Venera

## Origins

The entity known as Venera appears to have left no mark upon the universe save for the planet of Lesbos Prime. The inhabitants who name themselves Veneran in her honor believe her the progenitor of their entire race, as well as responsible for the harshness and brutality of the land itself, having shaped it to in turn shape them into superior beings. She was hailed as a deity by early Venerans, however theories on her true nature abound, from god to pretender to advanced ancient being from a powerful civilization who sought to leave her mark upon the cosmos. However speculation on her true nature is futile: her legacy, Lesbos Prime and its inhabitants, stand as living proof of her undeniable ingenuity, ruthlessness, and power.

## Adherents of Venera

A quasi-religious order within Veneran civilization, the belief in their progenitors divinity was not entirely destroyed by her own denouncement of it. The faithful continued to scour the lands and seas for places and objects of her making, finding small items and clues, almost akin to a trail of breadcrumbs that taunted them forward.

Eventually lead across an inland sea, the traveling Adherents discovered an island at its center, shrouded in thick forests but conspicuously marked by a stone monolith upon its shores. Deep within the canopy rested a structure of recognizable similarity to the halls of Genesis and Ascendancy.

Bearing inscription after inscription that seemed to come directly from Venera, the very building spoke to them as they entered through its gates. However one above all would be held in reverence by the nascent Adherent order.

*"I am Peace and Justice and Death. I am many things, you my children are all of them and more"*

The order grew to establish itself permanently within this structure, bestowing it a name: Halls of the Adherent. They have heard the words of their deity, she is no god. She is Anger, Cruelty, Peace, Justice, Death. And so much more.

### Depiction and Worship

Artistic depictions of Venera predate her worship, imagery of a winged female figure appear rarely within the Halls of her making, and have largely influenced her depiction by Veneran society. Further inspiration is derived from the many writings left behind by Venera herself, resulting in a more complete understanding of her apparent nature. However the Adherents themselves have deeper and more specific beliefs surrounding their deity than the rest of their race at large:

Venera is a being of many qualities, her core principle behind creating the Hall of Ascendancy being to select an individual possessed of her own qualities that are so often listed in her writings, and promptly elevate them to a state in which they may guide their civilization in a way that Venera herself would approve of.

## The Great Aspiration

Venera's Anger and Cruelty are believed to trace to her loneliness and longing, her creation of a perfect people in her own image laced with a secret burning desire to one day discover a perfect individual to satisfy her eternal solitude.

Each and every Ascendant, chosen and shaped by the Halls of Ascendancy and assured to possess every quality she admires will one day perish, however their bodies are never buried nor burned. They vanish, taken to the Halls of Ascendancy where they are never seen again. It is believed that here the fallen beings of perfection are collected by Venera herself, that she may one day choose from among them her perfect Bride, and raise her up into divinity to forever sate her desire and end her misery.