Kirati

## Deity of War

Kirati is the warrior goddess, whose mythology centers around combating the evils and demonic forces that threaten the peace, prosperity and the fate of the good. Although she has never intervened directly in the affairs of Aeglion, her feats in and around the otherworlds help ensure the cosmic stability that allows Aeglion to exist. One of most widely worshiped deities, she frequently appears in household shrines where she is venerated as having the power to create life and encourage the growth of grains. She is a fierce and protective goddess, often unleashing her anger against wrong-doers, using violence for liberation and causing destruction to empower creation. Kirati is unmarried and is not seen as a submissive god. She is depicted in the pantheon as a goddess riding a blazing sand-lion, with between eight to eighteen arms, each carrying a weapon.

### Demon War of Raya

The best known account of Kirati is her encounter with the wicked demigod Mahisa, Lord of Wrath, in the *Demon War of Raya*.

The demigod Mahisa, Lord of Wrath, was the son of the celestial demigods Fae and Othma’gel. When he was born, Fae beseeched the Elder Beings directly to give her son the gift of immortality. One amused Elder Being, believed to be Nyarlathotep, chose to address the Demigod, and promptly refused to grant this wish, saying that immortality was too much power for any single creature, even a demigod. Fae then asked if Mahisa could only be killed by a woman, proclaiming that she would kill her own son if he wronged the gods. The Elder Being granted this wish, for unknown reasons, perhaps as an opportunity for amusement.. Through fell deeds in his life centered around deceit, the shapeshifting Mahisa quickly became a prominent demigod in the Underworld, preferring a life there than to one in Menione. When he was mature enough and confident that he would never be killed, Mahisa gathered up a great demon army and marched on Menione, heading for Awan, the realm of High Deity Sho’risdal herself. The Goddess of Life and Bounties was averse to violence, and called for aid when her capital and home was being invaded. Balith of the Underworld chose not to intervene, but all the celestial Deities responded, as well as many of the demigods (with the notable exception of Mahisa's parents, Fae and Othma'gel). Avarkim, Valothiel and Gurzil tried to defeat the demon army met with only limited success. A terrible battle ensued, lasting nearly a hundred celestial years. Gurzil the God of War, who had been maimed and disarmed by the Elder Beings as punishment for intervening in Aeglion, locked in single combat with Mahisa at the gates of the capital, Raya. But the Lord of Wrath could not be defeated, and finally Gurzil's strength gave out. The shapeshifter Mahisa took his preferred true form, that of a great black bull, and gored Gurzil fatally in the chest with his horns. Finally the gods were defeated and had to flee, taking the body of Gurzil with them. All was in chaos as the demon army conquered Raya.

The three Deities, Sho’risdal, Valothiel and Avarkim gathered in Harap, Valothiel's realm. They held the body of the downed God of War, who lay in a pool of his red ichor, freshly pouring from the wound in his heart. The trio of gods burned with anger, and from this anger they produced a divine energy which streamed from their hands into the pool of blood Gurzil lay in, creating a single mass of light. Into this light a woman appeared, her body shinning with the brilliance of a thousand suns. Thus was Kirati born. At once, each of the gods and demigods gave her their weapons - a trident, a disc, a sword, an axe, a conch, a mace, a chakra, a rope, a cosmic bow and arrows. Buru, Demigod of the Hunt, presented her with a giant sand-lion to ride on, wreathed in flames, whom she named Singha. Holding the weapons in her many arms, Kirati let out a terrible roar; her sand-lion responded with one of his own.

Armed with the strength of all the gods, Kirati charged across the heavens for Raya. The unsuspecting Mahisa saw the approaching figure, and noticing the radiating beauty of this mysterious woman, sent her a message, planning to claim her for his bride since he was now the lord of the heavens themselves. With a smile Kirati responded; "I can only marry the man who can defeat me in battle." Mahisa, dismissing her as a woman and desiring her hand, set off with his demon army to conquer the goddess. When they met, Kirati called out to him, "O wicked Mahisa, remember the oath at your birth. Look upon me and weep, for I am your death!"

Kirati's weapon arms swirled. Mountains were torn in two and the clouds were scattered. Singha pounced upon the demon army, incinerating the demons and killing many by the thousands. Mahisa shifted through many forms to try and evade her, becoming sometimes a lion, sometimes an elephant, but still sustained many cuts. Finally, he reverted to his true form of a maddened black bull. Bellowing and stamping the ground, he ran at Kirati. The battle was fierce; the heavens shook with their fury.

Mahisa the bull uprooted rocks and hills and hurled them at Kirati. She shattered them with her sword, sending them into the wind. Kirati used her rope and threw it around his neck. The Demigod of Wrath tried to free himself, but the more he struggled, the tighter she made the rope. After toying with him for a short while, Kirati sprang on his back. With her foot on his neck, she thrust her trident into his chest. With this final blow the demigod fell dead. At once his his demon armies fell senseless, defeated, and began to flee Menione, chased by the blazing Singha.

Seeing her victory, the other Deities hailed Kirati, recognizing her as the new Deity of War. By destroying evil, Kirati had protected divine law. She has been revered by warriors, blessing their new weapons. It was understood that those who worshiped her would receive her help in times of distress.