Senata of the Clear Waters
Saint Caps sprout upon the banks of the Black Spire Lake. Here Senata of the Clear Waters made her home. A small hovel where once colorful fabrics shrouded her work there are now vines of mosses and flowers. The dirt floor of the hovel has sprouted hundreds of Saints Caps, covering the entirety of it except for a curving path towards a table in the center. This table still holds vials of colorful liquids and volumes of research, initially just that of Senata's research and now accompanied by tomes of wise folk from the generations since. She is credited with saving countless people by cleansing the water of this lake and the rivers which bring life to the Valleys. She also plays a role in some sagas as the Lady of the Flaming Waters, who kissed the blade of an unnamed Valley Queen, igniting her blade and allowing her to cast down the demons of underworld. Both Lordlings and Mystics thus visit this place, promising great discoveries or valiant martial deeds in exchange for insights into the natural world and blessings upon their blades. The Lady of the Clear Waters also holds the memories of all mothers who seek to wash their grief for children that will be remembered only in shamed whispers of childless parents.
(This post builds upon the religion introduced in this earlier blog post)
Communion - Establish contact with Senata's Spirit.
Bring proof of a great discovery or knowledge, proof of an act of heroism.
Anointment - Make an oath and receive a blessing.
Promise a Great Deed of Mind or Valor. This may be requested by Senata, or vowed by the pilgrim.
And Her Kiss Brought Fire - For those who promise martial deeds, she will provide a flask of viscous oil released by some of the weeds on the lakeshore. Coat a weapon with it; she will appear to ignite it with her kiss when requested. It will burn until the deed is completed, provided the coming violence is in pursuit of the quest.
And Her Mind Brought Purity - For those who promise knowledge, a text will implant itself in their memory next time they sleep. It demands to be written. If they let it be dictated through their body, they will receive knowledge of three places or names which will aid in the intellectual deed.
Depending upon this deed, the pilgrim may become qualified to proceed to Consummation. Otherwise this effect may be called upon again with a new act of communion and a new oath.
Consummation - Drink deeply of her legend; become part of it.
Eat a highly toxic Saint's Cap.
You gain the following abilities:
Breathe in and walk on water
Ignite blades with a kiss: +2 damage, breaching vs demons
Speak to plants; commune with all natural things
Purify all liquids of contaminants with a touch
Archival Knowledge
Those who commune with this shrine in any capacity would be flooded with images and names of children. None recognizable, all were children lost to a world not yet capable of supporting them, whether they died in the womb or shortly after leaving it.
The wishes and dreams of those that birthed them—along with the name they were given—are projected into the mind. Those who never had a chance to become legend will not be forgotten.
Poems
Knowledgeable poets would know that she appears both in saintly elegy and as part of a wider saga for an ancient valley queen.
Senata of the Clear Waters
Senata, wise and bold, serene – the Saviour Sage,
who cleansed the tar – that poison, scourge and curse.
An ancient blight that stole our youth and swam through blood,
she sought a way to purge that sin.
The sage conversed with seeds, flowers, the beasts, the soil,
she taught the weeds upon the banks to fight.
Her genius brought the cure, the water clear as glass,
pray we see her like again.Senata of the Flaming Kiss
The Queen could claim to rule o'er all beneath the sun,
but not all foes were born o' flesh and soil.
She bade the terrors sent to death or darkest depth,
a vow unfazed by fear, no cowardly sense.
To cast the enemy from her lands she sought the flames,
to burn away the foes unscarred by blades.She sought the Saviour Sage, the woman bathed in tar,
her mind the finest weapon.
Her gaze kindled that conqueror's heart,
her kiss brought fire.The warrior queen who brought the light to darkest depth,
the foes were naught but fuel, for flame, for myth.
The sage that lit the blade, alone, abandoned,
to that desolate shore her queen ne'er returned.Could boasts enflame still the sage, unshackled now from flesh?
Image by Aleksandra Man