Rallia

"“We killed our gods. We killed them and took their place. Not because it was our right. But because we had the determination, the strength, and the necessity. I will stand vigil to make sure that humanity never again is forced into such a place.”""-The Tenets of Sovereignty Section one: Reflections"The first human to ascend to divinity was Rallia. Her domain is all the skies of Var’Tareen and counted among her followers are soldiers and farmers. Delivered in the strongest storms are her godstones colored a marbled grey. Rallia is considered to be the greatest warrior to ever live. She is also known as the Spear Mother, the First Ascendant, and the Captain of Mortals.

War of Ascendance
"“ Even before [Ghendar] was slain we heard rumors of Captain Rallia. Her unit was said to be the best.”""-Captain Silaar to Orna Wellis"Rallia was born into a warrior caste in what is now Carufell in the third century of the War. From birth she was trained to fight the armies of the gods. She was exemplary. Few of her comrades matched her skills with a spear. At twenty she already was a highly decorated warrior. Rallia was one of two hundred soldiers chosen to participate in assault against the fortress of the sky god, which lay high atop the Spiked Peaks. Only fifty made it to the fortress. Of those fifty only eight made it to the throne room. Rallia was one of them. When she entered the room her arm was broken, she was bleeding from many different cuts. But she was face to face with her enemy and determined to finish the fight. Against all odds she was able to strike him down. She was broken and dying but content that her greatest enemy lay dead before her. Now the fight against the tyranny of the gods seemed winnable. Just as she was about to pass Rallia felt her strength returning. She saw the body of the dead god begin to crumble away. Her wounds healed and her vision cleared. The two other soldiers who had lived gasped as they watched her. Her eyes began to glow a soft white and the room filled with wind. She had taken the powers of her predecessor. Over the next seven hundred years Rallia was the main general leading the war. Slowly she turned it from a futile conflict to an overwhelming victory. For that reason she is also acknowledged as the god of warriors and battle.

One notable battle that Rallia fought in, took place two years after her Ascendance. Uniting behind Rallia and the fear the Old Gods had for her, mortals gained lots of ground. Upset by this, Raerdrin decided to enter battle himself. He attacked a fortress recently claimed by mortals. Hearing this, Rallia flew into battle. Captain Silaar, the Poi’Mareath leader of Raerdrin’s armies, described Rallia’s entrance being heralded by a burning smell, high winds, and darkening clouds. As it started to rain Rallia landed among the Poi’Mareath ranks. She killed hundreds instantly. Raerdrin fled and Rallia’s legned grew among the Poi’Mareath. Some believed her to be a demon sent by Cosmic Powers. Some believed her to be the strongest living being and some believed her lack of control over her domain would tear the world apart. Some believe that the Drel’Mareath were created because they could not fear Rallia.

A few decades after her ascendance, Rallia was involved in a battle with a Stone-Eater, one of the Sren'Kana of emotion. She killed the beast, becoming the only figure in recorded history to do so.

Modern Era
With the end of the war and the return of civilization, Rallia retreated from public view like the rest of the gods. She established The Order of the Cracked Sky. A reserve group of soldiers ready to fight should Nezeril return. Those that took to walking the lands are called Legion of The Dancing Winds. A group of divine knights whose goal is to bring order and peace to the new world. They wander the world helping those who can not defend themselves and they seek out the remaining monsters left from the war. Rallia built her castle high in the Spiked Peaks far from the castle of her predecessor, which she gave the name Adelmeer Crag after her brother. She spends most of her time there observing the world. Once a year she or her emissary meets with the rulers of the world to discuss events and offer advice. But she insists that no one be compelled to obey her. Rallia calls storms to bring life to Var’Tareen. They are not calm storms for it is a way to test the strength of humanity. To make sure they never waver in the face of their adversaries. Of all the gods she uses her powers the least.

In AeP 447 Rallia came down from Adelmeer Crag for the first time in over two decades. She took charge of a hunt for a dangerous monster in the western part of the Jarem Desert. This was likely the Sren’Kana encountered during the harvest festival of Crimson Casbah. In the middle of her hunt a group of mortals, including Legionnaire Orna Wellis, discovered the ruins of Alkalandra’Mar. In the city was a group of sleeping earth Poi’Mareath. Rallia flew to the ruins to speak with the mortals. She offered the Poi’Mareath a place among the Legion and tried to help coordinate the survey of Alkalanra’Mar. Rallia’s presence helped disperse winter magic placed over the city. Although the Poi’Mareath feared her, they agreed to speak with her out of respect. Rallia also personally gave orders to Orna.

