Shelyn, Goddess of Art & Beauty

 
  Alignment: Neutral Good
Portfolio: Art, Beauty, Aesthetics, Faithfulness
Cleric Domains: Knowledge, Life, Light, Nature, Peace
Symbol: A songbird with a prismatic tail
Other Names: The Eternal Rose, The Song of the Prism, The Lady of Chrysanthemums
Divine Realms: Blossomheart in Elysium
Typical Worshippers: Artists, poets, sculptors, architects, craftsmen
Edicts: Be peaceful, perfect an art form, lead by example, see beauty in all things
Anathema: Destroy art or allow its destruction, except to save a life or pursue greater art; refuse to accept surrender
Favored Weapon: Glaive   Shelyn is the smile in every lovingly painted portrait; she is the morning dew on the petals of a rose, and she is the subtle wonder in the engravings on an ancient marble column. The peaceful goddess of art and beauty exemplifies the wonder in all things that appeal to the senses and give flavor to life, and guides all her followers to practice art of their own and admire the art of others. However, she also warns her followers to not warp their own feelings of love into jealousy, greed, obsession, or self-endangerment in pursuit of their passions and art, and charges her followers to prevent others from doing so in her name.   As aspects of her role as goddess of beauty, Shelyn also promotes the creation of art and the composing and performance of music. Shelyn values all efforts to introduce beauty into the world regardless of form or quality, and while she appreciates passionate artists she never asks people to endanger themselves for their art or succumb to jealousy.   A minor but still critical part of Shelyn's portfolio is that of faithfulness; this virtue is exemplified by her continued faith in her wayward brother Zon-Kuthon, a fellow deity who once shared her portfolio, before he fell to darkness and embraced the spheres of torture, pain, and misery. Shelyn holds on to hope that her brother may one day return to the light, and her followers seek to emulate this faith in others. Shelynites are compelled to trust the sincerity in the words of others, and thus are forbidden from taking the life of an enemy that has surrendered, for their faith demands that they be given that same trust that Shelyn has in her lost kin. This domain of faithfulness also attracts the worship of many young lovers and newlyweds, who seek to emulate Shelyn's unfaltering loyalty and apply it to their romantic relationships.   Shelyn is typically depicted as a stunningly beautiful human woman wearing a wreath of flowers, carrying a variety of artistic tools and musical instruments in her hand and the glaive Whisperer of Souls, once the weapon of her brother, on her back. Though the glaive exudes a heavy and oppressive aura of darkness, Shelyn bears the weapon proudly out of love for Zon-Kuthon. She is often depicted in the company of her two lovers, Desna and ​Solanus.  

Rites, Holidays, & Trials

 

Crystalhue

  Crystalhue is a festival held in Shelyn's name, celebrating craft, courtship, and friendship, at the winter solstice. Couples choose to propose or marry during Crystalhue amidst community-wide feasts and performances.  

Melodies of Inner Beauty

  Melodies of Inner Beauty is the religious text of the church of Shelyn. It contains the history of the goddess, including her family, though drawing a veil over the nastier elements of Zon-Kuthon. It tells stories about Shelyn and discusses her church's dogma. Music is used throughout as many of the tales are set as songs and hymns. Other artistic ways of interpreting the words are also utilized, such as dance and poetry. Other divinely inspired works also exist, some going into more detail about Zon-Kuthon and his former incarnation, Dou-Bral.