Stern Alia: Difference between revisions
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{{ | {{Deity | ||
image=[[Image:Alia.jpg]]| | |image = [[Image:Alia.jpg]]| | ||
caption=Stern Alia, as depicted in the heraldry of [[Thalos]] in ''Dragon'' #294 (2002)| | |caption = Stern Alia, as depicted in the heraldry of [[Thalos]] in ''Dragon'' #294 (2002) | ||
|name = | |||
|alt_spelling = | |||
|titles = The Shield Mother, the Mother of War | |||
|home = | |||
home= | |rank = Demigoddess | ||
|gender = Female | |||
gender=Female| | |class = | ||
class=| | |alignment = Lawful neutral | ||
alignment=Lawful | |portfolio = Oeridian Culture, Law, Motherhood | ||
portfolio=Oeridian Culture, Law, Motherhood| | |domains = Inquisition, Knowledge, Law, Protection | ||
domains=Inquisition, Knowledge, Law, Protection| | |alt_name = Alia, [[Allitur]] (according to some) | ||
|super = | |||
super= | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Stern Alia''' is the demigoddess of [[Oeridian]] Culture, Law, and Motherhood. She is also the tutelary goddess of the island nation of [[Thalos]] in [[Western Oerik]], which was settled by [[Aerdi]] explorers many centuries ago. Her holy symbol is an Oeridian woman's face. | '''Stern Alia''' is the demigoddess of [[Oeridian]] Culture, Law, and Motherhood. She is also the tutelary goddess of the island nation of [[Thalos]] in [[Western Oerik]], which was settled by [[Aerdi]] explorers many centuries ago. Her holy symbol is an Oeridian woman's face. | ||
It has been suggested (in ''[[Bastion of Faith]]'', the ''[[Player's Guide]]'', and ''[[Warriors of Heaven]]'') that Stern Alia is somehow an aspect of the [[Flan]] | It has been suggested (in ''[[Bastion of Faith]]'', the ''[[Player's Guide]]'', and ''[[Warriors of Heaven]]'') that Stern Alia is somehow an aspect of the [[Flan]] deity known as [[Allitur]]. However, she is presented as entirely separate from Allitur in third edition material. | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
| Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
==Relationships== | ==Relationships== | ||
Alia is the mother of [[Heironeous]] and [[Hextor]], although they have different fathers. Another son, [[Stratis]], is | Alia is the mother of [[Heironeous]] and [[Hextor]], although they have different fathers. Another son, [[Stratis]], is pivotal in the storyline of [[Western Oerik]] in the ''[[Chainmail Miniatures Game]]''. Stratis was slain by mortals seeking to end war. | ||
==Worshippers== | ==Worshippers== | ||
In the [[Flanaess]], Stern Alia's church is mostly limited to Medegia, where it has been largely destroyed due to infighting and by priests of Hextor. In Thalos, her powerful church works hand in hand with the monarch of that country. | In the [[Flanaess]], Stern Alia's church is mostly limited to Medegia, where it has been largely destroyed due to infighting and by priests of Hextor. | ||
In [[Thalos]], her powerful church works hand in hand with the monarch of that country.{{cite dragon|287|88|Chainmail: The Armies of Thalos}} | |||
===Clergy=== | ===Clergy=== | ||
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===Paladins=== | ===Paladins=== | ||
During the [[Godwar]], paladins of the Shield Mother sought to find the ''[[Shield of Stratis]]'', one of the artifacts left scattered across the land when [[Stratis]], one of the Mother of War's sons, was killed. It is considered a prized artifact by the church of Alia in [[Thalos]].{{cite dragon|287|88|Chainmail: The Armies of Thalos}} | |||
==Temples== | ==Temples== | ||
In the city of [[Pontylver]], Alia was the patron of the Temple of the Correct and Unalterable Way. Many of the clergy there became increasingly arrogant and arbitrary over time, seeing themselves as the ultimate interpreters of the law. They embraced a heresy that said the Law was concentrated in the individual rather than the community, and for this their goddess forsook them, no longer granting them spells beyond | In the city of [[Pontylver]], Alia was the patron of the Temple of the Correct and Unalterable Way. Many of the clergy there became increasingly arrogant and arbitrary over time, seeing themselves as the ultimate interpreters of the law. They embraced a heresy that said the Law was concentrated in the individual rather than the community, and for this their goddess forsook them, no longer granting them spells beyond Second level. The temple hierarchy managed to keep this a secret for a time; when their fellow cleric [[Myrrha]] attempted to speak out, they tried to silence her permanently. She barely escaped the city with her life.{{csb|C1||Myrrha the Disgraced}} | ||
