Sonra, The She-Warrior
(a.k.a. Stormbringer, The heavenly She-wolf, the Swordmaid, The Red Sonra, the second Grace)
Legends
The Ascension of Sonra
Two contradicting legends entwine Sonra's life as a mortal, before her ascension to godhood. Some parts of the Faith, especially the servants of Raodin, Albona and Oghmen see her as the pious daughter of righteous farmers, who was chosen when she received a vision of Raodin, who demanded of her to lead his armies into battle against the Church of the Creator and their false god. The other legend sees Sonra as a daughter born into a family of robbers, who, disowned by the Church of the Creator fought the church all on their own already. It is... a bit... a matter of contestation still between the branches of the Faith in Caldaven, which of these versions is the correct one. Official tenet of the Sonra church has no problem seeing her as a daughter of robbers and waylayers, although in a highly romanticized version wherein she, and her merry men, took from the rich and gave to the poor. Sonra priests argue that, although her parents could have well been farmers before being dispossessed by the church, Sonra had grown up to be a fighter for the weak and poor on her own account, even long before she ascended. This reading also supports the teaching of the church that, supposed one does not fall trap to cruelty, one can and should be allowed to challenge order, if order is brought about by atrocities. The churches of Lodinn, Pherin and the Crowqueen support the official reading of the Sonra church, making it the dominant faith.Both legends also disagree, if she and her men held a pack as direwolves as pets, or if she (in the Raodin's vision version) befriended them by impressing them with her hunting skills. Were both agree though is that wolves fought at her sight.
Be that as it may be, one day Sonra decided to take up arms for the Faith proper, joining the Raodin church, under whose purview the Domain of war fell at the time, despite disagrreing with some of its teachings since she also held the Mother in high regard. Raodin, while always just at all times, was a merciless god, whose judgement was based on a set of scales that weigh up one evil for another. Albona in contrast advised for mercy, which Sonra considered important, not only because she felt it was right, but also because the tactically thinking she-warrior knew, that one doesn't win a war by creating ever more new enemies, and that committing the same atrocities as the enemies of the Faith would only reinforce their conviction to fight to the very end, if they feared they would be treated all the same.
And so it came to pass, that one day after a particularly important victory, Sonra stepped in when fellow clerics of Raodin attempted to execute the families of known enemies of the faith, as grueling payback for them doing the same onto members of the church. She even rallied her men and wolves to do the same and shield the families, and challenged Raodin to come down and fight her himself, if he so wanted these wives and kid dead in the name of sacred balance.
And surely Raodin would have struck down his chosen, but his hand was held by Albona, and a great dispute arose among the two, which was finally ended when the other four intervened, and told them that they were both misled by their extreme positions, something Lodinn, Pherin, Oghmen and Morgana only realized after witnessing Sonra. Neither could Raodin's approach of fairness at all cost lead to a just world, nor could Albona's desire for harmony and a soft hand work, if the enemies did not adhere to it. It needed a third position, yet one which none of the gods could fill. While Sonra waited, fully ready for Raodin to strike her down, it was decided by the Six, that only Sonra could fill this one missing spot. And so it was not Raodin who came down from the heavens, but Albona, who stepped out of the waters of the nearby Roderwater, carrying Raodin's sword "Vengeance". Handing it over to Sonra, she advised her to seek justice with it, as Raodin commanded, but to always consider mercy before cruelty. And so swore Sonra , and to seal the oath she renamed the sword "Oathbinder". And then she stepped into the waters with Albona, while four of her most beloved direwolves followed, and were not seen anymore. All who became aware of this however were befallen by sacred purpose, and man or woman or child, enemy or friend, those who witnessed this, became the first priests of Sonra the she-warrior,
Albona giving Oathbinder to Sonra
Mural on the Walls of the Sonra Temple of Shearwind, depicting Albona as she appears from the Roderwater, to give "Oathbinder" to Sonra.
Divine Domains
War, Valor, Mercy and the Fury of Battle
Sonra the She-warrior is the goddess of honorable Warfare and Valor. War in her mind serves as a tool, a means to an end, but may never become its own purpose. Used to the cruelties of suppression when she was still a mortal, she swore to never let vengeance guide her hand but rather follow Albona's command of mercy. Valor pleases her, especially when it means to protect those who can't protect themselves. Sonra advises her followers to feel the Fury of battle, to sense where a fight is going, but never to let it overwhelm you.Comradeship
Comradeship plays a big role in Sonra's liturgies, for even if Sonra was a force on the battlefied, she never forgot that it was her men (and women) who gave her strength. Sonra holds those in high regards who lead by example, who won't leave a comrade behind, and who take on risks to save their comrades from peril.Honor, Courage, Strength of Purpose
known to having been a woman who followed her calling even against the god she served, those who follow their goals with strength of purpose find Sonra's favor, as long as the goal align with her other domains (Valor, Mercy,no unnecessary cruelty). She likes to see her champions display great feats of courage, and to keep their Honor intact, by staying true to their values. Having challenged the Father once herself, she does not mind being challenged by those who do defend their values, but rather cherishes their valor. Provided the values they are defending still align with hers. Sonra will not stand for a champion who challenges her for the right to inflict unnecessary atrocities upon an enemy.Advocate for the Poor
Poverty is no DisgraceThe Church of Sonra takes great pride in the fact that Sonra the Red (allegedly her title in life) fought for the poor. Therefore the church of Sonra keeps the fight against poverty as one of its highest tenets in their liturgy. Those who are poor and downtrodden are as welcome at their doors, as they would be in the House of the Roanites, the Albona temple, or the House of Lodinn. Sonra's priests however take especial care for those who are persecuted and exploited, and offer to teach them the Art of War to strike back. In this context she has acquired the title "the second Grace" by the Roanites of Caldaven, referring to her offering the grace of protection to the poor. Although the Roanites have now extended beyond Caldavens borders and can be found in Aquira (Region), the The Emerald Coast and The Summer Isles too, she only holds this title in Caldaven, sincethe Warrior in other regions does not necessarily share her soft spot for the destitute.
