Talona (/tɑːˈloʊnɑː/ tah-LO-nah)
Talona is responsible for the Death domain of the Infernal plane. She has been called many names, including Lady of the Dead, Lady of Bones, Mistress of the Last Walk, and Un-Mother of the Cradle. She is associated with decay, old age, exhaustion, dusk, autumn, poison, and disease.
Currently, her followers identify her presence as being herald by an abstract, flickering black and yellow radiance. Other manifestations credited to her include several animals and insects, namely rats, maggots, worms, and beetles, as well as monsters such as chasmes, gulguthras, imps, ironmaws, monstrous spiders, quasits, shadowdrakes, terlen and vorrs. Although she is associated primarily with black lilies, some texts connect her to poisonous herbs and fungi. Worshipers living or working underground take heed upon discovering amber or jasper, as these are considered omens of her presence. It is also written that Talona favors the colors gray and green.
Interestingly, no records have been found that suggest that Talona ever directly spoke to mortals, even in her avatar form. Most descriptions mention gestures and facial expressions, but none regarding her voice. Some have concluded that this is a conscious decision on her part, while others canonized that she is mute.
Although it is said that her home on the Infernal plane is the Palace of Poison Tears, her endless work with mortal souls suggests she spends very little time there.
Black lilies are considered connected to Talona, however her symbol is depicted as three teardrops in a triangle.
Power: 3/5 | Interest: 5/5 | Passion: 2/5 | Form: 3/5 | Thought: 2/5
Following
| Loyalty | Influence | Size |
|---|---|---|
| 10/10 | 2/10 | 5/10 |
Talona's priests, known collectively as Talontar, typically wear ragged gray-green robes. Though they wash these vestments, they never repair them. Older and high-ranking members of her priesthood tend to either ritually tattoo their bodies all over. The House of Night's Embrace is argued as Talona's largest temple, located in the Magian capital city of Kachmorah. Temples to Talona often operate as a combination of community services, including funerals, mortician work, and in some cases palliative care and euthenaisa. They believe this work eases Talona’s burdens and responsibilities for all dying creatures. To aid in their labors, they devote much of their lives to building up an immunity to various diseases and poisons, by means of both inoculation and magic. In some instances they are also hired by paranoid members of high society, such as wealthy merchants or rulers, to test their food for any poison.
Her followers (Talonites) consist primarily of survivors from pestilence, mages, necromancers, undertakers, and in extreme cases malevolent cultists and powerful undead. Talonites often sell various medicines, including poisons and antidotes, noting that the concentration of different substances can heal or harm, depending on the context. When not doing so they are known to volunteer to travel with trade caravans across Kai, seeking out new diseases, afflictions, and medical substances both synthetic and natural. Some also use this opportunity for a kind of missionary work, evangelizing about Talona in hopes of boosting her reputation. Followers of Talona who embark on a battle or dangerous adventure often don armor of a grey and green hue, adorned with a variety of spurs, horns, and spikes.
Sects
Followers of the Black Lily
The Followers of the Black Lily are considered to be masochists who believe death is more powerful than life (insofar that it returns beings to the Infernal plane). They follow the dictum to work in her name and let their doings be subtle or spectacular.
Shadow Rats
The Shadow Rats are an elite group of assassins and thieves that operated throughout the territories surrounding Kachmorah and Barrath.
Divine Domains
Divine Symbols & Sigils
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Body Features
Special abilities
Manifestations
Favored animals
- Rats
- Maggots
- Worms
- Beetles
Favored plants
- Black Lilies
- Poisonous herbs and fungi
Favored monsters
- Chasmes
- Gulguthras
- Imps
- Ironmaws
- Monstrous spiders
- Quasits
- Shadowdrakes
- Terlen
- Vorrs
Favored minerals
- Amber
- Jasper
Favored colors
- Gray
- Green
Miscellaneous
- Flickering black and yellow radiance
Personality Characteristics
Vices & Personality flaws
Personality Quirks
Social
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