Goddess of Nature and the Wilderness
Group (Pantheon): The Twelve
Domains: Nature, Life, Wilderness, Earth, Mountain, Air, Wind, Travel
Alignment: Neutral Good
The holy symbol of Lyrien is a branch entwined with blooming flowers and curling vines in a circular shape, symbolizing the eternal cycle of life. The most revered versions are living wreaths enchanted to remain ever-green. Devotees often wear pendants shaped like her holy symbol or carve it into staffs and stone markers.
Lyrien's faith is decentralized, much like the wilderness she represents. Her followers form druidic circles, nature cults, and forest monasteries rather than a structured church hierarchy. Most communities devoted to her are loosely connected by shared rituals and seasonal festivals.
The Verdant Voice
The spiritual leader of the faith, chosen by the elder druids through a sacred communion with nature. This figure serves as the spiritual guide for all followers of Lyrien and acts as a protector of ancient natural sites.
Keepers of the Grove
Senior druids, rangers, and clerics who act as defenders of sacred lands and ancient forests. They oversee rituals tied to seasonal changes, bless harvests, and guide younger initiates.
Warden-Priests
Warriors devoted to protecting wild lands from corruption and exploitation. These paladins of nature act as roaming enforcers of balance, often aiding threatened communities.
Seasonsworn
Wanderers and envoys of Lyrien who travel the world, spreading her teachings and defending the wilds. Many also act as negotiators between mortals and nature spirits.
Seedborn
Initiates and young acolytes, tasked with caring for plants, animals, and the wounded. They tend to sacred groves and perform seasonal rites in preparation for their future roles.
Temples dedicated to Lyrien are open-air sanctuaries, often built around ancient trees, stone circles, or waterfalls. These natural spaces serve as places of worship, meditation, and ritual. Some of her most sacred sites are guarded by magical beasts and ancient treants.
Aranis Leafwalker (past)
Role: Legendary Keeper of the Grove
Legacy: During the Fifth Age, Aranis led a coalition of druids, elves, and rangers to defend the Emerald Veil Forest from elemental destruction. His mastery of plant-based magic earned him a place in Thaloria's legends, and the great oak Heartroot still grows where he fell in battle.
Velara Moonglade (past)
Role: Seasonsworn Pathfinder
Legacy: A famed ranger of the Frostspire Forest, Velara hunted and defeated the cursed beast Mournfang, a creation of Malachor's forces in the Fourth Age. Her enchanted bow, Sylvanstrike, is said to remain hidden in the woods she swore to defend.
Elder Mirisandra Wildthorn (present)
Role: Current Verdant Voice
Legacy: Mirisandra is an ancient elf druid who has guided the faithful of Lyrien for nearly two centuries. She is known for mediating disputes between nature spirits and mortal settlements, ensuring the survival of both. Her deep communion with the seasons allows her to perform nature-altering miracles.
Daron Thistlebane (present)
Role: Warden-Priest of the Wild Frontier
Legacy: Daron has become a living legend for driving back several monstrous incursions into the frontier lands of Stormmarch Republic. His blessed spear, Thornpiercer, can pierce even magical armor, and his strategic mind has saved countless lives.
Ayara Bloomheart (present)
Role: Keeper of the Spring's Blessing
Legacy: Ayara is a famous healer and herbalist who oversees the Bloomheart Sanctuary in the Verdant Reach. Her herbal remedies and potions have saved kings and commoners alike, and she is considered one of the greatest natural healers in the modern age.
Lyrien's faith thrives wherever nature endures. Her followers are strongest in regions like the Verdant Reach, Emerald Veil Forest, and Twilight Coast, where ancient forests and untouched wilderness still flourish. Many nomadic tribes and elven enclaves also hold her in high regard.
Lyrien's followers often ally with those of Sylara (life and growth), Vara (light and healing), and Xaros (tempests) when their goals align. However, they frequently clash with followers of destructive entities such as Erythul (destruction) and Nyssara (greed and corruption).
Despite the withdrawal of the gods, Lyrien's influence persists through nature itself. However, her faithful face several challenges in the Sixth Age:
Lyrien, the Goddess of Nature and the Wilderness, embodies the untamed beauty and primal forces of the natural world. She represents the balance between growth and decay, nurturing life while respecting the inevitability of death. Lyrien is both the blooming meadow and the storm-swept forest, the gentle rain and the raging tempest. Her faithful strive to maintain balance, respect the wilderness, and preserve the cycles of life.
She is often depicted as a tall, ethereal woman with flowing hair woven from leaves, flowers, and vines. Her eyes reflect the seasons, shifting from the vibrant green of spring to the fiery hues of autumn. She carries a staff shaped from a living branch crowned with blossoms that bloom even in the harshest environments.
Lyrien's faith endures in the roots of every ancient tree, in the streams that carve through mountains, and in the hearts of those who cherish the wilderness. Her followers are the protectors of balance, standing as guardians of nature against the ever-present threats of destruction and corruption. Her legacy is woven into the wilds themselves, eternal and unyielding.
Source: Homebrew, 2024.
Trindle Spring Lutheran Church RPG Club | Mechanicsburg, PA