Clo'ae

Clo'ae is a forgotten Elder God of the planet Eó. Once worshiped as the counterpoint to Të. A goddess of trickery and magic, her temples were annihilated by the Dragonknights of Tëlothi-Ka in the Era of Awakening, and little is known about her in the modern day, save for the traditional folk tales of the tribesfolk and Wildkin.

The Goddess of Creation
Unlike the Cult of Të, who's narrative is the accepted gospel, the tribes people still pass on stories of Clo'ae, or the Old Mother, as they call her. According to the legends, she and Të had journeyed from a place beyond the world, and brought with them the spark of life, which they call the Old Fyre.

''They were children of the far stars, which had grown cold and dark. Mother Clo'ae and Father Të brought the last starlight, the Old Fyre, in The Old Mother's womb, so that it could be safe in the darkness of ''Dûr. ''But it was so cold that the Old Fyre grew dim. So the Old Father breathed out the world, and set his own eye in the sky, so his light could warm the soil. ''

— Stories of the Tribefolk, 2nd Edition

The tribesfolk maintain that while Të was the architect of the world, Clo'ae was the one who added life to it, using the Old Fyre to spread plants and animals to the planet. This, however, consumed much of the Old Fyre, and when she was done, only an ember remained.

Creating the First Human
Clo'ae and Të created one last thing together: the first human, a woman known as Kêt, who the tribes people call Mother Kêt. Together, the Elder Gods created Kêt. Të crafted her bones from the stones of the earth, and her flesh from the sand. Clo'ae poured water from the sea into her lips to give her blood, and breathed into her lungs. Finally, they placed the dying ember of the Old Fyre into Kêt's heart, and the body came to life, though she remained asleep. Finally, each Elder God pricked their thumb and placed a drop of blood into her mouth, creating her soul.

"When Mother Kêt woke up, she felt the Old Fyre in her heart, warming the blood of Old Father and Old Mother. When she drew her first breath, she knew they were numbered, for Old Mother played a trick with her blood, and made her mortal. Old Father wept for his child, and made Old Mother leave this world. He could not take away Old Mother's trick, so he made a pact with her and her children, and taught her the Old Ways, and promised to bring her soul up to Tëlo when her body returned to the world."

After Creation
Once Kêt had been born, Clo'ae separated from the world, though if this was by choice or by force is unknown. The tribesfolk claim that she is a trickster goddess, responsible for a person's ability to lie. In spite of this reputation, many tribes worshiped her as the mother of creation, viewing death as a gift that gave life meaning, as opposed to a curse.

Some ancient ruins left behind by the Old Ones depict images of what many believe to be Clo'ae, leading scholars to think that she had a prominent role in early human religion outside of tribal culture, possibly above Të. Since their language has yet to be deciphered, however, this remains purely speculative.

In the Era of Awakening, some early human civilizations began to view Clo'ae differently, attributing choice and meaning to her, as well as resistance, many considering her contribution of mortality the first act of rebellion, a fighting spirit that resonated with the early peoples of Tëó. Though not worshiped as widely as the other gods, many temples were nevertheless raised in her honor.

In the early half of the sixteenth century of the Era of Awakening, a group known as the Dragonknights of Tëlothi-Ka rose to sudden power, crusading in the name of Të. Subjugating each city they came across, they conscripted the boys, killed the husbands, and claimed the women. When it came to the temples of Clo'ae, they showed a particular prejudice. Considering Clo'ae to be the antithesis to Të, they razed every temple, demolished each shrine, and burnt every worshiper at the stake. Their hatred for Clo'ae and her followers ran so deep that little knowledge of her remains, with most scholars considering her to be a primitive superstition of the tribesfolk.