Alora

Our lady of Night and Starlight or Our Lady of Silver and Ebony Alora (a.k.a. Aloriana Star-Daughter (Elves))

Alora was born Aloriana Star-Daughter to Nori and Aravun and while godsborn joined the elven pantheon and remained a demi-goddess of the elven people for untold ages. A pale dark haired elven maiden with silver eyes, she was venerated as a minor goddess of witchcraft, mysteries and moonlight among the elves and was regarded as a carefree and hedonistic goddess of little ambition beyond her mystery cults.
This changed when Nithor the god of assassins murdered her father and stole the sun and moon. Shaken by her fathers murder Alora changed and found new focus and abandoned her hedonistic rites and mystery cults in favor of taking up her fathers mantle as a deity of the moon and stars. While this cost her many of her faithful her new stance as a guardian of the night and avenger of those wronged by murderers and assassins brought her countless new worshipers from other races. Alora is an example of a goddess who sees her youth as wasted and regrets not having been the goddess that could have protected her father. While mystery cults and hedonistic rites remain present among her faithful they have become much more subdued than in ages past when she was Chaotic Neutral. In the span of a thousand years Alora has become seen by many (Even her elven faithful) as a goddess that has matured through tragedy. While some of her childish whimsy occasionally surfaces she is for the most part absolutely dedicated to her cause and to protecting her little sister Selil. Even her curiosity and desire to understand the mysteries of magic has become more sedate and guided by wisdom rather than simple desire.

Divine Domains

Areas of Concern: The Moon, The Stars, The Night, Mysteries Domains: Darkness, Good, Knowledge, Protection, Travel

Holy Books & Codes

Paladin Code
Paladins of Alora are uncommon but not unheard of with most being drawn from her human worshipers; their tenets are like much of her faith's new traditions not something many of her more traditional cultists enjoy.
Those who abuse the night to kill the innocent are your greatest foe
Learn the ways of the Stars and Moon and know them well
Guide those lost in the darkness who are willing spiritually or physically
Be the light that shines when there is only darkness

Divine Symbols & Sigils

Favored Weapon: (Edge of the Night) Scimitar Symbol: A Moon (Any Phase) with a star (Any color) each at the cardinal points of a compass. Sacred Animal(s): Wolf, Owl, Nocturnal Felines Sacred Color(s): Silver and White

Tenets of Faith

The Church of Alora has become widespread since her rising to her status as the goddess of the Moon and Stars. While her faith has grown beyond its origins as a hedonistic mystery cult the bones of her faith remain in a strange balance with its new more serious attitude in a balance of chaotic indulgence and focused dedication. While the faith may indulge in wild mystery rites under the moon and stars they are just as quick to become a force to be reckoned with when the need arises.
While traditionally allied to her sister Selil’s church Aloras faith has found a steadfast ally in the young god Gatherion and often acts as the voice of wisdom and restraint to the faithful of the Dark Hero. It has also become popular rumour among the faith that Alora has taken a fancy to Gatherion and that he brings out her whimsical side with his charms. Alora is not considered overly demanding of her faithful save in her new found dedication to battling murderers, assassins and noctural monsters. She has a number of holy rites, many of the oldest being primal and hedonistic festivals of feasting, drinking, drug use, dancing and other wild activities performed under the moon with the goal being to enter lucid states and better fathom the mysteries of the esoteric world. The rites that are most well known are as follows
Moon Fall Prayer One of the more sedate of Aloras older rites this is a simple prayer given when night falls to thank the moon for rising.
The Starlight Dance Iconic of the old faith, the Starlight dance is a gathering of Aloras faithful that always occurs on a bright star-filled night. The high priest leads the faith in a night of wild dance, song and other activities that last until dawn. It is often at this ritual that priests undergo various rites to gain new ranks in the faith. Marriages, baptisms and many other rites are also commonly tagged on to the Starlight Dance. However it should be of note that the Dance is not always the wild moon drunk rite it once was and many modern faithful hold grand gala balls and masquerades in moonlit halls and to the tune of grand symphonies.
The Moonlight Vigil In drastic opposition to the Starlight Dance The Moonlight Vigal is a solemn service performed in honour of the goddesses own vigil against her fathers killer. The faithful will take a vigil and remain awake until dawn guarding a place or person from the dangers of the darkness.
Temples By tradition all temples of Alora require an open air location where the sky can be observed, large gardens, rooftops and entire open air temple complexes are all very popular. More modern temples of the goddess often include full observatories and elaborate star maps. Many Sailors and especially navigators praise her with small shrines on their ships.

Religions

• The Most Holy Inquisition of the Western Church

Alignment

Neutral Good formerly Chaotic Neutral