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Danu, the Mother of All, Spirit of the Forest

The Great Mother, The Forest or the Bountiful are all names of the goddess Danu. She is the wife of Melethis and mother of Arva, Sela, Sardar and Noctris. All animals are sacred to her, so hunters and trappers ask forgiveness after each kill. Farmers and foresters pray Danu for harvests and livestocks.
 

Description

Danu, often manifests itself in the appearance of a curvy human woman. The Mother of All appears with long shiny white hair, gathered in a long braid that wraps the head with intertwined leaves and seasonal flowers. The length of her braid hints at her high lineage, with pleasing features and sun-darkened skin. Danu's body is strong but toned, muscular like a farmer's, shaped by her hard work. She behaves with strength and femininity and it can be assumed that in front of you is a beautiful middle-aged woman, some have described her appearance of her as "a rose in full bloom".

Danu appears wearing a linen robe and carries a sack of seeds (it is said of every plant in existence) on her shoulder. She also wears a belt embroidered with images of various animals.

Legend has it that Melethis and Danu were born in a remote village in a forgotten kingdom, of which one remembers only that they fiercely opposed the Old Kingdom rule of Hegnor.

From an early age Danu was shown to possess uncommon Druidic abilities, distinguished by her courageous opposition to the Ancient Myths whose aberrant cults at the time dominated her life on Valenor.

Danu knew from a very young age her future husband Melethis, a young and promising Magus, who shared his battle against the dark gods. The chronicles report that they faced alone a first encounter with a monstrous creature that threatened their village. The combination of their respective skills allowed them to win this fight and let them to get close and then fall in love.

Their long struggle against the Ancient myths continued over the years, developing their relationship and leading them first to marry and then to have four children, also with exceptional abilities.

After the defeat of the Outer Gods and the ascension of Danu to divinity, she took to heart the fate of all living beings, animals or plants, entrusting her followers to take care of their well-being wherever they could.

 

Note

Danu fully understands the flow of life and asks to accept both life and death.

He accepts the killing of animals and monsters out of necessity or protection.

He reacts with anger to those who upset the balance of nature, wild deforestation, arsonists, killing for no reason and cruelty to animals.

With the arrival of the empire, imperial biotechnologists are seen as a threat and are excommunicated.

The races created by the imperial madness, modifying already existing creatures, are considered victims and therefore must be protected and welcomed by Danu as her "new" children.

Other forms of life, created in a completely artificial way, are considered aberrations.

The greatest abomination against her is Darkness, the corruption of life itself.

Spreading disease and using poisons is considered a crime against Danu and severely punished.

Another offense to Danu is the creation of undead, as it is outside the natural cycle of life.

Danu is the lady of the hearth, she blesses marriages and births. Women who wish to have children, human and elven spouses ask Danu to watch over their marriage.

Farm animals are often blessed by Danu's priests to have many cubs and be protected from disease and pestilence.

The Peasants turn to her for abundant crops without pests.

The Hunters ask for forgiveness from Danu after killing an animal, before consuming or selling it.

Danu has taken the place of the The All-Mother Goddess (one of the Outer Gods who controlled the world of Valenor before the New Gods), so she is still sometimes invoked with very ancient rituals, called Sabbaths, in the depths of woods and forests using ancient trees and strangely carved stones as altars. Often the followers of Danu who follow these rites are called Witches even though they are part of the Green Order.

Relationships

Arva, the Goddess of Sun and Light

Daughter

Towards Danu, the Mother of All, Spirit of the Forest

3
3

Danu, the Mother of All, Spirit of the Forest

Mother

Towards Arva, the Goddess of Sun and Light

3
3

Danu, the Mother of All, Spirit of the Forest

Wife (Vital)

Towards Melethis, The Father, Lord of Magic

4
3

Melethis, The Father, Lord of Magic

Husband (Vital)

Towards Danu, the Mother of All, Spirit of the Forest

3
3

Danu, the Mother of All, Spirit of the Forest

Mother

Towards Sela, the Moon, Goddess of the Night

-1
-5

Sela, the Moon, Goddess of the Night

Daughter

Towards Danu, the Mother of All, Spirit of the Forest

-1
-5

Danu, the Mother of All, Spirit of the Forest

Mother

Towards Sardar the Bloodhanded, God of War

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0

Sardar the Bloodhanded, God of War

Son

Towards Danu, the Mother of All, Spirit of the Forest

1
0

Danu, the Mother of All, Spirit of the Forest

Mother

Towards Noctris the Joker, lord of Revelries

0
0

Noctris the Joker, lord of Revelries

Son

Towards Danu, the Mother of All, Spirit of the Forest

-2
0

Spouses
Siblings
Children

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Articles under Danu, the Mother of All, Spirit of the Forest


Character Portrait image: The goddess Danu by Alberto Zanini with Midjourney

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