Let my dreams be still and my mind calm. Grant me the clarity to remember the past day with ease and face the new day with grace. Give me safe haven so I might face the world renewed.—Common prayer to Aduntarri
Aduntarri (pronounced ah-done-TAR-ree) is the goddess of families, protection, dreams, and hospitality.
Edicts and anathema
- Edicts
- Protect those who cannot protect themselves, help someone in distress, heed your dreams, remember the sacrifices of others
- Anathema
- Spread fear or despair, break apart a family, cause nightmares
Description
In the stories told by her followers, Aduntarri was born to protect the mortal world from the machinations of the other gods. She is the benevolent guide, the mother, the one that wishes happiness for everyone. According to the mythos of nearly all pantheons, Aduntarri remains aloof and separate from the other gods by choice, in order to offer safe harbor to any and all. She cares not of your background or past, only if she can be of comfort in your time of troubles. Aduntarri heals her faithful of their sorrow and provides solace and hope for better times to come.
Aduntarri is also closely associated with dreams. Many pray to her before resting for the night, or hang images of her holy symbol next to their bed, in hopes she will ward off any nightmares. The faithful of Aduntarri believe she communicates primarily through dreams, and therefore place great importance on understanding and remembering the imagery of their dreams, in case their goddess reaches out to them.
Followers
Worship of Aduntarri is common around the world. In many places she is seen as a goddess of the family, invoked in marriage ceremonies as well as to help protect one’s dwelling. She is very much a household deity, one who is thought to be far more concerned with the day-to-day lives of her followers than with grand cosmic goals.
Devout followers of Aduntarri are always willing to open their homes to travelers and others requiring hospitality. Large communal feasts are a central part of the worship at most temples, free for all to partake.
Church structure
The clergy of Aduntarri maintain a loose church structure in much of the world. They commonly share knowledge and resources with other temples and often organize together in times of crisis and danger, but otherwise do not have a formal church hierarchy. The exception to this is in Hellea, where the church of Aduntarri is a powerful institution.
Holy text
Rather than a singular holy text, the clergy of Aduntarri maintain journals containing interpretations of the dreams of those that attend their temple. Prayers often involve the analysis of these dreams, in hopes they contain messages from their goddess. Devotees of Aduntarri who travel widely or do not attend a temple for some other reason often have their own dream journals.
Relations
Priests and clerics of Aduntarri maintain a stance of neutrality towards other deities and their clergy. They seek to serve and protect their people first and foremost, without becoming involved in any conflicts or disputes themselves, and temples of Aduntarri are widely seen as safe havens for those fleeing violence or abuse. For this reason, clergy of Aduntarri are very likely to receive martial instruction as part of their religious training, in order to guard those under their protection.
Depiction
To many of her followers Aduntarri is closely associated with elephants, and she is often depicted as an older woman riding an elephant painted in her holy colors. In some renditions she is the elephant itself.
Variations by pantheon
| Pantheon | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aserdian | Tarazet | Tarazet (pronounced TAH-rah-zet) is a goddess of the family and community first and foremost, a gentle guide and fierce protector of her followers. Her clergy often perform marriage ceremonies, exhorting their goddess to watch over the new family, and she is invoked to protect one's dwelling. Unlike many other deities in the Aserdian pantheon, she is thought to take a very active role in the lives of her faithful. Tarazet is believed to play a strong influence on all dreams and visions, including those induced by the consumption of certain plants. Devotees of Tarazet often use hallucinogens as part of their prayers in order to form a closer connection to their goddess. Still, the clergy of Tarazet teach moderation of this practice, as one should not become too consumed with the world of dreams.
Tarazet's clergy typically take very active roles in their communities, often serving not only as religious figures but also as public servants, offering whatever aid they can to the needy. Temples are usually austere, as they place far more emphasis on feeding and healing those that request assistance than on displays of wealth or piety. Devout followers of Tarazet often maintain dream journals, in which they interpret the dreams granted to them by their goddess. Tarazet is typically depicted in animalistic forms, most often as an elephant. |
| Chaskan | Aduntarri | In the Chaskan pantheon, Aduntarri's aspect as a goddess of marriage is especially emphasized. |
| Hellean | Xenia | In the Hellean pantheon, Xenia is a goddess of hospitality first and foremost. She teaches that one should always be accommodating to guests, especially visitors from far away and those without a home of their own. Across Hellea her temples are widely used by travelers seeking a hot meal and a place to lay their head, as they know the temples will never turn away someone in need. |
| Khapeshan | Tawaret | In the Khapeshan pantheon, there are few major temples to Tawaret. As a household deity, however, it is very common for homes to have inscriptions of her holy symbol above their front door and on bed frames, to ward off dangers and protect the sleeping. She is also seen as a rather playful goddess, an old matriarch who finds great joy in the laughter of children. |
| Laurentian | Taufran | In the Laurentian pantheon, Taufran is the protector of mothers, newborns, and young children. Her clergy often aid mothers during birth, invoking the goddess' wisdom and blessing for a healthy child. Families often pray to Taufran in hopes she will grant their children guidance in the form of dreams. |
| Dwarven | Zulka | In the Dwarven pantheon, Zulka is the protector of communities and the glue that binds families together. Zulka is often called upon for her blessing when making armor, shields, or other items used for defense. Marriage ceremonies invoked in her name are especially important to followers of Zulka. If the couple to be wed share aspects of their dreams, it is believed the goddess favors their marriage especially. |
| Elven | Aritimi | In the Elven pantheon, Aritimi's primary role is as a dream goddess. She is worshiped with hopes that she will grant colorful, vibrant, and lucid dreams. Followers of Aritimi often seek to influence the path of their dreams; many view the events and places of their dreams as no less real than their waking hours. |
| Orcish | Mortuga | In the Orcish pantheon, Mortuga is a goddess of central importance. In addition to her role as a guardian of the family and community, she is also seen as the protector of the universe from Vemdu, her divine shield always raised against the great beast. Through her aspect as a goddess of dreams, she is also an advisor to leaders and others who are uncertain in their ways. Temples and shrines to Mortuga are usually the largest in communities following the Orcish pantheon, and many wear amulets of her holy symbol to ward off bad dreams. |