he Book of Accounts tells of the making of Terrin, a world destined for balance and prosperity. Each from a failed universe or existence, four gods gathered at a crossroads in time. There, a round table was set with the finest food and drink in preparation for the important meeting that was about to take place. Such a task had gone unaccomplished for far too long; their council was assembled to change this and create a world that would see harmony between good and evil and the light of life and the love of its guardians.

Narah, the goddess of nature and healing, was first to journey to the crossroads. Much to the disappointment of the trees and their swaying bowers, Narah left the coolness of their shade and traveled forth from her realm. She promised a prompt return once her duties were complete. It was not difficult to see why she would be missed – Narah was a beautiful young woman with soft features and playful eyes. Dressed in white and with hair like a golden sun, she seemed to glow, and her mere presence was enough to comfort any who looked upon her. Although quiet, her musical voice possessed an undeniable authority – as nature’s warm wind can quickly turn into a raging hurricane.

She studied the others as they approached the table. Terinus was a burly man who seemed as tempered as the steel he worked with, though his grandfatherly smile was comforting. Eylin was far more boisterous, riding in on a warhorse and clad in glittering armor. Were this any other meeting of their kind, she may have dismissed him as another soldier bent on conquest of the stars, but something behind his eyes told a different story. She was intrigued, but she did not let on to the fact. Last to arrive was Sinaeve, a cold woman with dark eyes and a powerful air about her. Her garb was clean, pressed, and pristine, surely marking her as a lieutenant of some immortal army.

Throughout their introductions, Narah continually felt her eyes drawn to Eylin. She would spy him across the table as he looked upon the Craftsman or the Tactician, whomever was talking, and turned when he glanced her way. She would busy herself with food or drink, but her curiosity persisted despite distraction. Finally, her thoughts were forced elsewhere as it came her turn to speak and present her plan for the world they were tasked with creating.
Narah’s suggestion was simple and straightforward. Unlike the other gods, she had seen great success with worlds devoted only to the power of nature. Sentient beings have proven to cause trouble and upset the balance about them, whereas plants and animals have always adhered to an uninterrupted cycle of natural law. She saw no reason to not have this new world feature the same towering trees and lush grasslands as her own demesne, the forest realm of Arborach.

“The world will be ours, but the trees are my shelter, the lakes my mirror, the animals my messengers, and the mountains my throne. Men make monuments and wage wars… may they never disrespect the earth, for I will show them my fury.” - Narah, White Lady of Arborach

Her appreciation of wildlife was not shared by the others. They felt Narah’s suggestion was worth consideration, but only after the others had spoken could they make a decision. Terinus proposed a world where technology lived in harmony with nature and sentient creatures build monuments to the gods, while Sinaeve took a more martial approach – she preferred a world used to train soldiers for battles elsewhere in the universe. Her immortal army needed a base of operations after her redoubt of Turimarc was sacked, and this new world would benefit from their protection. Narah voiced strong opposition to both proposals.

Eylin chose to break the stalemate, offering unexpected insight and impartiality to their discussion. He was last to speak and, as the other gods listened, proposed a world incorporating their respective aspects of nature, architecture, and politics. Eylin knew a multilateral approach could satisfy all the gods and make for a more perfect balance, and he hoped they would agree. Terinus saw merit in the plan and agreed, as he was eager to begin. An indecisive Narah was perhaps swayed by her unexpected affinity for Eylin and also voted in favor of his proposal. Sinaeve was less than cooperative and remained opposed and enraged at the “foolish decision,” claiming this was an opportunity not to be squandered. Terinus attempted to calm the Tactician but his efforts only enraged her further; Sinaeve stormed away from the crossroads to the ruins of Turimarc, vowing never to return. The four gods were now three, and they would have to work even harder to create and maintain their world.

