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Selene

The Jealous Goddess

Selene is the Goddess of Love, known primarily for creating and residing within the Moon. She is the patron deity of Elves, causing her to be one of the most worshipped Gods on Totania, though what most people know her for is her legendary jealousy, which is central to most of her myths. Her greatest strength and most fatal flaw is the jealousy that drives her to act, an impulse that causes her to stand out amongst other, more lax Gods content with their place in the hierarchy of the cosmos.  

History

Selene, as one of the most prominent Goddesses, central to the faith of one of the largest and most historically significant kingdoms in history, has been involved in a great many events throughout history. Due to this, every single event related to Selene cannot be detailed.   Instead, below is a short detailing of the some major historical events involving Selene, to paint a picture of the Jealous Goddess and how she has shaped Totania.
Izanagi by Jarhed
 

Creation of the Moon

What role Selene played in the creation of Totania is debated by different faiths, scholars, and even other Gods, and as it was so long ago there is no way to know for certain.   However, we do know that Selene had a major role in another part of the galaxy's creation. After Izanagi created the sun as his domain, the Goddess gave in to her jealousy and made a similar realm of her own. This realm would not have Totania revolve around it, but instead would revolve around Totania.   Thus, Selene created the moon. Ever since then, it has served as her domain and central heavenly realm, where the souls of most of her followers go when she dies, and where she herself resides.  

Selene's Fury

Selene was not always the beloved Goddess with one of the largest follower bases in the world. During the time of the Giant Kingdom, she had almost no followers at all, which enraged her.
Papatūānuku by Jarhed
  Beyond this, Selene was furious that she had little impact on the creation of the planet Totania, particularly Papatūānuku's Great Sea, which Selene saw as one of the greatest acts a God had done to the planet.   To strike back against the Giants who had spurned her, and to copy the feat of Papatūānuku, Selene flooded the northern continent where the Giants lived, sinking the land beneath the sea, destroying the continent, killing a majority of the Giant population, and destroying their kingdom entirely.   This act, later known as Selene's Fury, created the Northern Sea in a single day. While many view it as an act of rage and jealousy, the impressive nature of it cannot be denied either, as the scale was beyond what most other Gods with no followers would be capable of.
Mimir by Jarhed
  While the moon was her first true act as a Goddess, Selene's Fury is often seen as proof that Selene always was among the most powerful in Heaven, deserving of her immense following later in history.  

The First Elves and the Holy Rebellion

The next great act of Selene was not that of destruction, but instead creation. According to most versions of the tale, she witnessed Nergal's creation of the first Orcs and, again allowing her jealousy to take hold, decided to make her own species.   Why did she make Elves specifically, who do not (at least on the surface) resemble Orcs? There are different theories, though the most prevailing one is that they were created to use their affinity for magic to counteract the power of the naturally strong Orcish warriors. Others say she hated the look of green skin on Orcs, and decided to stick with "more natural colors" according to her own taste in colors, and this is the first instance of those colors used for skin (shades that would continue on Dwarves, Gnomes, Halflings, Fairies, and Humans). Selene proudly takes credit for this, claiming those later species as the other Gods stealing from her for once.   Whatever the case, it would not take long for the new Elves (most notably Meiriris Nerifir) to be stolen away from Selene. While she and Nergal were living alongside their people, teaching them about life and the world, two other Gods were plotting something sinister.

