Terona, Patron of the Gigoth

Terona
Protector of the Aelamos Pantheon
Domains: War, Freedom, Storms
Holy Symbol: An Obsidian Spear
 
“Be like the storm. Brutal, uncompromising, free.”
 
Terona is the younger twin of Verona and the creator of the Gigoth orcs. Common depicted as a Gigoth woman in modest leather armour clutching a spear in the midst of battle. She is said to have represented death and storms up until she created and wielded The First Weapon. It was Terona that created the Mirokath Archipelago during what many consider the first conflict on Aelamos, where she fought and subsequently slew Chariel, an Amur who boasted unrivaled prowess in battle. From then she took up the mantle as a symbol of war. It was not until the War for Supremacy that she become a symbol of freedom as well, as she supported those who fought to repel the Amur. She has had a deep hatred for anything restrictive ever since, and violently opposes it. Terona was never much for words, instead being an Eternal of action.  
 

Tenets
When the church of Terona, and by extension Terrona herself, refer to power they do not mean political power, or monetary power. They mean the ability to wage war in whatever form it takes. The method in which power is used does not matter, all that matters is that it is used. To Terona, power is a means, not an end. You do not stop once you have acquired power, you strike out into the world and use it.

“Like a good knife, power is a tool, and the only good tool is one that is used.”

Before one can enact their will on their own terms, they must build themselves up to a point where it is feasible for them to do so. It is here that the church is the most united. While some argue the best methods and their implementations, no one argues that it all must be done yourself. The church is adamant in that your power must be truly your own. It cannot be lent from other sources, it can only be taken. As such, the church is infamous for having very few Saints. Those that have personally taken a small portion of Terona’s power are the only ones worthy of being Saints of the church.

“Your power is beholden to only you. Keep it that way.”
 
Terona, and by association the Gigoth orcs, being likened to a storm was a common comparison before the War for Supremacy. Wild, free, and strong was how she created her people and how she wished them to stay. The church supported this, and during the War for Supremacy they undertook many campaigns to free as many of their people as they could. In a rare instance of an Eternal being influenced by the actions of their church, Terona came to embody freedom as best as she could. By advocating for violent rage against those who would dare try and cage anyone.

“Let no person, system, or magic cage your storm.”

 

Clergy
Clergy of Terona tend to be mostly indistinguishable from the warriors they advise. Their purpose is not to lead, or to be a sort of figurehead. Their purpose is advisory in nature, and to set an example as to what a proper follower of the church should be. Despite this, they are also required to be capable warriors in their own right, and are expected to be able to defend themselves should they be threatened. Those of tenure are expected to travel the land and test the mettle of various clergy, ensuring the might of the members of their church.

 

The Church
The Church itself is a very informal entity, and those who are in the church see it as a bond they all share rather than an organisation with a clear goal in mind. A consequence of this is that there are few physical churches, and fewer records indicating any sort of size.