Dozna

# The Goddess Dozna

 Areas of Concern:
 Domains
 Favored Weapon
 Holy Symbol
 Common Worshipers
 Sacred Animals
 Sacred Colors

## Overview/ Physical Description

Mother of Victories, the Sword-Wife, Lady Dozna is the goddess of champions, the goddess of victory and glory. The winners of duels offer her tribute, victorious generals praise her name and every mounted knight that slays a dragon is quick to offer her a quick prayer of thanks. Some dare to call her a “fair-weather goddess,” proclaiming that Dozna only appears after the battle is nearly over and victory is assured. But her faithful understand that Dozna was alongside them from the beginning. Her paladins led the charge that turned the tide, her priests brought strength to ailing limbs that needed it most, and it was her spirit that inspired them to fight on when all seemed hopeless. Dozna is a friend to the noble soldier, the warrior who desperately needs help against overwhelming odds. When the lone paladin faces down the zombie hoard, buying time to the villagers to escape, it is Dozna that carries him through. When the cleric sees the demons pouring out of the tear in reality, Dozna helps her close the mortal wound. There can be no victory without heroism and no glory without honor. Dozna is matron of all these things.

She is a glorious warrior, a blade against evil and chaos. Just as her mortal servants take the fight to demons or monsters on the material plane, Dozna leads the charge against archdevils and demon lords and crosses swords with evil deities like Burtix. When not in battle against evil or studying for the next one she is training with the devotion that earned her the name, “Sword-Wife.” The blade alone is her husband and battle are her children. Still, she is not stoic or dour like her brother, instead, Dozna charges forward on her celestial steed singing battle songs and war hymns with melodious confidence and a smile on her face. When the battle is won she celebrates heartily, reveling in the triumph of good once again. Her followers are encouraged to do the same, facing battle and death with a smile and song, celebrating heartily and then training hard to ensure more victories to follow.

Dozna is not an ascended goddess, or a created one. Instead, like her twin brother Remus, god of honor and holy war, she was one of the firstborn, deities who originally rose from the primordial chaos, making her ancient beyond all mortal understanding. Alongside her brother, she battled primordial giants, titans and aboleths, her victorious banner inspiring many of her fellow gods to keep up the fight in the Wars for The Heavens and Material. In the Gods' War it was her strategies, whispered to Father Teteus, that turned the tide against Lolth and the fallen gods of evil. Her crusaders battled fiends during the Apian Blood War across the continent and the faithful in Demauric claim that she walked in the flesh to defend Demauric City from demons. Dozna, is not short of admirers across the various nations of Apia.

She's clashed numerous times with Burtix, whom she opposes on almost every ground. The two firstborn goddesses disagree about the role of war, the purpose of killing and even the importance of romance. Dozna's faithful teach that The Gore Maiden is jealous of the goddess' beauty, grace and skill with the blade. They say that it was an act of cowardice that led Burtix to strike from the shadows in ambush during the Gods' War. While Dozna only survived that ambush with a small scar thanks to her brother, Remus, Dozna would save him later. During Remus' ill-fated love affair with Burtix, Dozna doubted the genuine conversion the Lady of Blood swore and, when she tried to kill Remus in a ritualistic slaughter, Dozna was ready, driving the goddess back to the Abyss where she remained. Despite all this, Dozna still hopes that her nephew Khudall can be redeemed and come to the light of heaven. While she attacks Burtix on sight since that day, Khudall is always welcomed with courtesy if not trust.

When it comes to her preferred physical appearance, Dozna typically manifests in the form of a pale skinned Druzi woman in her late twenties, with deep green eyes and pure, snowy white hair which she wears in either one or two braids. A thin, almost invisible scar runs down the left side of her face, a "gift" from her hated rival Burtix. Despite her apparent youth, there is an ancient wisdom in her eyes, a song on her lips and a swagger in her step. She usually wears heavy armor in a golden color, typically accompanied by a bright red cape. The style of armor always matches the history of the worshipers she's appearing before but from an ancient time. Occasionally, she appears dressed in a snowy-white robe or silky white stripes of cloth which preserve her modesty but little else. These less armored appearances aren't sexual in nature, instead signifying the purity of devotion to her craft (which isn't to say more erotic art of the goddess doesn't exist but it is frowned upon by her clergy.) Whether in armor or cloth Dozna is always accompanied by a longsword Doznite art depicts this.

