Summus Ecclesiae Luria/The Divine Mother
The Divine Mother
The Divine Mother of Luria was once a mortal woman, in ancient times beyond remembering. In these ancient times mortals wielded great and terrible magics, and those with the gift were known as Spell Masters. The Divine Mother was one such woman, and she ruled over the lands that are now Luria. She was a benevolent ruler and her people prospered. This was disrupted in what is now known as the Age of Severance. Magic was a construct of man's birth into the universe, ripping a hole between the Superior and Nether worlds known as the Aetherium. The Aetherium is the source of all mortal magic in the world, and in the ages before the Age of Severance, the planes of existence were far more open than they are now, thus allowing mortals easier access to the magics of man.
However, lurking unknown in the Netherworld, the Daimon Lords grew jealous, and soon launched their invasion into the Superior, seeking to enslave man and steal their souls in order to utilize the unlimited potential of the Aetherium. The Prime Evil, Abaddon the Destroyer emerged onto the Superior at the head of the armies of the Netherworld (his invasion occurred at the same time as other prehistoric invasions, namely the prehistoric invasion of Beluterra) with his three generals: Bast, the Daimon Queen of Pleasure who corrupted mortal men into her service; Mandragoras, a wielder of fell magics; and Succorbenoth, who razed a dozen cities and is the infernal master of siegecraft. Each of these greater Daimons lead armies of lesser Daimons onto the Superior. Some joined forces with them, whether they were corrupted into service by Bast, or joined in a futile effort to spare their lands. The Divine Mother rallied her armies, and wielding her magics, warred the Daimons. The war went on for decades, causing terrible destruction on Dwilight, until the Divine Mother was able to finally banish Abaddon and his generals. Doing so however, forced her from the Superior and into the Aetherium. Before she could return, the Servants of Light on Beluterra unleashed their terrible magics and sealed the planes, forever trapping the Divine Mother.
The Divine Mother tapped into powers of the Aetherium, which were hers alone to command, and set out to once again guide her people to prosperity. Millenia passed, and Luria was born. For the first time in ages, the Divine Mother felt she had found a worthy people to carry her name. However, she was trapped in the Aetherium, unable to interact with the living. The strongest of souls she gathered to herself, the Kings, Queens, Emperors and Empresses of Luria, and she bestowed upon them great power. Finally, upon the death of Alice Arundel, the Divine Mother was able to reach out again to the living. She reached out to her Prophet, Jonsu Himoura, and revealed her existence once again to the world. The Divine Mother's symbol is a raven embossed upon the sun. She is the Goddess of the Magic, Luria, and the Sun.
The Priesthood
The Priests of the Divine Mother carry some form of bludgeoning weapon, whether it be a staff, a club, or a mace. This is because these weapons are far more potent channels for magical power. Her priests wear cloth of silver, and frequently bury themselves in study of arcane mysteries, and practice magic when they can. Since very few mortals are capable of using magic unassisted, many of them master thaumaturgey, ritual magic aided by scrolls created by wizards. The Divine Mother's priests practice precise rituals based around the premises of the The Himoura Sequence. No fewer than three priests partake in these rites, and their purposes are varied. Whether they are simply being performed to honor the Divine Mother, to ask for a boon, or to practice magic.
