Aschea
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Contents
Appearance[edit]
Aschea appeared as a youthful humanoid woman, typically of caucasian complexion and blonde hair with glowing golden eyes. In her rare appearances on Eternia, she also typically wore white clothing, with ornamental golden wings set as a mantle upon her shoulders.
Worship[edit]
Fittingly for a Primordial of Balance, worshippers of Aschea typically focus on the ideal of Balance, though how this manifests varies. Worship of Aschea usually involves:
- A focus on the Balance as a general concept, rather than a specific form of balance. Water magi may seek out fire magi, passionate worshippers may seek out calmer people. The exact form of balance varies from person to person.
- A focus on nature. An example set by the Teraphim, Aschea worshippers tend to prefer natural locales as opposed to built up cities, claiming it allows them to better commune with the spirits.
- A focus on spirits, namely the spirits of the natural world. Ascheaists will commonly sacrifice mana, small objects, food, drink, or blood to the spirits as a way of 'giving thanks' to their role in maintaining the natural balance.
- Typically, Ascheaists will refer to Aschea herself as 'Lady' or 'Mother' Aschea, the latter more commonly seen in Teraphim.
History[edit]
Prior to Creation of the Teraphim[edit]
Aschea's existence prior to the creation of the Teraphim is largely unknown, aside from the fact that at some point she was mother to the Primordials Eos, the Blind Goddess and Achlys, the Forgotten Son. It is rumoured that the father of these two Primordials was none other than Azrael himself, prior to his fall.
Creation of the Teraphim and Death - 1686 AC[edit]
At the height of Moonfall's war against Osrona, the Coven of the forest village made an attempt to call upon their Dark Lord for guidance and power in the calamity around them. The already thin barrier that existed between Eternia and the Spirit Realm within Moonfall’s Vale was torn open, but instead of being greeted by the powers of Helheim, a benevolent entity that had been observing the corruption of Moonfall from afar decided to intervene. Aschea, an Overseer of the Spirit Realm and a Primordial, set foot onto the Vale’s ground to counter the horrid witchcraft at play there.
For each flower that wilted in the presence of the Coven’s occultism, a dozen more bloomed with each step forward Aschea took. True to their nature, however, the witches did not flee in fear or caution, but fought back immediately against what they deemed an intruder and an enemy. The battle was long, and those outside of the Vale that night say the entirety of Moonfall shook where the darkness of Elaide’s daughters clashed with the light of the Overseer.
The villagers who had been subjugated by the witches for so long ventured into the woods to meet the conflict, and it is said that it was there where they found the great spirit bloodied, but still fighting. Most of the Coven had been forced back, but the wounds upon Aschea were proving to be more than she could handle. The villagers rose up against the witches in order to defend the spirit who had come to save them, but their numbers began to dwindle with each wave of shadows they had to face. In a final moment of desperation, Aschea gave her last blessings to the Moonfallen who had come to her aid, many of whom were lying in their own death beds amidst the twisted woods. With her light now within them, the Moonfallen who would have otherwise perished rose again, and found that they had gained the power necessary to finish the job. These Moonfallen, druids and human villagers alike, were able to free their home of the witchcraft that had held it hostage for so long. Those who were born anew with Aschea’s breath discovered their physiology changed. With skin pale white, occasionally tinted with a natural hue of green or blue, these children of the Overseer called themselves Teraphim, and with the blessings of their Mother Aschea they vowed that their new kingdom, dubbed Myllenoris, would never again fall to darkness, marking themselves as its spiritual protectors and hunters of the night.
Post Death[edit]
Following her 'death' at the hands of the Witches of Moonfall, Aschea's presence was still believed to be felt by the Teraphim through the form of the whispers of the spirits. Following the Pandemonium Chase, most Teraphim departed from the Material Realm into the Spirit Realm in search of the remnants of her essence, though the results of which are unknown.
