Maru

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Maru of the Sun, also known as 'The Lioness of the Heavens' was the Miangan goddess of the sun. As the matron deity of all the Miangan people, Maru is revered as a lifegiver, a guardian and an image of perfection. The goddess' will is rather unclear, leaving the Miangan people to believe that her ultimate will is for her followers to live a free and prosperous life.   Ancient records kept by the High Hakima of Sebonas, speak of a time during the Conflict of Rock and Fang when Maru rode out of the sun on the 'Road of Blazing Trails' to interfere directly with the conflict and safekeep the ancestors of the Miangan people. Scholars thus believe that instead of a true deity, Maru of the sun is more likely to be a high-ranking celestial serving another deity.

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Larger than life is likely an underwhelming description for the appearance of the Lioness of the Heavens. Maru is described to be a 10-foot tall feminine humanoid with a lionesses' head. Her build is described as athletic with plenty of muscles and her skin is covered in a coat of night-black fur and her eyes are as golden as the sun, lastly She is said to have six large wings covered in pure white feathers sprouting from her back.   Maru is also said to not wear much more than a well-cut toga with sandals. She was described as adorned with jewelry of gold and wielding two scimitars shaped like rays of the sun whenever she went into battle. Often,

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Followers of Maru in the Copper Coast region have suffered declining birth-rates in the past centuries due to migration, isolation and regular skirmishes with the mountain-folk in the area. In an attempt to stabilise their populations, the Hakima of the different tribes prayed to the Lioness of the Heavens for her wisdom. Through their prayers and cooperation, they have learned of a sacred rite known as the 'Rite of Maru'. The Rite of Maru is practiced 3 times a year, during the month of Maius, Iunius and Iulius of the Stellan calender.   During these fertility rites, followers of Maru flock to the holy city of Sebonas to join in the rite where they drink from a special concoction made by the Hakima and partake in multiple evenings of rambunctious dancing, feasting, partying and love-making. Due to this, it is very common for litters of tabaxi and leonin to be born during cold winter months of Novinius, Decinius and Ianuarius.