While the handmaidens are never worshipped as such, prayers may be offered to them [1]. As with all Halean prayers, these are in the form of bargains (an upcoming article on Halean liturgy will deal more thoroughly with this topic). The instances where such prayers would be offered are listed for each handmaiden, as are suitable occasions to invoke the demigoddess' name. Note that in most cases, Halea's name will be invoked first so as not to accidentally slight the goddess. Halea, herself, of course, contains all seven aspects of the religion in herself and combines the powers of her handmaidens should she need to.

The descriptions here follow the format suggested in the HRT template for divine beings, adding 'Appearance' in front of the 'Notes' section. The descriptions from GoH are included in the text, along with the products of my own fevered imagination.

SELINA

Selina is depicted as a beautiful young woman in extravagant clothing and bedecked with jewellery. She carries a bag of coins.

The Princess of Abundance embodies the lust for wealth and vigilantly guards Halea's unsurpassed treasure hoards. Outsiders see her as tempting mortals with material goods, but to the Haleans themselves this is not temptation, simply the offering of rewards for services rendered.

Selina represents the spending of wealth rather than its acquisition. As such, all material goods not directly the province of the other handmaidens are special to her. Fine clothes, jewellery, expensive furnishings and extravagant homes are will within her purview, and may be requested in prayers. Naturally, she also represents coinage and gemstones as the direct means to acquire these other luxuries. Her name is sometimes invoked in gratitude after the delivery of luxury furnishings and the like.

ELOMIA

Elomia is depicted as a slim young woman in modest clothing, carrying a scroll or abacus.

Elomia is the patron of commerce, stimulated by the 'game' of business. As such she acts as the patron of traders and usurers. Some outsiders confuse Elomia and Selina, seeing them both as demigoddesses of wealth. To Haleans the distinction is clear: Elomia represents the acquisition of wealth, while Selina represents the spending of it. She is a means to an end, not the end itself.

While the usurers' methods of compound interest rates and the like are special to Elomia, it is in the bargain that she finds her fullest expression. To her, the skills of bargaining, the use of half-truths and exaggerations, and all the other tricks of the hard working merchant are sacred. She will not tolerate outright lies and contract breaking, but almost anything else is fair game. Prayers are offered to entice her to lend her golden tongue to a merchant at his next bargaining session, and her name is frequently invoked over signed contracts and other deals. In this respect she perhaps the most important of Halea's handmaidens to most worshippers.

TANIA

Tania is said to be the second most attractive being on two worlds, and her image conforms even more strongly to local standards of beauty than that of the other handmaidens. She is shown in courtesan's clothing and striking a lascivious pose.

Tania is the demigoddess of sex and passion, taking the form of a beautiful young courtesan. She indulges in sex with either gender, leaving her partner worn to the point of exhaustion. She is said to walk the earth more frequently than the other handmaidens, but deals wrathfully with those who 'steal' her mortal lovers. She represents what is perhaps the most visible face of Haleanism to many outsiders, and is the reason why so many Laranians and Peonians frequently dismiss the religion as empty hedonism. Yet, like her mistress, Tania is cunning and shrewd. She gathers information for use by the goddess, just as pillow talk can prove useful to the courtesans who regularly pray to her. Tania gives the appearance of being a great gossip, yet she knows when to keep valuable information for later use.

Besides courtesans, all manner of Haleans offer prayers to Tania when they wish to be lucky in love, or merely to attract an attractive person for a single night of pleasure. The limits of Tania's interests vary with the local culture, but are usually lax. [6]

GALOPEA

Galopea is shown as a full bodied young woman, even plump in some localities. She usually holds a goblet, although this is sometimes replaced by a tray of delicacies.

Unfairly called the 'glutton of heaven' by some, Galopea is the muse of pleasant repast, the joys of gourmet dining, pleasant food and wine. Anything which is consumed for pleasure is special to her, so drugs also fall within her purview [5]. The common act of eating for sustenance is beneath her attention, and Halean's do not say grace before a meal as a Peonian might. However, her name is certainly invoked before special feasts or, on a less formal level, before a new bottle of expensive wine is opened. Chefs and vintners may pray to her, although common cooks are unlikely to be Halean in most areas.