A front against poverty
From left to right: A priest of Sonra, a Lodinn priestess in "the Grey", a Roanite mother superior
the Tempest
By relinquishing the domain of war to Sonra, Raodin gave up one of his most important tools to influence and punish the mortals. And so he demanded the same of his wife Albona to "balance the scales" since it was she who rested his hand against Sonra. This is why Sonra today also claims domain over the storm and the lightning. Where fishermen pray to Raodin and Albona for a bountiful catch, it is to Sonra to whom they pray to come through a storm safely.Divine Symbols & Sigils
Two symbols are used to refer to Sonra: the Warrior rune and the the sword and Shield Rune, also called the Caldavian Cross, which is newer and in use in this form only in Caldven. Temples which predominantly show the Warrior rune in their depictions are usually older.
The Warrior Symbol:
The Warrior Rune
The Warrior Rune, the ancient Sigil whereby which all cultures who believe in the Seven denote the Warrior .
In the middle a brooch made from Ironwood, interpreting the two crossed staffs as spears, as it is common in Caldaven and Aquira. On the right a brooch with one hand at the ends of each staff, symbolizing the beliefs of the Emerald Coast and the Summer isles that the Warrior is a four handed deity.
The Caldavian Cross
The newer symbol of Sonra which slowly but inevitably replaced the Rune of the Warrior. Often interpreted as a sword before a roundshield by commonfolk, much like the Symbol of the Sentry. The actual meaning is that of a Tree of Life, (Albona's symbol after all) as it reflects in the water before it, behind a sword. It obviously refers to Albona appearing from the Roderwater to give Raodin's sword to Sonra on the day of Sonra's ascension.
Caldavian Cross
On the left the symbol of the Caldavian cross as it is used all over Caldaven.
In the middle a brooch in possession of Romburak Roxifex Ronduin III of Northmarch, herself a big supporter of the Sonra Church.
On the right, door handles as they can be found in the Sonra Temple of Amn, depicting the original symbolism of the Caldavian Cross, as it refers to the day of Sonra's Ascension: A tree of Life as it reflects in a lake before it, behind a sword.
Tenets of Faith
... to never be cruel, to never be cowardly, so help me Sonra.
Divine Classification
Deity
Church/Cult
Children
Aligned Organization
The colors of Sonra
The colors associated with Sonra are:
Silver which represents the fur of her wolves, the steel in her hand and the grey of the storms she can call upon.
Red which represents the blood spilled in her name, but which only ever appears in decals, since Sonra has sworn to never spill more of it than necessary.
Sonra Priest
Sonra Priest on a little market in the city of Amn. He wears grey robes that bear the Caldavian Cross
Sonra cleric in armor and garb
To be easier to spot in military units, Sonra clerics replace their grey cowls with the heraldic silver (aka white), when they join armed forces. Here a Sonra Cleric who wears a white tabard bearing the Caldavian Cross in red.
Crest of Caldaven
by
cyrgan
The Caldavian crest.
The broken moon over a longship represents Albona's role in the foundation of the realms, while the wolf represents Sonra, The She-Warrior
Albona, Sonra and Lodinn
from left to right: Statues of Albona,Sonra andLodinn , which can be found in the gardens around the House of the Roanites in Amn, representing what the Roanites offer to the poor and downtrodden:
Protection: Sonra,
Food, shelter and Physical Healing; Albona and
Mental Healing: Lodinn.
As such the statues depict three of the four Roanite graces.
The fourth, Morgain, the Crow Queen, who represents death and oblivion as the last grace able to deliver someone from poverty, can be found just a few paces further in front of the Roanite Hospice.
Protection: Sonra,
Food, shelter and Physical Healing; Albona and
Mental Healing: Lodinn.
As such the statues depict three of the four Roanite graces.
The fourth, Morgain, the Crow Queen, who represents death and oblivion as the last grace able to deliver someone from poverty, can be found just a few paces further in front of the Roanite Hospice.
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