Gloriann (VG)
The goddess of peace.
Epithet: "The Peacebearer".
Gloriann is the matron deity of peace, fertility and protection. Her symbol is that of a pure white round shield with cupped hands emblazoned upon it. Gloriann has three distinct aspects; the shield maiden, the harvest mother, and the peacebearer. Gloriann adopted the portfolio of peace from Moraj, the Peacebringer, when he was destroyed in the cataclysm at the end of the god wars. Gloriann is called upon by many people of different origins for different reasons. From humble farmers asking her to aid their crops, to elven sword maidens to protect them in battle.
In Qalia, White Coronaria sect worships her by the name of Sahari Jeddai.
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Affinities
- Agriculture
- Fertility
- Protection
- Peace
- Love
Also Known As
- Peacebearer
- Lady of the Harvest
- Harvestmother
- Gaia
- Hearthmother
- Hai Fang Su Li, the Rain Mother (Kojan)
- Sahari Jaddai, the Sand Regent (Qalia)
- Anna Glorian, the Green Wife (Thestra)
Symbol
Her symbol is that of a pure white round shield with cupped hands emblazoned upon it.
Methods of Worship
- Harvesting of rare plants
- Rescuing of innocents
- Using diplomacy to create peace
Vision and Driving Beliefs - Dogma
Gloriann has three distinct aspects; the shield maiden, the harvest mother, and the peacebearer. Gloriann adopted the portfolio of peace from Moraj, the Peacebringer, when he was destroyed in the cataclysm at the end of the god wars. Gloriann is called upon by many people of different origins for different reasons. From humble farmers asking her to aid their crops, to elven sword maidens to protect them in battle.
Gloriann teaches her followers to live in peace with one another. It is the will of Gloriann that her followers work the land raising crops and strong families. The followers of this deity are taught that the harvest cycle represents eternity just as the birth and death of mortals does.
While this deity is known for teaching her followers to live peacefully with one another she has also taught them that it is their duty to protect that peace. She teaches that the weak must be protected from those who would destroy peace and happiness; that the happiness and lives of others are worth fighting and dying for.
Personality Traits
Gloriann is a blissful deity who always tries to see the good side of things. This is not to say that she is always a happy goddess, her great wisdom simply allows her to understand and accept the difference between the things she can and cannot change or control.
Speaking with this goddess is a calming experience even for those deities that have much internal rage. Gloriann is greatly perturbed by those who simply wish to cause pain and suffering to others and often tries to enlighten those who bring about chaos and destruction.
Physical Appearance
Gloriann's common form is dependant upon the beholder. No matter who (or how many) behold her she will appear as the most beautiful being that each individual has ever seen. Her appearance is also soothing and calming to any that behold her.
Races that Often Worship this Divine Being
- Half Elf
- Halfling
- High Elf
- Wood Elf
Professions that Often Worship this Divine Being
- Cleric
- Druid
- Harvester
- Ranger
Relationship with Other Divine Beings
Gloriann is on good terms with nearly all deities that desire peace and other agricultural deities.
Quotes
Celahir Greybranch (wood elf), Ca'ial Brael: "Thank Gloriann! Ca'ial Brael is saved! You are a hero, forest-kin."
Guard Ryebridge (halfling), Rindol Field: "Thank our goddess Gloriann you're here."
Acolyte Garrod (Thestran), Tursh: "Let Gloriann into your life, and she will grant you healthy crops and a strong family."
Acolyte Garrod (Thestran), Tursh: "The Lady of the Harvest only grants her most generous blessings to the halflings because they pray to her with great regularity."
Possible other names: Harvestmother, Gaia, Hearthmother
Atlia (raki), Ca'ial Brael: "And, for the sake of Harvestmother, hurry!"
Gildhur Boarmaul (wood elf, Warden of the Beast), Ca'ial Brael: "Because they (Wardens of Day and Night) do not commit themselves simply to Gaia. They commit instead to the whole of our people, our culture, and also to Gaia in that they keep our understanding of her as well."
Gilfir Whitefawn (wood elf), Ca'ial Brael: "Truly, you are one who walks with the Hearthmother."
Sample Parley
You ask, "What's on your mind?"