Famously, Dozna has a second common appearance, that of a snowy-white minotaur woman with golden horns and the same green eyes. It's unsure which of these appearances is her “true” appearance, if either, considering the fluid nature of deities. (See other cultural interpretations)

While Dozna's personality is well established, one element of her character is hotly debated, that of her status as a “virgin goddess.” Some take her title of “Sword-Wife” literally and suggest that she has never, nor ever will, have a romantic relationship to better focus on the art of war alone. Many of these followers take vows of chastity themselves to emulate her example. Others suggest that concepts like virginity can't be applied to a deity and point out that she's never used the term herself, and that these celibate orders are reading too deeply into symbolism. This view is unheard of in Demauric as the minotaur emperors claim descendance from Dozna and the celestial bull of the heavens, Zurpiter. It is believed that their child was Emdera Ruggedfist, himself a god of battle and one of the three patron minotaur gods, the celestial father of the Demauric royal line. It is noted how Dozna dotes upon Emdera, certainly treating the younger god like a beloved son. Followers of Ruggedfist, regardless of race, claim Dozna as the divine mother of the Iron Warrior.

Dozna shows her favor though the granting of positive omens, victories in small things, like games or puzzles and via the appearance of eagles. Someone who earns her wrath may find themselves repeatedly failing at various simple tasks or, in some rare cases, attacked by birds.

## The Church

Debate rages about whether she was first worshiped by the ancient horse-lords of Druz or the minotaurs of Demauric (see other cultural interpretations) though her worship is strongest in both those nations. While those two churches are allies, they differ on several matters of core doctrine. Her worship is also common on the Delorgan Isles where, much like the rest of the Delorgan pantheon, she's given a more war-like focus as “The Queen of the Valkyries.” The Druzi version of Dozna is also popular in Latrellus, Umgar and Vitteodel, where she serves as a goddess of officers and military strategists.

    While the vast majority of her faithful are involved in the military in some capacity, either as soldiers, knights or, more likely, officers, there are plenty of lay people who worship her. The spouses of military members, some athletes, even farmers are known to offer up prayers to the Mother of Victories. While most of her priests are clerics, she 's a goddess served by numerous paladins and some spellcasters, notably wizards who see her mediation on the sword as a good metaphor for spellcasting. While all races are allowed within the halls of Dozna and indeed are welcome, humans and minotaurs are the majority of her worshipers though its not unheard of for halflings, half-orcs, hobgoblins and others to honor Dozna and revere the victories she brings. Racial or hereditary backgrounds don't matter to the church, only your dedication to the cause.

As a lawful good deity, Dozna's temple follows a fairly strict hierarchy with a clear chain of command. Each temple has a high priest who only answers to the council of priests (the high priests of the twelve largest temples to Dozna that meet yearly to discuss matters of faith). Below them are various levels of priests, with initiates at the very bottom. Doznites are expected to show grace to those below and respect to those above, to obey the commands of superiors and, in turn, be obeyed by their inferiors. This hierarchy is carefully watched for abuse and corruption, as Dozna takes such offenses very seriously. It is expected that those priests who are higher up won't abuse their authority on the lower priests. If anything, the temple could easily be mistaken for a military encampment.

The faithful are firm supporters of law and order within the city, with town guards, city watch, and armed soldiers receiving the support of the temple in most respects. Dozna's faithful often march into war alongside military forces and having a Doznite present is considered a good omen. In addition to their military role, priests of Dozna are known to offer tutoring in tactics and strategy to generals and commoners alike, because no on can ever know who exactly will turn out to be important. They also teach basic sword-play and hand to hand combat, following the goddess' instruction that the way of the blade must be understood by all. A great number of skilled warriors across Apia were originally taught by Doznite priests who helped shape that potential like no one else could. As supporters of the law, the church allows the use of their facility for events such as weddings and initiation rites. They are firm supporters of the family unit, particularly in Demauric, where Dozna as the sacred mother of their species is repeatedly mentioned as a theme. While they aren't really focused on ensuring families are happy, babies are cared for and marriages are healthy these are all things that Dozna approves of and more than one paladin has found herself begrudgingly serving as emergency midwife or marriage councilor. Even if they don't take to these tasks with gusto, all of Dozna's servants would throw themselves in front of the helpless without hesitation even at the expense of their own lives.

