-Helena-
GODDESS OF THE ELEMENT OF EARTH
Symbol: A triangle of the elements pointing down and separated by the line of the foundation.
Place of Existence: The Realm of the Element of Earth, which takes residence along the axis of Nhearn to turn with the year. The Realm sits beneath the Realm of Heaven and above the Realm of Hell. It is often depicted that the Realm of the Element of Earth is adjacent to the Realm of Fire and the Realm of Air to match with the passing of the seasons, but this has been considered representational of historic artists, that instead the Realms weave among and throughout one another across the axis of Nhearn.
Signs: Earthquakes, landslides, cave collapses, and avalanches are considered signs of wrath from the Goddess. Strange rock formations, large crystal structures, and new natural cave entrances are considered good omens. Veins of metals, discoveries of precious stones, and the sight of a granite faced cliff are considered to be favorable omens from the Goddess herself.
Alignment: Neutral
Helena is the Goddess of the Element of Earth and is thought of as the oldest of the Elemental Gods. She was first to be invited to the firmament of Nhearn and was allowed full creative power by the Creator. She rose the mountains and separated the lands so that the world was shaped in the form of her liking. After the creation of the heights and the depths, Helena joined in the jubilance of the other Elementals until the final coming of the youngest elemental, Morganna, the Goddess of the Element of Fire.
In the days of antiquity, before any other had yet come to Nhearn, Helena joined with the other elementals to fight the destructive pursuits of Morganna. Helena, Anastasia, and Katrina warred against the Goddess of Fire in order to save the world that they had all created together. As the years passed and the Age of Woe began, Helena found her powers once more used for the protection of Nhearn, swaying her devoted into the fight against the evils that ventured into the world by the wills of Annabel. Her history of taking the side of goodness aligns her with other deities, but her decisions to join in battle has always been to stave the destruction of the world, not to uphold goodness specifically.
Dwarves, especially the patria dwarves of Helena's Cradle, pay respects to the Goddess through prayer and offering at shrines and dedicated halls. The dwarves of Arrumklad, the dwarven throne city, are said to have discovered the highest mountain in all of Nhearn and have dedicated all constructions within to the devotion of the Element of Earth, making it perhaps the largest religious construction in all of Nhearn. As dwarves began to fully develop their cities and colonies, they discovered more resources within the ranges, metals within the earth, and jewels uncovered from the ground. These discoveries made from carving the world and exploring its depths has created an ideology that any craft can be used as a devotional to the elemental Goddess. Just as Helena created and shaped the world, the use of stone in statues, the shaping of metal in jewelry, and the shaping of gems to capture beauty of the given world, are all ways to pay respect to the Goddess.
The idea of making from what has been given is in direct opposition to the beliefs of the elves however, whose love of Vanessa's creations are more reverent to respect the gifts of the gods and they show their devotion with their role of caregiver of those gifts. Because of this ideological rift there has been a separation between the two cultures that extended throughout the Age of Woe, though there have been long periods of peace between the dominion of elves and the kingdoms of dwarves throughout their histories. The agitation between the two has never been fully addressed by Helena or Vanessa, either in favor or against the constant struggle, at times leading to a breach in the peace by leaders of faith from either side.
Helena is also prayed to by humans within the Empire of Man, most often in hopes that she can bless the mines, quarries, and constructions throughout the borders of the Empire. Artisans offer prayer and material to request musings for their projects. There is also a common practice to place her image at the beginning of trail heads, especially those that go into mountainous regions, to avoid disaster and maintain the trail while there are travelers upon it.
While offerings of gold and silver are common to Helena, many dwarves and worshippers believe that the more precious gem stones curry more favor from the Goddess. Carvings and creations in stone have also been used in offerings, as well as some symbols made in wood. Chaplains of the inner faith however know that Helena utmost enjoys offerings and creations of granite, or that she is happiest to dwell in places made from granite, as the material was one of her favorite to use upon the face of Nhearn.