Seraphina, Greatmother

Seraphina, Greatmother (born ~300 BV, Serah Gardner) was said to be the first adherent of Leah, and for many years (and possibly, still among smaller cultures) believed to be Leah herself. One of the few suspected Chosen.

Bearer of the Eternal Plate.

## The Myth of Serah Gardner

Born to a large family of farmers within the glens of what is now the Valoren mainland, she was blessed with visions of the Maiden from a young age, and made many claims as to having been visited first by the Maiden herself many times before also her sisters and nephews. Believed to be many things by the goddesses and gods; a locus for Leah's power, the first daughter of Hun, a weapon made for rebellion in the heavens; many offers were made to the young child by the deities for whatever purpose they believed she served, and could best serve them.

Rumors say a war among the gods was near, their tempers and fears boiling over, until her 18th sun, when Serah wished to the god of gods to end the turmoil, visits, and voices that had plagued her and her family for years, and that she would give anything for peace. Hun revealed the coming war as a test, and her steadfast zeal and unwavering loyalty to Leah as a child was unmatched and she was appointed as the champion of the Maiden.

Whether this is true or not has not been confirmed by any, but the aftermath of these events saw Serah transformed into Seraphina. Since this day, her power has grown with each deed she preforms in Leah's name, and now appears as an angel-winged goddess who still bears a young visage well into her 7th century on Ahrd.

## Cyndix's Rebellion

Varying accounts speak of Seraphina's power during the rebellion. Some state her powers had not yet reached where they are now, others that she was preforming other duties, or that Leah forbade her from acts of violence or that Fortuna foresaw the necessity of the Church following Cyndix's coming defeat. Few first-hand accounts exist, as none knew then the longevity or influence Seraphina would have following the founding of the Church, but those gathered from dusty church tomes or elven scribes sometimes account for her defeat at the hands of Cyndix in single combat. Details of the event are few, and contested, but typically ascribe the possibility to Cyndix's possible chosenhood, citing that two gods favored him at the time, and ones that were considerably more brutal than the Maiden. Whatever the case, Seraphina had survived the encounter, but will only reference the blessings that have come since the rebellion and not the actions of her brothers and sisters under the gods for what they did during that time.

## The Greatmother

Following the founding of the Church and Cyndix's defeat, Seraphina took the name Greatmother (aged around 550 at the time of the Rebellion) and has worked as the High Priest of The Sect of the Eternal Life in the years since. While others speak of the possibility of her ascension, abdication, or death vacating the position, she has spoken no interest in abandoning her duty given to her by the gods. While the idea of a "Chosen" of the gods is often debated, few can deny the favoritism and absolute power granted to Seraphina. If Chosen indeed exist, there is no denying Seraphina is among them, as none suspected have shown the longevity, power, and godliness of Seraphina.