Terren

A portrait of Terren

Terren is a deity belonging to the Imperial Pantheon of Gods. She is the goddess of earth and so controls the very mass of Magnula itself and, more than likely, the mass of all worlds beyond our own. Terren is one of the Six Elementals, the first children of Kovus and Astrios, and is thus one of the oldest gods in the pantheon. She is arguably an underappreciated god, certainly one that is less-often talked about when compared to her elemental siblings. Nevertheless, she is just as influential over the mortal races as her brothers and sisters.

Terren has a reputation among her fellow gods and goddesses as being a deity of more brawn and less brains. She is seen as the stereotypical 'dumb bruiser' archetype. But this perhaps does not do the goddess of earth true justice. Terren is a god of action rather than theory. She is not stupid, but rather believes that immediate action is preferable to deep consideration and delayed response. As a result, she is one of the fastest gods to respond to the requests of mortals - though how she responds might be seen as a bit impulsive.

## **Symbology**

As a goddess of earth, many of Terren's symbols relate to either underground or mountainous imagery. Large boulders and towering mountains are the most obvious symbols but there are others that fit less easily into the earth and rock-based categories. The cornucopia is one such symbol, which modern theologists believe represent the plentiful resources hidden within the earth. The cattle, however, is more obscure and the reasoning behind this symbol being associated with Terren is the subject of much debate.

### **Personality**

Terren is more often than not portrayed as a stereotypical 'dumb bruiser.' This is not necessarily unjustified, though it is still incorrect. She is a tough and hardy individual with great strength and an overwhelming confidence. However, she is also quick to act and slow to consider. This attitude does not come from a place of arrogance, though her confidence has led more than a few to that misinterpretation. Instead, Terren believes that action is better than theory and to waste time contemplating is pointless. To act on instinct is preferable.

Though Terren is heavily respected by many of the Imperial gods as both their elder and as one of the Six Elementals, some of these deities look down on the goddess of earth for her attitude and quick-to-act demeanour. Her perspective flies in the face of many gods' own personal philosophies and several of these consider Terren's perspective to come from a place of inferior intellect. Regardless, Terren pays these people little mind, for she believes that her actions as a deity are infinitely more important than the opinions of her peers.

### **Terren's Realm, The Eternal Delve**

Terren's divine domain is known as The Eternal Delve. It is an infinite expanse of solid matter separated only by the winding tunnels and fissures created by the burrowing creatures that inhabit the realm - or Terren herself. The rocky plates that make up this plane are constantly moving in a grinding motion against each other. As a result, earthquakes are quite common. Darkness, to, is also common here as there is no sun. The only natural light comes from either bioluminescence or from the colourful glow of certain crystals.

Compared to many of the realms belonging to the Six Elementals, The Eternal Delve is comparatively safe to visit. There is no crushing pressure like the realm of water, no burning heat like the realm of fire, and no bitter cold like the realm of ice. For the most part, those that enter the realm of earth uninvited must only account for the lack of light and the lack of viable food and water - all of which can be solved using conventional means and preparation.

## **Cult and Worship**

Like the other Six Elementals, Terren has a thriving cult that operates mainly in the Empire of Man. She is turned to for various purposes, but usually those that relate directly to the land itself. She is one god that can be turned to for bountiful harvests, for example. Prospectors, miners, and cave explorers also turn to Terren for plentiful finds and/or safe passage through the underground of Magnula. Terren is known to respond quickly to the prayers of her mortal followers, but the actual result of these prayers is usually fairly impulsive on Terren's part.

The Cult of Terren is quite a popular cult within the Empire, like all the elemental cults, but arguably fits a slightly more 'niche' purpose. They are usually sought out by those that delve into the earth or seek to climb over its more hazardous areas. This, naturally, is not a majority of people in most places. Nevertheless, the Cult of Terren still performs many rituals and ceremonies that, to provide one example, give thanks to the bounty of the earth. Priests and acolytes of Terren are recognisable due to their brown robes. Many also carry sacred and valuable minerals on their person, which are typically taken from holy sites.

## **Trivia**

* Terren is loosely inspired by the Roman personification of the Earth, Terra. However, she is mainly inspired by the idea of the 'dumb bruiser' archetype that defines her character. In this case, though, the archetype is actually a misunderstanding and not a factual representation of Terren.