Kira, the Snow Maiden (KEE-rah)

Kira is the goddess of winter and wind. She is widely regarded as the youngest Monarch, being the only one with "parents," both of whom are also Monarchs. She has one of the most widely varied clergies of the Monarchical gods; her followers come from all walks of life, and because she doesn't reject any, regardless of their morality or integrity, there are a great many of them who use her gifts for many different purposes.

Kira's Doctrine

Kira nurtures individuality and adaptibility; she is extremely lenient in her commandments. She grants power with very little discrimination to those who ask for it. She is known to give as much care to the mortals that serve her as they give her, whether that be much or little, and she has no great love or disdain for anyone. Disciples of the first three Pillars sometimes condemn this way of life separated from true righteousness, but Kira's followers appreciate the true equality she perpetuates. Her tenants don't necessarily dictate neutrality among her disciples, but the people that she attracts tend to lean toward it.

Sanctuaries

In places where justice and righteousness are integral to the culture, worship of The Snow Maiden is rare, but almost every major city has a temple to her. Temples of The Snow Maiden are widely called Sanctuaries. These places are strangely secular; while they are run by, used by, and maintained by The Maiden's followers, but their use as places of worship is secondary. Civilians looking for a place to rest, to get a hot meal or a warm drink, to talk in a place without judgement, or simply to sit in silence for a moment can always find a place in The Maiden's Sanctuaries. However, these Sanctuaries can also be disruptive. They consider themselves completely detached from law and country, and it is not uncommon for fugitives to come seeking asylum, which is almost always granted. This creates a tense schism between The Maiden's Sanctuaries and the local governments. More often than not, this results in lost criminals and angry guards, but there are recorded incidents of city guards attacking Sanctuaries.

Myth of the Highborn

During the Celestial Age, Kira was "born," as gods are, of a pact between The Anaphroc and Caelia, the Eventide . She was created to be a steward, guarding weather and the passage of seasons in a regimented schedule. When Kira eventually voiced her growing discontent in her role, Caelia was willing to discuss a change, but Anaphroc met this perceived defiance with a burning fury. As punishment for wishing to upset the balance her two parents had created, he let the sun burn the earth, causing a terrible drought. Kira was furious, but her power was far inferior to her father's. All she could do was control the seasons. While the rivers dried and crops failed, Kira donned a mortal visage and wandered the earth, bringing cool winds and fresh water to suffering people.   Near the end of her pilgrimage, she had gained her own following and the title "The Snow Maiden, and Caelia entreated The God-Queen to free Kira from her birthrite. The young goddess, now with a notable following, was freed. Some think that when the gods divided, Kira gained traction among them as a leader. Others suspect that Ashnwara had an affection for The Maiden, or at least believed in her potential.   In the present age, Caelia and Kira are known to have a symbiotic relationship, and statuettes of Kira often populate Caelia's temple and vice versa. On the other side, there are tensions between The Snow Maiden and The Anaphroc, who are capable of working together, but rarely agree. These days, the two of them more or less work in tandem to control the seasons, and it is clear when they are in conflict.

Sons of Sky and Snow

Many years later, after the Exodus, Kira made a peace offering to Anaphroc. She created a set of twins, Char and Sol, who would work together to create and control the weather. Because there were two of them free to make their own decisions, they would balance each other, and while they may not always make the best or the right decision, they would do the best they could to fulfill the purpose Kira was made for without tying them to a regimented formula like she was. Anaphroc wasn't entirely pleased with this, but the gesture did its work, to a degree. Truly the peace offering was only a gesture, and she was doing what she thought was best with no regard for her father's wishes.