Idailatahl

goddess of nature and life

Often worshipped by farmers

Unkown what her true history was the Ironwood's took her power as what it was, supernatural and deserving of worship. It was Husdric's grandfather along with his children who were working building a new tunnel for the clan when they came across a stone door covered in runes. Drawn towards the door Husdric's grandfather and children broke into the door releasing a spirit that had been entombed under the mountain from a time forgotten. The spirit was powerful and blessed the then Ironfist family. After Husdric's grandfather started to worship the spirit instead of the clan's god the clan excommunicated him and his children.

Idailatahl is a benevolent being/spirit who has great power within the natural world, primarily plants but is also able to influence other aspects of life. Able to cause plants to grow and become stronger is how she chooses to manifest her power. Like gardening was a hobby of sorts all that time before she locked away.

**Tennants:**

1) The Natural order is key to the continuation of life. **"Life must die to give way to new life"**.

2) Each follower of Idailatahl is important. Other god's do exist yet they seem to take little care in their worshipers; Idailatahl knows each by name and softly calls out to them in the morning.

**\*** Talking verbally to every follower of hers as they raise to greet the new day, she calls her followers by their name. Her voice sounds like a woman's soft voice carried on a gentle breeze along with leaves and the songs of birds. Beyond that she has talked full sentences to only a few since the Ironwoods name Idailatahl their god she often uses dreams to 'speak' to her followers and worshipers.

**Practices:**

*The rite of life*

Those who wish to serve Idailathal must go through the right of life to prove they are devoted to her.

Lying naked on sanctified soil a seedling is planted under the person undertaking the ritual. Over six hours the seedling grows rapidly into a vine which envelops the devotee binding them to Idailatahl. The vine glows and sinks into the devotee's skin. Now a tatoo usually green or brown. The tattoo of a vine is different on each person. Some have leave, others flowers, some prickles or other defensive properties, some have spores or seed pods. Some have a combination.

*Husdric seemed taken aback by Drake's straight forwardness. Then then slowly pulls back his left sleeve. Covering his forearm is a brown and dark green tattoo of a vine. The Vine twists and twirls it's way in basic pattern up his arm. Drake can see that the vine has some barbs on it, like that of a rose. It also has a spore which has just broken away. Further up his arm a small bunch of berries. **"The Rite of Life. A priest of Idailatahl must spend a day sanctifying an area of rich and fertile ground. When that is complete the person wishing to serve Idailatahl lays down on the sanctified ground with a seed underneath them. Over a period of about 6 hours the seed will grow and envelop the devotee. When the ceremony comes to a climax the vines then merges with the devotee leaving a tattoo like mine."** He then reveals the sleeve covering his right arm on it again the same barbs but this time a couple of small flowers dot his arm. **"For those first undertaking the Rite of Life the vine is bare but as you grow in your walk with Idailatahl then it may change and grow."***

Each added piece symbolizes different things:

\* Barbs symbolize someone who will be charge with defending Idailatahl and her people.

\* Flowers, those who will show Idailatahl's beauty to other.

\* Spores, those who will spread word of our goddess.

\* Berries, those who will provide for others.

\* Seedpods, for those who have a blessed conception.

There are others as well and every now and again something new may appear on the vines of a follower of Idailatahl.

*The rite of death*

Burying the devotee in the ground, naked. They need nothing with them. A tree is then planted on the grave site. Normally some kind of fruit or berry bearing plant. For 'death leads to life'.

the lesser gods - Contents Page