Haela Brightaxe

Lady of the Fray, Luckmaiden, the Hard

Whenever dwarves stand hip-deep in the corpses of monstrous enemies, their hearts singing in joy with the thrumming thrill of battle, Haela Brightaxe (bay-la brite-axc) shouts a triumphant huzzah of support. Her spirit is one with good-aligned dwarves who revel in battle, who seek out powerful monsters in an effort to purge the vile creatures from Toril. When one asks a Haelan cleric why she attacked an ancient dragon, she'll respond, "because it was there," adding with a devious smile "and because I have always wanted to cut my way out of something's stomach." As a luck goddess, she takes great risks in battle without batting an eye.
Haela Brightaxe (HUH-ae-la BRITE-ax) is the patron of dwarves who love the fray, who wander the surface lands (especially in the North), who face unknown dangers, and who battle monsters. Although dwarves of all alignments venerate the Lady of the Fray, those Stout Folk of chaotic or neutral good alignment who love battle or exhibit berserker tendencies tend to actively embrace the worship of the Luckmaiden.
Haela dwells in a simple cave in the Beastlands, but she bothers none of the animals that dwell there, keeping to herself, hidden by ever-present mists in the depths of a forest. Findar Endar, as the grotto is known, is protected by her Guardians. Rarely at home, the Luckmaiden is usually to be found in wildspace or on a world such as Toril, wherever dwarves are enjoying battle but in need of aid.
Haela is well known among dwarves for her ready laugh, her booming voice, and her ever-cheerful nature. The Luckmaiden is charming, resourceful, and delivers gallows witticisms with a broad grin.
Although she recognizes no superior save Moradin, Haela is the only widely recognized dwarven demipower active in the Realms today, and as such, the Luckmaiden is ever-mindful of the wishes of the more established and more powerful members of the Morndinsamman. As a goddess of dwarven warriors, particularly those who travel far afield, Haela's portfolio overlaps with that of the Marthammor Duin, and she works closely with the Finder-of-Trails. Likewise, the Lady of the Fray maintains good relations with Clangeddin Silverbeard, the Father of Battles, into whose sphere of influence she also crosses.
Haela's clergy arc the kaxanar, a term loosely translated as "bloodmaidens." Female clerics vastly outnumber their male counterparts, who seem little bothered by their feminine title (it's difficult to make an emasculating joke about an angry warrior-cleric covered in a gallon of fresh blood). Clerics care little for typical dwarven tradition, constructing temples wherever seems most convenient to the nearest source of conflict. The cellars of human ruins, abandoned dwarf holds, or even empty gnome warrens make acceptable temples of the Lady of the Fray. Such places usually double as armories; all contain at least one bombastic trap (usually featuring the most violent results imaginable) meant to ensure that no temple ever falls into enemy hands.
Kaxanar pray for spells in the morning, a ritual accompanied by the tracing of elaborate ritual scarring carved into the cleric's forearms upon initiation into the order. Most scars follow accepted geometric patterns, but a few iconoclasts (among an entire clergy of "free thinkers") take their initiation as an opportunity to carve profanity or lewd sayings into their flesh.
Greengrass sees the somewhat depressing ritual known as the Time of Spawning when (through chants and the Shattering of captured enemy weapons) the kaxanar prepare for the next onslaught of monsters from occupied dwarven holds On a high holy day known as Axe Held High, kaxanar and those allied with them gather under the light of day, claiming to see an image of Haela's greatsword outlined at the center the Sun.
Lastly, the Feast or the Moon sees the Commemoration of the Fallen, when the kaxanar remember those dwarves and non-dwarves who fell in defense of the Stout Folk.

Divine Domains

War

Divine Symbols & Sigils

Unsheathed sword wrapped in two spirals of flame

Tenets of Faith

Through battle, you find validation, liberation, and exultation. Trust in Haela to see you through the fray, and the monsters of the world shall fall to the sharp blades of your axes, regardless of their apparent strength and numbers The Luckmaiden blesses those dwarves who believe in her beneficence, and she, through her faithful, will always be there for, the beleaguered and besieged. Rejoice in the power of your swing in battle, the sound of your weapon smiting a worthy foe. and the challenge of the fray. If asked, show mercy on a noble foe who abides by a code of honor, but hold not your hand against the treacherous, the liars, the honorless.

