Could you do Nymeia next~? I need all that sweet, sweet Nymeia lore.
Master (Wife*) of Rhalgr, Younger Sister and Divine Lover of Althyk, Mother of Azeyma & Menphina.
*Erik refers to Nymeia as Rhalgr’s wife, but this may be an exclusively Ala Mhigan viewpoint of their relationship. Other passages regarding the relationship refer to Rhalgr as Nymeia’s attendant or servant as She entrusts Rhalgr with the task of caring for Byregot and Halone.
Encyclopedia Eorzea: “Nymeia is the watcher of celestial bodies and goddess of fate. She commands the element of water and is associated with the fourth moon of the Eorzean calendar. Nymeia is the younger sister of Althyk, and master of Rhalgr. She is most often depicted as a weaver donning a white, silken veil. Her symbol is the spinning wheel.”
Havak Alvak: “Nymeia, the Spinner. This deity determines destinies while supervising the stellar sphere. In directing the dance of the stars, She weaves the fates of men. Those given to gambling are oft heard petitioning Her partiality.”
Encyclopedia Eorzea - Creation: “In the beginning there was neither light nor darkness. Only the Whorl. And it was not until Althyk emerged thence in his nakedness, did time take its first step forward. With Him, the Keeper also carried weight, and with weight were the realms of land and firmament defined.
Yet Althyk would not be alone overlong, for soon from the Whorl did another step forth. Her name was Nymeia, and She was but a mewling babe who could do naught but weep, and soon, Her tears had created a vast lake. Althyk, seeking companionship in the empty realm of His creation, took the young goddess under His wing and cared for Her as one would a daughter. As Nymeia grew, however, so, too, did their love for one another, until it could no longer be contained, culminating in a divine coupling which resulted in the birth of two holy daughters - Azeyma, the sun, and Menphina, the moon - and with their advent, was day and night conceived.”
Minfilia: “One of the ancient myths regarding Silvertear Falls states that when the waters came into existence, so too did the great wyrm. Althyk and Nymeia, Brother Time and Sister Fate, decreed that Midgardsormr ever watch over the source, from which all water─and magic─was said to flow.”
Erik: “Since ancient times, the Falls and the region of Mor Dhona in which they are located have been believed to be the seat of a great spiritual energy, as less advanced peoples were wont to call it. So old are these beliefs that the tomb of Xandes himself, the first emperor of Allag, was built deep beneath the surface of Mor Dhona, in the hope that the mystical power which resided under the lake would raise him from the dead. Oh, there are any number of legends and myths surrounding the place. I think the oldest and most widely known would have to be that of the dragon of the Falls. I do not claim to be a folklorist, but I can certainly provide the general tale.
There was the birth of Althyk, god of time among the Twelve, and in turn, His younger sister Nymeia, goddess of fate. And then there was water, and through it the Silvertear Falls came to be at the center of all that was. Here was the source not only of water, but the fount of all magic as well. Now, when water came into being, so too did the great dragon Midgardsormr. Brother Time and Sister Fate, fearing the Falls might fall into the hands of evil, ordered Midgardsormr their protector and warden. Much later, with the arrival of man, would Midgardsormr be worshipped as the guardian deity of Silvertear Falls.”
Claribel: “As the Spinner weaves our fates, so too does She weave the fates of all creation.”
Encyclopedia Eorzea - Hells and Heavens: “Every god and goddess of the Twelve is associated with one of the six controlling elements. When the deities deemed Their work on Eorzea complete, They proceeded to create the firmament, the result being six astrally aligned heavens aspected to each of the six elements, and a final seventh heaven to rule them all. However, a residual product of these heavens were six similarly aspected hells, ruled by an all-encompassing, umbrally aligned seventh hell. The six “lower heavens” are represented in the sky by six constellations - star formations which astrologians also perceive as gates that, when opened, can allow a person to become attuned with the heavens and manipulate their aether. These constellations revolve around the pole star which is believed to be the gate to the seventh and final heaven.
While some sects of Twelve worship have different views of the afterlife, most believe that the righteous are promised a place in the heavens while sinners are doomed to an eternity of punishing trials in the hells. A belief made popular by a famous theologian and playwright of the Sixth Astral Era states that upon an evil man’s death, he will fall to a hell that corresponds to the sins he committed in his lifetie. Once suffering an eternity in payment for those sins, he must journey through the remaining five “upper hells” and witness the sins of his brothers, before finally arriving at the gate of the seventh hell, where his heart will be weighted. If it is heavy with sorrow and repentance for what he has done, he will be sent to the heavens. But if it remains light, he will be admitted to the seventh hell where he will suffer forevermore.”
