Naiya

Goddess of Nature
Demonym: [None]
Alignment: Neutral Good
Pantheon Status: Extant Elder God
Domain: Nature, Fae Magic

Naiya is the Goddess of Nature. She is sometimes referred to as "the Mother" by the Huntsmen of Shaath. Her being is spread across all nature, but has some connection with the Deep Wild, where it is possible to gain an audience with her.

Origins

Naiya was originally a mortal who achieved ascension, becoming one of the Elder Gods. However, as an Elder deity, Naiya operates under slightly different regulations than the younger gods of the current Pantheon. Her essence is more "diffuse" in comparison and, as such, she is less able to act independently despite being more powerful than the deities of the Pantheon.

Role in the Elder War

Naiya aided the Pantheon in overturning the Elder Gods. She also used her abilities to hide or otherwise destroy any remaining facilities from the time before the Pantheon's ascension.

Magic and Influence

It has been revealed that Naiya is the source of the fae school of magic in the Circle of Interaction, as she gifted fairy magic to the world upon ascending. Fae magic flows from the natural world itself, representing Naiya's domain and power.

Children

Over the course of time, Naiya has created three generations of children, all female:

Kitsune

The Kitsune are Naiya's eldest daughters, created before the Elder War with full knowledge of life in the world. Following the expulsion of the Kitsune to the Twilight Forest, Naiya tried again to make daughters.

Valkyries (Valkyr)

Naiya's second attempt at creating daughters resulted in the Valkyries (also called Valkyr). Long after the Valkyries were moved to the plane of the dead, Naiya formed her third and final attempt.

Dryads

The Dryads represent Naiya's third and final attempt at creating daughters. They are deeply connected to trees and nature, embodying Naiya's essence in the natural world.

Relationship with the Pantheon

Though Naiya is an Elder God who predates the current Pantheon, she maintains a generally positive relationship with them, having aided their rise to power during the Elder War. The Huntsmen of Shaath revere her as "the Mother," recognizing her as the true source of nature's power, even as they follow Shaath as their primary deity.

Nature and Power

Naiya's power is diffused throughout all of nature itself. This makes her both more powerful and less able to act independently than the more focused deities of the Pantheon. Her connection to the natural world means that fae magic—magic drawn from relationships with nature spirits, fey creatures, and elemental forces—flows from her essence.