Maiöna

Maiöna was the major of the three Evasanktaran gods, and the chief deity of the Euluskan diaspora. In short, she was the primary god of Indratera. 
== Titles ==
It is likely her name came from the Old Euluska Mwai 'mother' + Ondra 'great'. In Old and Modern Euluska, she was known as Maiöna /maɪɔnʌ/. Her most common titles were Lady Maiöna or simply just God; when an Euluskan says 'god', she is who they mean. Sometimes, epithets accompanied her name, those including such appellations as the Maiden; Lady of Light; Spirit of the Sun; Ruler of the Hearth; Creator of Fire; the Benevolent; the All-Powerful, etc. Some referred to her as Txei Vetra 'My Lady', Rômu, meaning 'The Sun', or Helkoäldeiä, meaning 'The Dawn'.
== Domains and Symbolism ==
Across numerous denominations, the specifics varied, but many included: the sun, fire, light, life, health, youth, knowledge, war, motherhood, femininity, the sky, the hearth, daytime. Of these, the sun was the most common and emblematic one. Her chief sign was an emblem of the sun resplendent in its rays; this was as common an emblem in Indratera as the sign of the cross on Earth.
In the most widespread denomination of evasanktaranism, Maiöna was the sole powerful god, and Malini & Makë were her two archangel gods. Malini ruled the waves, dusk & dawn, and the moon; and Makë ruled the depths, the earth, death, and the stars. Between them they were considered the only gods by the Euluskans. Some denominations considered them to be equal, or one of the others to be superior, leading to numerous schisms, heresies, and holy wars on the topic throughout history.
== Personality and Appearance ==
Across all depictions, Maiöna remained a benevolent but all-powerful god of light and knowledge. The most widespread Euluskan Evasanktaran depictions of her focused on her as clad in gold or bronze armour (sometimes with white cloth besides) with innumerable wings made of the fabric of the sky itself, carrying a reaping-scythe of pure fire, rosy as the dawn and with hair like embers. Above her head sat a halo that was itself the sun. The pictures in this article should cover that pretty well.
In interacting with humans, some say Maiöna meddles from afar. She chooses favorites and prophets who eschew her great deeds and virtues, and she uplifts them, grants them strength when they fail and need it most, and open the way before them. Many of these people ended up Saints (modern martyred heroes) or Augurs (ancient prophets), but she also has surely done so for beings lesser than these. She rewards those who follow her and she ignores those who insult her name. 
=== Foil ===
As there is light, there is dark. Maiöna's mirror, her enemy amongst the daemons, is the Devil himself, a title held for the last few aeons by Ormander. The two are opposites of one another; yin and yang.
== Followers ==
Evasanktaranism, the religion spread by the Euluskans, is now followed by over two-thirds of the world; it is chiefly Maiönan Evasanktaran, which reveres Maiöna as the true god and Malini+Makë as her archangels. So, we can probably say that in both 1600 and in the 250s C, she had about forty million concurrent adherents at maximum! According to evasanktaran mythology, beneath Maiöna and the other two (either gods or archangels, depending on the denomination), lay the angels, Augurs, and canonised saints who were seen to be her messengers, capable themselves of their own divine interventions in their specific patronage domains. Her followers made pilgrimages to Mount Maiäthos and its Holy City, Imvola.
=== Clergy, Cardinals, and Archon ===
The head of Maiöna's worship in the living world has been the Archon, the pope of the Euluskan world church. Beneath them lie the cardinals, then the clergy - monks and nuns, priests and reverends alike. 
== Dedications ==
There are countless relics, temples and sites of worship dedicated to Maiöna worldwide; almost too many to count. Almost every church built by the Euluskans after the first-century-before-zero was dedicated to her. But, I'll try to pick out some notable ones below. 
* A lot of religious iconography, art, literature, and architecture featured suns and light because of her influence.
* There are numerous schisms and heresies with other sects of Evasanktaranism related to her worship and if she is the chief god, secondary, or all three are equal. For example there have been to date 62 conflicts around Imvola related to religious schisms.
