Dretha
Dretha, also known as The Mother of Tribes by the Orc clans of Pauza, is the chaotic good Orc goddess of tribes, fertility, birth, repose, animals, and war. Her sacred animal is the bear, and her favored weapon is the scimitar. Dretha embodies the fierce determination of a protector and the wise understanding of life's intricate cycles.
Worshippers
The teachings of Dretha resonate in the hearts of those who value kinship, survival, and the cyclical nature of existence. Her devotees embrace the chaotic truths of life and death with a fierce determination to face life's adversities, while cherishing the bonds of family and tribe. They forge paths that blend strength with wisdom, freedom with responsibility, and courage with compassion, all under the watchful eye of the Mother of Tribes.
Dretha is primarily worshipped by the Orcs of Nuin Isil, especially within the fortress-city of Kiyosu. Her influence extends to all members of the clan, resonating deeply with their dual emphasis on martial prowess and philosophical wisdom.
Domains
Tribes and Community: As a divine guardian of the Orc tribes, Dretha's influence manifests in the unbreakable bonds and unyielding resolve between tribe members. In the heat of battle, an Orc may feel an inexplicable connection to their comrades, moving in perfect unison, sensing each other's intentions. A feud between rivals might suddenly find reconciliation through a shared vision or ancient symbol, reminding them of their common roots. Dretha ensures that unity prevails, fostering loyalty, wisdom, and a shared sense of strength, allowing her followers to withstand and conquer external threats.
Fertility and Growth: Dretha's touch can turn barren fields into fertile lands and ensure healthy offspring. In a year of drought, a ritual to her might result in a furious rainstorm that replenishes the rivers; prayers and faith might lead couples once thought barren to find themselves expecting a child; predators may hound a failing herd of livestock to new territories where they grow strong and numerous. Dretha's grace ensures that both the land and the people endure, even through the most challenging trials.
Birth and Healing: Dretha's domain over birth blesses newborns with strength, courage, and a destined connection to the tribe, with each new life celebrated as a warrior in the making. Mothers call upon her for fortitude, and her presence is felt as a guiding force during labor, ensuring vitality for both mother and child. Her mark on a newborn may sometimes manifest in various ways, such as a unique physical trait or an innate wisdom, signifying the child's special role within the tribe.
Repose and Passage: As a goddess overseeing death, Dretha guides the souls of the fallen through a respectful and peaceful transition to the afterlife. She ensures that those who die with honor are remembered, their legacies preserved through the stories and rituals of the tribe. Dretha's presence during funerals helps to alleviate the sorrow of loss, providing a sense of closure and the assurance that the departed has found a place among the ancestors. Her ability to connect the living and the dead serves as a comforting link, allowing the wisdom of the past to continue guiding the tribe's future.
Animals and Survival: As a goddess of animals, Dretha ensures that nature's rugged balance is maintained through both understanding and cunning. She can guide the migration of herds and influence the hunts of predators so that both will thrive, as well as protect or even command a tribe's own beasts. A hunter might find a wolf pack leading him to a prized prey, or a wounded bear seeking out an Orcish healer, guided by Dretha's invisible hand. Dretha speaks with and understands all animals, not just bears. Her most devout followers may find that they can communicate with animals too when in need, allowing them to gain guidance, assistance, or simply companionship from the creatures of the wild.
War and Tactics: Dretha bestows courage and tactical insight upon her warriors. In times of conflict, she guides them, enabling them to fight with honor and intelligence. In the heat of a skirmish, a lone warrior may be inspired to hold a vital pass even against overwhelming odds, his strength and determination becoming the rallying cry that turns the tide of battle. Dretha's influence ensures that battles are not just about brute strength but also about initiative and cunning, a testament to her warriors' character and skill.
Dretha's influence weaves itself into the fabric of daily life, manifesting in moments both profound and seemingly trivial. An Orc warrior may find wisdom in the innocent words of a child, reshaping the strategy of an impending battle. A hunter's missed prey may lead to a newfound path, saving him from unseen peril. A widow, mourning her mate who fell in defense of the tribe, discovers new life within her, a blessing that ensures the fallen's legacy endures. Dretha's interventions are quiet whispers in the wind, guiding hands in the shadows, gentle nudges that steer trials to temper and reward her devoted followers. Her presence is a constant, reassuring force that shapes the destiny of those who honor her, orchestrating success and survival in the rugged world of the Orcs.
