NINURTA – The Earth Mother; Patron goddess of the Kankoran

Status:  1st Generation Elder God

Level:  75000

Avatar:  Barint

The Goddess Ninurta is the creator of the Kankoran. She is also known by the Elves as the Goddess Lorinthiel. The High Elves were the first Great Race in the time before time. Created by Lorinthiel, according to Ome-te Llest’s visions, they were the most fair of races ever to grace the face of the earth and grew to be a glittering adornment to the world and the other Gods praised Lorinthiel’s creation. She created the Elves from the youngest and most subtle of saplings before filling their veins with the fresh dew collected under the silver moonlight of the first ever moonrise.

Lorinthiel and Grond were instructed by Marnarka to create the High Elves. They argued as to their appearance and constitution and Grond stormed from Bifrost to his Great Mountain, Grundergon, leaving Lorinthiel to create the first elves. Thus it became that Lorinthiel created the elves in the likeness of the Gods with the characteristics of the most wonderful of plants, tall like the pine, yet slim like the most fragile of flowers. Despite this appearance the elves are unquestionably the most powerful individuals on the earth slim and fair as the trees, yet able to be harsh as nature these elves were later to become the High Elves or Naladore.

By Ome-te Llest’s whims the elves were allowed to roam all the great forests and it was here that they made their home, living in harmony with the forests’ creatures.

The other gods became excited about creation and with Lorinthiel’s help created the rest of the elfish nations. It was many years later that Lorinthiel created the Gnomanie on behalf of Grond.  Moradin immediately considered this exceptional bad form and a malignant smear on Grond.  He breaks of all trade and embargoes with the elves and thus begins the age-old animosity between the elves and the dwarves, or the first and second born which lasts to this very day.

After the falling out between Lorinthiel and Grond, Lorinthiel took her leave of the other Gods. With only a few loyal followers from her first born, she decided to go into hiding under the name of Ninurta and mingle with the animals that were appearing throughout Eä and learn there ways. It was from the unions between Lorinthiel and her followers and these creatures that the Wolfen were born.

Ninurta stayed amongst these new sentient creatures to teach them and giver them a love of nature, so becoming a Goddess to there shamans, the Kankoran.

Ninurta is the deity of all plants, trees and music and the patron deity of druids and the Kankoran. She symbolises nature and is responsible for the fertility of crops. As a protector of wild creatures she becomes distressed whenever hunters kill animals or have them captured and tamed. However she is indifferent to the fate of domesticated animals that might perish in her forest wildernesses.

She appears as a Rugged Elf of an underlying beauty, whose eyes carry an anger for all defilers of the wild places.

SYMBOL

A stylised branchless tree

WORSHIP

Adept in religious belief and herblore, the Kankoran are the lore keepers, shamans and healers of the Wolfen people. Not tied to one single clan, they travel where they are accorded the proper respect and hospitality due to their status. No Kankoran is ever turned away by the Wolfen and are always invited to sit on council meetings.

Their main purpose is to conduct the various rituals of the clans. Without their attendance, two Wolfen cannot join, and a child cannot be named.

TEMPLES

There are no temples built to Ninurta.

HOLY DAYS

Mid summer’s eve is the only holy day dedicated to Ninurta, when all the Kankoran meet in the nearest sacred grove. It is here that affairs of the world and their order are discussed and new Kankoran welcomed into the order.

FRIENDS AND ENEMIES

Ninurta’s followers are friendly to all genuine lovers of nature. Being openly hostile to all the defilers of the wild places, as it is wanton or pointless destruction, which excites their anger. Everyone else is treated with neutrality.

As with the cult of Qabanil, Ninurta followers hate all followers of Fenrir and are sworn by honour to hunt out and kill as many of them as possible.

CULT REQUIREMENTS

All coming of age (age 13) Wolfen may join the priesthood. The only requirement is that a priest has never killed an animal for any reason other than self-defence or food.

STRICTURES

• Never harm an animal, except in self-defence or for food.
• Never permit another to harm an animal, except in self-defence or for food.
• Never allow wanton destruction of plant life.

NINURTA AND THE WOOD ELVES

Ninurta (known as Lorinthiel by the Elves) is also a patron deity to the High elf and Wild elf clans.