DULCIA

Dulcia is depicted as a young woman playing a musical instrument. The instrument varies from locality to locality; harps and flutes are most common. Her clothing is often clinging or low cut.

She is muse of music, dancing and sultry words, and keeps the Eleri Shasa ('Melodium Erotica'), a libram of words to inspire love and lust in mortals. More than this, she also represents fine art in all its forms [4], although that with erotic connotations is most favoured. Dulcia takes favour in all forms of created beauty, and may bless either the angst-ridden creative process of a perfectionist or a work of spontaneous improvisation. Prayers are often offered to her before either is begun, and her name is frequently invoked in thanks before the performance of a major piece of music or poetry. Occasionally, prayers may also be offered to her before engaging in diplomatic relations, although more commonly Elomia or Halea herself fill this role.

THALIA

Images of Thalia show her in mismatched clothing, with wild hair and a knowing grin. She holds a pair of dice.

A whimsical and capricious entity who delights in the vagaries of chance, over which she has some control. Her control is not complete, however, and her mood changes so frequently that she can never be completely relied upon. She is unusual, in that, while many Haleans ignore her (preferring instead the greater certainty of Elomia) her name is often invoked by non-Halean gamblers. Hence the saying 'catch, recast' often used by dice players seeking for Thalia to intervene on their behalf. This superstition appears to be unfounded, for the many Haleans who run gambling houses seem always to make more money than their punters. Such people are among the few Haleans who regularly offer prayers to this handmaiden, although all may do so from time to time if it seems that luck, rather than skill, may be their salvation in some difficult situation.

SARDURA

Sardura is depicted as a young woman with a stern visage, and wearing close-fitting golden armour. She bears a short bow and a dagger and is often shown in a menacing stance.

The Left Hand of Bargains is despatched by Halea when compacts are not lived up to and punishes with her 'subtle stings' those who betray the goddess. Vengeance will be appropriate to the bargain; those who break contracts find themselves worse off than they were before. Alone among the handmaidens of Halea, she does not grant favours, but takes away that which is not deserved [6]. Her arrows do not kill or injure, they bring bad fortune on those they strike.

She also represents security, and is the patron of the Solithar (temple guards) and of other bodyguards and protectors of valuable goods. Locksmiths offer prayers to her [8], but more commonly she is called on by those who have been cheated or robbed or when a contract is broken. Otherwise her name is usually invoked in the form of 'may Sardura never have to visit you'.

NOTES

[2] - the ordering of the handmaidens was chosen on the basis of my belief that Halea is first of all a merchant's goddess and only secondly a goddess of hedonism; or at least that she is advertised as such by the Order of the Silken Voice. Despite the Order's efforts this is generally not the impression that outsiders will have. See Halea 1 for some justification for this idea.

[3] - does 'Sovereign Mistress' sound right? 'Sovereign' might be taken as implying a independent position, whereas Halea is very careful to ensure that her handmaidens are seen as secondary to her. But I like the sound of it, and cannot think of a better term at the moment.

[4] - I think this is necessary, for otherwise we have no handmaiden to associate with paintings, murals, statuary and other decorations. These things are associated with both beauty and wealth, and thus within Halea's purview. We might make Selina represent these things, but with wealth and creature comforts, she has a big enough role already IMO.

[5] - we know that many Haleans take drugs, so I think one of the handmaidens must have charge over them. Galopea is the obvious choice.

[6] - more on this theme will be presented in an upcoming article on Halean morality (Laranians, of course, would claim this is an oxymoron :-)).

[7] - I don't think Halea would want her handmaidens to have too many grand sounding titles, so I've stuck with this known title rather than making Sardura a 'Sovereign Mistress'. It also underlines how different she is from the others.

[8] - again, I think somebody has to represent the important business of not having your stuff filched. It might be Selina, who watches over Halea's treasure vaults, but I prefer the association with the more malevolent Sardura at the current time.

Comments are welcome. Please send e-mail to: [email protected]

Original author was J. Patrick McDonald,
but has been edited by Avathar Valcana for campaign reasons.