Domains

Selene is one of the most powerful Goddesses, which is due in part to her domains, central to much of global society.   Her first and central domain is that of love. She is said to bless lovers and anyone who is in love, and if they pray to her in the throes of affection she is said to aid them in their plight as best as she can.   Her next domain is the Moon. This celestial body was made by Selene, and is an observatory from which she and her devoted, deceased followers reside and witness the world of the living.   One major domain that she isn't always credited for is as Goddess of the hunt. She herself loves to hunt, and she blesses those who do so within the bounds of her teachings. Alongside this she is Goddess of the bow and a symbol of hers is the arrow.   The lion, particularly the Nerifir Lion, is another symbol of hers, as it is an apex predator and a hunter like Selene herself.   Another domain of hers is youth, which is said to be part of what allows the Elves to look young for a majority of their lengthy lifespans. One myth claims that Selene was the youngest of the Gods (however that is possible, if it is possible), which may be how she gained this domain. This domain also applies to another facet of her faith, which is that she is said to protect children and her priests are trained in childcare and helping children escape danger, spreading joy and safety.   Another domain of hers is illusion, closely entwined with love. Most say this domain came about because of love's sometimes fleeting, elusive nature. What may appear to be love is only an illusion, or when in the grip of a particularly strong love one may be more susceptible to illusions. Illusory magic is a domain practiced primarily by her followers, and she is prayed to before most illusions take effect.   Selene is also patron deity to Elves, particularly Wood and High Elves. Most Dark Elves do not worship Selene, and Half-Elves are generally not warmly welcomed by most of her followers.   A minor domain of Selene is that of horses, which she is said to have either created or taken credit from when Papatūānuku made them. Legend has it that Selene rides upon her horse Eos when she hunts, and that Eos is by her side in Heaven at all times.
Parents (Adopting)
Satanael and Mimir struck when neither Nergal nor Selene were ready. The God of Hell and God of Secrets knew the weaknesses of these rival Gods, and defeated them and their followers in combat, exiling the God of Orcs and Goddess of the Moon and enslaving both the Elves and Orcs alike.
Satanael by Jarhed
  While her people were enslaved by two of the most evil deities in the realms, what was Selene doing?   There are a thousand answers to this question, and the most likely is that she was licking her wounds and seething in her jealousy, knowing that she'd failed to protect the one thing she'd ever created, furious that she'd lost her chance at a dominion over Totania.   Selene herself, through her priests, maintains the official position that she was working towards freeing the Elves (whether she wanted the Orcs free or not is something she refuses to comment on). To achieve this goal, she was building her power and communicating with some Elves like Meiriris Nerifir. This took her over 150 years, which causes some to doubt how actively she was involved in these plans, but few dare to question Selene for fear of facing the famous wrath that sunk the Giants.   Ultimately, Selene did aid in the rebellion led by Meiriris Nerifir, though her role was likely not as active as it was in the fighting that once enslaved her people. Her blessing was given to Meiriris and other Elves, but she likely never set foot in Camor until it was rid of Mimir and Satanael. Still, the Holy Rebellion was waged in her name, and she gets just as much credit as leading figures like Satora Molthi or Yelzak the Spiteful.  