Worship services include readings and recitations of Dozna's great deeds, singing songs of battle and mock combat. Typically, a senior priest will also tell the tale of a great victory, with added commentary and analyze why that victory was achieved, all the better to replicate it.

### Temples and Shrines

Temples built in Dozna's honor are defensible, though not the mini fortresses of her brother Remus. They are typically constructed of stone, though smaller villages will use timber logs. Each contains at least one tower, several internal defensive positions and a fallback point where the faithful can rally in the temple is ever breached. Aside from the amenities that most temples provide, each of Dozna's temples, no matter how small, is built with at least one dueling ring and one training room to ensure that the blade can be practiced and studied by anyone who wishes. Most temples try to stock a small library with classics of military tactics and heroism. After all, every follower of Dozna loves a bold story. Each temple also contains a boasting hall, a space dedicated for the exclusive purpose of bragging about one's accomplishments so that they may be recorded in the churches annals.

Shrines are a simple affair, made from metal, wood or stone and are a common sight in many barracks' and homes across Apia. They depict an eagle with wings outspread resting on the handle of a sword that has been impaled into a rock. The most superstitious of soldiers kiss the head of the eagle, the blade of the sword and the rock it's impaled in before battle. The rest simply stroke the eagle's head for luck.

### A Priest's Role

The role of a Doznite priest is a simple one, but that doesn't mean it's easy. A priest is expected to master the blade, to lead with honor and to conquer every challenge set before him. Most temple priests and certainly temple high priests are expected to wander Apia, defeating monsters and brigands, saving the innocent and earning a victorious reputation that will bring honor and glory to their home temple. These priests are trained in the art of sword, as well as some other weapons, tactics, basic diplomacy and medical knowledge and then sent on their way. Those who die are venerated as heroes who gave all in the quest for victory. Those who return with a record of villages saved and demons felled rise up the hierarchical ladder, soon teaching the next generation of priests. Often times, priests are attached to a military or civil guard unit to bolster their resolve and provide magical support.

Because of the sheer amount of work involved in mastering the blade, many of Dozna's faithful join a cloister or convent becoming either “Sword Brothers” or “Sword Sisters.” These warrior monks and nuns follow the example of Dozna as the virgin wife of the blade and swear themselves to vows of celibacy and service, rarely leaving their temples except to adventurer or do battle, eating only necessary food and abstaining from all romantic or sexual relationships. Instead, they fill their time with sword-play and study. While a large number of Dozna's faithful are in one of these monastic orders, celibacy is hardly expected of the clergy and, unless one takes this specific vow, it isn't frowned on for a priest or priestess to marry and raise children.

### Holidays

Unsurprisingly, as a goddess who enjoys boisterous celebrations, songs and boasting, Dozna's faithful have plenty of holidays. While each individual church chooses specific days to honor old heroes and old scores, there are a few specific holidays that are popular for the entire church.

**Scorekeeping:** This holiday is an opportunity for all of Dozna's faithful to ensure their records of victory are being properly kept and are up to date. Typically, the faithful compete among themselves to prove they had the most impressive victory of the year, winning a small prize if their peers agree. Songs are sung, casks are opened and a great feast is held by all. Scorekeeping is traditionally when new priests are sworn in and initiation rites preformed to start the new Doznites with a clean slate for the year to come.

**Feast of the Victorious Dead:** Unlike most holidays of Dozna's, the feast is a somber affair. It is a day of mourning that honors those Doznites who gave their lives for victories they would not see. Prayers are offered up on their behalf and the next of kin reads out a list of the deeds which the fallen can not read. Typically an alcoholic beverage is poured out so that those who have since passed on can still partake in the drink. The feast ends with a mournful dirge followed by a brief poem before the gathered Doznites give one final toast to their fallen comrades.

**The Day of Deliverance:** In Demauric, minotaurs celebrate the Day of Deliverance, a celebration that honors their patron gods, Dozna, Remus and Emdera Ruggedfist. Specifically, this feast day is a reminder of that moment when these three gods physically stood on the battlefield alongside the last minotaur legions and defeated Baphomet, saving the empire from utter destruction. All three are honored with songs, plays and great feasting, while the white-furred paladins of Dozna hold vigil around the city. It is also a day for the normally reserved minotaurs to open up and celebrate life and many a wedded couple finds nine months later that they've added another calf to the family.

