Kerah Firehawk

Divine Traits

The church of the Firehawk values freedom, both personal and societal. They oppose not just slavery, but other forms of oppression as well.

Alignment: NG

Portfolio: Deserts, fire, freedom, self-determination

Domains: Community, Fire, Good, Liberation, War

Subdomains: Ash, Blood, Cooperation, Freedom, Redemption

Favored Weapon: Throwing axe

Holy Symbol: A scorched blade

Tenets

1. Fire is wild and chaotic in its natural form, but when its power is focused and bent by one's will it burns stronger: find that will within yourself, and help others to do the same.

2. Do your best to obey just and good laws, but don’t fear being labeled uncivilized.

3. Be inspirations to each other, and don’t be afraid to follow another’s lead.

4. When you have questions, look to your community for guidance. If they cannot answer your questions directly, they may still provide clues as to your destiny.

5. If there is a role in your community that needs filling, fill it to the best of your ability.

6. Fire is malleable, and shapes itself to adapt: follow fire’s inspiration, but do not neglect the other Elements within yourselves.

Followers of Kerah Firehawk

Kerah's followers are found the world over, but are most concentrated in the Ramad Desert, Eastern Denuterra, where she was born and raised. Her faith is also common in the Western portion of the Seven Kingdoms, and is surprisingly popular in much of Mwa'na'h, where worship of the elements is still common.

Relations

Kerah is closely allied with the gods in The Six and The Elements, and especially Tamsin with whom she shares both pantheons. She and her church have also been closely aligned with Mechanus since saving Ironhold together.

She tolerates Nuschin as a necessary (if unpleasant) part of nature, but has clashed many times over the years with both Greyfather and Saltuk because of their blatant oppression and extortion of the weak.

Almaladh

Kerah's personal domain is Almaladh, an enormous tent city surrounding an oasis in the middle of a desert. Almaladh is a huge sprawl and the desert is unending, yet somehow one always arrives at their destination quickly no how far it should actually be. A wanderer could go from the center to the outskirts of town without remembering their route or how long it actually took to get there.

In Almaladh, no one goes wanting, but it also is strangely impossible for anyone to get more than what they need, except during their large celebratory banquets. Everyone's needs are met, but there is no greed, no gluttony, no jealousy. Almaladh is an eternity of communal coexistence.

The native inhabitants of Almaladh are technically angels, but they aren't in the ornate fanciful robes one associates with angels, but rather in simple and utilitarian clotting. In their presence, visitors feel comfort, rather than the awe and splendour most angels evoke. In the rare event that Almaladh is threatened, the wings and eyes of the celestial inhabitants ignite with holy flame as they soar into battle.

Mortal Life

Kerah was born in a small tribe in a stretch of desert beyond the mountains of Dwarsteim. There, she learned of the land around her: where she could find water, which animals she could hunt, and which would more likely hunt her. She learned to worship the spirit of Fire that leads her people to war, Water who heals the sick, Earth who gives them sanctuary, and Fire who takes them when they die.

But disaster struck in the form of a virulent plague, striking down the young and old alike. By the time the disease passed, her tribe's numbers were reduced so much that they could no longer work as a cohesive group. The remaining members scattered: some joined other tribes, some made for the sacred oases, and some made for the land beyond the mountains. Kerah was amongst the latter, and her exploring brought her to Lowboar, where she met Amaya.

Together with the Exalted she traveled into the Shaded Grove, and met the Divinity. She was not impressed. Kerah's reputation of being a whirling storm of fire and steel spread before before and behind her like brushfire, and others couldn't help but notice. Followers flocked to her banner and sought to emulate both her expertise in combat and her fiery will.

Fervidus

After she had walked the land for many suns and moons, Kerah realized that she had achieved all she could. She had helped to abolish slavery across Edeir and the Hold, and throughout the Seven Kingdoms. Her faith flourished, and all that was left was maintaining the status quo. She trusted her faithful to continue her work without her, and decided it was time for her to leave. She set sail for Fervidus, a land with a deep connection to Elemental fire.

There, she found Mechanus active again, and an army of iron soldiers fighting bitterly against the fire giants. She immediately took their side, holding back the giants long enough for the ex-slaves to fortify their positions. But then the Blood King's counterattack hit across the entire border, and Mechanus' ability to control his soldiers was limited by its concentration, and the attack was simply too widespread for Mechanus to animate enough defenders at once.

Mechanus disseminated its own essence into each iron defender, giving them a spark of true life, at the cost of its own. Suddenly fully animated and fully sentient, the constructs stood fast against the fire giant assault. For five days and six nights the giants attacked almost constantly, probing for a weak spot in their enemy's defense. On the sixth day, a dozen warships made landfall near the battlesite, offloading two full legions of dwarf soldiers from the Democratic Republic of Dwarsteim, as well as a contingent or Kerah's faithful. Together, the forces held the giants at bay, and fortified Steelreach and Ironwatch. The Blood King had no choice but to sign a peace treaty between them, the people of Ironhold, and the allied forces from the West.

Her followers helped the Mechani settle and fortify Ironhold, and create a peace treaty with the Blood King. She stayed for a time, helping ensure the coexistence of construct, dwarf, human, and giant.

Then, finally satisfied with her work, the Firehawk stepped into an active lava flow and disappeared forever.

Divine Classification

Greater Deity

Honorary & Occupational Titles

The Firehawk, Firebringer