Falah

### Appearance

An auburn-haired elven woman with a green cloak (contemporary, before the elves it was a human)

## Influence

### Portfolio

Hunting, animals, wilderness, archery, conservation

## Relationships

### Other

Castellos, uncle

**Falah** is the Regent Court goddess of the hunt, nature, animals, and the wilderness. She is the daughter of Agrados's forced union on Halanna, the primordial of earth, and along with her brother Nerat she is tasked to pay for her father's crimes. As goddess of the hunt, she is entrusted to hunt down the monstrous deities known as the Spawns of Agrados.

## The Goddess

### Appearance

Falah’s traditional depiction is that of an auburn-haired huntress, wearing a green cloak and wielding a bow and arrow. In the western parts of Cannor, in and around The Empire of Anbennar Falah is depicted as an elven woman. While more traditional areas like Gawed and the Reach depict her in her older human image. This divergence is usually accredited to the heavy elvenization of southern Cannor, and the wish to appeal even further to the elven followers of the Regent Court. Regardless of her form, she is usually surrounded by natural imagery, landscapes, wild game, and various arrows.

## History

### Kheteratan Founding Myth

In the Kheteratan myth, Elikhet arrives on the prime material to confront his siblings who have enslaved humanity and falsely presented themselves as gods. Persuading his mother Nirakhet, he gains permission to undertake this mission. On the second day, Falah, one of Elikhet's siblings, joins him in the battle against the others. Thanks to her assistance, they succeed in defeating most of their siblings. Falah falls in the fight, and Elikhet is left with no choice but to retreat with the surviving human followers.

### Bulwari Age of Monsters

Bulwari theologians and historians believe to have traced the origin of the unknown woman and first believed avatar of Falah, to the Bulwari Age of Monsters. They claim that the huntress was Queen Aras III of Akalses and that she wasn't hunting alone. Instead, it was an army of Bulwari argonauts composed of many kings, heroes, and their armies against Nikšaru, the corrupted version of the Bulwari goddess that created the harpies, and one of the Four Evil Beasts of Bulwar.

According to this myth, she didn’t actually kill Nikšaru, but she pierced her wing with an arrow and threw her to the ground, where another hero killed her. Another major divergence is that Firanya was actually fighting with the queen against Nikšaru. Firanya perished in the battle, and her queendom would collapse with her.

### Cannorian Creation Myth

According to the Cannorian Creation Myth, Falah was created from the union between Agrados and Halanna, where Agrados forced himself upon her. The result of this union was called the Spawns of Agrados and would be the triggering point for the Godswar. As Castellos defeated Agrados, he granted both Falah and her brother Nerat a chance for atonement and penance for their unholy creation. Falah was tasked with hunting down her bestial siblings, and it was a task she gladly accepted. Of those siblings, she is accredited with hunting and slaying Grilax, Vukar, and Siramod, with an avatar of Falah having slain Firanya. It is said that Falah’s failed hunt of Firanya was the reason she created and mastered the bow, and why the bow is such a revered symbol within the clergy.

The Temple of Falah has as such traditionally always been the protector of the rural and isolated communities of Cannor and is sworn to protect them against all kinds of monsters and beasts. Believing that when the last spawn of Agrados is killed, Falah may finally receive her forgiveness and earn her proper place in the Regent Court.

It's not established what routes Falah's worship took across Bulwar, Sarhal, and Cannor across history - but the fact that the Bulwari and Old Castanorian word for “hunt” or "faya", bears a close resemblance to her name suggests that Falah could just be an ancient title meaning "Huntress".

### Castanorian Expansion

During the peak of the ancient empire of Castanor, Falah would be accepted into the canon of the Castanorian Pantheon, an early version of the Regent Court. As local beliefs and traditions were supplemented by this new consolidated religion, many people of Alenor and The Reach would end up converting or being integrated into Falah worship.

### Era of Greentide

With the emergence of the Greentide, and its aftermath in Escann, the Temple of Falah saw a major internal shift. Many priests saw it as their duty to help protect the survivors of Escann, and to aid in the hunt of the orcs. Entire temples were left abandoned as many of the hunter priests perished in the chaos, and those who returned did so heavily influenced by Corin.

