All things Russna

[Sparky]

Russna
"ROOSS-nah"
Lady of the Mists, Glimmer, Will-o-wisp, The Scribe

Enworldian Demigoddess
Symbol: A bare footprint on a field of any color.
Home Plane: Varies.
Alignment: Neutral.
Portfolio: Wisdom, mystery, diplomacy, language, study, writing.
Worshippers: Scholars, Messengers, Orators, Diplomats, Students, Bards, the wise Aged.
Cleric Alignments: NG, LN, TN, CN, NE.
Domains: Knowledge, Magic, Communication
Favored Weapon: Dagger.

Russna is one of the Seven Sisters.

The only daughter of Antonidas, Russna is the mists that shroud the dawn and twilight. She is the mystery that fogs legend and forbidden knowledge. She is the wisdom of long years, the ear that listens, the hand that writes. She tends Antonidas during his experiments, keeping things orderly for the elder god. Her voice is calm and quiet and any who listen to her are soothed. She often serves as a go between amongst the gods and all respect her careful neutrality.

Priests of Russna are devoted to many different aspects of study and communication. There is no small amount of debate within her temples about the origins of her holy symbol, though most agree that her portfolio and domains have evolved over the ages and the symbol, while still associated with the goddess, is a remnant of past times when she was thought to have been a tricksome, secretive goddess of mist and mystery. Many these days embrace the footprint icon as symbolic of the hunt for wisdom and a reminder to follow Russna's humble ways.

Temples to the goddess, in urban settings, are often found near or in libraries or within embassies. Those in the wild are often lonely towers occupied by wizened clerics and wizards who have cloistered themselves for some purpose of study or meditation. A rare mystery cult is devoted to a more primitive worship of the goddess as a guide through secret places and the bearer of souls to the afterlife.

Russna is rather plain, as goddesses go, though her mouth is well-shaped and her face expressive. Her eyes are often downcast, though she has a fierce stare when moved to rare demonstrations of anger. Those who have run afoul of the goddess often find themselves tongue-tied and confused. Those who have pleased her experience crystalline clarity of mind and tongue. Ancient images of the goddess depict her tall, bare-footed and wreathed in mist. More modern images depict her seated, with ink-stained fingers, downcast eyes and a slight mysterious smile.

New Domain: Communication
Domain Power: Once per day you gain an enhancement bonus to equal to your cleric level to a single Bluff, Diplomacy, Forgery, Gather Information or Sense Motive check. Choose to add any of the following - Bluff, Forgery, Gather Information, Sense Motive or Speak Language - to your list of cleric class skills. Add Message to the list of Orisons.

Spells:
1st - Comprehend Languages
2nd - Speak with Animals
3rd - Sending/Tongues
4th - Speak with Dead
5th - Sending
6th - Speak with Plants
7th - Stone Tell
8th - Project Image
9th - Demand

[GnomeWorks]

I like this one.

Communication isn't a bad domain. It certainly isn't overpowered, compared to some of the other ones. She definitely has a niche.

Approved.

[Manzanita]

usually it seems like we get more comments on these sorts of things, though I can't think of any offhand. I do think it's important to get the dieties approved and out there (assuming they're OK). I'll give it a tenative Yes.

[Knight Otu]

I'm going to give this a yes as well.