Moratahn, Wytche-Queen of the Iron Woods

Summary

All across Fauverngarz stand forests both vast and small, great and ignoble. The freezing winters often herald icy storms, turning the wood ever harder and colder. Their unbreakable barks became as strong as iron, and so these iron woods turned into unyielding mazes that ancient dangers lurked within. Above all of them stands one being no native is ever eager to cross: Moratahn.   No one knows where she came from, or how long she's been around, but everyone is quite willing to say 'forever'. The earliest known tales of her concern the first settlers paying for land ownership, and respecting the 'queen of woods' for the trees they would cut down. In time, as more people braved the woods, they invariably encountered Moratahn more and more. Her mistressy over magics tantalized many, and so they desired them. Those foolish to try violence vanished, but many more succeeded in doing peaceful trade. Although her demands might range from the bizarre to the untenable, no end of benefits awaited those who met them.   As the lands grew, Moratahn remained aloof within her realm. It wouldn't be until the emergence of new goddesses that these peaceful relations broke apart. Boisterous, capricious, stricken by lust and greed, and so much more could be called their unsavory natures. Nonetheless they enamored many, worming their way into peoples' hearts, and so a new pantheon took hold. All came to an accord of sorts, except Moratahn–something that both angered and left them afraid. They sharpened their weapons, honed their own magics, and whether together or by their prideful selves, ventured into the woods.   One after the other, Moratahn took them to task. If they came with tricks, she outwitted them. If they brought axes, she broke them over her knee. Time and again the goddesses invaded, and each time she left them beaten, stripped naked, and forced to march home in shame. The more they tried, stranger and ever harrowing did she punish them. It locked them all into a time later referred to as the stupid struggles. Despite such a name, it beget a more terrible issue.   As they struggled to surmount Moratahn, the Relentless ever grew in number and ferocity. With all the goddesses busy, mortals faltered between hardship and the Relentless' assaults. When a doomtide emerged and started sweeping town-after-town away, only then did they change their attention. Having not seen such a fast growing problem before, the goddesses buckled in fighting back. Divine and mortal alike retreated and retreated, until their final city in a valley is all that remained.   Only then did Moratahn finally appear, clad in dark armor, draped with furs of prized kills, and two never-before seen axes in hand. Already covered in viscera, she stood before the gates, bellowing a challenge to the goddesses within. Decrying them cowards and fools, she berated them so harshly even the stone beneath their feet became sympathetic. Moratahn commanded one simple thing: they would fight with her against the doomtide, or she would visit upon them an unspeakably worse fate. They had, after all, constantly interfered with her hunting and let the Relentless grow out of control.   The resulting battle became a legend itself, and a defining point of a new age for Fauverngarz. Defeating the Relentless, and learning more of Moratahn's eternal duties, the goddesses copiously apologized. To redeem themselves, they promised to aid her more appropriately, and take to heart her brutal beratement. How exactly they chose to do so became a problem, as the more spirited among them did things in their own way. As the many peoples spread out once more, and life returned to normalcy, the goddesses remained a thorn in Moratahn's side. Instead of trying to kill her, they involved her instead in all their petty politics.   It eventually culminated in her becoming the deific 'queen' of the pantheon, something she has adamantly denied time and again. Worse, the strong warrior goddesses, such as Borlken, constantly challenge her to competitions. Although he was regarded as the greatest of hunters, Borlken has ever failed to defeat Moratahn when she was serious. Their one-sided rivalry became a key underpinning from there on, something that has helped keep the goddesses in 'fighting shape'.   For as much as the goddesses and people learned more of her, the less they truly knew, however. Moratahn ever remained comfortable in her realm, unseen, unobserved, and ever moving about the lands. Her tireless work is more than that of just the Relentless, but a secret buried in the frost of Fauverngarz itself. Rumors abound of her connection to unnameable ruins, and the strange works left behind within them. Although she never claims domain, few can find them without her permission. Those who are fortunate enough to return, she'll offer all kinds of rewards for whatever they've brought up.   No one can say what her true game is; many are content to leave her be. After all, Moratahn remains honest in her deals, no matter their natures. She comes as a stranger, and leaves a friend, so long as one takes care to not offend her.