Cunnende Moðer
The Cunning Mother
The Cunnende Moðer is the goddess of beasts, cunning, family, hunting, and temperance. She is often depicted as a muscular woman with the head, legs and tail of a wolf, sometimes with sharp claws, and carrying either a bow or a spear; though She is also shown as a large wolf. In either portrayal of the goddess, She has grey fur and is baring her fangs in a snarl as though warning some foe.
Shrines dedicated to the Cunnende Moðer can be found along game trails, near wolf dens, or along roads in the countryside. These shrines take the form of raised circular altars, which are either constructed out of stone or wood, and it is not uncommon for tree stumps to be used as an altar to the Cunning Mother. Altars are placed beside a road or trail, and atop the altar is placed a statue in the image of the goddess made of the same material as the altar. The form of the goddess used for these statues depends on location of the shrine: her humanoid form is used at roadside shrines, while her wolf form is placed atop altars found along game trails in the wilderness or at known wolf dens. Slaying wolves in a marked den is considered sacrilege and will earn her ire.
Divine Domains
Beasts
The Beast Mother is said to be the sire of all beasts that walk the land; however, Her love does not extend to the creatures of the seas or skies. Her followers are taught to live in harmony with the creatures of the wilderness, making her particularly popular among druids and rangers. The Beast Mother despises monstrosities, which She considers to be a twisted mockery of her offspring, as well as otherworldly aberrations which She thinks should stay well away from her domain. Paladins devoted to the Beast Mother often serve Her by hunting monstrosities and aberrations all over the shattered world.Cunning
The Cunning Mother stalks her prey, sometimes for days at a time to observe their habits, strengths and weaknesses, and uses this knowledge to Her advantage. The Wolf Matron favors those who can turn any situation, no matter how dire, to their advantage. A person who can turn their weakness into strength, act rationally under pressure, and possess the ability to deceive and see through deceit is one favored by the Cunning Mother. However, the Wolf disdains those who act rashly and recklessly as this can put one's pack in needless danger.Family
To the Wolf Matron the pack is what matters most in the world. She stands by her pack, keeping a watchful eye on both Her packmates and any potential threat, ready to protect those She is loyal to with all Her power. It is for this reason that the Cunning Wolf is revered by knights, who look to Her as an embodiment of loyalty. While fierce in Her guardianship of Her pups, the Matron is also a nurturer, raising Her pups and lickings their wounds when they are injured. Acts of betrayal by a packmate are met with a swift retribution from the Wolf, punishable by death. Kinslaying is considered particularly heinous to the Wolf Matron and her followers, resulting in the kinslayer being cursed by the Matron with the Mark of the Hunted, which causes all animals to be hostile toward the Marked. The Mark of the Hunted is visible to devoted clerics and paladins of the goddess, and those who are Marked become increasingly feral and transform into a black-furred wolf with red eyes over the course of 5 weeks.Hunting
The Huntress is a patron of hunters, trappers, and monster hunters. Although She is the mother of beasts, she is well aware of how disastrous overpopulation can be for the ecosystem, and so encourages hunters to moderate the animal populations to maintain the ecosystem. However, over-hunting draws her ire and may lead to the animal life in an area migrating elsewhere, and outright driving a natural species into extinction would warrant the Huntress to place a curse on someone. This curse is known as the Mark of the Hunted, and is known to result in all manner of beasts being hostile toward the marked. Clerics of the goddess can detect those marked with this curse, often resulting in Her paladins being sent out to slay the marked individuals in what is known as the Mother's Hunt. The Huntress despises monstrosities and aberrations, and well as anyone who corrupts the fauna of the world.Temperance
It is said that the Cunning Mother fought and devoured an evil god known as the Slavering Maw, a god known for preying upon and corrupting the creatures of the world. Despite this victory, the Cunning Mother soon discovered that even in death the Slavering Maw still had a corrupting influence, and so She fights this influence that attempts to corrupt her by maintaining a temperate disposition. The Cunning Pack call this corruption the Hunger, and it is something that afflicts all creatures. The Slavering Maw is considered the god of excess desires, and so the followers of the Wolf Matron practice a life of self-restraint and control so has to prevent themselves from falling to their primal instincts.Divine Symbols & Sigils
Tenets of Faith
Guard the Pack. The safety of the pack comes first and you must be willing to protect it.
Be Cunning like a Wolf. Know when it is best to act and when it is not. Keep your wits about you lest you become prey.
Hunt the Stalkers of the Night. The night brings with it great terrors, and it is your duty to quell these monsters.
Stave off the Hunger. Practice a life of self-restraint and do not give in to your more primal desires.
Holidays
Howling Nights
Days in which there is a full moon are considered to be the Cunning Mother's holy days. On these days, followers of the Wolf Mother pray shrines dedicated to her and sacrifice an offering in Her name. These offerings are often animals preyed upon by wolves, though some offer her libations of alcohols. The sacrificial offering is carried out at midnight when the full moon is at its height.Relationships
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