Abika

> *"If we restored the practice of the duel, it might improve the manners around here."*
>
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## Summary

Abika is the Goddess of battle and victory, and is the patron of dueling and 1-on-1 combat. She is often associated with her husband, Ex Vandulsiam, the God of perseverance and triumph.

**Domains**: War, Zeal

 History

Abika was birthed during the Fourth Astral Birthing, making her one of the youngest of the deities. It is possible that she was created as a result of the Imperial obsession with war, or the conquests of the Dynakin age. Abika became a popular deity among Cerrellus very quickly, being a figure to ask blessings for before a major battle.

However, Abika's popularity did not end with her mortal supporters. Many potential immortal suitors were pining for Abika, making her life of duties to the Celestial Court very difficult. Thus, it was such that The Undefeated declared that she would only marry the person who could defeat her in combat. This, naturally, crushed the hopes of many angels and other divinities. However, it drew the attention of several members of the Celestial Court.

First to battle was Swendall, who immediately transformed into a mammoth and fell on top of Abika. Unamused, Abika picked up the trickster god, and threw him out of the ring and into the mortal plane, where he landed on a mountain in Vjorknordia. Swendall did not return for quite some time to the Celestial Court after this incident. During his absence, there was a sudden surge in worship of a "Svendal" in the Northern provinces.

Nobody challenged Abika for quite some time after her defeat of Swendall. Allegedly, Yeris requested to battle Abika in private, but was told that the battle must take place with witnesses of the Celestial Court, or the result would be forfeit.

Val'Kalar gave a valiant attempt, taking the form of a powerful five-headed dragon, with each head a different chromatic dragon aspect. The Vestalia Victorum was unfazed, deftly dodging the claw swipes and breaths of flame, slicing each head one by one. When all but one head had been sliced off, Val'Kalar conceded, claiming that Abika was the best warrior he had ever seen, and that it would take one who trained for over a hundred years to defeat her.

Many other challengers came and went, and after Swendall's eventual second attempt, a new rule was added so that no creature may challenge her more than once. This, however, was flouted by Swendall, who cheated by disguising himself as other creatures and deities. It is impossible to know how many times Swendall actually challenged Abika, but it was likely over one hundred times. He lost in less than minute each time. When asked about this, he said "That's a little embarrassing, I usually last longer".

Under the wing of several tutors, the mortal elf Ex Vandulsiam began his journey. The Imperial military trained him how to fight. The Jade Serpent showed him how to master control over his mind, body, and spirit. Voltarkin and Rougenbloust gave him knowledge of dueling techniques. Over the course of one hundred years, the young man eventually became more and more powerful. On his 100th birthday, Ex Vandulsiam challenged the undefeated goddess to trial. Abika accepted, and the mortal was allowed access to the Celestial Court to do his battle.

The various deities and celestials looked upon with fear. There was no way that the mortal could defeat the goddess, it simply could not be done. Yet two combatants took their places in the arena, and the horn was sounded. Abika moved with blinding speed racing towards Ex Vandulsiam faster than could be seen by mortal eyes. However, Vandulsiam had been taught bodily mastery by the Jade Serpent itself, allowing him to respond to Abika's strike with equal speed. Surprised, she tried to make several feints towards the champion before making a lunge at his chest. Yet the champion had learned of these moves from his dueling masters, and was not fooled by the feints. They fought long and hard for many days and many nights. Weapons were weathered, armours were eroded, until the two combatants were fighting nude with only their bloodied bodies as weapons. At last, Ex Vandulsiam emerged victorious, knocking the goddess unconscious. When she awoke, he helped her to her feet, asking if she had any lasting damage. The goddess laughed, and kissed her champion on the lips. The two were quickly married, with Ex Vandulsiam being granted the position of godhood for his accomplishment. The couple later conceived a child named Akira Vandulsiam.

## Relationships

Before the Astral Breaking, Abika was part of a trinity of war gods consisting of herself, Horkos, and Merrion. Merrion fought tactically and strategically, using all methods to calculate victory. Horkos fought brutally and bloodily, intent on inflicting pain on his enemies. Abika was the best duelist of the trinity, usually able to defeat the other war gods in a 1-on-1 battle. When Abika issued her challenge for her hand in marriage, the remaining two members of the Trinity agreed that they would not fight Abika, nor help others who wished to defeat her (despite Swendall's pleas).

## Associated Ceremonies

There are multiple laws of trial by combat that originate in Abikan tradition. Marcadian duels, although allegedly in the name of Pyrus and the Emperor, use the same rules as Abikan duels. Furthermore, someone may invoke a "Marriage Duel" wherein a suitor must best the person in a duel to gain their hand in marriage.