Meeting at the Crossroads
Art by S.C. Watson

Terinus was responsible for creating the template for their world, and he worked closely with Narah to make its many plains, canyons, and mountains. With her assistance, he shaped the earth and gave it form and because of this, the three gods decided to name their world Terrin in honor of the Craftsman. Still, Terrin was without the spark of life – something only Narah could provide. Now was her time.

Narah made the vast oceans, the coral reefs, expansive forests and the rolling plains. She gave fire to the volcanoes and her breath was the wind. The skies were her smile and the sun and moon her glittering eyes. The animals were made as her children, her favorite being colorful birds and sprinting deer. Every creation was shaped with a loving hand and all was made perfect, as this was the goddess’ specialty. Terinus could create with a craftsman’s rough hands, hewing wood or bending steel, but this level of detail required an artist’s delicate touch. Eylin and Terinus marveled as Narah worked and, despite all their power, felt small compared to the nature goddess.

Next, the realm of the gods – dark and void-like until now – was remade into Glorius, the Plane of Paradise. Narah shaped their surroundings into a place of lush, green, rolling hills, glittering ponds and streams, and with a sky painted with blue, white, and lavender. It was truly glorious in its design. To compliment such majesty, Terinus crafted alabaster temples, amphitheatres, pathways, and carved a palace into the side of the tallest mountain, Arraultanen.

Glorius, Plane of Paradise
Art by Philip Wohr

Terrin was teeming with life and color, Glorius was grand, and the gods were proud. They invited their friends from afar to come and see the world they labored over, to witness its splendor and be amazed by its beauty. The visiting gods hailed Eylin, Narah, and Terinus for their accomplishment and encouraged them to continue. Narah, although not one to boast, was particularly satisfied with her work – the composition rivaling even the glory of Arborach, her home.

Her work complete, Narah hoped to spend more time with Eylin. The two had become close friends during the creation of Terrin and, now that they were its keepers, it only made sense for them to share stories of their past. Terinus saw how the two looked at one another and knew love might bloom, and even incorporated the design of a rose – Narah’s symbol – into Malgradius, the sword he was crafting for Eylin. As Eylin took up Malgradius, it was Narah who dubbed him the Swordbringer.

Unfortunately, Narah was preempted by Yveren, a celestial female dragon who had been watching the gods throughout Terrin’s creation. Revealed, Yveren quickly attached herself to Eylin and implored him to protect her from her enemies. Eylin was intrigued by the strange creature and, over a short time, even began to feel attracted to her sensuality. Looking on from afar, Narah seethed and, despite her upwelling of emotion, had the clarity to see that Yveren was using her powers to charm and influence the Swordbringer. Terinus shared her sentiments towards the dragoness, but neither could break the spell she had over Eylin. He named her his queen within a day.

Acting as Eylin’s queen and consort, Yveren commissioned a race of sentient creatures from Narah; she was the only god with the power to create life and Yveren had to manipulate her to accomplish this. Narah protested, knowing Yveren’s vile intentions for these creatures, but eventually complied at the repeated request of her Eylin. Spellbound as he was, she could not deny him. Yveren guided Narah’s hand throughout the entire process, using her more as an instrument to craft some grotesque weapon, a terrible thing to be unleashed upon the world of Terrin – she was effectively powerless to stop it from happening and hoped the truth of it, when it finally came to be seen, would break Eylin of his trance. As a reward to her obedient king, Yveren then permitted Narah to fulfill Eylin’s original request to make the race of man in his own image, the dragoness having taken the shape of a woman to increase her appeal to Eylin.

Narah was given a unique opportunity now, as a boastful and confident Yveren turned and led Eylin away toward their chamber and into further distraction. Working alone, she knew just how to fix Yveren – she would pour an incredible intensity of spirit and resolve into the race of man, giving them an untold ability to survive, adapt, and prevail over even the most insurmountable odds. The drakadremaar were built for war, but the eynamen would excel at much more. As troublesome as man has become in the past, they were now the only hope in revealing Yveren’s ruse. They only needed time.

