Alviani
Goddess of Intercession
Lesser Goddess

Epithets: The Intercessor, Holy Liaison, Watcher of the Hearth, the Petitioner, Princess of the Avaril  
Alignment: Lawful good
Symbol: Female Avaril
Colors: White and lavender
Stone: Alabaster
Primary followers: Any who seek the favor of the House of Light

     With the sole exception of her mate, the True God Phyrrus, Alviani is the only Power of the Minarran pantheon who was mortal born. But no ordinary mortal, mind; she was the firstborn daughter of the unicorn Palimé and the pegasus Surinai, and therefore the mother of the sacred race of Minarra’s horned pegasi, the Avaril.

While the true form of Alviani remains that of her mortal body, the goddess spends much of her time, even in the Havens, as a lithe, athletic human woman of almost heart-stopping beauty. The face of this manifestation is delicate and refined, and sports a pair of emerald green eyes that rival Serenyi’s for their bejeweled brightness. The goddess is set apart from her fellow goddess by her cascades of brilliant silver hair and short stature.

     Unlike many tales from the latter Books of the Astarith, those concerning Alviani’s mortal days are widely known by the laity; in them, the Princess of the Avaril is clearly a loyal friend and proud ally of the New Races. In human guise for months, even years at a time, the Avaril formed close and even intimate relationships with a cherished cadre of mortals down through the centuries. Indeed, Alviani had spent so much time in human form that a part of her "became" human, in mind and spirit if not in body. This deep affection and respect stayed with Alviani even after her ascension.

     It did not take the newly promoted goddess long to discern a distressing fact about how mortals perceived her fellows. For all too many mortals of humble birth, the Powers of the House of Light were dim and distant figures, often to the point of abstraction. Though the House was revered and respected, many common folk believed that its influence made little real impact upon their daily lives. This was a shortcoming that the goddess was going to remedy.

     From the beginning, Alviani made it clear that the welfare of the common man (elf, dwarf, etc.) would be the cornerstone of her ministry. The Order would stand guard over those places the rest of the House would tend to overlook: the farming hamlet, the fishing village, the mining camp, and the poor quarters of Minarra’s great cities. Most of the Order would actually live in these communities and share in the hardships of their congregations, while the remainder would wander the world, ministering to whomever they found along the way. As a result, the very terms "village priest" and "local defender" are practically defined by the clerics and Knights of the Order.

     Unlike most of Minarra’s religious Orders, the Order of the Intercessor builds very few temples or other structures devoted to the goddess. Always strapped for cash, the Order often runs its affairs out of the modest homes of its members. In major urban areas, the Order will beggar space in temples dedicated to other Powers of the House, but only to obtain adequate facilities for administration and training.

Avatars: Manifestations of the True Goddess generally take one of four forms. The first two, the Avaril of her birth and the shapely human form she loved so much as a mortal, are usually reserved for appearances before her clerics and Knights. Before other mortals, she will typically reveal herself either as a dove, with feathers of pearly white and lavender eyes, or as a young, attractive priestess of her own Order. In the latter case, Alviani may depart from her favored human form, becoming elf, dwarf, etc. as she wishes.

     Having once lived as a creature of flesh and blood, the goddess can insinuate herself into mortal society with remarkable ease and absolute anonymity. So relaxed is she in mortal company that even the Serenities of her Order, passing their divine mistress on the street, would never suspect her true nature.

     Whatever her guise, Alviani’s avatars are, without question, the most approachable of any in the pantheon. Easygoing, friendly, and good-humored, the avatar rarely needs to assert herself to achieve her aims…there’s just something about her that folks seem to like and trust. The avatar will not hold herself aloof from the mood of the moment; if at a county fair or city festival, Alviani will enjoy herself as much as the next person.

     If the situation warrants, the avatar will be armed with but a single weapon—a long sword of the finest dwarven steel and the most ancient forging, known in Minarran lore as Shaaridic. This blessed weapon was at first a gift from a common soldier, a sincere admirer who gladly spent his small personal fortune just so Alviani would have a weapon worthy of her. Acutely aware of the selflessness of this gesture, Alviani graciously accepted the gift and has since infused Shaaridic to make it a fit companion for a goddess.

     Stories abound about the wonders Shaaridic has wrought in the mortal plane. One tells of how the mere sight of the unsheathed blade is enough to siphon every ounce of hostility and fear from any living creature. Another claims that the blade can resurrect any innocent mortal murdered in cold blood, killed by blind chance, or executed unjustly.

Mortal Servants: Those who serve the Petitioner are a hardy and spirited breed, and most look the part. Few indeed among the Order are weak of body or sallow in complexion; a lifetime of pulling in fishing nets, tending the fields, and keeping the smelting fires hot keeps all but the most elderly of the Order in good physical trim.

     The typical garment of the priesthood is a simple white robe of durable, common cloth, adorned only by a lavender waistband. Graces of the Order are marked by white cloaks with lavender trim, with sleeves and hem to match, and Serenities by a solid lavender cloak and a silver headband inlaid with alabaster. This latter adornment is not passed down from one Serenity to the next; those newly elevated to the office must pay for its fashioning out their own personal savings.

     Knights of the Order, even those of rank, rarely possess magical items of great power. Their arms and armor are usually functional and lacking in any sort of decoration, and any unenchanted treasures won in combat are quickly sold to fill the church’s meager coffers.

     The Order of the Intercessor is a widely scattered, loosely bound entity, especially when compared to other lawful Orders. In many instances, the Graces of the Order establish their offices in the hinterland, the sites selected for their location rather than their creature comforts. Knights are often itinerants assigned to a given "district," traveling to wherever their services are required.

Philosophy/Tenets of Faith: To any true follower of the Intercessor, the three traits that serve the goddess best are compassion, devotion, and dignity.

     The first, compassion, is perhaps the most vital. Those who come to Alviani’s servants are often the weak and the powerless, and wish only to have their wounds healed and their voices heard in a world that is sometimes apathetic to both. The Order’s willingness to live among the most humble of souls is for many the truest mark of devotion. Lastly, there is the dignity that comes from the knowledge that no matter what their station in life, there is at least one goddess who treasures his soul as dearly as that of any prince.