Celestine

[psalmofseasons]

Autumn | Sky | Cognition

Celestine is the goddess of mind and emotion, of artisans and readers, of hearth and home. She has domain over the sky, and with it, the weather, the heavens, and celestial bodies. Legends say she keeps clouds in jars on her shelves. She is known for her intellect, introspection, and compassion. She is also the keeper of homes and is said to be a phenomenal cook and lover of food, which is no surprise given that the bounty of Autumn is fully at her disposal. She is often dressed all in gold or silver, and she has a very dark complexion with deep brown hair that coils like a cloud. Her hair and skin are often tinged with silver moonlight or golden sunlight, depending upon the time of day, and it is said that those who look into her large, dark eyes will see silvery stars glimmering in her irises.

The preferred offerings of Celestine consist chiefly of autumnal delights and foraged items such as vegetables, pumpkins, reddened leaves, walnuts, acorns, mushrooms, and pinecones. She also has a special love for books and stories, and is fond of incense and tea. Her symbols include fall foraged items (such as the aforementioned), the written word, jars, fire (particularly in the form of candles, fireplaces, stoves, and lanterns), birds, wolves, bears, weathervanes, clouds, and rain. She also is often represented by tools, particularly those used in kitchens, forges, meteorology, and astronomy. The sun, moon, stars, and planets also fall under her domain, though she shares the sun with Kora during the summer's heat. She is most often represented by the colors gold and orange, though silver, yellow, red, and even rainbows have been used in her imagery.

Celestine is especially fond of those with autumn birthdays, but she is also the patron goddess of homemakers, chefs, craftspeople, scientists, doctors, students, and avid readers and researchers. She has been known to have a soft spot for homebodies and introverts. Those who seek knowledge, pursue crafts, and prefer the indoors are likely to be beloved by her. Out of all mortals, however, none are so beloved as those who spend their nights looking to the stars.

✦ RETURN ✦

Comments

Mid-May

[astrogator]

This is not Arilanna Tayrey's first visit to the temple. The first time she had spoken with Degas. Today she makes sure she is alone. She carries with her a large roll of paper, tied with red ribbon, as well as the bright lantern that guides her way through late patrol shifts in town.

'Peace and prosperity,' she says quietly, feeling faintly foolish to be speaking to a shrine, but apparently that's how these things are done. 'This is Lieutenant Tayrey of the Tradelines, hoping to contact Citizen Celestine.' She uses the title of respect in her culture, the one used by default when you don't know if your listener carries another.

'I'm not the sort for worship. I deal in fair contracts. I hope you'll find that acceptable.' Her tone is respectful, yet professional. 'I was told that you love the stars. I made my home among them, on the Starship Prosperity. I'm pleased with the contract that liberated me from a terrible imprisonment and gave me the chance to find my way back to my home and my people. Grateful that your people considered a damaged Tradeliner worth recruiting. Rescuing. I don't expect it will be easy, but-'

A pause, as she considers how to phrase this. 'I will risk my life to do my duty here, but if it's within your power, protect me from being forced into fights that I cannot possibly win.' Monsters immune to bullets, creatures that could kill Tayrey without a second thought, magic that she can't possibly defend against. Situations where she could make no error and still have no hope. The fear that prevents her from ever feeling truly safe. All she needs is probability turned in her favor, so that she won't be made a target.

Then Tayrey unrolls her paper. It's a large and wonderfully detailed star chart, made with precision and care, the colors of stars and informational markings bright against the blackness of the background. A work of science, a work of art. 'If you can help, and you will, then this is for you. Fair contract?'

There's an expectant look on her face, but young Lieutenant Tayrey isn't sure she'll have any answer at all. At least there's nobody else around to hear her words.

[psalmofseasons]

There is a loud klunk on the hardwood floor as something drops heavily from above. It lands behind Ari unceremoniously.

An astrolabe on a tasteful gold chain lies on the floor in the center of the room. A rolled piece of parchment is tied to it.

"I cannot put a price on the wonder you feel when you look to the stars, but hopefully this tool will suffice."

It's not clear exactly what this particular astrolabe does that is special, so Ari will have to test it, but it definitely feels powerful as it thrums with a deep, old magic as colossal as the cosmos.

[ Tayrey has been given a divine boon, the Starry Omen Astrolabe. When used near an enemy, Tayrey will be imbued with an omen--- or more specifically, a gut feeling about how dangerous the enemy is. Their danger level will be judged on a 5-point scale and a tidbit of information that may or may not be useful will be available to her. Fun fact: this can also be used on allies! ]

[astrogator]

Startled, she looks behind her. She picks up the astrolabe, unties the note, and reads it. Wonder is a part of what she feels when she looks to the stars. That and a nostalgia at odds with her years, a deep longing for home, a sense of hope. Smiling, she pockets the note, and examines the astrolabe in more detail. It's exquisitely made, and entirely functional - something the practical Tradeliner appreciates. She put in the effort to learn how to use astronomical tools that would be archaic in her sector.

There's more to it. Arilanna Tayrey has vanishingly little ability to sense magic; her universe lacks it, but the power of this runs so deep that even she can tell there's something unusual about it. She'd say that it feels charged, almost as if it were a store of great energy. Carefully, she slips the chain over her head and tucks the astrolabe under her blue jacket.

'Thank you. If you were here, I would shake your hand,' she says, her voice more confident now that she's certain she's being heard. Alright, she might not know exactly how the astrolabe will protect her, but she trusts that it will. Fair contract. She has no reason to doubt it.

Tayrey lays the star chart down on the shrine, moving some of the smaller objects present to its corners to keep it flat. Then she steps to the side and chooses a stick of incense to light. One that carries the heavy scent of spices that remind her of Cardalek Tower, her first home.

'I will take care of this, and put it to good purpose,' she says, that smile of hers still growing. 'Safe skies, Citizen Celestine.'