Myths
The First Samurai: In the beginning, Dretha molded the first Orcs from the earth and breathed life into them. When she discovered they were alone and without companions, she summoned the spirits of the mountains and transformed them into bears. The bears became their loyal companions and mounts, and the tradition of Nuin Isil's mounted samurai was born. This myth represents the intimate connection between Orcs and bears and emphasizes Dretha's role as the mother figure and creator.
The Birth of Seasons: An enduring legend tells of Dretha's dance with the forces of nature, creating the cycles of fertility, birth, and death. With each step, she brings life to the barren lands, nurtures growth, and then gracefully leads the way to the end, only to start anew. This cyclical dance is celebrated in various Orc festivals and embodies the harmony of life's eternal ebb and flow.
Divine Symbols & Sigils
Dretha's symbol is a mighty bear's claw encircled by intertwined, thorny vines, representing her unbreakable bond with the Orc tribes and her rugged influence over growth, repose, and life's cycles. Her favored weapon, the scimitar, often features in representations of her symbol as two curved blades, symbolizing both the protective aspect of a mother's embrace and the fierce cutting edge of a warrior's resolve. The bear, emblematic of strength, wisdom, and protection, is Dretha's sacred animal. It is common for her followers to wear talismans with the bear's image or even to keep carved statues within their homes.
In contrast to most Pauzan deities, Dretha's holy places are not grand temples or natural groves, but rather intimate shrines found within the homes and family compounds of the Orc clans. Filled with ancestral weapons, bear carvings, and family relics, these sacred spaces are the focus of deeply personal and individualistic worship. Each family maintains its unique rituals, such as precise forms performed with traditional weapons, or quiet meditation before the shrine, seeking guidance in matters of family, honor, war, and grief. The rituals are often concluded with offerings of food, tea, or small tokens, symbolizing the intimate connection between the individual and the family, the tribe, and the goddess herself. Unlike grand ceremonies or large congregations, Dretha's influence is felt in the quiet strength and rugged determination of each Orc who turns to her in times of need or celebration, reinforcing her role as a loving but stern mother, wise counselor, and fearless warrior.Tenets of Faith
"Embrace the wild spirit within, yet temper it with wisdom and honor. Stand firm as the bear in defense of your kin and your lands. Let the heart guide your blade, your words, your very soul, for the true path is not forged by might alone but by love, integrity, and the pursuit of excellence. Cherish the tribe, the child, the elder, the warrior, and the beast, for all are threads in the tapestry of life. Seek understanding in birth and death, in war and peace, in joy and sorrow, for therein lies the essence of existence.
Bear the scimitar of justice, wield it not in anger but in righteousness. Dance with the eagle in the sky, roam with the ant on the earth, for all creatures are kin, all life sacred. Let no one sever the unbreakable bond with the land, with each other, with the self. Those who honor these truths honor me. Those who strive for a world where individuality and unity coexist walk with me. Know that you are never alone, for I am the mother, the warrior, the nurturer, the guardian, and I dwell within you always."
Mother of Tribes, heed my earnest call. As I venture forth from your mountains, a young warrior untested, grant me your watchful eye.
Shelter my kin in your loving arms, that they may know peace in my absence. Fortify my heart with your steadfast resolve, so I may face trials with unwavering courage.
Bestow upon me your primal wisdom, that I may walk in harmony with the wild. Infuse my soul with your fierce determination, that I may honor my clan and ancestors.
In battle and in rest, may I sense your presence. Through foreign lands and unknown perils, may I wield my blade with valor.
With each step away from home, may I carry the love of my family. In every challenge I conquer, may I reflect your unyielding devotion.
Dretha of earth and life, guide me through my quests and uncertainties. Lead me toward my fated adventure with your unbreakable strength.
Alignment
Chaotic Good
Divine Domains
Community, Growth, Healing, Repose, Animals, and War
Favored Weapon
Scimitar
Sacred Animal
Bear