Those who had stayed behind maintained a traditional and narrower view of their duties, limiting themselves only to the traditional spawns of Agrados. Some even claimed that Corin herself was a spawn of Agrados, due to her connection with the fallen god. While some returned with a newfound conviction and belief in Corin as the ultimate fighter of evil, and their natural leader of their eternal hunts.

### Corinite Wars

The Temple of Falah was no exception to the schism caused by the Corinite Faith, and their reformation of the traditional Regent Court with Corin placed at the throne of the Court. This breakaway faction, inspired by the tales of the surviving greentide priests and rangers, took a broader interpretation of Falahs mission. The Spawns of Agrados included an extra component the traditionalist priests overlooked. That of evil and corruption. They also claimed Castellos had never intended to forgive Falah or Nerat, and had used their fathers transgressions as a chain. Corin had redeemed Agrados, and as such, Falah and Nerat as well. This was enough for a large amount of Falahites to reconsider their loyalties, and many of them reformed into an order of elite rangers and hunters. They named themselves the "Carmine Crusaders" in reference to their deeply red cloaks, dyed using carefully cultivated Bulwari insects.

No longer confined to battling traditional foes, the Carmine Crusaders took on a new mission: to teach and guide the fervent Corinite Firebrands adhering to Corin's will. As the flaming arrows that illuminated the path, they became instrumental in leading Corin's armies on their relentless and glorious crusade against evil, transcending their initial role as mere hunters to become integral guides, rangers and pathfinders in the pursuit of a greater purpose.

### Modern History

The Temples of Falah have in modern times been hit the most by industrialization. Many of their traditional ancient groves and places of worship in the Northern League have been leveled and desecrated in favor of the growing Halcann industrial economy.

Many of their former worshippers and followers have also moved on to the more proactive Corinite Faith or the enlightened Ravelianism with Corinites having largely usurped Falah as the de facto rural religion. Comparatively, Falah worship is seen as archaic and outdated and their attempts at maintaining natural balance and halting overexploitation are seen with a mix of pity and nuisance.

Falah’s traditional role as protectors and guardians against the Spawns of Agrados has also become increasingly problematic in the modern day. When many races previously considered "monsters" joined the civilized society. The dogmatic doctrine of Falah had trouble keeping up, and some extreme cults have even committed acts of violence and murder in the name of Falah. Other cults have committed themselves to destroying or halting industrial infrastructure as it is seen as corrupting nature and its balance.

With the discovery of new planets and other planes, Falah has seen a significant resurgence within the Regent Court. With off-world colonies and expeditions now facing the threat of unknown monsters, the role of the Temple of Falah as protector of the common people has been reaffirmed. And many seasoned priests and hunters have started founding temples on these unknown frontiers.

## Relationships

Falah is mostly isolated from the rest of the Gods and even her parents, and will remain so until her penance has been completed. The only god she considers an ally is her brother Nerat, as they both work to absolve themselves.

The Temple of Falah is often called upon by the Temple of Nerat to track down and apprehend criminals or fugitives from the law when they are out of reach from their own arbiters. They are also known to assist each other's hunts for Spawns of Agrados and the Undead alike, recognizing the greater good in ridding the world of Agrados lackeys and infernal influence.

## Religion

### Avatars

Due to the often secluded and isolated nature of the temple of Falah, identifying her avatars has always been a challenge. It is assumed there have been many more avatars of Falah throughout history that have gone unnoticed by the Regent Court.

A theory within the temple is that Falah only sends her avatars for the most dangerous or dire hunts that need the power of an avatar to succeed. As their hunt is completed and their duty is fulfilled, the Avatar has sustained fatal wounds and dies shortly after. All of this without the Temples ever being able to notice. There are records of lone hunters found dead near enormous and dangerous prey they shouldn't have been able to kill, lending this theory some credibility among the clergy.

### Temples

Temples of Falah are comparatively simple and ascetic compared to other Regent Court deities. Often made from wood, stone, and natural materials, they aim to blend in with their local environment as much as possible. They are easily mistaken for a simple hunting lodge or ranger’s huts. Often, they are located in places of natural beauty, verdancy, and serenity. The surroundings were carefully cultivated and shaped by the priests.

More often than not though, Falah’s "temples" are sacred groves, standing stones, or ancient trees. They are usually decorated with simple icons of Falah, various hunting trophies, and plenty of hides. Temples of Falah are also notorious for their smell, lingering somewhere between ammonia, metallic fresh blood, and slightly burnt flesh. This is largely because no matter how small, a temple of Falah will always contain an archery range, a slaughterhouse, and a fletching station.

