Goddess of Battle and Conquest

The Birth of Callayeus:

When Gulthia used the snake to extract the splinter from her arm, the snake did what all snakes do and poisoned her. As a God however, Gulthia neither noticed or cared. But it is said that when she lay to rest the poison from the snake leaked from her arm and gave form to Callayeus. Where Collanus came forth peacefully, was cool to the touch and calm; Callayeus burst forth bathed in fire, sword swinging and rage in her eyes. From birth she was the Goddess of Conflict.

Appearance:

Much like her brother, Callayeus’s appearance can fluctuate depending on who sees her. What remains consistent however is her eyes burning with a great intensity. In one hand a wicked sword and in the other a torch that is never extinguished. Around her waist hang trinkets and items, the spoils of unjust and unprovoked wars.

Temperament:

Callayeus takes incredible delight in mortals and immortals alike going to war. She is fiery, demanding and calculated. Mortals dealing with Callayeus would do well to watch their tongues, lest they find themselves on the receiving end of her sword. That said, Callaeyus is not insane. She is not her child and takes no real pleasure from slaughter. Rather, she believes in the right of the strong to rule the weak. She will push larger kingdoms into swallowing smaller ones, strong Elven tribes to expand their territory needlessly and for battle to always be on the front foot. Callaeyus despises weakness and any mortal asking for her help in defense would do well to never bother asking.

Worship:

Callaeyus is an interesting Goddess in terms of worship. While the role of proactive war is understood by many kingdoms, it is still considered mildly taboo to worship such an outwardly violent Goddess. As such, almost all worship of her is hidden. While an army may proclaim to worship Collanus, and may indeed do so, there may also be a shrine somewhere to Calleyus hidden from view. In the very few locations that there are temples to Callaeyus (the Gorgelands and far to the north), her priests engage in similar behavior to Collanus’s priests, albeit with a slightly more ruthless streak.

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