The Warrior Maiden is the patron of Saromatia's army. She rebukes the Air Lord and Sun Lord when they come to court her, preferring to focus her energies on battle. She shares much in common with her huntress sister, but prefers the discipline of the ranks to wild hunts. She is commonly seen as wise as well, a master tactian and strategist. She also exercises her prudence in picking her fights - the clergy of the Warrior Maiden have a great philosophy of the "just war," and caution the leaders of Saromata from fighting any battles which do not conform. It is thought that the Warrior Maiden will abandon her armies should they wage war unjustly.

The Warrior Maiden is often placed in a triad with the Hearth Mother and the Vision Crone. Religious scholars argue over whether this triad should include the Queen or the Hearth Mother. The Warrior as a faithful knight of the Queen holds a strong appeal to many, but the Queen is more usually placed in the "power triad" of Forest Maiden, Queen, and Sorceress. The orthodox trio is considered the "wisdom triad": the wisdom of action, of life well-lived, and of age, respectively. The Warrior Maiden holds all of the Lords at arm's length, mistrusts Fortuna as an unstable force, and is a terrible foe of the Dark Queen.

The Warrior Maiden is the patroness of those who bear arms for Saromatia. This includes the armies, local town guards, and even mercenary bands hired in lieu of armies. The lady knights see her as an archetype to live up to; male warriors often oddly romanticize her as an unattainable lady whom they woo with their valorous deeds in battle.

The Warrior Maiden is depicted in sacred art as an armored knight. A spear indicates an emphasis on her battle skills; the presence of a chessboard in the artwork emphasizes her cunning. The recent style for associating birds with the Goddess has paired the Warrior with the rhacos. Her symbol is the knight's spear - an actual spear or a tiny model of one will do. Her colors are white (for purity of spirit and cause) and gold (for honor, courage, loyalty and other "golden" virtues).

The Clergy

There are more men in the service of the Warrior Maiden than in that of any other Aspect. They also rise higher in the ranks of the clergy. Men are a vital part of the army, and the clergy of the army's patron reflects that fact.

The clergy count among their numbers many ladies of ranks low and high. Those noblewomen whose lands are often under attack, or who control important fortresses, are often initiate priestesses of the church. As a rule, the more highly-ranked priestesses are not major landholders; if they were prior to assuming more clerical responsibility, they are expected to hand over mundane concerns to their heirs. But there is no denying that this clergy is one of the best-connected in Saromatia.

Priestesses usually spend time advising military leaders, discussing questions of strategy and tactics, evolving new and better training regimes, and refining their definitions of just and unjust war. Few are truly skilled healers, although most are practiced in rough-and-ready field treatments.

Shrines and Temples

The largest temple to the Warrior, Bella Sophia, is in Garonne. The High Priestess of the faith resides here, ever at the beck and call of the temporal queen of Saromatia. Soustons and Lari also boast temples. (Both places are home to strategically important forts). A fourth temple is currently being raised on the edge of the Northern Ride, to assist in forays against the centaurs.

Priestesses bless small shrines frequently. These are often untended but consecrated corners, niches, or small rooms in a fort or barracks. On the field, a priestess driving a spear into the ground and saying a blessing is sufficient to create a temporary shrine. For this reason, nearly all priestesses carry a spear and are skilled in its use.

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