==Myths and legends== | ==Myths and legends== | ||
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Hextor advised his brother to help him replace the missing items and hide the body of Savnok beyond the edge of the cosmos, where their mother would never know about it. Heironeous agreed to the plan, feeling like he owed Hextor for solving the problem. He has felt guilty about this deception ever since. | Hextor advised his brother to help him replace the missing items and hide the body of Savnok beyond the edge of the cosmos, where their mother would never know about it. Heironeous agreed to the plan, feeling like he owed Hextor for solving the problem. He has felt guilty about this deception ever since. | ||
==Bibliography== | == References == | ||
=== Notes === | |||
<references group="note" /> | |||
=== Citations === | |||
<references /> | |||
=== Bibliography === | |||
*[[Anne Brown|Brown, Anne]]. ''[[Player's Guide]]''. Renton, WA: TSR, 1998. | *[[Anne Brown|Brown, Anne]]. ''[[Player's Guide]]''. Renton, WA: TSR, 1998. | ||
*Conforti, Steven, ed. ''Living Greyhawk Official Listing of Deities for Use in the Campaign,'' version 2.0. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005. Available online:[http://www.wizards.com/rpga/downloads/LG_Deities.zip] | *Conforti, Steven, ed. ''Living Greyhawk Official Listing of Deities for Use in the Campaign,'' version 2.0. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005. Available online:[http://www.wizards.com/rpga/downloads/LG_Deities.zip] | ||
*[[Harold Johnson|Johnson, Harold]], and Jeff R. Leason. ''[[The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan]].'' Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980. | *[[Harold Johnson|Johnson, Harold]], and Jeff R. Leason. ''[[The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan]].'' Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980. | ||
*[[Chris Pramas|Pramas, Chris]]. "The Armies of Thalos." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #287. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2001. | *[[Chris Pramas|Pramas, Chris]]. "The Armies of Thalos." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #287. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2001. | ||
:———. "The Empire of Ravilla." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #285. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2001. | |||
*[[Sean K. Reynolds|Reynolds, Sean K]]. "Core Beliefs: Heironeous." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #354. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2007. | *[[Sean K. Reynolds|Reynolds, Sean K]]. "Core Beliefs: Heironeous." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #354. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2007. | ||
*Sernett, Matthew, [[David Noonan]], [[Ari Marmell]], and [[Robert J. Schwalb]]. ''[[Tome of Magic]]''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2006. | |||
{{index}} | |||
[[Category: | [[Category:Chainmail]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Deities of law]] | ||
[[Category:Oeridian deities]] | |||
Latest revision as of 06:10, 28 April 2025
| Stern Alia | |
|---|---|
 Stern Alia, as depicted in the heraldry of Thalos in Dragon #294 (2002) | |
| Names and titles | |
| Alias(es): | Alia, Allitur (according to some) |
| Title(s): | The Shield Mother, the Mother of War |
| General information | |
| Portfolio: | Oeridian Culture, Law, Motherhood |
| Alignment: | Lawful neutral |
| Gender: | Female |
| Rules items | |
| Domains: | Inquisition, Knowledge, Law, Protection |
| Divine rank: | Demigoddess |
Stern Alia is the demigoddess of Oeridian Culture, Law, and Motherhood. She is also the tutelary goddess of the island nation of Thalos in Western Oerik, which was settled by Aerdi explorers many centuries ago. Her holy symbol is an Oeridian woman's face.
It has been suggested (in Bastion of Faith, the Player's Guide, and Warriors of Heaven) that Stern Alia is somehow an aspect of the Flan deity known as Allitur. However, she is presented as entirely separate from Allitur in third edition material.
Description
The Shield Mother is a maternal figure, fully armed and armored. Alia is lawful neutral, but her church in Thalos tends toward good, while her church in Medegia tends toward evil.
Relationships
Alia is the mother of Heironeous and Hextor, although they have different fathers. Another son, Stratis, is pivotal in the storyline of Western Oerik in the Chainmail Miniatures Game. Stratis was slain by mortals seeking to end war.