Evidence of Rallia’s help could be found in the struggle against the Dawn Priest. The wind helped cover the tracks of the Winter’s Hand and the villagers. It also carried the sound of an approaching Drel’Mareath army to Zonah and Valera, giving them advanced warning. When the Dawn Priest threw fireballs at the Hand with magic, Rallia’s wind helped push one away from the injured Valera. The wind also helped Tarron’s arrow fly true over a great distance. Deryl was also able to cast a much more powerful spell with a storm stone, than he should have been able to. After the death of the Dawn Priest, the winds blew the snow of the Frozen Wastes into a path which led Zonah and Valera North.

Appearance
"“Rallia is more than a woman, you will feel the source, the open sky, the tempest.”""-Legionnaire Orna Wellis describing being in the presence of Rallia to Weyland."Rallia is seven feet tall. Her straight hair is long and light grey. She has light skin and solid blue eyes. The rest of her facial features are slim and elegant. White light leaks from her eyes, lips, and fingertips. She wear slate grey plate armor with a gold belt and trim. Flowing behind her is a cloak that is the same blue as her eyes. She carries a gold tipped spear, a silver dagger, and a large blue heater shield with her coat of arms on it. The name of her spear is Tempests Claw. The coat of arms is a diving golden falcon with her motto in the ancient gods tongue.

Like all gods, being in Rallia’s presence is a challenging experience. She is perceived more as her domain than as a human. She seems like the storm and it is hard to make out individual details. This effect somewhat fades the more a person interacts with Rallia. Even being near Rallia makes people anxious. They are flooded with adrenaline and have an increased heart rate and a desire to fight. Orna Wellis perceived this effect as a marching order. Rallia’s presence is often heralded by dark skies and the smell of lightning.

Order of the Cracked Sky
The Order of the Cracked Sky is Rallia’s official religious order. They are trained to fight the cultists of Nezeril and the monsters of the old gods. They train and reside on The Island, a large body of land South of Maristoll. They have been deployed once in the modern era during the War of Nezeril. The Legion of the Dancing Winds is a small subset of the order. They are the group that walks the countries of Var’Tareen. Members of this legion offer their services for free to those who need help and serve to gather information of the remaining monsters.

The order had several mortal leaders as well. One of these was an Emissary whose job was to contact the nations of mortals. Another was a Mage. The Mage's job was to study magic and develop countermeasures.

Common Worship
Worshipper of Rallia have a proud martial tradition. Even in the War when other gods fought, she was the one soldiers generally favored. Almost every soldier says a prayer to Rallia before entering battle. They ask for the speed of the winds, the strength of thunder, and the calm of the open sky. Units of soldiers will often bring an extra uniform and set of arms meant for Rallia, and a storm before a battle is seen as a token of Rallias favor. Farmers also worship Rallia. They ask for rain. It is common practice for farmers to leave bird feeders out in plentiful harvests to thank Rallia, and to donate some food to local temples in Her name. The animal most closely associated with Rallia is the falcon. In addition to being on her flag, falcons appear in every part of the Books of the Moth that Rallia is in. In general she is associated with any bird of prey except eagles, thunderclouds, spears, shields, and more loosely any weapon and flutes due to her disciple Remin. Rallia embodies order, strength, and stubbornness. Each nation has their own way of worshipping her. The Roadani are fervent warriors who arm themselves like Rallia and name her the Spear Mother. They consider her magic to be one of the most holy. Mordehall has named their most elite unit after storms, nobles practice falconry, and common folk carry vials of rainwater for good luck. The Legion is most common in Carufell. Folks there worship Rallia by quartering Legionnaire’s and giving them food. Even though they are rivals of the Legion, The Winter’s Hand always makes sure to give Rallia her due. Before each mission they thrust a spear into the ground of their homebase. The hope is that Rallia will protect it while they are gone. When they return they remove the spear and burn it as thanks. In Toalla when one needs strength, they will wear a grey and gold armband until the next rainfall. Often they will tuck a silver regent into the armband.

Followers
-Thèandìl invoked the name of Rallia to rally the Nurmendemar against the Order of the Burning Palm. Alekiai was another member of the Nurmendemar who worshipped Rallia.

-Yoseph Thelandir was a devout follower of Rallia. He prayed to her for help escaping the tunnels below Tarabrenth.

-Mezzin Qolat had a mosaic of the First Ascendance in his office. Like most Roadani he was a worhipper of Rallia.

-Orna Wellis was a member of the Legion

-Zonah Safar was a devotee of Rallia and former member of the Legion

List of Appearance
Campaigns
 * 1) The Tale of Storms and Clay Session Seven: In Frozen War (Divine Influence)
 * 2) The Tale of Storms and Clay Session Eight: Beneath the Cold (Divine Influence)
 * 3) Call of the Father Session Five: At the Golden Gates (Mentioned Only)

Supplemental
 * 1) Primary Document: Death, Remembrance, and the Tales We Tell
 * 2) The Tale of Storms and Clay Supplemental: The Emissary (Divine Influence)
 * 3) Call of the Father Supplemental: Waiting for the Storm Queen