Freya

Goddess of love and beauty as well as of battle.  Freya's worship is strongest among the elves and among the young -- lovers as well as warriors.

She is worshipped individually and as part of the triad of the Fatespinners.  In the Fatespinners, Freya is the first of the triad, the spinner of the thread of life, and the Maiden.

She is most closely associated with Ilmar'hadur , as a fellow deity of battle; she is also closely aligned with the elven goddess Sehanine  as well as the fellow members of her Fatespinners triad: Tanimaut and The Raven Queen.

In many communities, Freya is honored at Midsummer, and many couples choose to wed on this day in her honor. Music, dance, feasting, exhibitions of art and craft, and mock battles are held in her honor.  Unlike the combat tournaments often held to honor Ilmar'hadur, these are set piece battles with many combatants on each side.  The use of lethal force is frowned upon in most communities, and healers are always close at hand to patch up the wounded.

Many couples choose to wed in the temples of Freya, even if they do not follow her worship in other respects.  Warriors will petition her before great battles, and it is said that she will send her Valkyrie servants to carry away the best and bravest of the fallen in a battle if they have captured her attention.  If the fallen one was a particularly devout worshiper, Freya might even come herself.  Those so chosen will spend their afterlives (until such time as their souls are reincarnated to a new life) in Freya's great hall, spared the pain and loneliness of a journey through the Shadow Realms.

Temples to Freya can be found in nearly every city across Keradrin, and in most of the smaller communities as well.  Their form tends toward human or elvish architectural styles, depending on the prevalent ancestry and culture in the region.

Freya's symbol and sacred animal is the falcon.  Her temples are richly decorated with whatever flowers are in season, as well as a wide variety of art gifted by worshipers -- for any artist who is a true worshiper of Freya, to make a gift of one's best work at least once during their lifetime is considered a sacred obligation.