Sept'Ambra
’’One who receives the most human sacrifices shall attain godhood.’’
Countless cults spread across the planet Sept'Ambra. Religious leaders ignited people's hearts, worshippers sacrificing their kin out of fear or fanatical adoration. Amidst the faith overlords, Lila'Ariala eclipsed others in both fear and renown. Thousands of lives fueled her name. Yet, her own daughters, Lak'Rima, Shal'Amea and Med'Hea, became her undoing. The three sisters sacrificed Lila'Ariala to themselves and overtook her cult. They danced back-to-back, their wings flowing down as feathery cloaks, while the entangled tails slithered together, and jewellery-adorned horns reflected their halos' light.
The witch sisters dreamt of ascending together. Shal'Amea and Med'Hea loved Lak'Rima the dearest, the eldest and the frailest of the three. They hoped godhood was her remedy, yet, when the witches slew their final sacrifice, only silence followed.
The coven demanded an answer from the Sun. But it replied, with its ever-impassive voice, how only one of the sisters could ascend. The implication enraged Med'Hea, with Shal'Amea quietly sharing her fury. But Lak'Rima stood calm. She offered herself as the final sacrifice, to ensure one of the sisters ascended, and together with the other, took revenge against the Sun. Shal'Amea protested, yet, the three knew it was the only way. The middle sister then clutched the dagger and was ready to strike, but Lak'Rima's accepting smile froze her. And so, Med'Hea took her blade, slew Lak'Rima and, with tear-filled voice, prayed to Shal'Amea's name.
Suddenly, an enormous, long-necked creature emerged from the depths, its human face staring down at Shal'Amea. Terror overcame the witch. Her trembling eyes glanced at the monster as she gained its vast knowledge, and ascended into the ninth god, Sept'Ambra.
The witch sisters dreamt of ascending together. Shal'Amea and Med'Hea loved Lak'Rima the dearest, the eldest and the frailest of the three. They hoped godhood was her remedy, yet, when the witches slew their final sacrifice, only silence followed.
The coven demanded an answer from the Sun. But it replied, with its ever-impassive voice, how only one of the sisters could ascend. The implication enraged Med'Hea, with Shal'Amea quietly sharing her fury. But Lak'Rima stood calm. She offered herself as the final sacrifice, to ensure one of the sisters ascended, and together with the other, took revenge against the Sun. Shal'Amea protested, yet, the three knew it was the only way. The middle sister then clutched the dagger and was ready to strike, but Lak'Rima's accepting smile froze her. And so, Med'Hea took her blade, slew Lak'Rima and, with tear-filled voice, prayed to Shal'Amea's name.
Suddenly, an enormous, long-necked creature emerged from the depths, its human face staring down at Shal'Amea. Terror overcame the witch. Her trembling eyes glanced at the monster as she gained its vast knowledge, and ascended into the ninth god, Sept'Ambra.
Relationship With Shemokmedi
Sept'Ambra despises the Sun and awaits its demise. As a god, she can't directly harm Shemokmedi. Still, she hopes Med'Hea will finally slay the Sun when the right time comes.Physical Description
Shal'Amea possessed four horns, wings, tails and a rhombus-like halo. Her eyes and flowy hair were vivid blue, slightly lighter than her feathers. The tips of her fingers and tails also shared this colouration.
Sept'Ambra hides her menes'ha features, instead resembling a brown-skinned dunyar with pointy ears. She takes pride in dunyar cultures, and often wears clothing mirroring Dayani royal gowns of the time.
An Endless Cycle
When Med'Hea descended on Ayonerra and began hindering Shemokmedi's plans, the elder sister followed suit. Sept'Ambra joined in the war against native hskaner. But as time went on and hska numbers dwindled, the Ninth God found little to do.
Soon, Med'Hea's creations, the menes'has, split into two races, losing their links to stars. Sept'Ambra wished to preserve her homeland's magic, and show superiority over her younger sister. Menes'has split because some had more pronounced horns and tails, while others — wings and halos. To prevent another divide and loss of magic, Sept'Ambra made a new race, devoid of these features. Her creations, the dunyars, found a home in Skneli and with their power to link to any star, became the dominant race on the continent. The Ninth God also ensured dunyar - menes'ha children were born as dunyars, and retained their magic.
Sept'Ambra was especially fond of her first child, Solomon. The blue-haired man's chaotic personality amused the Ninth God, and she enjoyed following his antics. Initially, Sept'Ambra was active in dunyar lives. She advised rulers, held ceremonies, answered to folk's prayers. But as centuries passed, dunyars grew independent. A part of her took pride in her children, yet, the diminished purpose soon gave way to boredom. To bring new joy in her existence, the Ninth God hid amidst her creations, shaped kingdom relations and experienced the ever-changing cultures. But the novelty soon faded.