As Yveren’s children and men attempted a peaceful coexistence, years passed and sadness fell over the realm of the gods. Narah wept for Eylin, the once mighty Swordbringer now reduced to a mere puppet and plaything. Lunaris, an associate of Terinus, comforted the goddess in this time and, as if to spite Eylin and his queen, soon took Narah’s hand in marriage. His intent was to steal her away from Terrin, claiming the world and their council a failure, but Narah refused; she had to remain, if only to maintain hope that mankind would defeat the drakadremaar and Eylin’s mind would be freed from the shackles Yveren placed upon it. To placate her new husband, Narah offered him dominion over the moon, and their child – Solaris – would become the keeper of the sun. In a time of sorrow, it was a momentary happiness for her, though she still yearned to see Eylin’s smile and feel his touch.

The race of man flourished despite oppression at the hands of the drakadremaar, and three kingdoms rose up: Einaron, Fedfarhan, and Darmijhan. To squelch their advance, Yveren quickly demanded a new, more terrible beast made by Eylin’s will and Narah’s hand; this time, rather than mating dragon and man, Yveren wanted true, unaltered dragons to rule Terrin’s skies. Narah could not refuse the Swordbringer, even when his wishes were not his own – dragons were created bestial, feral, and the eynamen were their prey. Still, true dragons did not claim territory and establish borders as sentient creatures did, and soon conflict arose again between man and draka.

Not to Narah’s surprise, Yveren’s children soon made war against the race of man. The bitter rivalry between the two nations won out over the tenancy of their treaty – a battle for Terrin was on. Yveren’s infernal designs manifested themselves in a moment that was sure to be her triumph, were it not for the combined power of Narah, Terinus, and Sinaeve – an old acquaintance who could not stand idle by while Terrin and its gods were destroyed. Together, their pleas and the horrors of a war waged below were enough to wake Eylin from his slumber and reveal to him the gritty truth. Yveren, his queen and confidante had been manipulating him from the moment they met. Eylin’s rage turned against Yveren like a sudden storm – the other gods could only look on as the two became engaged in a fierce exchange. There was little they could do to aid the Swordbringer.

“Look around you, lover! Is this all you fools can marshal against me? The White Lady. The Blademaker. The War Commander! Hah! Terrin will burn, you will burn along with it, and I will dance delighted in the flames!” - Yveren, the Chaos Serpent

Unwilling to appear powerless, Terinus was quick to bestow weapons unto the race of man; items of great power to fight the drakadremaar were swiftly made by the Craftsman and his many apprentices while Narah removed the shadow from the land and healed the injured fighters. Champions arose to defend the innocent and mend their wounds, the finest of whom were chosen to receive the goddess’ Cadaeran Staff and her other artifacts: the Ring of Narah, the Crown of Narah, and Narah’s Scepter. Many agreed that without aid from the gods and their artifacts, the race of man was surely doomed to fail.

Sinaeve fell and, before the battle was done, Yveren discarded her masks to show herself as the Chaos Serpent – a malicious snake known only for sowing treachery and discord. Eylin’s defeat was imminent were it not for Narah’s assistance during the fight. Eylin eventually triumphed over the beast but the cost was great; her armies left Terrin charred and gray, and the race of man was broken and divided.

The First Era came to a violent end. Men would rebuild and grow strong, the draka would survive in secret; Narah had no doubts about their perseverance and hoped one day for peace between the two races. She still held some love for the drakadremaar despite Yveren’s demented designs. They were her creation, and her plea stayed Eylin’s hand, sparing their kind from destruction. To quell prejudice, Narah also walked amongst men to promote calm and understanding, but old hatred ran deep – the goddess and her appointed emissaries, the enigmatic Tree Men, would face a daunting task.

