Haela Brightaxe (HAY-la)
Haela Brightaxe was a dwarven demigoddess of battle and luck, one in spirit with goodly dwarves who loved to fight and who lived to cleanse Toril of evil monsters. As a goddess of chance, the Luckmaiden took great risks in the battles she fought without hesitation, and when the hearts of dwarves joyfully sung with the fight's thrumming thrill, the Lady of the Fray gave a triumphant huzzah of support.
Haelan clerics were called the kaxanar, which could be loosely translated as "bloodmaidens". The vast majority of her clergy (85%) were female, and before the Time of Troubles they were entirely so, though the male members didn't seem to have a problem with the feminine title, difficult as it was to try and emasculate a raging warpriest painted in a fresh coat of blood. Novice members of Haela's faith, like those of Clangeddin, were called the Unblooded, while full priests were the Blades of the Brightaxe. In ascending order of rank, priests were known by the titles of First Blood, Deadly Dirk, Stout Spear, Sharp Axe, Shining Sword, Flamebolt, and Brightaxe, with High Old Ones of the church having individual titles and being collectively known as the Hallowed Crimson.
Haela was particularly well regarded by shield dwarves, who made up 70% of her clergy, particularly those that wandered. Her cult among the younger gold dwarves of South Faerûn (that made up about 28% of her clergy) had been growing steadily, as both males and females among them were favourably disposed towards her love of unrestrained fighting, they themselves enjoying nothing more than a good battle against their old Underdark foes. Ironically, the other two percent of her clergy was primarily made up of the brutal duergar. Even among nondwarven adventurers, the Lady of the Fray was well-known and well-regarded in the North due to the near-legendary feats of her followers, though the more settled inhabitants of elven and human cities commonly perceived her merely as a dwarven berserker god little better than barbarous Garagos.
The specialty priests of Haela, luckmaidens, were primarily found among shield dwarves and secondarily among the gold dwarves, though some members of nearly every dwarf subrace were known to show particular devotion to the Lady of the Fray. Only females could become luckmaidens, and other requirements included above average strength and dexterity, basic levels of common sense, and the ability to smith weapons. Luckmaidens, unlike regular specialty priests could train as fighters and were far more proficient in the skills of a warrior, both on and off the battlefield, than regular priestesses. They could perform elaborate acrobatics called tumbling, fight while blind, and use a wide assortment of weapons. The spells at their disposal included those like aid and shield at the lower ends and ones such as flame strike and heal for the higher tier.
Haela's clergy was evenly divided into thirds between her clerics, luckmaidens and crusaders, with half the members of the latter two groups training as fighters. Kaxanar also frequently trained as barbarians, their rage engendering joyous destruction for them to savour. Many religious and military orders had been founded by the Lady of the Fray's followers in centuries past, but few survived for more than a generation or so, known as they were for the daring and valour of their members and focus on reducing the population of wicked monsters in their vicinity. Some of the most recent and famous included Haela's Host, the Dauls of the Luckmaiden, the Shining Host of the Underdeeps, the Dancing Damsels of the Brightaxe, and the Skyriders of the Great Rift, the latter being a group of lance-wielding hippogriff riders.
Personality
Among the dwarves and their gods, Haela was well-known for her gregariousness and always upbeat attitude. The charming demigod delivered gallows humour quips with a wide smile and laughed readily and infectiously in her booming voice. She had a love of no-holds-barred brawls, but wasn't unthinking, proving herself rather resourceful.Worshipers
Dwarves of all moral and ethical alignments venerated Haela the Hard, but the active worship of the Luckmaiden was seen in particular types of dwarves. Battle-loving dwarves that wandered the surface and had to face monsters and unknown dangers, particularly in the North, turned to the Lady of the Fray. Her active followers often exhibited berserker tendencies and a chaotic or neutral good alignment (though chaotic neutrality and true neutrality was also seen among her clergy).Haelan clerics were called the kaxanar, which could be loosely translated as "bloodmaidens". The vast majority of her clergy (85%) were female, and before the Time of Troubles they were entirely so, though the male members didn't seem to have a problem with the feminine title, difficult as it was to try and emasculate a raging warpriest painted in a fresh coat of blood. Novice members of Haela's faith, like those of Clangeddin, were called the Unblooded, while full priests were the Blades of the Brightaxe. In ascending order of rank, priests were known by the titles of First Blood, Deadly Dirk, Stout Spear, Sharp Axe, Shining Sword, Flamebolt, and Brightaxe, with High Old Ones of the church having individual titles and being collectively known as the Hallowed Crimson.
Haela was particularly well regarded by shield dwarves, who made up 70% of her clergy, particularly those that wandered. Her cult among the younger gold dwarves of South Faerûn (that made up about 28% of her clergy) had been growing steadily, as both males and females among them were favourably disposed towards her love of unrestrained fighting, they themselves enjoying nothing more than a good battle against their old Underdark foes. Ironically, the other two percent of her clergy was primarily made up of the brutal duergar. Even among nondwarven adventurers, the Lady of the Fray was well-known and well-regarded in the North due to the near-legendary feats of her followers, though the more settled inhabitants of elven and human cities commonly perceived her merely as a dwarven berserker god little better than barbarous Garagos.
The specialty priests of Haela, luckmaidens, were primarily found among shield dwarves and secondarily among the gold dwarves, though some members of nearly every dwarf subrace were known to show particular devotion to the Lady of the Fray. Only females could become luckmaidens, and other requirements included above average strength and dexterity, basic levels of common sense, and the ability to smith weapons. Luckmaidens, unlike regular specialty priests could train as fighters and were far more proficient in the skills of a warrior, both on and off the battlefield, than regular priestesses. They could perform elaborate acrobatics called tumbling, fight while blind, and use a wide assortment of weapons. The spells at their disposal included those like aid and shield at the lower ends and ones such as flame strike and heal for the higher tier.
