Crucia

## Lore

Crucia is the goddess of otherworldly pleasures and desire. She is one of the more complicated gods in the universal pantheon, unable to be categorised as either good or evil. Whilst she can gift godlike pleasures indescribable by mortal eyes, these pleasures can also result in considerably negative consequences for the gifted, often posing significant physical, mental, or social danger to the person. Crucia is seen by many as an intensified Vigil, as the latter provides pleasures common among mortals, such as drinking and partying, while Crucia provides more godlike pleasures, such as indescribably beautiful women or drugs with mind-altering effects.

Crucia has the power of lust, able to use her voice to attract mortals. It is stated that when communing with the goddess, to remain wary, as she frequently twists her words to make whatever gifts she bestows upon her followers benefit her far more than them. However, Crucia has been known to like certain mortals (perhaps even finding them desirable) far more than other gods, occasionally gifting mortals pleasures with no consequences attached. While Crucia is seen as a solely beneficial god by those favoured by her, she is usually seen as an evil deity by those unfavoured by her, who have perhaps experienced one of her double-edged pleasures.

## Realm

Crucia's realm is known as Nerimia. Famed chronicler Cillian Cedes wrote the only known description of this realm, saying; "*The ethereal domain is swathed in a blueish-purple tinge, its air giving a tender warmth. Spires of unknowable architecture crowd the land, as do pillars engraved with a language only decipherable by the gods. Murals cover elegantly constructed walls, depicting obscenities even I cannot describe. Most creatures and mortals in the realm are seemingly on different sorts of drugs, appearing to experience lucid fantasies impossible to imagine with mortal minds. Every being is incredibly beautiful, no matter their species, race, or gender. A few men have breasts, as do women, many possessing male anatomy. Clothing is a rare sight in Nerimia, and those not experiencing godlike highs are participating in the thousands of visible orgies, where ones sexuality is irrelevant, otherworldly creatures mating with humans and elves of indescribable gender. Intimacy in these orgies comes in many forms, which unlike in mortal understanding, are not all physical. These displays of intense intimacy can be spiritual, magical and incorporeal, sometimes involving multiple individuals at one time. Overlooking the perfect chaos, Crucia's palace rises high above all."- Cillian Cedes, Walking Outside The Mortal Realm.*

## Before Godhood

Crucia is one of the few gods who initially lived as a mortal. Though her elven name is not known, it is known that she was a Night Elf living in a settlement in Valerium, which was much later named Crucia, after her. She was an orphan, having never known a parental figure of any sort. At a young age she left Twilight Moon for Versturm, where she soon found residence in a Valerium orphanage. As she grew into her teenage years, she became a well-known misfit and miscreant in her settlement, though a shadow of the woman she'd become, possessing not a lustful bone in her body, and described as an "incorruptible virgin" by her fellow outcast peers.

At the age of 16, Crucia fell in love with a Frost Elf named Taralyth, the only person she had ever been able to emotionally connect with. Taralyth was seemingly the only man in the settlement respectful of her "virgin" principles, and for this she loved him greatly. However, Taralyth's family were rather wealthy and powerful, condemning his love for a race other than his own. They made numerous efforts in seperating the two over the months leading up to Crucia's 17th birthday, but this clearly had no effect, so Taralyth's parents devised a horrendous plot. They prayed to Mercis, offering the diety a deal if he would seperate the two forever, but only if Taralyth was unhurt. Mercis obliged, telling Taralyth's parents that Crucia would be afflicted with pain so great, she would never feel anything worse so long as her soul existed.

On the day before Crucia's 17th birthday, Taralyth and her sat together under a great pine. Mercis, disguised as a black spirit, appeared and spoke to the two briefly, acting calm and mature, before speeding into Taralyth's heart and disappearing. At once, Taralyth was lifted into the air, his body twitching uncontrollably, face frozen with intense shock. The essence of his soul was pulled from his body, as Crucia screamed uncontrollably. His soul then vanished, his empty corpse falling at the foot of the great pine. Crucia gazed upon her lover's corpse, the boy's eyes hollowed, his body shrivelled and skeletal.

Mercis had never broken the deal, causing Taralyth no pain in his disensoulment, and inflicting Crucia with pain she would never overcome. For the next two years, Crucia's expression did not change, blank and disembodied. It was not only the death of her love that caused her great distress, but the fact that his soul was gone; she would never meet him again, in this life or the next. For as long as his soul was trapped in the Abyss, he would cease to exist. She longed to smile again, but was unable to force even a smirk.

On a starless night, having nothing to lose, she enacted her revenge. Taralyth's parents were disemboweled by her hand, as were the rest of their court. Although, even in her unrelenting fury and the fulfilment of her revenge she was no happier. On that night, she returned to the great pine. She sat where Taralyth and her had two years prior; the last time he had existed. She sat for 48 hours, searching for pleasure in her mind, until she realised what no one had ever comprehended before, or has since; how to create intangible pleasure and happiness.

Her epiphany was never meant to be realised by any mortal, and as so Naavi breathed through her, and her spirit was raised into the Aether.