Mortal struggles aside, Terrin itself suffered the greatest wound – it would be some time before the world was fully healed. Its lands were burned and bloodied and the Heart of Terrin, the machine placed at the planet’s core by Terinus, was forever corrupted by Yveren’s foul magic. The road ahead looked bleaker and less promising as the full extent of Yveren’s deceit came to light, but the gods did not despair. They had one another’s friendship, a bond stronger now than ever, and a bright future ahead. In the days to come, the White Lady would rise to become an even more prominent aspect of the Sacred Triad as Terrin’s many races worked to balance their advancement with respect for nature and its keeper, the goddess Narah.

The Narahn Temple of Gildorall
Art by Christian Piccolo

er duties forever ongoing, Narah remains a valued member of the Sacred Triad and the Gathered Gods to this day. She occupies a chair at the left hand of Eylin and, along with Terinus, advises the Swordbringer in all matters concerning Terrin. She is also known as the Healer and the White Lady, and her responsibilities have changed little over the many millennia – Narah is the keeper of the birds, beasts, mountains and trees. All things that are nature are of Narah. She hopes to uphold an accordant balance between Terrin’s many races, and also seeks an end to the scourge of plague and famine.

“Preserve nature, and value life. Heal, do not maim. Seek peace, resolve conflict with honor and respect. Your enemy is like yourself, unless they are of the Serpent. Do not war, or if you must, only war when peace is threatened by wickedness and evil. When all is lost, know that you still have Narah’s love, and the love of all the gods. And remember your training!” - Samuel Clara, Ranger of the Rose, instructing new recruits

Although peaceful by nature, Narah is a proponent for the cause of good and will react with a thunderstorm’s ferocity if evil threatens her or her children. As an angry sea can smash a ship to splinters, Narah’s wrath will smite those who would blatantly defile the sanctity of her realm. Still, combat is only a last resort; Narah’s first choice will always be to seek a peaceful resolution with combat reserved for only the direst circumstances. Her earthly envoys strive to uphold this creed, with many of her priestesses often negotiating fragile treaties between warring nations and encouraging such plunderers as the orcs and dwarves to seek other ways less harmful to the balance of nature. If necessary, they, alongside the Rangers of the Rose, will fight to the bitter end in the name of their goddess.

Like Eylin’s many mortal warriors, Narah has similarly appointed advocates to directly do her bidding on the material plane. Aside from mortal priestesses, rangers and physicians, Narah also commands the unflinching devotion of the Tree Men, mysterious woodsmen from Terrin’s many forests. Aptly named, the Tree Men disguise themselves with the rich colors of the woods, leaves, and dried moss to show their admiration for Terrin’s many trees and plants. They may be skilled swordsmen, hunters, or martial fighters, and all demonstrate an inherent survival ability envied by even the crafty Shadow Elves. Armed with a weapon of their choice, the Tree Men will also carry the Cadaeran Staff – a cudgel capable of summoning beasts, controlling the wind, and delivering thundering blows to their foes. The Cadaeran Staff can also mend the wounds of plants, animals, or men with spectacular speed and precision. Ageless but not immortal, many of these protectors are as old as their protectorate, the trees.

Narah's constellation is Eld, also known as the Rose. Eld can be easily seen in early spring, particularly during the month of Mayah. Those born under the sign of the Rose may be more inclined to become healers or political peacemakers, such as emissaries. The brightest star of this constellation is Leaf, which can be found at the tip of the rose's singular leaf.

er affinity for Terrin’s natural splendor unparalleled among the Gathered Gods, Narah is easily the one deity who makes the most appearances to Terrin’s mortal population. Often, Narah will manifest in the form of a beautiful eynamen female clad in a gown of pure, white silk. Roses twine with her golden locks, and her delicate hands always carry a small harp at her side – an instrument which produces a sound so heavenly even the elven bards burn with envy. Narah also delights in assuming the forms of avians and other animals and may do so for extended periods of time, sometimes upwards of a month if she is meeting with her priestesses and other delegates.