### Animals

Every animal that is sacred to Dozna is one that represents the glory of victory, showcasing its majesty in the animal kingdom. While she is most famously associated with the eagle, and often sends one as a sign of her favor, falcons, lions and the mighty griffon are also associated with her. Most temples have a small number of falcons and falconers while the greatest of Dozna's faithful ride mighty griffons or illustrious white lions into battle.

### Adventurers

Almost every Doznite is an adventurer at some point, either as part of their priestly training, during a pilgrimage or simply as a matter of personal conquest. Even lay worshipers of Dozna seek out challenges and monsters to conquer, ridding the world of evil and seizing victory at every step. An adventurer who worships Dozna would jump at the chance to battle an ogre or raid a dungeon, regardless of monetary reward. Anything that he can defeat and boast about to his fellows. The bigger that challenge, the greater the glory!

### Clothing

Clothing warn by the followers of Dozna focuses heavily on her sacred colors of red and gold. Capes are favored by all, as are decorative feathers and small, symbolic, pieces of armor that give even civilian clothing something of a military bent. One thing that Doznite clothing isn't, is subtle. Bright colors, explosive patterns and garish cuts are all welcome, with the intention of drawing the eye towards the wearer. An impression is important!

## Symbols

Dozna's holy symbol is an eagle with wings outstretched, serving as heraldry for a shield, however the sword is also considered a sacred symbol of the goddess. When referencing her, or some of the saints, it is custom to spread the arms apart, like an eagle's wings. If that expression is too garish, or inappropriate due to space, a smaller version, where the hands start touched together and then spread outward, can be used as well.

**Holy Text**

The primary religious text for the faithful of Dozna is *The Lady's Victories and Reflections*, a text that is mostly autobiographical, describing Dozna's victories over demons, dragons, titans and other great beasts, followed up with Dozna's reflections on those battles and the lessons that she learned from each.

### Sayings

*“No victory without honor! No glory without risk!”*-Either shouted as a battle cry, used as an oath, or sworn after a minor setback. This common phrase reminds Dozna's faithful that only those who seek battle and honor find it and that glory is an active, not a passive choice.

*“Lady of Victories witness me!”* A common prayer and battle-cry alike, this plea for lady Dozna to turn her head upon the petitioner is only said before something dangerous or important and thus, worthy of her attention. The faithful of Dozna do not utter this phase lightly.

## Relationships

Dozna counts all the good gods as allies, though she doesn't always agree with all of them. She considers Xoldarr, Bahamut, Rila and Moradin as her staunchest allies and some of her closest friends. However, it is her twin brother, Remus, that inspires her greatest loyalties. While opposites in many respects, him being stoic and grim and her boisterous and exuberant, they are devoted to one another, with members of those two clergies treating each other like family and always offering space among their temples for “honored siblings.”

Among the more neutral gods it varies depending on the deity. Khan and Dozna have a deep mutual respect and admiration for one another, counting each other as allies. Of all the neutral gods, it is Emdera Ruggedfist that she is closest with, doting on the young god of battle as if her were a favored son. Those claiming the Iron Warrior as their patron are always welcomed in Dozna's temple and vice-versa.

Among the evil gods, Dozna has grudging respect for her nephew Khudall and Maglubiyet recognizing the empires built in their name and the victories won and, in dire emergencies, may consider temporary alliances, though her disdain for them is still known. Her main rivals are Baphomet and Demogrogon, as well as the other demon lords, whom she deeply hates over their treatment of the minotaurs. Among the actual gods of evil, Burtix the Slaughterer is her main foil and the two goddesses, and their followers, have clashed on multiple occasions.

## Realm

Like many lawful good gods, Dozna makes her home in the Seven Heavens of Mount Celestia. Celestia Victoria is a realm of golden leaves, shining sun and gently blowing grass. The weather is always appropriate for a duel or sparring with mock battles fought by the angels, archons and followers, further giving the opportunity to hone ones skills. Celestial griffons and giant eagles take to the skies, flying endlessly overhead, while sweet fruits and tankards of hearty mead are available to all. It is a place of story-book wonder like a tapestry or fairy-tale, where heroic knights constantly win battles over vile dragons, rescue princesses (or princes depending on the knight's gender and preference) and retire for a night of feasting and courtly pleasure. While still a realm of lawful goodness, there is a slight bend towards Elysium-like drinking and dueling, though none of this leads to even mock injury.

