Ernozidia
Queen of the Harpies
Jealousy is the feeling of losing something one possesses to another, and it is the Demon Lord Ernozidia that embodies this feeling. A winged terror whose raspy voice flutters in to the hearts of mortals, many have fallen to her whispers as wary eyes and paranoia fester their hearts. Alongside her corruption of mortals, Ernozidia is the matron of harpies. These foul creatures are all children of Ernozidia; born of cursed jealousy, their shrieks echo a pain of loss and longing.
Domain and Influence
The feeling of jealousy is found throughout mortal life and is common-place in day-to-day life. It is when this emotion is fostered that it becomes more potent and dangerous, and often times it is a direct influence of Ernozidia. The emotional and psychological torment of losing that which one holds dear has a potent effect on The Weave.
From romantic jealousy to parental possessiveness, political insecurity to the loss of riches, Ernozidia harvests her power not from bloodshed, but from manipulating the emotion of jealousy in such situations. Even amongst the divine beings found in the Weave, Ernozidia's presence is felt, as the loss of mortal followers and potential replacement of other religions and gods is one of the only ways to truly end a divine being.
Her most visible influence upon The Material Plane are the humanoid monstrosities known as Harpies. Seen as a fierce menace in the wilds of the world, few are aware of their ties to a Demon Lord. The harpies themselves often revere Ernozidia as their Goddess, with foul effigies found amongst their nests.
Appearance and Depictions
Ernozidia is a towering harpy, her daughters sharing her bestial appearance. With legs that are scaled and end in viscous talons, and arms replaced by vast, black-feathered wings, she is both regal and monstrous. While at rest, her wings fold and curl like a velvet cloak, and along with a gnarled crown of twisted horns atop her head, Ernozidia is an image of twisted nobility.
With skin that is pale, sickly and stretched across a slender frame, many would underestimate the speed and ferocity the Queen of Harpies possesses. Her face is almost human, beautiful in a haunting, starved way, with glowing yellow eyes that never blink and a mouth too wide when she smiles.
Myths and Legends
The origins of the Demon Lord Ernozidia are wreathed in mystery, mostly in part due to her age. She predates all written word from the Material Plane, coming from the periods of pre-history that lasted for thousands of years before even the earliest civilizations came about.
It was in this time that wordly possessions were of little consequence, and survival was the only thing that mattered. But even for such primitive cultures, jealousy was an emotion beginning to take shape. Such instances of intense jealousy began to seep in to the Weave, and a curse began to form. This curse would target those that committed heinous acts due to their jealous natures – their arms slowly sprouting feathers, their mouths forming in to beaks. They would become the first Harpies of the world.
With each new corruption, the Harpy curse would also coalesce in the Weave. A new entity was forming, its life being nurtured by the jealous emotions of the world. Eventually, Ernozidia awoke, rising from a nest of cursed bones and jealous rage.
Faith and Worship
Not all Demon Lords are regarded as evil by the mortal residents of Varda, and some even have religions built around them. Ernozidia is one such Demon Lord, who enjoys a large following in the country of Therrezia. Holding a reverred state as one of The Seven Celestials of the Imprisoned, it is believed she is tied to fate, and tempting mortals with their desires for this. Many strange and sometimes decadent practices are used in worship to Ernozidia.
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