Narah’s artifacts have made a significant impact on Terrin’s mortal populace; each item – the Crown, Ring, and Scepter – were made for Narah by Terinus and were gifted to Terrin’s many races in times of great evil, notably during the two Great Wars. Her Crown is known for its unimaginable powers over life and death, requiring the goddess to carefully choose those who would bear this artifact. Most recently, a devout Triadic paladin named Cyren Bloodstone was selected to wear the crown and resurrect fallen defenders of Csagradeus Citadel, many spirits being recalled as Sojourners to aid in the fight against Csagrada’s new enemies. Cyren has since disappeared into the western lands of Gautai and it is believed the Crown has been lost with him. Exquisitely detailed facsimiles of Narah’s artifacts travel the underground trader’s markets, existing only to fool those with greedy or vile intent; it is believed that only the righteous will find a true artifact of Narah, and only then when the goddess permits the use of such awesome implements.

“You can say a lot of things about Narah, but one thing is for sure: her priestesses are some of the finest ladies in the land. Swear on the sword to that. Just don’t get in the way of any of those ‘tree’ fellows…” - Maximillion

arah’s most infamous followers are the Phoenen Elves. Rigid fanatics who believe they are the one people worthy of Narah’s love, the Phoenens despise their fellow elves, eynamen, dwarves, and many other races. Unlike their elven brethren, Phoenens are considered unique for their extremely muscular build and fiery red hair and are widely known for terrorizing those they deem unworthy of Narah and the land they occupy. Their society is extremely avian-oriented – birds have always been the favored animal of Narah and the Phoenens believe that by admiring and protecting these creatures, Narah will grant them eternal life as a phoenix reborn out of death. The only sentient creatures they respect are “pure” aves that remain distanced from other societies and free of their influence. Very few aves personally recognize Narah as a power, but they may congregate with Phoenens out of simple curiosity for their unusual kind.

Casual worshipers of Narah may call upon her in times of need, generally during a brush against nature’s thorny stem. Commoners may ask her to save crops from a particularly nasty flood or drive predators away from their cattle. Stout warriors who look to Eylin for guidance may also ask Narah for a skin of fresh water to sustain them as they traverse dangerous lands. Kings and queens have been known to petition Narah to keep their armies strong in battle and their dominions prosperous and free of plague. Out of the three Triad gods, Narah is perhaps the one who touches men, women, soldiers, thinkers and dignitaries alike.

"My castle is under siege, my people are dying of disease and starvation while my enemy waits comfortably outside our walls… please Narah, save us! We need food, fresh water…” - Unknown

One third of the Triad Church is devoted to the worship of Narah and the preservation of the sanctity of nature. Her devoted followers primarily consist of physicians and healers working to end sickness and famine through non-magical means. Commonly, Narah’s main temples are small cloisters and abbeys located deep within forests or nearby large bodies of water, all tucked away from prying eyes. A clear path will often connect these temples with major roads, as the Namarise do not wish to totally seclude themselves from normal society – after all, there to be of aid to Terrin’s many peoples and do not shirk these duties. Nevertheless, the remote locations of these temples tend to prompt even devout believers to visit the more readily accessible civic temples inside major towns and cities, all of which exist within a large arboretum not far from a marketplace or similar quarter. The Temple of Light in Cathardis is a notable exception; awesome in design, it is a massive, sky-reaching alabaster structure dwarfing even Terinus’ mighty shrines.

A powerful symbol in the Triad Church, Narah’s holy symbol, the Three Roses, has come to represent peace, happiness, and well-being. Those of pure heart who look upon it feel surprisingly calm and cared for, as if Narah were staring back at them, while the wicked fear the roses’ thorns and the goddess’ wrath. Though typically clad in white, Narah has also been seen wearing blue ribbons in her hair or about her wrists; such a ribbon is featured in her holy symbol, binding three roses together.

ike all priests in the Triad Church, Narah’s faithful are divided into a series of tiers. Her Namarise priestesses are heralded as peacemakers, pure of heart and mind, and her Rangers of the Rose resourceful and unflinching in their devotion to the White Lady. Many may believe in Narah, but few are devoted enough to serve her will. Those listed here have proven themselves worthy representatives of Terrin's greatest goddess.

