Gods of Acrose:Mai
From NexusCrossing
Mai: Goddess of the Forest and Travel
Mai is the goddess of health and safe travels. She blesses travelers, and those who accept the laws of hospitality. Many way meets and travelers' shrines are dedicated to bother her and her sister Eio. In many cities, temples are erected dedicated jointly to both Eio and Mai.
Mai is known as the goddess of health and safe travels. She is also the primary forest goddess. Her symbol is an oak leaf, on a clear back ground. In old times, and the symbol is sometimes seen still, her emblem was an oak leaf, superimposed over a crescent moon.
The primary edicts of the order of Mai revolve around the treatment of travelers, care for the community, and the maintenance of land marks, and rest spots.
The order of Mai does have their own temples, but most of her temple's are communal temples shared with the order of Eio. The two orders have always worked together, and an attack on one, is an attack on the other.
More common however, are traveler's shrines, and waymeets. A waymeet is a place along a traveled path, or sometimes apparently in the middle of no where that is built to provide food and shelter to travelers as they go from one place to another. Many waymeets are in plain view, where any one can find them. Others in less friendly territory are more hidden, but for those who know what they are watching for, they are easy to find.
The layout of a waymeet may vary, but they almost always provide some sort of shelter, and food. They always have a source of water, either natural or brought in, and they always have a shrine to Mai. Occasionally there will be shrines to other gods as well.
Traditionally waymeets are tended too and stocked by the order of Mai. It is also traditional for those travelers who can afford to do so to leave some form of offering at the shrine, so that they can help to alleviate the financial part of keeping the waymeet outfitted. It is also acceptable under certain circumstances for those in true need to take what they need from the shrine.
A waymeet is a neutral zone. It is a place of no conflict. It is considered taboo to attack anyone within sight of a waymeet. Even the members of the order of Zarand accept and abide by this tradition. The waymeets are to be of benefit to all travelers.
The clergy of Mai tend to wear green and gold vestments, though there is some variation. The one thing that they tend to have in common, is the oak leaf holy symbol.
D20 Info
This information is useful if you are using this deity in a standard D20 game. Domains: Healing, Travel, Weather, Good, Earth Clerics Alignment: Lawful Good, Lawful Neutral, Neutral Good Favored Weapon: Quarter Staff, or cane. They can double as a walking stick.
