Defenders of the Forest - Liber Fanatica

Pr i e s t s o f Mo r a i -h e g
Although it appears that devotees of the Crone wander aimlessly
through the forest, in truth they follow an instinct that leads
them to settlements where the rites of the dead will soon be required.
Priests of Morai-Heg are often met with coldness when
they first arrive, but after the portended death has transpired
they are treated with respect. Some Priests of the Crone take
delight in the uncertainty that is sown by their coming. As the
Hands of Fate, these priests are often able to receive services in
exchange for temporarily warding off the inevitable.
He i r l o o m s o f To r o t h a l
The following enchanted items are carried by Torothal and are
not available to others.
The Shimmering Robe
Crafted entirely from Ithilmar, the Shimmering Robe was a
wedding gift from Sarriel the Seer. When hooded, Torothal is
less susceptible to the effects of magic, gaining a +10% bonus to
all magic-resistance tests. If a magic-resistance test is passed by
3 or more Degrees of Success, the polished Ithilmar reflects the
harmful magic back upon its caster.
Talisman of Mathlann
This fish pendant upon a pearl necklace was gifted to Torothal
by her parents as a good luck charm for journeys to the eastern
colonies of the Old World. Over centuries the necklace has absorbed
great quantities of magic, but has also become linked to
Torothal’s temperament. All spells cast in Torothal’s presence are
affected by her current temperament: Dead-Calm = -1 to Casting
Rolls; Swell = +2 to Casting Rolls; Turbulent = +1 Chaos
Die; Maelstrom = +2 Chaos Dice.
Mo r a i -h e g, Go d d e s s o f Fa t e
a n d De a t h
Morai-Heg is also known as the
Keeper of Souls or the Crone. The
Asrai believe that Morai-Heg guides
the souls of their deceased kin from
the forest to the Otherworld and back again when the time is
right. Morai-heg is also believed to know all mortal secrets. The
fates of the living are kept in a pouch made of skin that Morai-
Heg wears, often obscuring the prophecies of Lileath’s followers.
The true path to Yenlui is sometimes only found after death, in
the Otherworld realms.
In Asrai fable songs, the Raven often appears as a herald of
Morai-heg. Wood Elves learn to read the ravens’ migration patterns
as omens, either good or ill depending on their timing. Ravens
are also rumoured to fly between worlds. In many legends,
a hero or animal finds a portal to the Otherworld by following
the ravens from an Elven burial glade.
Mardagg
The Laurëlorn Brúidd spirit Mardagg is often mistaken for the
legendary hero Kern (see pg. 21). Mardagg appears as a twisted
crone in a raven-feathered cowl, but when approached it throws
back its hood and stands straight, revealing a pale warrior-Elf
that wields two scythed blades. Mardagg judges mortals with
dead eyes, and those who’ve failed in defending Laurëlorn are
often killed on the spot.
Principles
• Once just is, twice is coincidence, three times is a sign of fate.
• Always whisper the names of the dead to Morai-heg so that
she may find them.
• Do not invoke the Crone’s name during pregnancy, for an
unborn child’s fate has not yet been decided.
• Burning incense is a pleasing tribute to Morai-heg.
• Honour the Crone by wearing a raven’s feather.
Va u l , Go d o f Sm i t h s
a n d Ar t i s a n s
Sometimes known as the Cripple
or the Chained God, Vaul is
the patron of artisans. Vaul is
described in fable songs as a
blind, crippled Elf of once-noble bearing, who carries a smith’s
hammer. Vaul is said to have received his injuries and become
imprisoned by members of the Cytharai during the War in the
Heavens. Vaul is a balancing influence in the whimsical Asrai
psyche, keeping their creative energies focused and grounded,
and is often worshipped as a counterpart to Loec.
Although shrines to Vaul can be found in most Asrai workshops,
temples devoted to the God of Smiths are only established at
volcanoes or calderas. Priests of Vaul extract metals directly
from the lava that seeps from the earth to forge Quicksteel (see
sidebar, pg. 38). To honour Vaul’s eternal suffering, smith-priests
endure the heat of their volcanic forge temples without complaint.
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