Ageleia
| Type | Goddess of the Crown Lands |
|---|---|
| Titles | The Defender; The Silent Protectress |
| Domains | Justice · Defense · Law |
| Symbol | A white owl on a field of blue |
| Order | The Silent Protectors |
Little known outside the Crown Lands, Ageleia is a minor goddess worshipped almost exclusively by the peasantry and openly mocked by the more corrupt members of the nobility. She is the goddess of Justice, of Defense, and oddly for a "peasant's god", of Law. It is said of her that was borne of the blood shed by Mordaveth in a great war of the gods now long forgotten, and is oft times his enemy, though there are just as many myths that state that she is his ally and spouse.
In the Crown Lands where her worship is most strong, it is also banned and must be done in secret. The nobility insist that she is little more than a myth spun by malcontents who wish to upset the status quo. Worshippers have been hanged for preaching their Lady's call for Justice, but despite this, her hold upon the peasantry remains strong. She is known only by few in the Free Cities, and by none at all farther afield.
The Silent Protectors
Soft polytheism; Ageleia primary, most commonly worshipped alongside Calleth and Mordaveth. The faith has no temples or buildings of any kind due to the oppression of the nobility in the Crown Lands. As a result, they meet in secret, in small groups, and in hidden places; utilization of barns is quite common. Curiously, those who serve as priests are always women and must memorize the Way of the Defender from an Elder because they dare not keep written texts lest the oppressive nobles find them. Actual worship is also curious: following a recitation of a passage from the Way, attendants break up into groups to train with weapons so as to be prepared to resist the nobility. It is for this reason alone that so many nobles fear the cult.