Cyridia

Cyridia is a goddess worshipped by the Clergy of Cyridia and as such is fundamental to Athvrea and it's culture. Due to the ubiquitous nature of Athvrean sailors, small congregations dedicated to Cyridia can be found globally, although none match the scale and power of the Clergy.

Cyridia's traditional symbol is a flame with three points, the tallest in the middle and two smaller, uneven points on either side. She is associated with fire, heat, light, the hearth, and the sun. Sacred flames play a part in the majority of rituals dedicated to Cyridia. Temples dedicated to Cyridia feature an eternal flame that congregants wave their hand over to purify themselves when entering and exiting the building. Her association with the sun also implicates her as a goddess of agriculture.

Cyridia is said to have gifted Blissroot to the Athvreans. The story goes that an old crone appeared on the doorstep of a newlywed couple, begging them for shelter from the torrential downpour. The couple led the woman to the hearth, took her shawl to dry, and offered her warm broth and a meal. The trio had a long discussion over wine before the couple offered the woman a blanket and a place near the hearth to sleep. In the morning, the couple was shocked to find that the crone had disappeared and a woman of radiant light had replaced her. This woman identified herself as Cyridia and congratulated the couple, telling them that nowhere on the globe had anyone shown her hospitality as they had. For their kindness, she waved to their fields and brought forth the blissroot.

Another story tells of Cyridia being tricked and dismembered by her enemies and the pieces cast asunder around the globe. The sun dimmed and the world grew cold. Time was running out. With no time to lose, hawks set forth, using their exceptional vision to locate the pieces. Once found, the hawks carried them in their talons to a single location. This site is now know as Sunburst Reliquary and is the holiest site to Cyridia not located on the Athvrean Archipelago. Upon their arrival, devotee's sowed the goddess back together, resurrecting her in a burst of light that blinded all present. Cyridia then took vengeance, slaughtering her foes for their trickery with a flaming saber. For this reason, hawks are considered a sacred animal.

In another tale, Cyridia is called to the far north to battle the Shivering King. The King had sent an ice sheet creeping south, starving the people and animals as it frosted over and killed plants. Cyridia brought her flaming saber, unleashing spiraling gouts of flame against the King. The king responded in kind with blasts of green, blue, and purple. The battle went on for 72 days. Bloodied and shaking, Cyridia at last parried the Shivering King and drove her blade through him. With the king dispatched, the sun blazed, melting the ice and saving those otherwise condemned to starve. The battle took place high in the mountains of Scara and it is considered taboo to climb them for this reason. It is also said that the aurora borealis is the remnants of this battle.