* At the gates of Mount Maiäthos, home of the Holy City of Imvola, the most sacred settlement where all Saints are buried and Euluskan Emperors were crowned, there stands The Lady of Light on her Steed. Built by Zaharayas Calinezzi which took him FORTY years, it still is the largest monolithic (one-stone) statue in Indratera. It stood forty metres tall, depicting Lady Maiöna sat on the back of a rearing horse, resplendent as the dawn. She was carved of granite with gold veins that catch the sunlight, reflecting her solar beauty. She was carved from a huge glacial erratic (a stone deposited by glacial action) from the Caliveri alps. It still stands as one of the highest statues in the world, and definitely one of the most religiously significant. The Archon (pope) canonised Zaharayas as Patron Saint of Masonry after his early death at the age of fifty-nine. Zaharayas never got to see the statue placed at the gate of Imola - he died of lung disease caused by breathing in mineral dust fibres whilst the trackway was still being constructed to move it from Vekalanetziu to Imola. He was buried in the Holy City facing south toward his creation.
* On the flag of the Euluskan Empire, the sun represented Maiöna. 
* The Iconoclast Knights of Maiöna were a sect of monster-hunters and peacekeepers dedicated in her name to protecting the light.
* The Ekretans were a cult that, in her name, sought to unite the ancient rulers of the iron age world
* The Mawa Midarik was a two-hand gesture said to centre her energy within the body.
* The Old Minster and Shelter of her Light churches in Halcyon, and countless others worldwide.
* It is said during the God Wars she appeared during the Euluskan siege of Accipiter and brought dawn forth out of midnight, blinding the Boreal Rakki troops and allowing the Euluskans to break the siege.
* She is credited with bringing back the dawn after The Everlasting Night, and by bringing back the verdancy and life of the Danderillon after the Wasting Blight.
== Prayers and Rituals ==
* Vllerilasiromu - On the first day of the year (1st Helkoälda), people celebrate the beginning of a new chapter of life with gatherings, reflections, and the Helkosundila, where people light a huge bonfire using wood and kindling from the winter and only linger to the north side of the bonfire during the meal that traditionally contains spiced meats, roasted vegetables, wine, and honey, whilst praying to Maiöna.
* Kanixesauheromu - On the twelfth night of the month of Luanä, farmers' fields are blessed by scattering the ash from of a burnt twig collected over the winter on them. It is on (or usually a while after) this date that sowing traditionally happens, but rarely before. 
* Kaumzzaxak - The spring equinox is celebrated from the sunset of the 28th Luäna to the sunrise of the following day, 1st Veltai. Traditionally, when it begins to get dark that day, all lights are extinguished, both in and out of homes. Thus, there is a whole half-day of no light, and on the 1st, the sun's light is celebrated as the restoration of balance between light and dark. The exception to the no-light tradition is a single candle known as a sekura, which only the woman of the house is allowed to light, and which must be extinguished before first light. A large breakfast meal is eaten together on the 1st of Veltai. There is no light but Hers.
* Suelorexiä - When flowers first bloom in the month of Veltai, for the ensuing week, people dress in their most bright and colourful robes and dresses. Colourful ribbons, patchwork, embroidery, weaving, painting etc is done to decorate houses both inside and out. Many people pick a single flower to thank Maiona for her flourishing bounty, and wear it in their hair. Garlands are also worn, and bunches of herbs or bouqets of branches are carried for good luck.
* Valahelonou - On 1st Utzah, the summer solstice is celebrated joyously, with a large meal that all people must participate in preparing. Prayers are said, songs are sang, people dance, celebrating the closest day of the sun to them
* During Euluskan weddings, the numerous dedications to fire, light, and to swords honoured Maiöna.
* Her sacred foods consumed during communion rituals were as follows. Many were special foods among Euluskan culinary culture.
** warmed spiced brandy or mulled wine
** cloves and sprigs of rosemary
** oranges and lemons, roasted
** red, pink, yellow, or orange flower petals, known as Lorexaviña
** fluffy round milk-dough cakes known as Mimiverna
* Prayer phrases included:
** Im'varro - Bring light!, probably the most famous religious phrase (from imvate varro)
** Utenka - thus it shall be
** Ze'ksolys - She is with us (from "Maiöna ze ekso lys")
** La ixte, la tose, la mela - With warmth, with fire, with health
** eLazeromu - By the dawn
** La Vyaki zataxike - By the lion's roar (the noise that an inferno makes, an inspiring sound of power)
** Ñatenko - In time indeed
** Xuramaiä - By her whispers! (taking her name in vain; 'my god')
** La sekura - With her light! (like 'my gosh!')
** Kelallete - luck be with you
** Helko - shorthand curse-word ('by the sun-wind!')
** Ma'nyiveka - She shall be with you
** Dera txorra - The wheel goes on (life continues, this too shall pass)
** eTxei Vetra - O, My Lady
** Feinate Helkoäldeiä - Rage O sun-wind
** eRomu indra - O great Sun
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