Goddess of Love and Compassion
Group (Pantheon): The Twelve
Domains: Life, Peace, Mercy, Beauty
Alignment: Neutral Good
The holy symbol of Maelis is a Lily of Mercy, its petals shimmering with soft white light and faint pink accents. The stem is surrounded by a delicate golden halo representing divine compassion and love's enduring power. Followers often wear this symbol as a pendant or embroider it into their clothing as a sign of devotion. Healers and peacekeepers frequently carry freshly bloomed lilies as a sacred token of her blessing.
The faith of Maelis is community-centered and service-oriented, with a focus on direct aid to those in need. While there are temples, most of her followers serve in hospitals, orphanages, and sanctuaries rather than within grand religious halls. Her clergy see themselves as servants rather than rulers, dedicated to improving the lives of others.
The Heartwarden
The spiritual leader of the church, chosen through acts of extraordinary compassion. They guide the faithful but never claim authority over others, instead leading by example.
Seraphs of Mercy
Senior clerics, healers, and peacekeepers who oversee temples and sanctuaries dedicated to Maelis. They coordinate charity efforts and mediate disputes in the spirit of forgiveness.
Handmaidens of Hope
Traveling priests and healers who bring Maelis's mercy to remote and war-torn regions. Known for their boundless compassion, they are considered living saints in many communities.
Bringers of Peace
Warriors dedicated to protecting the innocent and ending conflicts through diplomacy and, when necessary, non-lethal combat. They carry enchanted shields bearing the symbol of the Lily of Mercy.
Children of the Bloom
Young acolytes and initiates who dedicate themselves to small but meaningful acts of kindness. They often tend to communal gardens, hospitals, and homes for the elderly, embodying Maelis's teachings through everyday service.
Saint Elara, The Light of Hope (past)
Role: Seraph of Mercy
Legacy: During the Fourth Age, Elara led a legendary pilgrimage known as the March of Mercy, gathering thousands of refugees fleeing Malachor's forces. Despite overwhelming odds, she guided them across the Bleeding Plains, performing miracles of healing and nourishment. Her blessed Staff of Mercy is said to still bloom with radiant lilies wherever she walked.
Brother Theren Veylan (past)
Role: Bringer of Peace
Legacy: During the Fifth Age, Theren was a warrior-turned-peacemaker who brokered peace between feuding noble houses through persistence, diplomacy, and faith. His enchanted Shield of Mercy is still carried by the leader of the Bringers of Peace today.
Aric Solthorn (past)
Role: Martyr of Compassion
Legacy: A humble priest of Maelis, Aric gave his life to protect orphans in a besieged city during the War of the Breaking Dawn. His last prayer, spoken as he fell, caused a field of radiant lilies to bloom from his blood, halting the enemy's advance. His sacrifice is honored every year during the Festival of Blooming Souls.
Mother Anira Solwyn (present)
Role: Current Heartwarden
Legacy: An elven cleric of unmatched wisdom, Anira has unified Maelis's faithful into a vast network of charitable organizations known as The Blooming Hand. Under her guidance, temples and sanctuaries have flourished, providing aid to countless war-torn regions and impoverished communities.
Lyara Moonpetal (present)
Role: Handmaiden of Hope
Legacy: A beloved traveling healer, Lyara has saved entire villages from plague and war. Known for her Petals of Healing spell, she can summon enchanted flowers that restore vitality to those who touch them. Her efforts have earned her a place in the hearts of thousands.
The faith of Maelis thrives in all corners of Thaloria, especially in regions devastated by war and famine. Her largest temples are in the Aurensul Collective, Ilyndor, and Verdant Reach, though her followers can be found wherever compassion and aid are needed. Even secular rulers often sponsor her temples due to their humanitarian efforts.
Maelis's faith is naturally aligned with those of Vara (life and light) and Talandra (order and peace), with whom they often collaborate on relief efforts. However, they sometimes clash with the more warlike followers of Thanor (war and valor), whose emphasis on battle can conflict with Maelis's preference for peaceful resolution. They also oppose Volrath (undeath) and Malachor (corruption) with unwavering resolve.
Despite the god's withdrawal, Maelis's followers continue to spread hope and love in a world still plagued by war, famine, and greed. However, they face challenges such as:
Maelis, the Goddess of Love and Compassion, is the divine embodiment of empathy, mercy, and selfless care. She represents unconditional love in all its forms -- romantic, familial, and altruistic -- and inspires acts of charity, understanding, and sacrifice for the greater good. In a harsh and often unforgiving world, Maelis offers comfort and hope, teaching her followers that even in the darkest times, love can be the strongest force of all.
Maelis is often depicted as a serene, radiant figure clad in flowing robes of soft pinks, whites, and golds, symbolizing purity of heart. Her hair, woven with blossoms, cascades like rivers of silk. She is usually shown holding a Lily of Mercy, a divine flower said to bloom wherever great acts of kindness are performed. Her warm gaze is said to banish fear and hate, filling even the most troubled souls with peace.
Maelis's faith is a light in the darkest of times, offering comfort, healing, and hope to all who seek her grace. Her followers believe that through love, mercy, and compassion, even a broken world can bloom anew.
"In every act of kindness, she watches. In every healing touch, she smiles."
Source: Homebrew, 2024.
Trindle Spring Lutheran Church RPG Club | Mechanicsburg, PA