Diurna

Diana in ascended form with arms around her.

## Symbol

A simple figure cloaked in wings

Diurna is an Aryavartan deity with ties to both the Parivar and Tuatha families of gods. Her domain is that of dreams, imagination, and the subconscious. She survived the cataclysm of Firestorm Peak and was instrumental in the creation of the Rebuilders.

## Datapad Excerpts

### The Dream Peace

**Author:** Aarti Apurva

> The offspring of the sun and the moon brought great change. This new child was neither Tuatha nor Parivar, but made from the union of the two. And so, begrudgingly, the great peace began, for now the two houses should be united into one. But Grandmother Stone was no longer asleep, and she greatly desired to claim the lordship of Aryavarta. Through her sacred dint, she found the malcontent of Megwandir, still enraged by the wounding of her sister. That the spider would birth the Twins was foretold by Grandmother: this she used to drive wedges between the Houses. For family loyalty still burned hot within the minds of the Tuatha, and hotter still was the Parivar desire to mete out justice. Even sun and moon found themselves in furious debate, while their child retreated into dream and fantasy. The peace, forged in love, now trembled before a vast ideological divide.
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### The Sea-Lantern Affair

**Author:** Aarti Apurva

> Yet there were some who chose to reject the family lines. Kyrielle and Tanwari, long friends and lovers, chose to turn aside from their families. The birth of their twins resounded through the cosmos, and many thought that, like the dreamer before them, it would bring peace. But unbeknownst to all, the Twins had secretly made something far worse: that most accursed beast of slaughter and prophecy. The hungry one stalked the newborn twins, and before any could act, struck out in violence and malice. In one stark moment, the whisperings of loyalty fell from the eyes of the Tuatha, and they turned against Megwandir and her ilk, casting them out as the Morrigan, now standing on its own as the fourth great family. Even Jorð was appalled, and sent fire and frost, mountain and sky, all to crash down upon the Crow with great vengeance and furious wrath.
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### The Lay of the Eclipse

**Origin:** Scattered Papers of Bral Library

> ...Arianrhod, Lady of the Moon, cold and distant at last, was faded from sight. But the Blazing Banner was not pleased to watch her die, and leapt forward into the sky. Thrice she flew, drawing nearer and nearer, until on the third she held the moon in her embrace. From her loving touch, Arianrhod was renewed, and from that day forth, they were lovers. Sun and moon, banner and bow, they brought light to all the world. And their offspring, too, brought light: Diurna, bringer of dreams, born of twilight love, in whose wings we often find ourselves...
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### Nacarat's Letter

**Author:** Nacarat

> To my daughter,
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> This is letter number 78,452. And yet, I would send a million more if I could only see you again. Know that I am sorry for my anger—when you left, your mother and I were heartbroken. We had our disagreements, yes, but all of that pales in comparison to our love for you. Our combined anguish at your loss became rage, for we thought that the spider had destroyed you. I still do not know if you survived Firestorm Peak, but I choose to hope. If you wish to find me, I am on the Rock of Bral, in custody of the library. May the twin stars and the spirit of your mother guide this letter safely to you, or if not, the next letter.
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> Your loving mother,
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> Nacarat
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## Diana's Diary

> Dear Diary,
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> I’ve gotta find Mom. The Bad Cousin is getting worse, and she’s trying to do... something, I'm not quite sure. But she’s stealing an awful lot of realmsouls, and destroying others... it’s not good, is it? Probably should stop her. But Mom’s a lot stronger than me... I’m not much good for serious stuff...
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> Dear Diary,
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> I found a lead! Apparently some of the Good Cousins are living on Caledine, so all I gotta do is dig out the ol’ night castle and give it some juice. I’ll see if I can’t rope Betty into helping out, since she’s usually pretty eager to help.
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> Dear Diary,
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> Mom’s spaceship is so cool! Like obviously I don’t know how to pilot it super good, but i’m sure my cousins can help me out. If there’s any chance she’s around, they’ll know how to find her. I hope she’s around. There’s not a lot of us left...
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> Dear Diary,
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> All right, not a fan of crows. Decided that after four of them broke into my ship. Got three of them: turned one into a shoe, trapped another one in a lamp, and just vapourised the last (save for the mask: can’t really zap that). Put the stuff in the library, cause why not. But one got away, and I really hope they don’t bring more back...
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> Dear Diary,
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> They brought more back. Can’t really deal with too many at once. But Alke seems to really hate them: he nearly broke out of his pen when they came on board, and I’m sure he’d be a match for a few at the least. I’ll leave him un-penned: see if he might be able to help me. If you’re out there, Mom, I’d sure appreciate some strength...
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## The Party's Dream

