Auril

The Frostmaiden, Lady Frostkiss, Icedawn

Auril, the merciless goddess of cold and winter, is worshiped mostly in regions that are affected by deep winters. Folk propitiate Auril with offerings and prayers for mercy. Her priests warn others to prepare for winter, and to stock extra provisions in order to have some to spare as offerings to the goddess.

Few favor Auril except for those who make their livelihood from winter or those who truly love the season. Her rare priests tend to be folk who would, but for their status, likely be outcasts from their communities. They practice celibacy and remain aloof from others when not serving in their official capacity.

The Winter Palace

Luskan has a temple dedicated to Auril, the whitespired Winter Palace. The structure is a roofless array of pillars and arches carved of white stone. The rituals of Auril's worship often seem cruel to outsiders. In Luskan, visitors gather at the temple to watch the frequent "wet parades," a ritual in which supplicants don garments packed with ice. They then journey between six white pillars known as the Kisses of Auril, which are dispersed throughout the city. The worshipers move from pillar to pillar, chanting prayers to the goddess. Upon reaching a pillar, a supplicant must climb it and then "kiss the lady," touching lips to a rusty iron plate at the top. In winter, these events resemble frantic footraces, with the added risk of frostbite and injuries caused by falling from the slippery pillars. The parade runners are cheered on by patrons who come out of nearby taverns to place bets on the stamina of the participants. Those who finish the race are thought to have helped make the winter easier, and they rarely have to pay for food or ale all winter long.

The Faith

Midwinter is a most holy day for worshippers of Auril. It is celebrated with ice-dancing lasting the night, meant for followers to both enjoy themselves and attract new followers.

The Embracing. This is a personal ritual that most worshippers must undergo. Initiates of the faith are sent to the arctic or into a blizzard in winter. The initiate spends the night moving through the winter landscape with only boots and thin clothing and are often painted with symbols of the goddess. Many perish in this ritual, but those who endure are often the source of Auril’s clerics and paladins.

Coming Storm and the Last Storm. These rituals are used by Auril’s clergy to summon a terrible winter storm at the onset of winter or at the start of spring. It serves as a reminder to some towns and regions that Auril’s power is fierce and sudden.

Temples and Shrines. The House of Auril’s Breath lies north of the Moonsea and boasts hundreds of worshippers. It is in the town of Glister, which is settled in a desolate region of permafrost. This and other major temples to Auril are sometimes called “the cold house” by common folk, and the high priest holds a rank of High Hand of Ice.

Symbol of Auril

---

Serves:

Talos

Aliases/Aspects:

Saukuruk

Alignment:

Neutral evil

Symbol

Six-pointed snowflake

Portfolio

Winter

Domains:

Nature, Tempest

Worshipper Alias:

Aurilan