Demeter, Goddess of the Wildwood | |
Realm | Wildwood |
Symbols | a hazel tree |
Relatives | None |
Allies | None |
Enemies | Wyrm of Worlds |
Order Name | Awen |
Temples | Aerinewild |
Demeter, Goddess of the Wildwood, was also known as the Queen of the Sacred Grove. Originally a Celani tasked by Gaia to guide and nurture the nine forest spirits, She nearly became a Goddess in Her own right as the forests flourished. When an elemental imbalance threatened the forests, Gaia approached Demeter for aide in saving them. Demeter agreed, sacrificing most of Her essence to aid Gaia in destroying the threat to Her beloved forests. Weakened, the Celani was forced into a deep slumber in an attempt to recover, hidden in the depths of the forests She once protected.
After the disappearance and departure of the Earthmother, Demeter felt a stirring in Her dreams. A ritual enacted by those who loved the forests summoned a bit of Her essence as a silvery mist and bound it to the nine forest spirits She once helped nurture. The nine spirits worked together, crafting the essence into a greater forest spirit Eupheme. The newly born spirit called out to the forgotten Celani, awaking Her as a Goddess to protect and oversee the forests once again.
However, during Her aeons long slumber Demeter had fallen prey to the vile Wyrm of Worlds. The demon, once imprisoned by Gaia, tore free of its bonds after Her passing and fell upon the sleeping Celani. Winding itself into Her essence, it eventually overcame and possessed Demeter completely, taking over Her form and imprisoning Her weakened soul in the Netherworld from whence he came.
Eventually freed by mortals, She returned and battled the demon, defeating it. The harrowing experience changed Her so much, altering Her on such a fundamental level that She ceased to be Demeter and became Melantha, the Goddess of the Seasons.
Her temple rests in the Aerinewild forest.