Valaya goddess of hearth and home, of clan, of truth and of memory
Description:
Valaya is unique in the Dwarven pantheon, in the way that she is the only female. However, this holds very well with the traditional values of the Dwarven society, which is very much patriarchal in structure. Valaya is the protector and goddess of the home and of values which the Dwarves consider as valuable as the gems and precious metals they take from the mountains.
Valaya is portrayed as a Dwarven woman of noble standing – young and beautiful by Dwarven standards – but with the wisdom of the ages in her eyes. She is dressed in a robe of purple colour and simple of cut. She wears the traditional heavy gold necklaces of the Dwarven nobility, sporting her own Rune carved into a Dragon’s tooth. She has snow-white hair that reaches as far down as her waist and is braided in the traditional style of the Dwarven women.
She is either shown holding a book, or with open arms in a gesture of welcome.
The Goddess is said to have been one of the founders of the mighty fortress-city of Karak Eight Peaks. Overseeing and advising the King of the mighty city as it was built. One of the Eight peaks are named after her, and her portrait has been carved into the very peak, using the snow of the mountaintop as her white hair. Valaya is sometimes also known as The White Lady, a reference both to the peak which holds her name, but also to her long beautiful hair.
Alignment:
Neutral
Symbol:
The symbol of Valaya is of course the Rune of Valaya, known as the Valnazdel, a somewhat primitive Rune from The Lost Age, but it never the less holds a multitude of values and terms. Which of course is consistent with the fact that the Goddess embraces a vast area of importance for the Dwarves.
The Priestesses of Valaya wears a gold necklace with her Rune carved into the tooth of some mythical beast.
A book is also associated with Valaya, as she and her followers are keepers of the Book of Remembering, a fabled book wherein it is said that all the events in the World is written from the distant past to the present. The writings are held by the Dwarves as something akin to the ultimate truth, and the Priestesses of Valaya hold immense power as they are considered to be speaking the Truth of the Ages – yet another aspect of the Dwarven worship of the Past as the foundation of the future, something which can also be found in the Ancestor Worship.
Each temple of Valaya holds its own version of this book, containing all the events ever recorded by the Priestesses of that particular temple.
Area of Worship:
Valaya is worshipped by Dwarves throughout the Old World, both in her capacity as protector of home and clan – indeed as protector of the Dwarven Realm -- but also in her aspect as the Goddess of Truth and Memory - in this aspect she is especially venerated by the Lore Masters, and the Dwarven Kings, Warlords and Leaders, who will often have a Priestess as their advisor.
Temples:
The temples to Valaya is to be found in every Dwarven stronghold and every major city where there is a Dwarven presence. Carvings of ancient times decorate the walls of the temples, and an air of all things past and present permeates the temples. A massive fireplace is always to be found, and in this burns the Fire Eternal, where all Dwarves can find rest and home. A statue of the Goddess is usually placed in the same room as the fireplace, acting as the natural center of the room. The Room of the Ages is also a vital part of any temple; here the library is, but more importantly, this is where the Book of Remembering is kept! Mighty volumes containing records and wisdom of the age.
Friends and Enemies:
The cult of Valaya is on friendly terms with the rest of the Dwarven pantheon. It is on neutral with most of the Human pantheon, except for the cult of Verena, with whom there exists very good relations. As a Cult of the Protector of the Dwarven Realm, it is violently hostile towards any and all enemies of the Dwarves.
Holy Days:
Valaya is worshipped in the small every day, as many Dwarves say a short prayer to her before dinner, thanking her for another day and asking her to bless their meals and homes.
A celebration of her is held at the end of every month, where the Dwarves gather in her temples and ask her to bless them and protect the Dwarven race from its enemies. After these solemn rituals end, the gathered Dwarves will celebrate yet another month with good food, good drink and the companionship of their fellow Dwarves.
Cult Requirements:
The cult of Valaya is open to all adult Dwarves of both genders, however, the Priestesses of cult are mainly female. These seem generally more devout and rigorous in their studies, whereas the male followers take care of the other aspects of the cults everyday life.
Strictures:
All Initiates, and Priestesses of Valaya must abide the following strictures:
You speak with the Voice of Valaya and must always remember this honour – speak only the truth!
Always keep Your word of Honour!
Never refuse to aid a Dwarf in need, unless said Dwarf is of Evil or Chaotic alignment.
Never reveal secrets of the Dwarves to outsiders, especially the enemies of the Dwarven race.
Never surrender to Goblins and their kin.
Always strive to aide Your fellow Dwarves, and protect them with Your life if necessary
Always strive to preserve knowledge in general, and the Book of Remembering in particular. Our past is the key to our future – lose it and we are lost!
Spell Use:
Priestesses of Valaya may cast all Petty, Battle Magic, and Illusionist Magic Spells, as well as the following Necromantic and Demonic Spells:
Demonic: Dispel Lesser Daemon, Zone of Demonic Protection, Dispel Lesser Daemons, Zone of Demonic Nullification, Dispel Daemon Horde, and Dispel Greater Daemon.
Necromantic: Destroy Undead, Zone of Life, and Annihilate Undead
In addition, Priestesses of any level may learn the following Spell, which is unique to the cult of Valaya:
Voice of Valaya
Spell Level: 1
Magic Points: 6
Range: Personal
Duration: see below
This Spell is used in
cases where there is some doubt whether or not someone is speaking the truth.
This Spell is usually only used in conjunctions with trials or matters of
honour. The Spell involves the
Book of Remembering, which the Priestess who wishes to cast the Spell, and the
one who’s word has to be validated, must both place their hands. When the
Priestess is done chanting the Spell, its effects kicks in and the one holding
the Book of Remembering will be forced to tell the truth about that which he is
asked. The effect lasts for as long as both parties have their hands placed on
the Book of Remembering.
For each Level of the Priestess performing the Spell, there is a –10 modifier to Will Power for the initial Magick Test. If the person being tried fails this Test, he must tell the truth about any and all things asked him.
Skills:
Besides the skills listed under their current career, the followers of Valaya may learn two special skills. One is that of Scholarship (as described under Loremaster), and the other is the Eyes of Truth.
This skill can be learned at the cost of 200 exp, and gives the Priestess a powerful tool in their service of Truth.
Eyes of Truth
This Skill can be used by Priestesses of Valaya to give them an idea of whether or not a person they are observing and listening to, is telling the truth. It is a Skill based both on their link to Valaya, but it is also a composite of life-experience and judge of character. The Priestess takes in the body language, the mimic, the movement of eyes, incantation and many other details of the individual they are talking with, and process all of this information using their experience past and present, to get an idea of whether of not the individual is telling the truth.
Mind you, that this Skill is not perfect, but it is often thought of as the first state towards using the Voice of Valaya. But it is said about the Priestesses that it is unwise to lie to them, as they can look into your very soul and pick the truth out for themselves.
This is an Intellectual Skill and requires a tutor
Trials:
Trials of Valaya will invariably be connected with one of her aspects, and could include restoring an old library, seeking out knowledge in fallen strongholds, protecting a settlement or stronghold from destruction, or simply acting as a mediator in a troubled home, and restoring peace to it.
Blessings:
Skills favoured by Valaya are Arcane Language – Dwarf, Cartography, Cryptography, Demon Lore, Heraldry, History, Law, Public Speaking, Rune Lore, and Theology. Favoured Tests are Intelligence, Cool, Will Power and Fellowship, as well as bonuses to these
Special Rules:
Due to their constant training in remembering the past, the Priestesses of Valaya receives a +5 bonus per Level to all Tests involving memory.
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