Ara

The Shining Hunter

Ara is the patron of the hunt. Much more primal than the other shard gods Ara represents wild nature and the magnetic attraction of loss. Ara is often thought of as the patron of beauty as well, but more often her beauty is considered unattainable, a haunting beauty. Ara concerns herself little with the politics of the pantheon preferring to focus on the endless hunt. Because of her neutrality Ara is a rather marginal god, preferring to focus upon her unending hunt rather than meddle with the affairs of her fellow gods. Arran worshipers are typically found in the wilds, rarely interacting with civilization. For her disciples the Hunt is the means to enlightenment rather than a true destination. Because of the Arran cleric’s fierce dedication few seek the life of quiet pursuit that is required. Those few who seek the power of Ara often become known as legendary hunters, or druids. None can outpace the Arran warden, or hope to fool her masterful tracking. For the Arran an existential angst permeates every choice, but a fierce dedication to what seems to be futile is valued above all else.

Alignment
True Neutral

Domains
Animal, Darkness, Plant, Charm, Liberation

Favored Weapon
Longbow

Lore
The Midnight Hunter, The Silver Lady. When Io’s body shattered in the sundering of creation Ara was the last shard cast out. Arriving helpless and alone in the unnamed realm, Ara was afraid. None had cared to seek her out. None had remembered their past as Io. Ara remembered. Io had birthed her with his own destruction, but in doing so had left an echo of himself. In this way Ara is the final echo of Io within the world, but cannot ever hope to remember the time before creation. Ara knew that Io could not be destroyed, for she had once been the great Io. But the unnamed plane seemed so great, and her eyes could see so little. That first night Ara wept and her tears became the stars in the sky. When Ara awoke she was invigorated with a new purpose. Though Io had vanished the realm of Adar would hold the answers. Where she saw empty forests she filled them with a thousand eyes she saw through as one. All the animals of the forest would be as limbs in her hunt for Io. From high in the night sky Ara would watch for Io. Where she watches still for the shadow of her former self.