Aeia

Aeia is a Lesser Spirit of Elanthia and a goddess of considerable importance in and around the region of River's Rest.

Aeia referred to as the Earth Mother, a goddess of nature and the world, itself. She is also the patron goddess and protector of River’s Rest. Gardens with statues of Aeia are thought to grow better and contain more colorful flowers than those without such adornment. The symbol for Aeia is a white lily on a field of green.

Her most common incarnation is that of a beautiful human with kind eyes.

Green sapphires are her favored gem. You are unlikely to ever meet a follower of Aeia that does not have such a stone on hand.

Aeia was worshipped widely during the Kannalan Empire and was a goddess of considerable importance. After the decline and eventual fall of the Citadel, however, her followers have diminished. She does, however, have a small pocket of worshippers around River’s Rest, which was the site of the last remnants of the old Empire. She can often be confused with Imaera.

Shrines, Statuary, and Holy Places

Citadel, Garden Shrine

Her major shrine is just outside the ruined infirmary near the fallen Citadel. It is a beautiful garden shrine that is tended by a ghostly gardener. The garden is actually quite large and contains, as one would expect, a wide variety of flowering plants. The centerpiece of the shrine is a small pool covered in water lilies. In the depths of the pool is a statue of the goddess:

The size of a human female, the statue of Aeia graces the center of the pool with both beauty and substance. Beauty of form, line and texture, lovingly crafted by the gifted hands of a master whose art is bringing life to cold stone. Substance being the pure water that bubbles up from beneath her, filling the pool and giving life to the surrounding garden.

This shrine is partially featured in the story: The Falcon Pin and the Discovery of the Infirmary

Cleric’s Guild, Garden Shrine

Outside the Cleric’s Guild in River’s Rest there is a particularly lovely statue of the goddess:

Carved from unvarnished wood, the statue is immaculately smooth and appears to blend in perfectly with the deep green surroundings. Aeia is depicted standing in the middle of nature's wonderous splendor, her arms outstretched as if to warmly embrace all the plants and flowers within the shrine. Dark vines of ivy twine around the woman's feet, while her glittering green sapphire eyes and serene expression bespeak of a deep sense of caring for the flourishing life growing all around her.

The garden around the statue bloom with flowers of every hue, which punctuate the deep green of the lush plants growing in every corner.

Graveyard, Statue

Just inside the graveyard arch is another statue of Aeia:

The eyes of the statue have been left closed and upon her face is carved an expression of complete compassion. Her hands are folded at her waist in front of flowing robes carved from polished black marble. Set into her hands, crafted of white marble, is a single lily.

Infirmary, Tapestry

Inside the infirmary, there is a spectacular tapestry in the staff bedroom there:

The vivid colors of the tapestry have been untouched by time. The woven image retains all its artistic power. The tapestry depicts a tall, sharp-featured man standing in a garden. His head and left arm are swathed in bandages. In his hand he carries a pair of pruning shears.

As you gaze at the tapestry you feel almost as if you are drawn into the scene. You feel a gentle breeze blowing across your face. You smell the sweet scent of flowers and the rich odor of newly turned soil. Somewhere a tropical bird warbles an intricate melody, the last note of which seems to linger in the air.

The man moves about the garden with the easy grace of a warrior. He stoops to examine a leaf and remove a slug. He lays his hands on the plants as if he can draw strength from them. At the sound of a footstep he looks up. In the distance, silhouetted against the setting sun, is a woman wearing a white robe and carrying a lily. The tranquility of the man's face is replaced by a look of joy. As he stands to greet the woman you feel yourself slowly and inexorably pulled back into the present.

There is some speculation as to the identity of the man in the tapestry. He may be the ghostly gardener who tends Aeia's gardens. The image may not even be anyone in particular, but rather a general symbol of the followers of the goddess

Ceremonies

As much of Aeia’s worship was lost after the fall of the Citadel, there is very little lore that has survived since then. There is one major ceremony, The Blessing Tree, in which her followers ask her for a bountiful and fertile harvest. It is often performed throughout the summer, sometimes beginning as early as Ivastaen.

External Links

• Lesser Spirits: Aeia, on Play.net