Holidays

The followers of the Luck maiden celebrate three holy days of note. The first such day of the year, celebrated annually on Greengrass, is known as the Time of the Spawning. On this day Haela's clergy prepare for the next wave of orcs and other monsters to pour forth from the occupied holds of long-fallen dwarves to threaten the remaining Stout Folk once again. The Time of Spawning is marked by grim ceremonies of preparation for the coming onslaught and includes endless choruses of battle hymns, rhythmic chanting to the beat of endless drumming, and the ritual shattering of weapons and armor seized from previous opponents.
The second major holy day of the Haelan faith is known as the Axe Held High, a day that glorifies the valor of the Lady of the Fray and her role in defending the Stout Folk against their ancient foes. On this day of joyous celebration, ceremonies are held at midday, outdoors in the full embrace of the sun. The followers of the Luckmaiden hold that an unsheathed sword appears momentarily in the center of the solar orb at high noon.
While no other faith has ever reported such an apparition, every member of the Blades of the Brightaxe in good standing with Haela who participates in the proscribed rituals receives the benefits other enveloping aura (see Other Manifestations above) for the next twenty-four hours.
Finally, the Feast of the Moon is celebrated by the followers of Haela as the Commemoration of the Fallen. On this day, those dwarves and nondwarves alike who fell in the defense of the Stout Folk while battling monstrous opponents are remembered by the recounting of their battles and the consecration of new armor and weapons in their memory.
On all such holy days, Haela's devout followers are expected to offer several drops of their own blood (one per level of the follower) as well as the blood of enemies of the dwarves they have defeated since the previous holy day (one drop of blood per foe, and one foe per level of the follower).

Divine Goals & Aspirations

Day-to-Day Activities

Priests of Haela wander throughout the Realms, aiding dwarves in battle. They wander because no priest knows where or when she or he will be needed-each relies upon Haela's guiding hand to position him or her as necessary. Blades of the Brightaxe aid beleaguered dwarves (and known allies and companions of dwarves) against creatures of all sorts by healing, casting spells, and fighting alongside them. Their objectives are to achieve victory for the dwarven side and to allow the maximum possible number of dwarves to survive. The priests wish also to make all dwarves comfortable with their own skills in combat-to Haela's worshipers, battle-skills are needed to guide the hands of all dwarves if the Stout Folk are to survive.
Priests of Haela are always heavily armed and are often skilled at weapon and armor repair. They freely give away the weapons they carry to dwarves in need but always keep at least one weapon for themselves, although it may be well hidden. They practice throwing weapons in a variety of ways, such as onto ledges, to cut ropes, and to land upright, points buried in the turf, beside those needing them.
The senior priests of Haela teach their juniors much concerning tactics, secrets, and hints for fighting specific monsters, and knowledge of their habits, lairs, and weaknesses. All individuals or groups aided by a priest of Haela are expected to pay for the aid with a spare weapon that the priest can give to some other needy band. Failing that, a shield, pair of gauntlets, or other armor or useful gear can be substituted. It is considered bad form to give the priest back a weapon she or he just gave you.

Priestly Vestments

Haela's clergy favor either armor or plain steel-gray rotes, with an overcloak of scarlet and crimson footwear, as ceremonial vestments. An open-faced helm is always worn. The holy symbol of the faith is a steel medallion embossed with Haela's symbol.

Adventuring Garb

When adventuring, the Luckmaiden's clergy garb themselves in the best armor available-chain mail is preferred-and always seek to wield weapons of the finest quality. Helms are always worn, but they need not be open-faced. In honor of an ancient custom, priests of Haela are forever toting large sacks of caltrops around, hoping to get a chance to use them.
As Ardeep crumbled and the Fallen Kingdom splintered centuries ago, Haela's priests, along with many others, fought valiantly, if ultimately futilely, to preserve what remained of the Realm of Three Crowns along the banks of the River Delimbiyr. At that time, numerous halfling farmers made their homes in the verdant farmland surrounding Secomber under the protective aegis of the allied priests of Haela based in the nearby Firehammer Hold. In thanks for the vigilant axes of the Luckmaiden's clergy and the ready supply of weapons they shared, the Little Folk continually repaid Haela's valiant priests with bags of caltrops-typically three at a time. This practice is now both a joke and an affectionate tradition for both groups.

Social

Contacts & Relations

Other members of the Morndinsamman respect Haela's convivial manner. her infectious laughter, and her cheerful nature. She recognizes no Superior except Moradin, but honors her brothers and sisters in the Dwarffather's brood by ensuring that she never acts against the wishes of any fully accepted member of the pantheon. Of all the pantheon, she prefers the company of Marthammor Duin, who shares her interest in the surface world, and Clangeddin Silverbeard, shares her love for battle. As Haela concerns herself so closely with dwarven affairs on Toril, she has little time for non-dwarven gods. She has spurned the interest of Abbathor (who is always interested in luck) and in response the Trove Lord has been sending greater and more terrible threats her way.

Symbol: Unsheathed sword wrapped in two spirals of flame
Home Plane: Dwarfhome, Brux/Findar Endar
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Portfolio: Luck in battle, patron of dwarves who love to fight and who battle monsters, love of/joy of battle, dwarven monster kills, dwarven fighter adventurers
Worshipers: Barbarians, dwarves, fighters
Cleric Alignments: CG, CN, NG
Domains: War
Favored Weapon: "Flamebolt" (greatsword)
SUPERIOR: Moradin
ALLIES: Arvoreen, Brandobaris, Cyrrollalee, Eilistraee, the Morndinsamman (except Abbathor, Deep Duerra, Laduguer), Tempus, Tymora
FOES: Abbathor, Beshaba, Deep Duerra, Laduguer, Urdlen, the goblinkin and evil giant pantheons

Divine Classification

Demipower

Current Location

Mount Celestia, The Seven Heavens

Aligned Organization

The Morndinsamman