Race: Ixifar
Domains: Lost Causes, Folk Heroes
Ethos
The world is a vast place: full of wrongs to right, people to meet, sights to see, places to explore, and lost causes to take up. Prove these causes to, indeed, be lost or prove the naysayers wrong. Either way, what an adventure!
Althena appears as a green eyed female Ixifar with crimson hair, flames dancing along its length; dressed in a simple red tunic; wielding a blue shield and silvery martial blade. Imposed over and around her is an ethereal armory.
History/Relationships
Claudia von Markham was born to one of the ruling noble families of Tarkalsys. While serving at a shrine to Istensia she met her true love, Marloff Thistru; leaving Nectrum with him she traveled the shards under the anonym Althena Andropolis.
During her mortal life she commanded her family’s militia, was a Handmaiden of Istensia, and the First of Avaren. Her desire to protect those she cared for led her to take of The Blood, becoming a vampire; relinquishing her title as First to Avaren but continuing to follow as one of her Clavigers. Through the machinations of her bonded, she lost her vampiric affliction but found she possessed the strength to protect others without it.
Her love and protective nature made her known as both a protector and motherly figure to many within Jastrey, most notably within her guild. It was that protective nature that led her to assist a guild brother in his quest to locate Arkrist. During a fierce battle wherein Claudia and the heroes of Jastrey defeated Arkrist’s ordained, freeing them from Hexadus’ machinations, Claudia sacrificed herself to stop Hexadus from destroying Jastrey. Arkrist’s ordained came to her aid - twelve Soulwrought ordained of Arkrist. That sacrifice allowed her to ascend. And upon her ascension, she retook the name of Althena.
Althena retains close ties with Avaren, who she revered and served during her mortal life upon the Shards. She considers Aldrhunrik a close friend based upon their friendship during their mortal lives, and she respects how closely fate ties in with her own dogma. She considers Ivelis an ally due to their own adventuring spirits; although some wonder if this is a sentimental choice, given Ivelis’ near parental relationship with Marloff Thistru. She values Aethos’ friendship and wisdom greatly, as during their mortal lives he often offered guidance and wisdom to her when her own would fail her. While she is not at odds with Xavix, as death, in and of itself is not a terrible thing, she does not care much for Xavros. She is heavily at odds with Syflare, Hursisa, and Khulzan, and is a sworn foe of Hexadus.
Dogma
Althena encourages those who follow her to adventure not for personal gain, but for what they can learn, the experience they will gain, the places they will see, the people they will meet, and those they can help. “Success” is not the litmus of whether a cause was just or even fulfilled; it was how the matter was approached, and the effort put into it.
Althena believes heavily in helping the underdog - those causes that others would deem lost, unfulfillable or that would not earn them sufficient riches, reputation, or other rewards to pursue.
Followers and Temples
Althena does not require specific shrines or temples to be built in her name. After all, the very profession of adventuring seldom lends one to have a central or permanent residence. Thus, those who follow her carry a single item they consider most represents their following – be it a piece of jewelry (for she did so appreciate such adornments in her mortal life), a feather (representative of her Ixifar nature), or something bestowed upon them by those they have helped; the form does not matter, so long as it means something to follower. It is not uncommon for her follows to have a phoenix emblazoned upon their cloak, tunic, or armor as a symbol of their reverence.
Noteworthy Followers
- Aventurier – These are those who seek out adventure in her name.
- Knights of the Phoenix – These are her ordained; knights that take up lost causes, giving of themselves to accept these causes others had deemed unworthy of their time and effort.