Encyclopedia Eorzea - The Hell and Heaven of Water: “To create the river which runs through the Heaven of Water, Nymeia melted a star, to which Thaliak added the essence of knowledge and then poured it forth from his Ewer. Here reside the scholars and inventors, the teachers and the entrepreneurs. From the bed of the celestial river did forsaken droplets fall to the Pit where they settled and stagnated, creating the Hell of Water. Here drown deceivers, counterfeiters, mountebanks, and false prophets.”
Levava: “There! The Ewer! Focus, Sounsyy! Focus, and let the constellation’s aether twine with your own. It is said through the fifth heaven flows a mighty river carrying the water spilled forth from the Scholar’s vessel. And in that water is the knowledge of all that have come before and all who will follow─the aether spun from Nymeia’s loom─the aether from which all magicks are drawn and to which all magicks return. And now the power of the Ewer is forever yours, and forever shall it point you to truth.”
Fernehalwes: “The same can be said regarding religion. Each city-state has a patron (matron) deity, and most people in that city-state will follow the teachings of that god or goddess. There are, for the most part, however, no strict religious codes that must be followed. Some Eorzeans will choose to worship a deity connected to their profession (for example, weavers often follow Nymeia the Spinner). Some follow the deity associated with their nameday. There are even some Eorzeans who choose not to follow the teachings of the Twelve, but they are few and far between…and often will not admit it.”
C’nangho: “If you follow the road past the gates to the southeast, you will eventually come to a barren cape with a single large stone half-buried in the cliff overlooking the sea. Followers of the Twelve say it’s a holy place dedicated to Nymeia, the Spinner. I’d be surprised if the pirates camped up there were aware of that, though.”
Erik: “The power of the Fist of Rhalgr grew unchecked in Ala Mhigo, and it was eventually named the state religion. After this, its influence over political, economic, and cultural spheres of life became even more considerable. Needless to say, this did not sit well with one and all. Among them was the last and most ugsome of Ala Mhigan royalty, the King of Ruin─Theodoric. The rise of the Fist meant a potential rival for power, and he would not suffer the monkhood to encroach on his prerogatives.To counter their claims of religious righteousness, he simply conjured his own out of thin aether, proclaiming that the throne was his by divine right, given him by the word of Nymeia herself─wife to Rhalgr. He then banned the worship and likenesses of Rhalgr and all other gods, and demanded that the prayers and praises of Ala Mhigo be given to Nymeia and her alone. In doing so, he sought to establish his own absolute, uncontested rule. Naturally, the Fist and other worshipers of Rhalgr throughout the nation rose in protest, precisely as Theodoric had known they would. He used the uprisings as a pretext to imprison several high-ranking monks, whom he then tortured until they confessed their order’s plans to topple his rule.”
Encyclopedia Eorzea - Theodoric’s Reign: “In 1546, Theodoric the First ascended the throne. He was to be Ala Mhigo’s last king, and his reign would wreak ruin upon his nation. Seeking to free himself from the influence of the Fist of Rhalgr, he proclaimed himself ordained by Nymeia Herself to lead the nation, and forbade worship of the Destroyer. Instead, he demanded the people prostrate themselves before him as the Spinner’s emissary.”
Nymeia Allagan Runestone: “A small, smoothed stone featuring in its center a single carved symbol representing Nymeia, the Spinner.”
Nymeia Lily: “A flowering ornamental plant said to be beloved of Nymeia, the Spinner.”
Nymeia Lilies: “Bouquets such as these are oft used as offerings to the dead.”
Balarr: “Take these Nymeia lilies and leave ‘em at the top of each barrow. Ye’ve doubtless seen the bones returned to life by foul magicks, shamblin’ around and harassin’ their survivin’ comrades. It hurts me soul to see it, adventurer─I cannae abide such blasphemy! ‘Tis me hope that these lilies soothe their spirits and help ‘em return to the Matron’s bosom. See me when ye’ve finished.”
Berthar: “We believe the Amalj'aa are making ready for an attack on Ul'dah. They recently moved to fortify an encampment in southern Thanalan - a place they call Zahar'ak. We deployed a contingent of Flames some days ago to lay siege to it, but… No sooner had our force gained sight of the camp than the Amalj'aa loosed their war drakes upon them. Something must be done about those vile beasts if we’re to have a hope of successfully storming the place.
I spent days following the mission scouring the alchemical tomes, and came upon a solution. The Tears of Nymeia - an ancient and potent poison to which scalekin are extremely susceptible. I have already prepared a batch. It was my first dabbling in toxins. Since coming to the Phrontistery, I have been schooled solely in the ways of healing - salves and balms, potions and poultices. It proved exceedingly simple, though. I needed only do the opposite of what I always do!”
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Hope this helps, @nymeia-lihli! More lore on the Spinner, the Starlight Celebration, Eorzean gil, and common phrases, prayers, and curses to Nymeia can be found in the Read More below.
| Byregot | Althyk | Rhalgr | Nophica | Azeyma | Menphina || Thaliak | Oschon | Nald’thal |
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