NPC Highlight: Kralana, the Merciless

Alive/Dead |
Alive
Salutation |
– – –
Race |
Human
Gender |
Female
Symbol |
Black Sword in front of Yellow Sun
Home Plane |
The Nine Heavens
Portfolio |
War, Strategy, Retribution, Positive Energy, the Dawn, Death to Undeath, Sun
Worshippers |
Humans, Elves, Paladins, Holy Warriors, Bards, all Celestial beings
Cleric Alignments |
LG, NG, CG, LN
Domains |
Good, Planning, Retribution, Strength, Sun, War
PrC Domains |
Any of the above, Glory, Exorcism
Favoured Weapon |
Bastard Sword
Alignment |
Neutral Good
Power |
Intermediate
Setting |
Greyhawk

Kralana is an intermediate power in the new human pantheon resulting from the old god’s imprisonment. Though speculation among divine scholars as to the relation between spheres of influence shared by the new pantheon and the old Greyhawk Gods, Kralana’s goals have never been clearer. She is the firm hand of authority in the pantheon, the unwavering voice of condemnation for the evil-doer. Kralana’s strict ethos that no evil-doer goes unpunished stems largely from the fact that her brother, Skahlehn is the overpower of Undeath and strongly opposes her. Their tumultuous history continues unhindered across the planes and in the Prime Material by their agents on Oerth.

Kralana’s church is comprised predominantly of militant clerics who hold their duty to rid the world of the undead as a higher priority than worshipping the Lady in the Sun. Kralana would have it no other way. As she blesses each day with the sun’s radiance, it remains the duty of her church to cleanse their lands of undead and those that pursue mastery over them, specifically necromancers and priests of undeath. This often means her more proactive worshippers default into leadership roles, but these appointments are seldom sought out; Kralana’s agents focus almost entirely on pursuing their unending goal of purifying their lands.

Clerics and worshippers of Kralana pray always in the morning, specifically at dawn when the rays of the sun pour over the lands with Kralana’s warmth and light. Kralana’s followers have developed few official rituals and holy days set aside for formal en-masse worship. The only officially recognized event is the longest day of the year when the sun sits in the sky longer than any other. Great gatherings have sprung up here and there, with feasting, dancing, and drinking to celebrate Kralana’s blessing of a long day of sunshine.

Because of Kralana’s lax attitude towards a formal church with strict doctrine and an official calendar, there are currently no churches or temples dedicated solely to The Dawnbringer. Worshippers gather on the porches of their houses at dawn, in a field when traveling or huddled around the hearth during storms to thank Kralana for her continued protection. Her followers are most likely to multiclass as Warriors, Paladins, Sacred Exorcists (DotF), Radiant Servants (Drag283), or Hunters of the Dead (DotF).

History/Relationships:

Kralana is sister to Thasmudyan, Lord of the Undead. They began exerting their diametrically opposed influences on Oerth with the rest of the new Human Pantheon, but battle furiously at every opportunity in unending conflict. She considers Parthen as her valued consort and advisor, and his brother, Agravellenon a common ally in battle. She is strongly associated with the Elves, and has excellent relations with both Corellon and Sehanine because of very similar spheres of influence. In fact, Kralana often chooses elves as her champions on Oerth for their purity and love of the light. Kralana’s immortal enemy is Skahlen, but she also considers Thasmudyan to be only a mildly lesser threat.

Dogma:

Humans are ambitious and wondrous. See the same strengths in other races as you do yourself. Bring true death to those who have perverted it. Purify your lands of the darkness and filth plaguing it. Revel in the light; know no greater ally than the sun pouring over your shoulders. Plan against your enemies and seek retribution for wrongs done to you. Strategy and preparedness be your allies, a strong arm your answer to unfounded questions.

Author: Eric