Mother Jerta

Mother of Magic, Mother of Gods, Great Mother, Mother of All

Jerta Catan is the first mortal to become a deity. Her research and teachings as a mortal expanded the magical and planar knowledge of all people to come after her. Even though she is not the first person to use magic, she is often referred to as the mother of magic. As a deity, she mostly wants her ‘children’ to learn on their own. She watches the mortals from afar and rejoices at their successes and laments their failures. While she mostly does not interfere, on occasion she will lend aid to those that have a strong devotion in their heart.

History

The Inner Planes did not always have deities that ruled over them. They were just infinitely large planes empty of everything but their basic planar materials. Occasionally a rift would appear between nearby planes and some amount of transfer would happen. Otherwise, they were empty. Devoid of life. (Well, afterlife.)

Eventually mortals came into being. Whatever their creation, they began to walk Aurôrum. The first of the mortals that had sapience was the race known now as the Terrane. The Terrane lived alone on the surface of Aurôrum for eons. They developed empires, waged war, loved, and died.

At some point in the past, the Terrane dug deep into the ground. Perhaps it was curiosity, perhaps it was a calling. But they dug deeper and deeper. They dug until they found something unlike anything they encountered. They found a rift between the material plane and the Elemental Plane of Earth.

Using their greatest inventions, they worked to knock through the walls that barred them from entering the plane. When they did, they released magic into their world for the first time. However, magic does not come from nothing. To take the energies from the plane, energy must be returned.

The excavation that opened the portal between the planes caused a tremor. There was a collapse, and a few Terrane lost their lives. It was not noticed at first, but those that died became the first souls to travel to the Plane of Earth after death. They became the first beings to join the planar material.

Many years later, long after the Terrane began to understand the magics of the plane, there was a woman named Jerta of the Catan clan. She was adept at using the magics to infuse people with minor gifts. She concocted a plan to make her people more like the stone they learned to live within. She enhanced the Terrane with a more robust and sturdy metabolism. One that would be difficult to become ill, and would age more slowly. Her plan worked. Perfectly. She expanded Terrane lifespans fourfold.

By the time she finally came to her deathbed, she had tapped into so many aspects of the plane of earth, that she began to theorize there was more than just that one plane. In fact, it is now believed she even made contact with the planes of Dust, Mineral, and Slime. Some of her clergy, using her teachings, said they believed that the powers of the Plane of Dust might even be able to be tapped to prolong her life even further. As the first person ever to nearly reach 400 years old, she was not interested. She was ready to finally rest.

When she left her mortal form, her soul came to the Plane of Earth with so much force, she became the first-ever mortal to become a god. Her teachings also led her people to discover the other planes, tap them, and allow souls to flow.

Dogma

Mother Jerta’s teachings emphasize the importance of community, discovery, and nurturing. She encourages her followers to explore the world, to learn and grow from their experiences, and to support and protect one another. Her teachings promote a balance between seeking knowledge and sharing it for the betterment of all. She values perseverance and the pursuit of wisdom, urging her followers to strive for understanding and harmony within their communities.

Tenets of Faith

• Consonance: Strive for harmony and balance in your actions.
• Stability: Support and protect your community and loved ones.
• Steadfast: Persevere in the face of adversity.

Rituals and Practices

• Communion: A ritual where followers seek and collect a gemstone (usually jade), and keep it for guidance and wisdom from Mother Jerta.
• Offering: The sharing of food and drink among the community, symbolizing the nurturing spirit of Mother Jerta.
• Shared Memories: Creating and gifting small stone carvings to commemorate significant life events and teachings.
• The Journey: (For the Terrane) Pilgrimages to sites of elemental significance, often where the boundary between the planes is thin or open.

Consequences of Transgression

Isolation: Being universally shunned by the community for neglecting communal responsibilities.

Worshipers

Mother Jerta has many worshipers across all of Aurôrum. Even on Erôth, the Terrane have many temples to their goddess. While many peoples may worship her in one form or another, the Terrane’s worship is perhaps the most unique. The Terrane do not refer to her as mother. In fact, she is seen as ‘Daughter’ by clan elders, and as ‘Sister’ by other Terrane. This is because they see her as still living with them. It is normal in the life cycle to have a parent die, only for you to continue life for many years after. They never saw her as someone that left. She is always with them.

Orders and Sects

Earthbound Guardians

A group dedicated to protecting and nurturing communities, ensuring the safety and well-being of all.

Seekers of the Eternal

Scholars and explorers who strive to uncover and share the mysteries of the Inner Planes.

Stonehearts

A sect focused on overcoming adversity and the struggle for self-reliance, drawing strength from the teachings of Mother Jerta and their connection to the Plane of Earth.