**Author:** Diurna

> *You find yourself hovering above a broad plain, dotted here and there with trees and bushes. It is nighttime, and it is warm. The wind ruffles your hair as you begin to move, soaring over the terrain. A wide river cuts a swathe through the long grass, and small villages sprout up here and there along its banks. In the distance, you see mountains, immense and tall, but your sight is drawn first to a city.*
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> *It springs up from the banks of the mighty river, a towering and majestic conglomeration of bronzed domes, soaring spires, and leaping minarets. It is enormous: the clamour of the crowd is deafening, even now in the late evening. Despite the sprawling urban spread, there is much greenery: plants and trees festoon the houses and shops, perhaps in part due to the aqueducts that criss-cross the metropolis. Water, clear and luminous, splashes from fountains and leaps from jets, bringing life and joy to the citizenry.*
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> *The people are unlike any you have seen before. Some resemble elves, but are festooned and intertwined with fungi and plants, almost closer to dryads. Others appear to have augmented themselves with delicate filigree mechanisms: an intricately fashioned bronze eye here, a pair of swooping, metallic wings there. Short, jovial humanoids plunge into the pools, the geometric markings on their skin glowing in concert with the iridescent water. You spot what appears to be a tiefling, but this one has golden skin and antler-like horns, and as they stride down the street, the others form a motion with their hands that you somehow know is a mark of honour and respect in the highest degree.*
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> *Your attention is drawn away, however, for on the edge of a balcony you spot a shimmering mote of light. You are drawn towards the balcony, find yourself sat down upon a cushioned bolster. Fine rugs cover the rough stonework, and from somewhere inside, you smell spices and hear laughter. Your attention, however, is drawn to the mote of light, which slowly expands until it takes on the form of a woman, seated in an asana. She is radiant: multicoloured streams form six wings of ethereal light that radiate from her back. But as she opens her mouth, you recognise the voice, for it carries none of the gravitas that you would expect from such a being.*
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> This is how it was. Before the Peak. Before we allowed ourselves to be torn apart.
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> *She pauses for a moment, before continuing.*
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> I spoke with my mom for the first time in... a long time. She’s been to the wound, where our home once sealed away that which seeks to emerge. The carnyx rings louder and the pale host amasses. It comes, writhing, wriggling into existence.
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> The Morrigan know this well. They seek to divide, to fragment, to keep us apart long enough for what that lurks behind the veil to come forth. Pain rules from stone-cast shadows, while splinters of prophecy steal and plunder. And the spider spins a web over it all.
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> I’m not going to let them win.
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> *She gestures around her, at the city that bustles with life.*
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> We’re gonna put this back together. These people deserve to live again. Our family deserves to be whole again. And when the plane is made anew, and when the realmsoul is reforged, we will finally be safe. We’ll finally be home again.
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> I have to start here. I’m not the strongest, or the smartest, or the most powerful. But I do know how to dream.
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> I’m sorry I couldn’t be honest with you the last time we met. But I can tell you’ve met others like me: you carry herbs from Tef’s garden, and fight with the grace of Gwydion. The lingering motes of Nacarat linger on you, and for all of my arguments with her, she is an excellent judge of character. And there are others, whom you perhaps do not know, who have left their marks on you. I choose to trust you.
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> If you want to see where we start, I wouldn’t be opposed to the backup. There’s a small shop near the rim of Zonot One that serves a hot drink brewed from the beans of the arabica plant. Ask for Cael, and tell him that I sent you. It may be hazardous, and I will need to remain undercover, but you will see how I intend to fight back against the Morrigan.
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> Until I see you next, may you carry the only blessing I am still able to provide: a restful sleep, and a dream of my once and future home.
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> *A sudden gentle breeze blows across the balcony like a weary yet hopeful sigh, dissipating the form of the woman into a thousand motes of shimmering light that quickly fade into the night sky. You, too, find yourself dissipating, sinking back into a true, deep sleep. But the memory of the city remains, clear and shining in the back of your mind.*
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