Each Temple of Falah is expected to also maintain an armory of various types of ammunition and arrows for different types of monsters. Some magical, some more mundane. These armories can be accessed by the faithful and sworn monster hunters, and under extraordinary circumstances they might even lend their considerable reserves to a zealous king's army.

### Priesthood

Becoming a priest of Falah is open for all able and willing to learn how to hunt. How to harness every part of your prey, and how to respect each living creature. How to live in harmony with nature, and ensure it can continue to thrive. And those willing to risk their lives in the battle against the Spawns of Agrados. Each priest must thusly master the art of archery or marksmanship, and how to make and maintain bows, arrows, bullets, and guns.

Priests are often clad in simple, ergonomic garbs dyed in natural earthy colors, with fur and leather also being prominent. All priests incorporate a simple green cloak and most carry knives or bows at all times.

Priests also serve as wardens and rangers in their local area, making sure nature is healthy and respected. Replanting trees after forest fires and in logging sites, putting out feed for wild animals during winter, tending to sick or wounded animals, and keeping the balance of nature in check. The areas surrounding the Temples of Falah are considered a sanctuary, and no hunting may take place nearby. This would later evolve into the concept of proper national parks, most of which are dedicated to Falah.

Even though temples and priests of Falah are most common in rural areas, or at the fringes of civilization, it is not unheard of for temples to operate in cities. There the priests often serve the same roles as their wilderness counterparts, managing public gardens, maintaining vermin populations, and tending to pets and city animals. Often raising and caring for messenger pigeons. They also serve their local governance councils on matters of overexploitation, maintaining the cities' natural balance and sustainability. Often arguing for slow growth, careful city planning, and fewer excess luxuries.

The priests of Falah are the first to be summoned when matters regarding the Spawns of Agrados are concerned and their advice and experience are often carefully considered. There are several fringe cults dedicated to only seeking out and destroying different types of Spawns, with varying levels of legitimacy granted by the temple.

### Followers

Followers of Falah are encouraged to tend to nature in any way they can. Contrary to what many expect, both followers and priests of Falah see it as a duty also to treat and help sick or injured animals, and they can often be seen tending birds, deer, or other forest animals in their temples.

They are also expected to hone their personal connection with nature through meditations, and nature walks, or hunts. Learning about nature, plants, and herbal medicine is also highly encouraged as a form of "hunting". Most Falah followers seek protection from various monsters or are looking to increase their fortunes while hunting, searching for something, or gathering.

Typical offerings to Falah at her temples or altars include foraged berries and herbs, fine cuts of game meat, exotic hunting trophies, arrows, and ammunition. Followers can also leave their arrows or bows at their temples, or altars, and recite prayers of accuracy or precision to have them strike true.

The typical follower of Falah is a rural hunter, forest ranger, or army scout. But Falah could also be worshiped by a city butcher wanting to respect their animals, loggers or charcoal burners trying to maintain a natural balance, or a doctor using natural herbs for medicine. It can also be a treasure hunter looking for loot, or a journalist hunting for information or a scoop.

### Rites

#### Rite of the First Hunt

The final test for each initiate is the Rite of the First Hunt, where they aim to replicate Falah’s first hunt of Firanya. They must enter the wilderness alone with nothing but a bow and knife, and return with suitable prey. All while paying respect to nature and the rites of Falah.

#### Solstice Feasts

Followers of Falah also celebrate and put weight on the changing of the seasons. Each solstice they gather their followers for a grand celebration, where great tales of hunts and exploits are shared over roaring fires, roasting various types of meat, and foraged greens.

#### The Grand Hunt

Often coincides with a Solstice Fest, to gather food for the celebration. A grand hunt is a communal hunt, where all hunters work as one and collaborate as a single unit—often placing the most accurate hunters in stationary positions, while others drive prey toward them. The hunted prey is often symbolic of different spawns of Agrados or other mythical beasts, with birds serving as harpy symbols, wolves or foxes as gnolls, and so on.

Regent Court DeitiesCastellos • The Dame • Esmaryal • **Falah** • Nerat • Adean • Ryala • Balgar the Builder • Ara • Munas Moonsinger • Nathalyne • Begga Goodfingers • Minara • Corin