Soon, Med'Hea's creations, the menes'has, split into two races, losing their links to stars. Sept'Ambra wished to preserve her homeland's magic, and show superiority over her younger sister. Menes'has split because some had more pronounced horns and tails, while others — wings and halos. To prevent another divide and loss of magic, Sept'Ambra made a new race, devoid of these features. Her creations, the dunyars, found a home in Skneli and with their power to link to any star, became the dominant race on the continent. The Ninth God also ensured dunyar - menes'ha children were born as dunyars, and retained their magic.
Sept'Ambra was especially fond of her first child, Solomon. The blue-haired man's chaotic personality amused the Ninth God, and she enjoyed following his antics. Initially, Sept'Ambra was active in dunyar lives. She advised rulers, held ceremonies, answered to folk's prayers. But as centuries passed, dunyars grew independent. A part of her took pride in her children, yet, the diminished purpose soon gave way to boredom. To bring new joy in her existence, the Ninth God hid amidst her creations, shaped kingdom relations and experienced the ever-changing cultures. But the novelty soon faded.
The Millennial War of Colours, a clash between powerful grdzneuli rulers, sparked a new flame. At first, the Ninth God supported each grdzneuli, but her affection towards Solomon brought her to the blue mage's side. The sister's involvement enraged Med'Hea. She saw the mages as a threat to balance and sought to end the war. Med'Hea told Sept'Ambra to limit grdzneuli numbers to one per colour, and cut off white, pink and orange stars altogether. The Ninth God mocked her little sister and relished in her children' might. Still, she complied.
When the Millennial War ended, exhausted Med'Hea forbade all magic on Ayonerra. Furious, Sept'Ambra opposed the idea, but the sister's unwavering gaze ceased all discussion. And so, the Ninth God found little to do, and the suffocating boredom continued.
A few centuries later, King Al'Anraakh's rise to power posed a new threat to Ayonerra. Yet, a dunyar defying the odds and growing into a terrifying mage delighted Sept'Ambra. She watched the conflict unfold from a distance. Al'Anraakh's eventual defeat didn't surprise the Ninth God, but a part of her now bitterly welcomed the familiar dullness.
The following Rain of Amaars was yet another spark, but it too was short lived.
When the Millennial War ended, exhausted Med'Hea forbade all magic on Ayonerra. Furious, Sept'Ambra opposed the idea, but the sister's unwavering gaze ceased all discussion. And so, the Ninth God found little to do, and the suffocating boredom continued.
A few centuries later, King Al'Anraakh's rise to power posed a new threat to Ayonerra. Yet, a dunyar defying the odds and growing into a terrifying mage delighted Sept'Ambra. She watched the conflict unfold from a distance. Al'Anraakh's eventual defeat didn't surprise the Ninth God, but a part of her now bitterly welcomed the familiar dullness.
The following Rain of Amaars was yet another spark, but it too was short lived.
Overcompensation
Seeing people's rekindled devotion brought new excitement. At first, she remembered all visitor’s woes and dreams, and found joy in advising their futures. But as centuries flew and each tale blurred with the other, the Ninth God slumped deeper and deeper into her throne, her curiosity giving way to bored indifference.
Many believe dunyars born in the Month of Sept'Ambra are blessed by the goddess. Parents often weave dolls resembling the Ninth God and place them in their newborn's hands.
The Unlikely Reunion
One day, Med'Hea called Sept'Ambra to the Colchid Isles. The sister expected a yet another tedious report, only to meet Lak'Rima, standing next to Med'Hea and an unfamiliar purple mage. Tears flowed down the goddess's cheeks. Sept'Ambra rushed and embraced the older sister, whose cold, unbreathing body returned the gesture. The Ninth God learned of the new Purple Grdzneuli Joaqim, and how he brought Lak'Rima back from the dead. The following years, Sept'Ambra retold everything to Lak'Rima and helped her adjust to her new existence. And for the first time in centuries, the familiar boredom felt just distant enough.The Month of Connection
During the ninth month, dunyars praise Sept'Ambra for gifting them links to distant stars. It's a time of forming new relations and strengthening the old. In northern Skneli, the ninth month is associated with harvesting festivals. Dunyars drink wine made from newly gathered grapes, dance around the fireplace, hear people's stories and share some of their own.Many believe dunyars born in the Month of Sept'Ambra are blessed by the goddess. Parents often weave dolls resembling the Ninth God and place them in their newborn's hands.
As always, lovely stuff you two~ I enjoy the small loophole which allowed two of the sisters to live at the end given we'd have no story otherwise. That image of the gals dancing gives me the big ick from all those tentacles, but golly is it also really cool. Looking forward to next month's article where we talk about a big hole in the ground~
Hehe thank you! Otmar is Nikoloz's favourite god so we are excited to write him!