Morion Windsweep says, "I just saw the most fascinating sunset the other day. I guess I was thinking about it."
You say, "I wonder what god influenced that one?"
In unison, you both say, "Gloriann."
Smirking slightly, Morion Windsweep says, "Yes, that occurred to me. She of the Plentiful Harvest is on my mind."
You say, "That can't be bad."
"No... no. It's just that being haunted by these thoughts always makes me wonder what her motive is."
"Judging a god's motives is never wise. On Kojan, she is sometimes called the Rain Mother, Hai Fang Su Li, and she is said to conspire with Sihari to send the sea storms to land. On Qalia, she is Sahari Jaddai, the Sand Regent, who washes the land clean of the dead and dying, with Mara. And on Thestra..."
Morion Windsweep nods. "Yes, the Green Wife, Anna Glorian, who seeds the earth from her bag of woven flowers. I wonder how these legends come about..."
You ask, "Why can't all of them be true?"
Morion Windsweep muses, "Yes, my own race would seem to have specific affinity with her, but I imagine some of those other races would have their own ideas what Gloriann is all about."
You agree, "Like the story of Anna Glorian, who married Vol Anari and yet refuses to live with him. Some even say Anna Glorian was actually a person that transformed somehow into a goddess!"
"Vol Anari? I heard she married Typhon?"
You shrug. "You tell me. It seems there's a lot of confusion about the gods and goddesses."
Morion Windsweep says, "Well, she blesses the harvest, and you don't have to be a halfling to see that she is good for all of us."
Morion Windsweep adds, "Perhaps she helped set up that sunset to remind me. A little sacrifice to her can't ever go wrong... should I do a pinch of root or a libation of pure water?"
Sample Parley
"I have a question for you, Acolyte Moratio," you say.
"Pose it," says Acolyte Moratio with a smile. "I am all ears."
"Have Gloriann and Ghalnn ever crossed swords?" you ask.
"Gloriann? The Peacebringer?" asks Acolyte Moratio. "Lower herself to cross swords with Ghalnn? The Soul Devourer?"
"You're right," you say, "it was a silly question..."
"Of course she has," says Acolyte Moratio with a bit of a chuckle. "The gods are constantly at odds with one another."
"But isn't she trying to bring peace?" you ask.
"Well, yes, but peace is not an easy thing," says Acolyte Moratio, "it is not all delicate white birds and flower petals swirling through the wind on a warm day."
"Let me just tell you the story," says Acolyte Moratio. "You see, it was on a day long ago, before the Cataclysm rocked the world, and it began with the abuse of something so simple as a goat kid."
"A young man was torturing the goat kid," says Acolyte Moratio, "a follower of Ghalnn. The animal had broken its leg, and the boy was enjoying himself by cutting off the others and letting it bleed to death."
"A young woman, a follower of Gloriann, came across the scene, and told the young man to stop. He only sneered at her. She said a prayer to Gloriann and advanced on the young man with sword drawn. Gloriann, you see, as well as her followers, believe in protecting the weak. Even if it means breaking peace."
"He rose and drew his own sword. The two fought viciously and in the end, the young man was dead and the young woman missing a hand. Ghalnn came to her then and cut off her other hand, as well as both of her feet, as a price for the life of his follower."
"When Gloriann heard of this, she appeared before the young woman with a goat kid in her arms and restored her missing limbs. Ghalnn took that as Gloriann throwing down the gauntlet. He was correct."
"No two versions of the story depict Gloriann in the same way, for though Ghalnn is known to us as an intimidating man in red plate mail, a double bladed axe in one hand and a head in the other, Gloriann's visage changes. Some say she was a radiant maiden who fought him with a pair of gleaming silver swords inset with amethysts."
"Others say she was a unicorn, deflecting his blade with her horn. Still others say she was a bent old woman who blocked his attacks with a shepherd's crook. Whatever the mien, she suffered many injuries, but so did he. In the end, it was a draw, as it often is, but that young woman kept her limbs, and the goat kid its life."
Acolyte Moratio smiles and says, "And that is nothing compared to the story of Ghalnn invading Gloriann's home plane when she stopped his followers from razing an Elven village. But that is a story for another day."
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