## Planar Allies

Dozna has a specific herald and servitor race. She also has several unique servants, some of whom are detailed below.

**The Spirit of Valor:** A male great celestial griffon who serves as Dozna's herald, the Spirit of Valor's presence is known to inspire even the most beleaguered warrior. When he flies overhead, spirits are lifted and limbs are renewed. He speaks in a deep, rich, voice, much like the wisest of goodly kings, giving both Dozna's words and her advice to all who might need it.

**Sir Garal of the Lance:** A seemingly immortal knight who hides his face behind a helm, Sir Garal arrives where Dozna's faithful find fighting to be the thickest, arriving in a cloud of mist astride a golden Pegasus. After helping to win the day he vanishes, as if he was never there. Legends say he was some sort of ancient knight who made a rash vow or some kind of mistake that cost him dearly and now he seeks to atone by winning enough victories to undo this fate. Unlike the Spirit of Valor, Garal rarely, if ever, speaks, and his relationship with the goddess isn't entirely clear.

    **Stormhorns:** A hot-blooded angel that takes the form of a male minotaur, Stormhorns is something of a patron of Demauric, leading the crusade against Baphomet and his followers wherever they may be found. Rumors abound that Stormhorns is the herald of Zurpiter, the Celestial Bull of the Heavens, and his service to Dozna is a gift from her alleged former lover but Stormhorns makes no comment on this.

**Axe Sisters:** Dozna's servitors, the Axe Sisters are a race of angels that take the form of beautiful, winged, axe-wielding woman who are as boisterous and deadly as they are lovely. A paladin of Dozna is truly blessed to see the appearance of an axe sister who will undoubtedly teach him some new profanities and drinking songs, to say nothing of various combat moves. Unlike the goddess, most Axe Sisters are assuredly not virgins and after spending time with a paladin or cleric that catches their eye (assuming none-have taken the vows which some orders do. Axe Sisters do honor those choices and never even flirt with such Doznites) are known to leave behind the present of an aasimar child with both a penchant for axes and a notably axe shaped birthmark, Many of these blessed aasimar children, called "Axe-Born" are raised by their paladin or cleric fathers with the aid of the church, becoming great champions of Dozna in their own right.

## Other Cultural Interpretations

Dozna is a popular, ancient goddess and, as such, has cultural variations. These range from as simple as portraying her as dark-skinned, as is done on the Southern Continent, to giving her orcish tusks in Umgar. However, in Delorgan and Demuaric, there is enough variation that her worship is subtly, or drastically different.

**Demauric:** Dozna is one of the three patron gods of the minotaurs and, as such, they view her with reverence. Dozna in particular is seen as the “grandmother” of their race in a literal sense as she is, in Demauric, the mother of Emdera. Dozna in Demuaric is more focused on family as well as personal honor, encouraging strong families and marital ties. Her story with Zurpiter is a popular romantic epic, often depicted in art and song. An order of paladins that consists exclusively of white-furred minotaurs are dedicated to her service, battling demons and cultists alike, being some of Demauric's most popular heroes. In Demauric she's additionally treated as being a direct enemy of Baphomet and much art portrays this. When depicted in Demauric art, or seen there, she takes the form of a snowy-white minotaur woman, strong and graceful. Minotaurs insist that the human form of Dozna is, in fact, a secondary form as, obviously, she was a minotaur first.

    **Delorgan:** Delorgan's slightly altered pantheon, with Vyzbus, not Teteus at the head, has Dozna's role significantly different. She's portrayed as even more aggressive, with an artistic bent that focuses on her as a savage but beautiful warrior, still with long white hair but dressed in Delorgan style. There she is revered as the “Queen of the Valkyries” with the valkyries being the spirits that bring honored Delorgan dead to the halls of their fathers. Delorgans believe all of the valkyries are Dozna's daughters, spiritual beings who contain some of their celestial mother's divine essence. Additionally, Delorgans believe it is Dozna, not Zambodi, who judges them after death, weighing their heroic deeds against their cowardly ones to see if they are worthy to enter the sacred mead-halls of Elysium reserved for their clans. While more boisterous than ever in Delorga, Dozna is portrayed as taking the weighing of the actions of the dead with utmost severity.