Rikara

The Iron Angel
Rikara is the goddess of war and mercy. Her favor is said to decide conflicts across Altea and her champions to shape the very fate of the world. Rikara herself is the daughter of Artessa, and one of the most proactive deities in the pantheon. Rikara is often perceived to be intervening with mortal affairs, with many a mortal offspring attributed to her dalliances. Her influence can be felt from the greatest of generals to the lowest of soldiers. The Iron Angel is often depicted as a woman in the prime of her life with dark black hair that is usually obscured by her helmet, adorned with heavy armor and a large sword clasped in both hands. Rikara is the second deity to claim the domain of war, previously held by Trystain until he was slain by Akamoch in the Divine Schism.

Domains


 * War
 * Thunderstorms
 * Mercy
 * Protection
 * Honor

Worshippers and Temples
As the goddess of war, most career soldiers and sellswords pray to Rikara directly. Her influence is felt everywhere across Altea, and temples in her name can be found in every major city and smaller shrines erected in most castles and forts. While not of the dwarven pantheon, Rikara's domain is one that resonates with the dwarven people, and has been partially accepted into their culture. She is the only god to have been granted such an honor. Soldiers often keep trinkets inscribed with Rikara's symbol on their personage for safekeeping. Rikara has one recognized organization, an unnamed order of knights dedicated to protecting the innocent caught in the path of war. The knighthood once held lands and a name of honor, with manned castles and fortifications spread all across Aedin. Now, they are few in number, roaming the lands in small groups typically numbering less than a dozen; most of their old forts stand unguarded or overtaken and repurposed by other forces. The tenets of the knighthood have caused them to stand against insurmountable odds, often resulting in devastating defeats for the order which through the centuries and even possibly millennia has left them but a near-forgotten smudge on the tapestry of Altea's history.

Dogma
Worshippers of Rikara invoke her name for protection as well as to guide them to victory. Though Rikara is the patron deity of war, her most devout followers understand and view war not as a tool for conquest or as a means to greater power, but as a necessity, the last choice when all else has failed. War is ultimately costly, and it is the innocents who face the greatest cost. Therefore, it is the duty of those who conduct war to protect the innocents whenever possible. As Rikara is revered across all nations, nearly every battle has worshippers seeking her guidance and protection. Every cause believes itself just, but Rikara decides who should win and who should lose. If an army should lose, it is often believed that Rikara viewed their cause unjust, or perhaps she simply took offense at an action by their commander and so struck down their army. Alas, it is not for mortals to know the minds of the gods, and the best one can do is avoid angering such a being.