Iomedae

The Inheritor

Iomedae is the goddess of righteous valor, justice, and honor. Having served as Bahamut's herald, she inherited many of the Waybringer's followers upon her ascendence and continues to espouse the ideas of honor and righteousness in the defense of good and the battle against evil.

Appearance

Iomedae manifests as a valiant sword-mistress in full plate mail, wielding a longsword and a heraldic shield. Her shield casts a holy light, blinding evil beings, and her aura causes malevolent forces to tremble and falter.

History

As a mortal, Iomedae was a human born in a dragonruled kingdom around 6881 AD. After joining the Bahamut's Crusade against the chromatic rulers in about 6904 AD, she ascended to lead the Knights of Apsu in the struggle against the forces of Gelveolth, a blue dragon known as the Whispering Tyrant. Years of struggle brought about many great feats, including the creation of the artifact Heart's Edge in 6917 AD from the pieces of Iomedae's sword that had been broken by the Whispering Tyrant, an action immortalized as Iomedae's Sixth Act. Also in this time, in 6922 AD, Iomedae completed her Tenth Act after ruling her homeland for a year and a day and battling faceless stalkers under the control of Tiamat's followers.
In the fall of 6923 AD, she became the most recent person to pass the Test of the Starstone and acquire a spark of divinity. Her actions caught the notice of Bahamut, who chose her as his herald. Iomedae served him in this capacity until the wars end in year 6999 AD, after which she took over many of his followers and legacy as she continued the crusade against evil, and became known as the Inheritor. Bahamut was inspired by Iomedae's devotion, optimism, tenacity in the fight against evil. With his will to protect all good things, Iomedae contrasts this with her determination to destroy evil. 

Relations

Iomedae views Abadar, Cayden Cailean, Erastil, Sarenrae, Shelyn, and Torag as allies. There is a slight rivalry between Iomedae and Irori and their respective followers. Irori's worshipers, believing that anyone can achieve divinity through rigorous discipline and self-improvement, consider achieving godhood via a magical artifact as cheating. With the exception of Asmodeus, Iomedae never associates or parleys with evil gods or fiends. She treats the Lord of Hell with extreme caution, and never in more than an advisory role.

Realm

Iomedae's Realm is located on Proelera, Heaven's second tier. Even though she is a young deity, she has been judged of great importance to Heaven, a fact reflected in the expansiveness of her realm. It is a peaceful land of small keeps and is a significant source of support for Heaven's archon armies.

Providence

Iomedae makes her favor known by reshaping ordinary objects into sword-like shapes, the appearance of gold or white light around a person or object, or the magnet-like pull of a longsword or other long metal weapon in a particular direction. Her anger is displayed through flickering lights, the breaking of weapons against formerly yielding material, and the tarnishing and increased weight of gold or silver.

Servant

Iomedae's divine servitor race are the angels known as iophanites. These flying, metal wheels resemble harbingers or lantern archons and aid the goddess and her forces in battle as messengers.

Unique servants

Iomedae's servants include a number of former mortals who have been given divine power following death.

• Hand of the Inheritor: The herald of Iomedae appears as a golden-skinned angel who embraces honorable combat and the encouragement of just rulers, and the promotion of valorous deeds.
• Jingh: This servant of Iomedae manifests as a wheel of bright white metal illuminated by holy fire.
• Peace Through Vigilance: This servant is a young but cheerful and spirited celestial gold dragon.
• Saint Lymirin: This former priestess of Iomedae sometimes appears as an eagle-headed winged humanoid.

Church of Iomedae

The Church of Iomedae is assertive and vigilant in rooting out evil. Many of its followers are actively involved in crusades around the world. The church was founded after the Ballet of Scales had ended in 6999 AD as a way to continue the work of Bahamut's army, becoming zealots. Having inherited many of Bahamuts's faithful, Iomedae and her priests continue to promote his teachings, although they tend to be more aggressive in their thinking than he ever was.

Worshipers

Personal cleanliness as well as an honorable demeanor are both very important for her followers, who are known for their sense of justice, swordcraft, statesmanship, and their desire to bring "civilization" to those "without it". Adventurers who honor Iomedae sometimes wear a narrow white, red, yellow, or gold chasuble.
Many halflings who are treated unjustly, or are kept as slaves, believe in justice and often worship Iomedae. Most halfling paladins serve the Inheritor.
Young knights who are inspired by classical, courtly tales tend to follow Iomedae. They can be counted on to remain idealistic, even in the face of great evil. Their honor and faith are strong enough to overcome the vices and sins of their enemies. Iomedae's paladins are also among the most prominent and well-represented on the western continent.

Obedience

Certain dedicated worshipers of Iomedae perform daily obediences in order to receive a divine blessing known as boons from their god. Iomedae's obedience takes the form of a ritual in which the worshiper holds his primary weapon in front of him with the goddess' holy symbol attached. He then prays for guidance and protection from the Inheritor, while promising to follow her teachings. When performed correctly, the ceremony is said to instill preternatural skills in diplomacy and knowledge of all things pertaining to the noble classes.

Clergy

Her priests are composed of clerics and paladins, who perform an hour of prayer a day, in addition to a weekly public worship service. Their formal raiment includes a white cassock with gold or yellow trim and mitre, while on non-festival days they dress in similarly colored, if less ostentatious, clothing.

Temples and shrines

The temples of Iomedae function as both a church and living space for her holy knights. Temples are often painted white and feature arched entrances, pillared courtyards, fountains, and statues.

Holy texts

Her holy text is called the Acts of Iomedae, or more often just the The Acts, and recounts the 11 miracles she performed during her mortal life.

Holidays

The 6th day of Gathering is Ascendance Day, commemorating the day Iomedae took the Test of the Starstone and achieved godhood. Inheritor's Ascendance is celebrated on the first day of Plucking every year to mark the day when the goddess became the herald of Bahamut. Iomedae's Church has a number of other festivals including First Crusader Day on the 6th day of Plucking. 

Organizations

The most famous of the military orders devoted to spreading Iomedae's word is the Knights of Apsu, in whose ranks Iomedae herself served when she was mortal.

Divine Classification

Lesser Deity

Religions

• Hellknights
• Order of the Nail

Alignment

Lawful Good

Current Location

Mount Celestia

Species

Human

Honorary & Occupational Titles

• The Inheritor
• Light of the Sword
• Lady of Valor

Year of Birth

119 3823 Years old

Current Residence

Iomedae's Realm, Proelera, Mount Celestia

Eyes

Dark Brown

Hair

Short Black

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Scarred

Height

6'7''

Weight

147lbs

Holy Symbol

Pathfinder Statistics

Divine Domains

• Glory
• Good
• Law
• Sun
• War

Favored Weapon: Longsword

D&D 5e Statistics

Suggested Domains

• Light Domain
• Order Domain
• War Domain