Haela's clergy was evenly divided into thirds between her clerics, luckmaidens and crusaders, with half the members of the latter two groups training as fighters. Kaxanar also frequently trained as barbarians, their rage engendering joyous destruction for them to savour. Many religious and military orders had been founded by the Lady of the Fray's followers in centuries past, but few survived for more than a generation or so, known as they were for the daring and valour of their members and focus on reducing the population of wicked monsters in their vicinity. Some of the most recent and famous included Haela's Host, the Dauls of the Luckmaiden, the Shining Host of the Underdeeps, the Dancing Damsels of the Brightaxe, and the Skyriders of the Great Rift, the latter being a group of lance-wielding hippogriff riders.
Divine Domains
War
Divine Symbols & Sigils
Physical Description
Specialized Equipment
Haela's typical weapon of choice was Flamebolt, a two-handed sword oversized for her height always encircled by tongues of spiralling, but harmless, flames when she fought. The sword couldn't hurt her, and she often hurled it into the air only to catch it by the blade, vaulted upwards to a high ledge or balcony with a hand upon its edge, or exuberantly slid down the sword itself. She could cause the sword to vanish or reappear in an instant, although it required a few dozen seconds to manifest after being sent away and vice versa.
Every ten minutes or so, Haela could also call upon her titular Brightaxe, a shining throwing axe of silver as tall as a man. Within a minute, the axe would suddenly appear in midair before spending the next flashing through the air according to Haela's will, although she couldn't use any other magical powers during either length of time. The axe flew up to 140 ft (43 m), assuredly injuring whatever it struck and, if mortal, leaving the targets stunned and thus incapable of performing any voluntary actions, including spellcasting or activating magic.
Every ten minutes or so, Haela could also call upon her titular Brightaxe, a shining throwing axe of silver as tall as a man. Within a minute, the axe would suddenly appear in midair before spending the next flashing through the air according to Haela's will, although she couldn't use any other magical powers during either length of time. The axe flew up to 140 ft (43 m), assuredly injuring whatever it struck and, if mortal, leaving the targets stunned and thus incapable of performing any voluntary actions, including spellcasting or activating magic.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Death
Haela, along with Gorm Gulthyn, died in the Morndinsamman's battle with the duergar deities Laduguer and Deep Duerra in 1383 DR. However, it was possible that she still had influence outside of Realmspace.The Second Sundering
In the wake of the Second Sundering, signs indicating the return of Haela in the Realms, as well as her duergar enemies, had begun to surface. Circa 1486 DR, a party of adventurers might have witnessed a female voice with no discernible source utter a Dwarvish battle cry, while the eyes of a statue dedicated to Haela Brightaxe flashed on their own. This supposed event was seemingly a result of the adventurers showing their respect to the late dwarven goddess within the halls of Firehammer Hold, a temple dedicated to the Lady of the Fray which, at that point, had been recently conquered by a group of duergar led by a durzagon known as Nalifarn.Social
Contacts & Relations
Like most of the dwarven gods, Haela had always been in good standing with the majority of the Morndinsamman, respected as she was for her lively manner and pleasant company. She was thought to be one of the most recent additions, being the granddaughter of Moradin and Berronar rather than a direct descendent. She made sure to honour her more established and powerful brothers and sisters in the Morndinsamman, in part because she was the only active and widely recognized dwarven demigod in the Realms, by never acting against their wishes, though she accepted only Moradin as her superior.
Of her kin, she preferred the company of Marthammor Duin and Clangeddin Silverbeard, with whom her portfolio overlapped. Being a goddess of dwarven warriors that travelled far from home, she worked closely with the Finder-of-Trails, with whom she shared an interest regarding the surface world. The Lady of the Fray and the Father of Battles both had a love for combat and had good relations, with Clangeddin regarding her as both a daughter and a protegee. She also was one of Dugmaren's regular partners, assisting him in the exploits he so often got involved in.
Berronar was somewhat cool towards Haela viewing her antics (as well as those of Dugmaren and Marthammor) with patient humour. The Revered Mother believed the younger dwarven gods had yet to set into the rules dictated by propriety, and anticipated the day when they and their followers would settle down to traditional clan life. The greedy Abbathor, who was always interested in luck, had sent increasingly more dangerous threats to Haela ever since she spurned his interest. Like most of the accepted members of the Morndinsamman, Haela was an enemy of Laduguer and Deep Duerra.
Of her kin, she preferred the company of Marthammor Duin and Clangeddin Silverbeard, with whom her portfolio overlapped. Being a goddess of dwarven warriors that travelled far from home, she worked closely with the Finder-of-Trails, with whom she shared an interest regarding the surface world. The Lady of the Fray and the Father of Battles both had a love for combat and had good relations, with Clangeddin regarding her as both a daughter and a protegee. She also was one of Dugmaren's regular partners, assisting him in the exploits he so often got involved in.
Berronar was somewhat cool towards Haela viewing her antics (as well as those of Dugmaren and Marthammor) with patient humour. The Revered Mother believed the younger dwarven gods had yet to set into the rules dictated by propriety, and anticipated the day when they and their followers would settle down to traditional clan life. The greedy Abbathor, who was always interested in luck, had sent increasingly more dangerous threats to Haela ever since she spurned his interest. Like most of the accepted members of the Morndinsamman, Haela was an enemy of Laduguer and Deep Duerra.
Divine Classification
Demigoddess
Religions
Alignment
Chaotic Good
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Lady of the Fray
Luckmaiden
The Hard
Battle-sister
Luckmaiden
The Hard
Battle-sister
Children
Comments