Zolena - Nightmother

Zolena (zoh-LAY-nuh) is a twin aspect of the goddess of darkness created from the last isolated part of Zolena’s sanity. She is the goddess of Darkness, Night, Redemption, Secrets, and the Void.

History

Whilst trapped within her mind, the Nightmother was able to reflect on why she was sealed away and vowed to herself to make amends with her peers and, especially, her sister. She became a lingering check on Zolena’s mind until the seals on Evergloam weakened enough for Zolena to cast out the Nightmother in a new body.

The Nightmother drifted in the void of Realmspace before taking refuge in an isolated corner of Elysium. There she began planning to make herself whole and restore herself to what she believes she should be, a god of benevolence. The Archangel Malthael and his angels eventually found her refuge, and when Malthael realized who and what she was, he pledged himself to her as her divine herald and his host followed suit. Using her new celestial host, she acted out against her other half where she could and tried to turn her wicked champions towards the light.

While she waged her war in the planes, she kept an eye out for a mortal whom she could trust as her champion. Eventually, an inquisitive mortal caught her eye, one in plight and in need of guidance, Stephanie Manston. With the Nightmother as her guide, Stephanie learned of the ways of darkness, and infiltrated the forces of the Queen of Darkness, eventually entering Zolena’s inner circle. From within, she sabotaged armies, converted followers, and all around hamstrung the efforts of the Void Cult’s forces to strike out at the forces of good. When the new Celestial Exarch, Natasha Pendragon, came of age, the Nightmother bade Stephanie to “betray” the Void Cult and pledge her forces to Natasha.

In 2020, she revealed the location of her abode to Stephanie, and bid her bring Natasha and the Archangel Thadriel to her. When they arrived, Zolena told them that it was time for her secretive existence to end, and requested that she be brought before her sister, Selena. Cautiously, Natasha and Thadriel obliged. They brought Zolena to the Moonlight Isles and presented her to Selena, and upon seeing Zolena for what she was, the Moonmother wept and embraced her long-lost sister. Since revealing herself, Zolena has been grudgingly accepted by the Celestial Council as a member, and she grows in power by the day as she gains more and more followers.

Relationships

Zolena is the sister of Selena. Zolena is a member of the Celestial Council, the council of the gods of good. She considers Selena, Mylara, Gaia, Adia, and Ydona her biggest allies on the council. Zolena also keeps a close alliance with both Breana and Naheia and helps to mediate between them.

Zolena often finds herself at odds with Narrena, who mistrusts Zolena for corrupting her as a mortal, something Zolena is trying to make up for, with Selena’s help. However, at the end of the day, Narrena will protect Zolena with her life.

Zolena is completely opposed to her other half and seeks to make herself whole once more with her identity as “the Nightmother” as the sole identity of Zolena. She also openly opposes Asmodeus, Lamashtu, Nythis, Rhuxaros, and Surtr.

Appearance

Zolena appears as a human woman with pitch black hair and pale skin; her eyes are yellow, glowing like a corona against the blacks of her pupils.

She wears a dress as black as the void with some trims of radiant gold and magenta. She is usually depicted holding her bastard sword in her right hand and a black crystal ball in her left.

Church of Zolena

Zolena’s main worshippers are the Church of the Nightmother, formerly known as the Coming Void Heresy. Her faith holds to the belief that darkness is just another side of light and that shadow cannot exist without the light. They typically work against the Church of the Queen of Darkness and often work alongside other churches while doing so.

Unlike her dark counterpart, the Nightmother revels in uncovering secrets and solving mysteries, making her a patron of explorers, archaeologists, investigators, and seers.

The Church of the Nightmother is led by Cardinal Eirina Woerfel.

Clergy

Zolena’s church is small, as her existence was unknown until recently. A majority of her clergy are clerics and oracles. She has only a handful of inquisitors and champions, and even fewer templars.

Temples and Shrines

Zolena’s faithful have one established temple, the Temple of Night in Algafa.

Basic Information

Titles
The Nightmother
The Lady of the Void

Pantheon
The Elysiar Pantheon

Gender
Feminine

1st Edition Pathfinder Statistics

Alignment
Neutral Good

Symbol
A new moon with dark purple outline.

Home Plane
Elysium

Portfolio
Darkness, Loss, Night, Redemption, Secrets, the Void

Domains
Darkness, Good, Knowledge, Magic, Void, Travel

Subdomains
Azata, Arcane, Divine, Espionage, Exploration, Loss, Night, Redemption

Worshippers
Explorers, investigators, orphans, redeemed evildoers, rogues, seers, shadowdancers, spies, widows

Worshipper Alignments
CG, LG, NG, N

Favored Weapon
Nightsinger (bastard sword)

Avatar
Gestalt Oracle/Sorcerer 60
Templar 10