Pantheon Monday: Arina, the Singer

Arina

(the Singer, the Musician, the Beautiful, the Lady of Music, the Muse)

Intermediate Goddess, NG

Portfolio: beauty, music, freedom

Aliases: Raya

Domain Name: The Subtle Garden, Valingas

Superior: Quilian Knowais

Allies: None

Foes: None

Symbol: A rebec with a bow drawing across it

Worshiper Alignment: Any good

Arina (ah-REEN-a) is the smallfolk goddess of music, beauty, and freedom and license. She is the servant of Quilian Knowais and one of the accomplices of Leesha Roseheart. Arina has been the patron of festivals and music since the earliest of smallfolk days. She is a light-hearted goddess who frequently intervenes in small but unexpected ways in the world of mortals.

As the Lady of Music she is beholden to the god of knowledge and sciences, Quilian Knowais. He is often depicted as her father, grandfather, or guardian in mythic sources. She loves to tweak his nose when she can, but when times call for it she can be just as grave and humble as any other god.

She is also known to the smallfolk as the Muse, the inspirer of music, poetry, and beauty. Smallfolk artists often make sacrifices to her in order to be blessed with her gift of insight. It is not very uncommon for her to grace her supplicants with visions or understanding beyond that which they would normally have.

She is often depicted as playing a lute, a rebec, or a viol. Her music has been instrumental to the survival of the smallfolk; if myth can be believed, it has calmed beasts, changed the flow of rivers, and quelled the anger of giants. She was the patroness of the great heroin Eleyna Trollthief.

The Church

Clergy: Songsters, Sacred Poets (specialty priests)

Clergy’s Alignment: NG

Turn Undead: No

Command Undead: No

Like most smallfolk temples, the Temple of Arina is only very loosely organized. There are no central places or great high priests, and indeed a good subset of Sacred Poets do not settle down at all but rather move from halfling settlement to settlement, telling stories of both Arina and the other gods.

What temples do exist tend to be matriarchal and dominated by halflings rather than gnomes. The great majority of Arina’s priesthood are female, and as such poetry and song are generally seen as female pursuits in halfling society.

All halfling festivals have one or two Sacred Poets present to help organize the festivities and to assist in playing the music. This role is considered to be one of the most important of the priests’ duties by other halflings, lending them a sort of festive air about them all year round.

Temples are loosely organized on two tiers: initiates, who are priests-in-training, and Poets, who make up a council and vote on all the affairs of that temple. This organization is only possible because Arina’s temples never truly grow to any staggering size, having at most fifty or one hundred priests in the largest and most affluent smallfolk towns.

Dogma: Arina teaches that every moment of life is inspiration, every breath a celebration. Introspection, poesy, and even madness are all things held sacred by the Muse.

Day-to-Day Activities: When they aren’t planning festivals, Arina’s priesthood generally spend their time teaching young halflings music, telling stories about the Greensward and the famous smallfolk heroes, and working the fields like any other halfling.

Holy Days/Important Ceremonies: The temple of Arina holds the spring to be the most sacred time of year and halflings, associating her with Raya, often celebrate the Libernian Festival as well.

Priestly Vestments: Sacred Poets wear green garments laced through with white flowers and floral motifs. They frequently wear garlands of preserved daisies around their necks, and their jewelry and accoutrement are also generally floral in pattern.

Sacred Poet

(Specialty Priest)

REQUIREMENTS: Wisdom 12, Charisma 14

PRIME REQ: Charisma

ALIGNMENT: NG

WEAPONS: Any blunt weapon, knife

MAJOR SPHERES: All, Animal, Charm, Creation, Healing, Protection, Thought 

MINOR SPHERES: Combat, Divination, Protection, Summoning, Weather

MAGICAL ITEMS: Any items that priests can use.

REQ. PROFS: Religion (Arina)

BONUS PROFS: Instrument (any), Instrument (singing)

Sacred poets may multiclass as thieves (but no other class) if they so choose. Sacred Poets may play a counter-song as per the bardic ability.

All spells prepared by the Poet that have a Verbal component must be sung. All spells that have a Somatic component must be accompanied with the use of the Poet’s instrument.

At 3rd level, the Sacred Poet can use his music to fascinate a number of creatures equal to twice his own level (in HD or levels) as per the 2nd level wizard spell Hypnotic Pattern. This musical effect may be used once per day.

At 5th level, the Sacred Poet becomes 80% immune to all mentally debilitating spells or spells that induce or simulate madness. This includes feeblemind, Tasha’s Laughter, Otto’s Dance, etc. This is in addition to any other magical immunity or resistance the priest may have.

At 7th level, the Sacred Poet gains the power to attempt to dispel magic three times per day with their counter song. If being used to counter (or dispel) an effect which would create silence, the Poet receives a +2 bonus on his dispel roll.

At 10th level, the Sacred Poet is constantly under the effect of a free action spell.

At 15th level, Sacred Poets receive a +1 bonus to their charisma scores, raising it to a maximum of 19.