Hebele

Hebele, the Matriarch Sylph, is the goddess of motherhood and the undead. She is a multi-faceted goddess with two main forms reflecting different aspects of her domains.

## Appearances

The Matriarch Sylph has two main forms, reflecting her ties to motherhood and the undead. The form most associated with the undead is an exceptionally attractive and violent woman who is often heralded by insects. Her mother goddess form often appears as a weaver and is associated with plants and beauty.

In the dreams of Snog Cloverhoof and Lox Ace, after stealing from her altar in Isole, Gallia, Hebele appears as a woman with short, dark hair and horns, leaning on a tall scythe to scold the two of them.

Warren Réal has also dreamt of the Matriarch Sylph many times. While in Navarre, Warren encountered her in a dream as a tan-skinned woman with pallid, washed out skin wielding a scythe.

## Lore

Neridon, the Astral Mariner, is known in certain tale to have almost killed the Matriarch Sylph. It is believed that Sorrana, the Death Maiden, turned Hebele into one of the undead, a vampire, to save her life. A mosaic within a convent of Hebele in Morella, Navarre depicts the Matriarch Sylph driving her scythe through the Astral Mariner. It is perhaps representative of Hebele's possible retaliation against Neridon after his act of violence against her.

## Personality

The different manifestations of the Matriarch vary somewhat in personality. As a representative of the undead, Hebele is an exceptionally violent and domineering individual know for the spread of vampirism. As the mother goddess, Hebele takes on a kind and motherly nature. The Matriarch Sylph has also been shown to be insulted in events of theft from her altar, providing minor punishments to those who carry out such deeds.

## Relationships

### Auros, the Illuminated Oracle

The Illuminated Oracle and Matriarch Sylph are lovers.

### Valkos, the Sanguine Renegade

The Matriarch Sylph and Valkos have been close friends since before their ascensions into godhood. The two gods communicate with frequency and attempt to keep one another in check. Hebele appreciates the Sanguine Renegade's acknowledgement of her multifaceted nature, unlike some who wish to boil her down to a single aspect.

## Worship

### Followers

Known followers of the Matriarch Sylph include High Priestess Valentine, High Priestess Aventina, Dahlia Enecco, and Warren Réal.

### Places of Worship

Places of worship dedicated to the Matriarch Sylph often make use of colorful fabrics and comfortable resting places. Fiber crafts are often practiced in her honor and so spaces dedicated to these crafts are usually present. Around these locations are often well-tended gardens also dedicated to Hebele.

#### Main Temple (Artlaunde, Gallia)

The Matriarch Sylph is a highly-celebrated goddess in the country of Gallia, even taking precedence in its capital, Artlaunde, over any other god. Dedicated to her there is a large, highly-funded temple. The temple to Hebele is a very tall, colourful building. It is made of a pale stone and covered in large, colorful windows with towers that stretch up towards the sky akin to spindly fingers. Inside, the space is wide and open, filled with colourful silk and chiffon fabrics which cast coloured light about. The building is support by pillars covered in vines. Around the edges of the temple are offerings of food to the people who visit. Scattered about the space are cushions and plush chairs which face a wide, shallow poll of crystal blue water with lily pads, candles, offering bowls, and incense floating atop. In the center of the pool is a statue of a woman draped in bolts of cloth. Her hands are held out and within one is a delicately crafted metal-worked rose. An exceptionally large stained glass window resides behind this, depicting stories of Hebele. The main piece is a portrait of a dark-skinned woman with braided hair wearing a flowered queen's crown and a puffy, white dress. It is a depiction of the queen and mother of Princess Gwyneth who funded the creation of the temple.

#### Temple (Isole, Gallia)

The temple was once a stone building overgrown by plants. After the town of Isole was abandoned, the temple was repurposed into a makeshift home by an exiled Daughter of Hebele. Within it floorboards had been pulled back for a garden to be grown. There was also space for a bedroll and campfire. The altar was kept intact and held a variety of items including uncut gems, a silver mirror, small statue of Hebele, bouquet of wildflowers, a small wooden cup of wine, bowl of sliced fruit, and a book with drawings of bugs and pressed wildflowers within. One corner of the temple had been overtaken by a deadly variety of parasitic fungus. The temple has since been burned down by Snog Cloverhoof in order to rid it of the fungi within.

#### Convent (Morella, Navarre)

A convent of Hebele also resides just outside of Morella in Navarre. It is a tall, stone building architecturally similar to a Navarran castle surrounded by a stone wall covered in vines and other plants. Inside the building are a variety of paintings and a large mosaic featuring the Matriarch Sylph using a scythe to slice through the middle of Neridon, the Astral Mariner. There are a variety of gardens with benches surrounding the building, as well as a gazebo set upon a small hill.

#### Temple (Morella, Navarre)

In the town of Morella, Navarre, the temple to Hebele is a smooth, white building similar to a classic Spanish style of church. The doors to the church are solid black with silver handles. It has high windows and a bell tower. Brightly coloured cloth hangs about everywhere. The inside of the building has plush chairs and cushions for sitting on scattered about. In the center of the room is an altar with a various offerings and a statue of Hebele wielding a scythe. There is a garden space dedicated to her there, as well as a back room with shelves full of fabric, spare clothing, and artisan's tools.