Worshippers
In the Flanaess, Stern Alia's church is mostly limited to Medegia, where it has been largely destroyed due to infighting and by priests of Hextor.
In Thalos, her powerful church works hand in hand with the monarch of that country.[1]
Clergy
The clerics of Stern Alia organize local militias to fight back against threats, buying time for the professional armies.
Paladins
During the Godwar, paladins of the Shield Mother sought to find the Shield of Stratis, one of the artifacts left scattered across the land when Stratis, one of the Mother of War's sons, was killed. It is considered a prized artifact by the church of Alia in Thalos.[1]
Temples
In the city of Pontylver, Alia was the patron of the Temple of the Correct and Unalterable Way. Many of the clergy there became increasingly arrogant and arbitrary over time, seeing themselves as the ultimate interpreters of the law. They embraced a heresy that said the Law was concentrated in the individual rather than the community, and for this their goddess forsook them, no longer granting them spells beyond Second level. The temple hierarchy managed to keep this a secret for a time; when their fellow cleric Myrrha attempted to speak out, they tried to silence her permanently. She barely escaped the city with her life.[2]
Myths and legends
Meersalm
It was the Shield Mother who gave Heironeous the gift of meersalm, coating him with it at birth, which made his skin immune to mortal weapons. She neglected to do so for his brother Hextor, which began the jealousy that eventually led Hextor to the Lords of Evil.
Savnok
According to myth, Alia used to to leave her arms and armor in the care of her sons Heironeous and Hextor while she met with her many lovers. Once, before recorded history, a servant of the half-brothers, a man called Savnok, convinced his masters to allow him to guard the armory of Stern Alia while they attended to other matters. Left alone with the relics, Savnok could not resist trying on the goddess's armor. Drunk with power, he knew he could never bring himself to take it off, so he fled to the mortal realm, where he began carving a kingdom out for himself.
As long as he wore the armor, Savnok could not be harmed by any mortal weapon or energy. Stricken with guilt, Heironeous and Hextor became determined to retrieve the suit before their mother returned. He was immune to Heironeous' lightning, however, so Hextor broke into the armory again and acquired his mother's bow and arrows. Though young, still two-armed Hextor could barely draw the bow, his arrows hit their mark, and Savnok slowly bled to death from small wounds.
Hextor advised his brother to help him replace the missing items and hide the body of Savnok beyond the edge of the cosmos, where their mother would never know about it. Heironeous agreed to the plan, feeling like he owed Hextor for solving the problem. He has felt guilty about this deception ever since.
References
Notes
Citations
- ↑ a b "Chainmail: The Armies of Thalos". Dragon #287 (Sep 2001), p.88.
- ↑ C1 The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan (1980), Myrrha the Disgraced.
Bibliography
- Brown, Anne. Player's Guide. Renton, WA: TSR, 1998.
- Conforti, Steven, ed. Living Greyhawk Official Listing of Deities for Use in the Campaign, version 2.0. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005. Available online:[1]
- Johnson, Harold, and Jeff R. Leason. The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
- Pramas, Chris. "The Armies of Thalos." Dragon #287. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2001.
- ———. "The Empire of Ravilla." Dragon #285. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2001.
- Reynolds, Sean K. "Core Beliefs: Heironeous." Dragon #354. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2007.
- Sernett, Matthew, David Noonan, Ari Marmell, and Robert J. Schwalb. Tome of Magic. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2006.
Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index
The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.
| Topic | Type | Description | Product | Page/Card/Image
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alia {Stern Alia} | Deity | Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian), | Bastion of Faith | 87 |
| Alia {Stern Alia} | Deity | Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian), | C1 The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan | 28 |
| Alia {Stern Alia} | Deity | Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian), | Dragon magazine #354 | 28 |
| Alia {Stern Alia} | Deity | Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian), | Dragon magazine #356 | 44 |
| Alia {Stern Alia} | Deity | Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian), | Living Greyhawk Journal #3 | 19 |
| Alia {Stern Alia} | Deity | Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian), | Lost Tomaochan: The Hidden Shrine of Lubaatum | HO |
| Alia {Stern Alia} | Deity | Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian), | Polyhedron magazine #163 | 108, 110 |
| Alia {Stern Alia} | Deity | Worshipped by: Human (Oeridian), | Reference | SEE Allitur |
| Stern Alia | Deity | Reference | SEE Alia (Stern) (Oeridian) |