Ephara, Goddess of the Polis

Ephara is the god of city-states and building. Ephara represents and presides over any organized state of people. It is believed that her presence keeps a  safe from beings of the wild; when a marble building or stone wall is erected, some representation of Ephara's face is almost always included.
Ephara is strongly affiliated with the daytime, when cities are awake, alive, and at work. Her followers generally pray at midday, with the sounds of the city forming an appropriate backdrop to their rites, as industry itself is sacred to Ephara. Many aspects of city life and culture fall under Ephara’s influence. Scholarship is closely connected to Ephara, as is art—particularly poetry, sculpture, and architecture. Ephara is also highly concerned with civic wisdom and justice, and many politicians and other leaders seek her guidance in how to rule.
Ephara’s devout show their faith by going about their lives and contributing to society. Midday services at Ephara’s temples often feature a brief prayer, followed by a longer talk from an industrial or civic leader on a topic of general interest. Attendants often bring meals to eat while on a break from their jobs.
Although worshiped in many places, she is most beloved in Meletis, whose citizens credit her with the city’s founding. Many city walls bear Ephara’s face, fashioned thus in the belief that each of her images watches over the part of the city it looks upon. Marble buildings, stone walls, and similar surfaces usually feature a sculpture or relief of her visage. People often swear oaths or engage in verbal disputes in front of these images, believing she won’t let a falsehood told in front of her go unpunished. Whether she actually intervenes is unclear, but conflicts that play out this way are often resolved peacefully, without a need for the justice system to get involved.

Champions of Ephara's

Most champions of Ephara believe cities represent the pinnacle of achievement and do what they can to uphold the law and keep society functioning. Some of the god’s most devout followers work as architects, artists, or philosophers, all striving to serve the public good.

Ephara’s Favor

Ephara seeks champions who will defend her cities fiercely, both from external threats and internal corruption. She asks them to protect not only the people, but also the structures that comprise a polis. The circumstances that led you to worship Ephara most likely involved the polis you call home. The Ephara’s Favor table provides just a few possibilities.

d6	Circumstance
1	You grew up in a polis like Meletis and never feel safe outside one.
2	You grew up in a home that was next to a wall or a building with Ephara’s face on it, and you felt like she was always looking after you.
3	You were part of a revolution to fight off tyrants and establish freedom in your city.
4	Your family members have all been architects, going back several generations, and all worshiped Ephara.
5	You are a highly skilled poet, scholar, or philosopher, and Ephara took notice of your talent.
6	You are a civil servant or a city leader, taking an active role in the welfare of your home.

Devotion to Ephara

Followers of Ephara support their cities, protecting them while helping them thrive. As a follower of Ephara, consider the ideals on the Ephara’s Ideals table as alternatives to those suggested for your background.

d6	Ideal
1	Devotion. My devotion to my god is more important to me than what she stands for.
2	Justice. Laws keep society functioning, and I must see to it that they are enforced.
3	Community. We are stronger together, and I must improve and support my community.
4	Scholarship. I serve my community and my god by learning new information or creating art.
5	Civic Duty. It is my responsibility to serve my city.
6	Protection. I must keep my city safe from threats both external and internal.

Approval

You earn Ephara's approval when you expand the god’s influence in the world in a concrete way through acts such as these:

• Defending a city from a major threat
• Defeating a tyrant who threatens a city’s freedom
• Creating a masterwork, such as a building or a poem

Ephara's approval decreases if you diminish Ephara’s influence in the world, contradict her ideals, or let her down through acts such as these:

• Betraying one’s trust to commit acts of corruption or tyranny
• Destroying a civic institution or sowing chaos within a city
• Willfully breaking just laws for personal gain

Alignment: Usually lawful, often neutral
Domains: Cities, civilization, industry, civic wisdom, scholarship, art, societal progress, social philosophy