The Nerifir Kingdom

What Selene was personally present for, however, was the founding of the Nerifir Kingdom in that very same city. The freed slaves formed a new government run by Elves instead of Gods. Selene is said to have escorted Meiriris to her throne, giving a speech endorsing the first Queen of the Elves. This speech has since been immortalized in Elven history, though many believe it to have been written by one of Meiriris's top advisors, Galgeon Lusisce, and that whatever Selene truly said has been lost.
"It is here that we gather, my people, to honor the work you've done in freeing yourselves from the clutches of evil and returning safely to the faith of the true Goddess: me.   But today is only partially about me. You'll have eternity in life and the afterlife to celebrate me, so today you'd best take the time to honor your Queen.   Meiriris, my darling, this kingdom is my gift to you. Imagine that... I don't know if I've ever had someone to give a gift to before. I preferred to receive them, you know, but this... this is all for you. What's yours is mine, after all.   Follow her commands well, every single one of you, for through her, I speak. Nerifir is your ruler and Selene is your Goddess. If you remember those things at least, you will rise to Heaven when your life has concluded."
— Selene
  Selene maintained a position in Meiriris's court. As there was little else for the Goddess to do in this period, she did not mind spending time with her daughter and getting praise directly from the Elven people. She didn't care much when the March of the Orcs happened and Camor was rid of the Orcish population, as it meant no influence from Nergal and, perhaps, people would forget she had copied him in the first place when she'd made the Elves. For the most part, she was right.
Chadzar Dalarune by Jarhed
  Some believe that Selene's interference in politics is what caused Chadzar Dalarune and Dresmorlin Cobath to lead an uprising that drove out the two groups that would later become the Wood Elves and Dark Elves.   The reasoning for this is not directly Selene's fault, at least according to Dalarune's own words on the matter. The uprising began because the second generation of Elves (which he was part of) had little say in deciding the future of the kingdom. No one knew the lifespan of an Elf at that point, for no Elves had lived long enough to die of old age, and so it seemed Meiriris and her generation would rule forever, with the authority of a Goddess backing them up. Selene was not just a symbol of authority for the Nerifir royal family, but she represented the old guard, tradition, and the authority that had made the life of second-generation Elves miserable and monotonous.   When Dalarune and Cobath led this uprising, and a majority of second-generation Elves fled Camor, Selene endorsed Galgeon Lusisce's plan to hunt them down and bring them back, authorizing Captain Commander Tavzion Mossense to go after them and blessing him with her domain of the hunt. When he returned empty-handed, she disappointedly told Meiriris the soldier would need to either prove himself or be executed for his failure.   Luckily for Mossense, the opportunity came soon enough. The first meeting of Elves and Dwarves resulted in the First Elven-Dwarven War, with the two sides clashing as they would continue to do for thousands of years. The difference here was that the two deities who created and supported the kingdoms were not only present, but also participated.
Captain Commander Tavzion Mossense by Jarhed
  Selene was very protective of her people, and it was in this war that she first got to clash with a God who she seemingly had a great deal of history with before the creation of either the Elves or the Dwarves: the Dwarven God Hadur.   Elven soldiers who fought on the battlefield with or camped alongside Selene noticed that the Goddess seemed to have a need to prove herself against Hadur. It wasn't a hatred, necessarily, but she certainly did not like him. It seemed to be more like someone who had been told long ago they were a burden or weak, now desperate to prove that they are more competent than they were once given credit for.   Ultimately, this turned into one of the greatest rivalries in the Heavens, which bled into their followers as well. Elves and Dwarves, products of these two rivals, seemed natural enemies, and most attribute this to the feelings between these two deities.   Tavzion Mossense was the leading figure in this war, trying to prove himself to Selene. Selene, according to most accounts, had forgotten her grudge against the Captain Commander and fought alongside him as if there had never been any issues between the two. Completely distracted by Hadur, she helped Mossense as often as she could, but neglected her own daughter in the fighting. Selene was heartbroken when she heard the news of Meiriris Nerifir's death in battle, and the subsequent end of this first conflict. The first major funeral in Camor, hosted by the Goddess Selene (which has inspired funeral traditions in her church for centuries since) was that of Meiriris Nerifir, and Selene did all she could to help the next queen, Holara Nerifir, to keep things just as Meiriris had them. Little progress was made, just as Chadzar Dalarune had warned would be the case with Selene involved.  
Orithea Nerifir by Jarhed
It wasn't until the ascension of the third queen, Orithea Nerifir, that Selene stepped away from official court duties. She'd flaked on most after the death of Meiriris, and the second queen Holara Nerifir is said to have only spoken with Selene only seven times in her life. The Goddess had quickly grown bored of her official position, and disliked having to answer to anyone, even if it was her children and grandchildren.   By the time Orithea took over for her mother, the new queen decided to issue the Goddess an ultimatum: aid in court as she did under Meiriris or leave so that her spot could be filled. Selene was upset at Orithea possibly thinking she could be replaced, and so she fled Camor. Orithea, in turn, renounced all faith in Selene and insisted all facets of the government remove mention of the Goddess.   While the Nerifir Kingdom had been the first mortal kingdom in the world since the Giants, and the first to have an official faith, it was also the first kingdom without one.   Some credit the behavior of Queen Orithea and her children Macvara and Arazion with the "godless" kingdom they ran, which contributed to a moral decline. However, Arazion still claimed to do everything in the name of Selene, and it was in his wake that her worship was truly welcomed again in Camor.   That is not to say she was not worshipped in the years of Orithea, Macvara, or Arazion's reign.   She made one appearance before the Elven people during this time. During the Draco-Elvish War, as the Elves fought the Draconians, Selene appeared. This was not to help her people, though that happened as a result of her actions. Instead, it was due to the arrival of another Goddess onto the battlefield: Helle, Goddess of Greed and Envy.   One may think that Selene, being the Jealous Goddess, had these as her domains, but envy in particular was stolen from her by Helle, rival to Selene in all aspects of life. Why they hate each other, what caused this, is beyond mortal comprehension, but any chance they get to screw over the other, they take. And so Selene manifested on the battlefield exclusively to fight Helle, and as their mortal followers battled beneath them, the two Goddesses fought. When the battle ended, Selene vanished again.
Zenster Nerifir by Jarhed
  It was during Arazion's son Zenster Nerifir's reign that Selene worship was embraced once more by the state. He went against his grandmother's mandate in an attempt to help his struggling kingdom, particularly his own reputation. This did not help, as he has remained immortalized as the "Troubled King" of Camor.   Selene herself never returned to court and is said to have never entered Camor Keep again after being kicked out by Orithea. The Elves gave her back her worship and power without regaining her wisdom, except for those who travel to her temple to hear directly from her or her priests.  

