Ninalta
"The Kindly Sister", One Half of the Goddess(es) of Harvest
Ninalta is, depending on who you ask, either the ascendant demigoddess of harvest, one half of her, or one of two. Most remaining Third Age societies accept her as one half of a dual deity, along with her more knightly and disciplined "sister", Saint Ajora.
Ninalta is a caring but whimsical god, fond of alcohol and giving blessings to the sick and injured, the doubtful and insecure, the outsiders. She is one of the most storied and widely-worshipped deities on Materia: especially common are portrayals (in paintings, songs, plays and novels) of her summoning Aios back to the sky and ending The Darkest Decade.
In addition to harvest and liquor, Ninalta is associated with healing, music, charity, social outcasts and rural townships. Her alignment is Neutral Good.Appearance & Heraldry
See also: Ninalta Image Gallery (External)Ninalta is generally seen as a tall woman with light, wavy hair, wearing humble clothing and a wreath of green hops. She is also often represented wearing a large, pointed traveler's hat. Heraldic animals include foxes, field mice, grass snakes, meadowlarks and barn owls. Other heraldic symbols include sunflowers, a wreath of hops, a bushel of wheat or barley, a tankard of ale, her Relic kama, the Crescent of Saint Ajora, as well as various Aiosian imagery as the two churches are strongly connected by lore and culture.
Worship
The majority of the church's mortal swords, known as Cathars, are primarily worshippers of Saint Ajora in particular. Their clerics and empyreal sorcerers, known as Liturgists, tend more toward dedication to Ninalta. They are the protectors of small and rural settlements, often working with local Harvest Witches to ensure the health and well being of people on the peripheries of civilization. Many Ninaltan churches also act as breweries and distilleries.
The Hearthblades of Jarl Juulnir serve a similar role to the Cathars in more northern climates, where hunting becomes more important than agriculture. Due to the Deluge and the dangers of nautical travel, these two religions rarely interact to to their geographical distance.Inari-O-Mikami
While most cultures regard the two as individual but united, some see the diety as one person, for example Marai, who refer to the goddess as Inari-O-Mikami. She is frequently worshipped by the mikkou of the O-Ena-e, alongside Amaterasu-O-Mikami and Aum, the First Tree. Inari carries more aspects of Ninalta than Ajora, seen as a caring but mischievous deity who raided the heavenly pantries of O-Aru to gift to the First Mortals of Waking Materia. She is commonly associated with foxes, both due to their tendency for mischief as well as their bustle of activity during harvest seasons.Domains
Ninalta's primary Domain is Community. Her secondary domains are Healing, Sun, Toil and Sorrow.Favoured Weapons
Ninalta's favoured weapon is the kama. Her Relic kama is known as The Crescent of Ninalta. In lieu of a shield, some cathars are known to wield both Sisters' weapons: a longsword in one hand and a kama in the other.The Ninaltan Dilemma
While there is considerable historicity around Saint Ajora, even including the The Edda of Saint Ajora which is generally considered to be authentic, there is almost none around Ninalta, leading some to believe the Kindly Sister manifested during or after Ajora's ascension. Others look at certain parts of the Edda, which seem to take on a more sorrowful, sentimental, perhaps even drunken tone compared to Ajora's typically brusque righteousness, suggesting Ninalta existed in some sense during the Edda's writing.
Ninalta
Godhood
Possible Ascendant (Middle First Age), possible manifestation of Saint Ajora Alignment
NG Domains
Community, Healing, Sun, Toil and Sorrow Favoured Weapon
Kama Relic Weapon
The Crescent of Ninalta
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