can be seen in Rites of Ascendancy, by RavenB. As noted above, this was also a major day for celebration by druids (disciples of Artela), who sent musicians and dancers (called mummers) into the towns and cities to sing praises to Artela and dispense their wisdom and teachings to the common folk.
Current Activities
Artela is has been ruling Quenardya since 1453, when she married the Elven king after an unlikely courtship that had lasted five years. It was not something Artela had planned on, but her mortal body was subject to the same desires and emotions as the humans and Elves it resembled — and during a visit to Quenardya in 1448 she and the king had unexpectedly fallen in love. Although at first both dismissed it as a flight of fancy, they spent more and more time together until they eventually realized how eminently compatible they were. She altered her avatar form slightly to accommodate the sensibilities of the Elvish people, and they married in a grand ceremony that drew together Elves and Artela's disciples from all over the world.
Artela and Kyia are staunch allies.
Known Allies
Known Enemies
- none specifically stated at this time
Story Appearances
none to date
Sources
Pantheon, Quenardya , MK Wiki Entry- Artela, MK Wiki Entry- Lothanasi, Merai
Author's Notes
d20 Notes
Alignment: Neutral Good
Divine Portfolio: Nature: Cooperation & Mutualism; Mercy
Domains: Animal, Fey, Plant, Travel
Weapon of the Deity: Undead-Bane Shortbow
Voice Actor
none to date