Maylea
Known amongst the Elders as a minor Fourth Circle Goddess devoted to painting and sculpting the flowers of the First World, Maylea was often called the Bloom of Serenity. Far more serious than many of Her fellow artists, Maylea looked into the spirits of the flowers to find inspiration for Her art, giving the blooms beauty to add meaning to their short-term lives. A quiet and somewhat reclusive Goddess, little else was known about Her during the days of the Elders. In the time of the Elder Wars, She distinguished Herself by making objects of power to help protect the other Elders from the threat of the Soulless. Eventually finding Her way back to the First World in the modern year 208, She soon aligned Herself with the Serenwilde, as it most reminded Her of the purity of Lusternia before the Soulless came.
| Maylea, the Bloom of Serenity | |
| Circle | Artists |
| Symbols | A crystal orchid refracting light into many colours |
| Order Head(s) | Aramel, Lendren |
| Allies | Lisaera |
| Enemies | Nocht |
| Patronage | Serenwilde, Spiritsingers, Hartstone |
Maylea values above all else introspection in those who seek Her, as well as a willingness to examine oneself critically. She also approves of curiosity and intellect, encouraging Her followers to express themselves in the way that best suits them, whether that be through art, the craft of combat, or scholarly pursuits. At the same time, She places emphasis on personal responsibility. As once She looked into the spirits of the flowers and painted their best qualities, She seeks to draw the best qualities of Her followers to the fore.
History and Facts
In the year 208, a golden-eyed bard was found wandering the mountains, having come as so many others from beyond the Basin, but unlike most, not eager to be led to a stage. She toured the Basin and visited many of its people, though she expressed the most interest in the Serenwilde. She also visited the tomb of Lady Isune, and expressed interest in paintings of (amongst other things) the Elder Gods. She introduced herself only as Mai.
Around the same time, colourful wildflowers began to sprout all over the mountains and later on the highways and in other places. So profuse were the growths that people found themselves tripping in the exuberant growth. Some people welcomed the beauty, some worried about the threat they might pose to other plants, and some just were annoyed by tripping over the flowers.
Mai offered after a time to help address the trouble of stumbling, sending a number of Serens to find an orchid and imbue it with all the colours of the rainbow. When it was complete, Mai used it to convince the wildflowers to a slower pace of growth, and then revealed Herself to be Maylea, an Elder Goddess of the Fourth Circle (Artists). It was learned that She had painted the flowers in ages past, and that even while in disguise as a mortal (to see if the Soulless still posed an imminent threat), She had attracted the notice of the flowers, which grew more abundantly to please Her (and which had followed Her to Her fulcrux after She revealed Herself). Though of the Fourth Circle, She had always been close with the Awakeners, especially Lisaera and Elfenhoala.