Mederci - A Mederci is a physician or healer in the service of Narah. Mederci typically use non-magical means of healing and are privy to the most advanced medicines on Terrin, including Athallas' Desta Magica and the River Leaf of Torm-Ymen. Mederci will establish themselves in a temple of Narah but will often travel abroad, tending to the ill and selling potions and other remedies to buyers in the nearby lands. Mederci receive a salary from the Triad Church and may also be paid for their services by those they heal. They cannot demand payment, and any monies received outside of their regular salary are subject to a tithe to the Triad Church or their assigned temple of Narah. Mederci are apprentice to High Mederci alchemists, and generally can only apply potions to others but cannot fashion them. The Namerci are equal to the Emoen and Hammeran priests of Eylin and Terinus, respectively.

High Mederci - Commonly the personal physician to a king, queen, or other dignitary, a High Mederci often has many years of experience and an intense understanding of humanoid physiology. Whereas Mederci may specialize in eynamen alone, High Mederci will expand their knowledge to serve other races including elves and dwarves. High Mederci will not attach themselves to a specific temple of Narah but instead will operate out of their own apothecary or storefront where they make potent salves and potions. They will service many temples in a large area, refreshing their supplies and instructing lesser healers in the medical arts. The High Mederci are equal to the Keshen and Hege Hammerad priests of Eylin and Terinus, respectively.

Namarise - Priestesses of Narah, Namarise will often travel throughout the realms with others of her order or Mederci physicians serving as aides. A Namarise will also have a bodyguard at her side, likely a Ranger of the Rose, as she is forbidden from using weaponry of any sort – even in her own defense. Instead, a Namarise may pacify her attacker with her magical abilities if her sworn defender fails to subdue the antagonist. The Namarise take on the brunt of their order’s obligations, acting as healers, advisers, envoys, ambassadors, and fulfilling other duties of the church as they arise. Also the lifeblood of Narah’s temples, Namarise must ensure the grounds, including the divining pool, remain tidy. The Namarise are equal to the Eylin’s Gil-Keshen and Hauc Hammerac of Terinus.

Rangers of the Rose - The Rangers are often referred to as the Rose’s Thorns. They are Narah’s elite fighting unit and, if necessary, will go to battle in her name. In times of peace, Rangers will protect Narahn temples from local rogues or raiders and serve as a capable security force; the Rangers stationed at the Temple of Light are arguably the finest of their group. These are patient, merciful fighters who hold honor in high regard – the Rangers are frequently considered incorruptible by greed or temptation. A Ranger of the Rose is equal to other members of the Sworn Protectors: Trinitaus Knight and the Tomeseeker Sages.

Clara's Consultation
Art by Philip Wohr

Tree Man - A man or woman of the forest who has been employed by Narah to root out evil and heal the wounded. The Tree Men are a direct operative of the White Lady; they do not answer to the Triad Church, a Namarise priestess or any one temple, though they may build structures for their own purposes. The Tree Men wield the Cadaeran Staff, an artifact of Narah available only to them, and use its awesome power to mend the injured and punish the wicked. Although capable fighters, the Tree Men are peace envoys encouraged to pacify rather than pummel their foes.

Argent Mother - A high priestess of Narah, the Argent Mother is a temple elder responsible for overseeing younger Namarise, Mederci, and Tree Men. The Argent Mother, sometimes referred to as the Silver Mother or Great Mother, is a wise and venerable woman known for her patience and ability to soothe with stirring stories and calming song. Many seek her not only for spiritual guidance, but for her considerable insight into the history of the realm – arguably the most famous Argent Mother is Mother Thelamis of the Temple of Light, quick-witted and spry despite being the eldest of her order. The Argent Mother of each temple, large or small, reports directly to the Peritrius Council of the Triad Church.