The Kwarvian War

While Selene no longer interfered directly with most Elven matters, this does not mean she was not involved in other affairs around the world, especially when it came to the other Gods. Her rival Helle had gotten her into an argument, and so the Goddess Mayowa intervened, bringing in Ishtar as backup.   These four Goddesses, intent on settling this dispute, went to a nameless Korvian and asked to know who was the most superior among all the Heavens. Appointing this Korvian as their judge, Selene hoped to prove herself superior to Helle and all the Gods in Heaven in every aspect.   This Korvian witnessed the Goddesses prove themselves in various ways until, finally, she chose the winner. It was not Helle, nor was it Selene or Ishtar, but instead it was the very Goddess who chose the competition: Mayowa.
Cerys by Jarhed
  Mayowa bestowed the Korvian with a name, Cerys, and a city for her people. Selene, in turn, advocated for war. She worked together with two of her greatest enemies during this war: Hadur, God of the Dwarves, and Helle, who was just as furious as Selene.   And so, they gathered an army. Luckily, Cerys had agitated the Dwarves, and so Hadur rallied his people and Selene led the charge. She was rather upset at how few Dwarves wielded her trademark weapon, the bow, and so she spent much of her blessings on one Dwarven archer, Grammar. Grammar had been held captive by Elves, who taught him to use the bow, and it was then that he first made Selene's acquaintance. In this war, however, they were always on the same side, even when they disagreed.   The blessings of the other Gods, however, made a great deal of trouble for Selene. Cerys was so skilled with the bow thanks to her newfound power that she is said to have even faced Selene herself in an archery duel at least once during the war. Selene, who prided herself on aiding her own people (like Meiriris Nerifir) in standing against Gods was, herself, defeated or stalemated by a mortal. For this, she detested Cerys more than any other mortal who has ever lived, and made sure the Korvian cause of the war died a painful death.   Most cite this as the reason why Selene is still hesitant to welcome in Korvian followers. The memory of the one mortal to defeat her is always in the back of the Jealous Goddess' mind.  

The War of Mercy

Selene had little to do with Amukk's War of Mercy, as the Orc rallied people all over the world against the Gods, who he saw as neglecting the citizens of Totania and what they needed. Amukk killed the Nameless God and took his place in Heaven. This began the Modern Era with the Age of Heroes, but alongside this it also began a period of doubt in the Gods.
Amara by Yumedatchi
  Were any of the Gods looking out for mortals? As Amukk's followers grew in number, Selene felt her own follower count dwindle. Her power, too, lessened, and she feared that if she grew too weak then a mortal may kill her as well. As she began to spiral, many close to her feared what it would mean for the world. In a depressive fit, what might the Jealous Goddess do to a world that scorned her?  

The Divine Heroes

Selene was ushered into the Modern Era in a fashionable way, with the advent of the Divine Heroes and their efforts to save Nerodil.   In particular, one of the major figures involved in this event, among the most well-known of the Divine Heroes due to her long life after the events of Nerodil and ensuing efforts following her fame, was the Archpriestess of the Moon (who would go on to become, from the Age of Plague through til the Age of Justice, Head Priest of Selene), Amara.   Amara not only reintroduced Selene onto the world stage in a post-Amukk world, where faith in some of the more established Gods had been shaken, but she then continued to spread the good word and advocate for the Goddess of Love as the Modern Era continued.   Of course, Selene was not the only God to receive this treatment. Two of her greatest rivals, Hadur and Helle, also had priests as members of the Divine Heroes, but Tankean Nimphonker, the voice of Helle in this group, was not particularly popular, and Hadur's priest Dhurnas Blackmane spent more time with the Dwarven people than he did preaching the word of Hadur outside the mountains. Thus, even though Amara herself also spent most of her time at the Temple of Selene, Selene still ended up benefiting the most from the Divine Heroes' actions (save for, perhaps, the lesser Gods who got a severe boost in popularity by having followers/priests involved, such as Irkalla, Erra, and Nyx.  

