Metra, the Earth Mother
(a.k.a. The Dreaming Goddess, The Harvest Queen)
Divine Domains
Earth, Nature, Life, Agriculture
Divine Symbols & Sigils
A green woman-shaped tree
Tenets of Faith
Metra and Raya were first among the cosmos, alone together. Then Skeinor came to them. To each he dallied, whispering sweet words in their ears and plying them both with affections. Raya laughed and played the game of courting, for she understood the rules. But Metra, steadfast and honest, did not play such games. When Skeinor made her promises, she believed his words and gave herself over to love him, only to find that his promises were false.
Metra stood by as Skeinor wooed and finally won her sister Raya as his bride, and watched as he made a poor husband, choosing always to go off on his own instead of being with his wife. To divert themselves, Raya and Metra created the world, Raya from above, Metra from below. And when the Land was created, Metra lay down in the darkness of night and gave birth to her child, her secret sin. Such was the effort of his birthing that when it was done, she willed herself into a sleep, so she could dream of the lost love of Skeinor and the trust of Raya.
But such is Metra's power that she cannot dream but affect the world she had made. And so upon the Land, the life she had created grew and grew, green and hale from the black earth of Metra's bed. And as the fruit and grain ripened, the people gave thanks to her bounty and crowned her with a new name, one that held no shame - Maia, the Harvest Queen. But for those who know, Metra, the dreaming goddess, still makes the wild plants grow, and gives succor to the animals that live in the places where no stone roads lie.
Holidays
Maia is celebrated with festivals both after the spring planting is completed and after the autumn harvest is done. Planting Fest is typically held on or near the summer solstice in Platinett, while Harvest Fest is held after the autumn equinox towards the end of Havestett. The exact day varies from country to country.
Divine Goals & Aspirations
Metra is the goddess of nature and the wilderness, even as her alter-ego aspect, Maia, is the goddess of agriculture. In her first form, she is the protector of the wilderness and the wild plants and animals that inhabit such spaces, even as she accepts that the natural order often can be destructive and violent. In her second form, she is depicted as a benevolent tender of nature's bounty, brought under control by those whose skill can make crops grow.
Divine Classification
Goddess
Alignment
Neutral Good
Children
Comments