Relationships and Rivals

Selene is not loved by many other Gods, and as a matter of fact she has a hostile relationship with a great many of them due to the jealousy that often consumes her.
Hadur by Jarhed
  There are some she is close to. Izanagi is known to guide her and work with her, favoring her (unfairly, according to some Gods). His closest advisors, Phrixus, Leigong, and Athena all watch over her as well, though they may not always agree with her. Ninatta, Erra, and Janus all seem to enjoy Selene's company and appreciate her teachings. Selene herself only really puts up with the company of "lesser" Gods, which allows her to enjoy the company of all but Izanagi, whose company she enjoys only because he treats her well.   As for her rivals, there are some particularly famous feuds involving Selene. Hadur, God of the Dwarves, is the most notable of her rivals due to the many Dwarven-Elven wars fought in part because of their hatred for each other. Helle and Selene bicker due to their jealousy and need to outdo the other. While Papatūānuku generally has little hatred for Selene, her immense power and following, as well as a broad list of achievements, makes Selene more jealous than perhaps any other God, and so Selene cannot put up with her. One last rival, though Selene herself considers many more, is Nyx, Goddess of Night, who often clashes with Selene over who truly rules the night.   While Divine Amukk, the mortal turned God, is not an enemy of Selene, she certainly doesn't like him. She sees him as a threat to her power, and has begun treating him as her greatest foe since his ascension to godhood. Amukk, in turn, seems pleased by this, and takes her challenge head-on. Selene has likely forgotten that her daughter, Meiriris Nerifir, also once considered a man named Amukk (the God Breaker who beat Satanael in combat, who the mortal-turned-God was named after) as a rival to her power, and in doing so has failed to realize that in one respect she now takes after her child, rather than the other way around.   Finally, Selene hates a set of four Gods: Mimir and Satanael are chief among them for what they did to her Elves. Her hatred for Tsukuyomi is perhaps due to spending too much time with his brother, Izanagi. And of course, like most Gods, she detests the God of Demons, Chernobog. Selene is often hunting, and there is nothing she likes hunting more than rogue Demons that have escaped the Void.  

Children of Selene

It is uncommon for most Gods to have a relationship with a mortal, and even rarer for that to result in a Demigod child. However, among the Gods with the most Demigods, Selene is in the top five alongside Ishtar, Janus, Erra, and Mayowa (with some believing Ninatta or Izanagi may be on that list above some of the other Gods as well). If the math of most scholars of divine parentage is to be believed, Selene herself is behind only Ishtar and perhaps Janus.   What makes Selene different from many of the other Gods is the nature of her relationships. Ishtar is primarily a Goddess of Fertility, and the Demigods she sires are born less out of love and more out of a desire to keep the citizens of Alzirgos and the rest of the world alive and continuing their families. Ishtar mates with mortals as a motivation and blessing for them to have more children, and Janus's reasons are... unknown.
Meiriris Nerifir by Jarhed
  Selene, however, has Demigod children with mortals she connects with on a personal level. The Goddess of Love does not feign feelings, nor does she have relationships for purely lustful or physical reasons. There has been no recorded need after the Holy Rebellion of any major instance of her needing to inspire fertility among Elves. By all accounts, Selene falls in love with mortals, housing them in her temple for a time and having a child or two with them. These children, too, are beloved by Selene.   Some of the known demigod children of Selene include Meiriris Nerifir, the first Elven Queen, who was made by Selene and no other parent, and Horkos, upholder of oaths, whose other parent is unknown as of now. Likely other notable figures are children of Selene, whether they are aware of it or not. Demigod children of Selene are not always notable, as there can be so many of them, but those that rise above the rest often find themselves at the center of world events.   While Dresmorlin Cobath and other Elves like Narkard Tinnel or Galgeon Lusisce were also created by Selene directly, they were not demigods. They had no divinity within their bodies, save for that natural divinity found in all mortals, and were not based on the Goddess Selene herself. While most Elves try to claim divine heritage by tracing back their first Elven ancestor to Selene, only the Nerifirs (and anyone descended from an actual demigod later on) can truly do so.  


Cover image: by wal_172619
Character Portrait image: Selene by Jarhed

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