Kyne, Goddess of the Storm
Kyne is the Nordic goddess of storms found in The Elder Scrolls video games. Also known as Kaan, and popularly by Kynareth, she is the widow of the god Shor, who is the creator deity in the Nordic Pantheon. She is held in the highest esteem by the Nord hunters, and it is commonly believed by Nords that she leads the souls of the honored dead to Sovngarde, the Nordic afterlife that was created by Shor, and so has been given the title Kiss at the End.
Considered the Mother of Men, it is her breath upon the Throat of the World that is said to have formed the race of Men from the remaining Wandering Ehlnofey. Her daughters are believed to have blessed Men with the gift of the Storm Voice, commonly known as the Thu’um, which gave the first Nords the ability to fight against the Dragons. Kyne called upon Paarthurnax, a Dragon himself, to teach the mortals how to use the Thu’um, effectively turning him against his master and older brother, Aludin, the World-Eater and oppressor of Men.
In the game Skyrim, many Nords still revere her by her name Kyne (as opposed to the popular name Kynareth). When asked by the Dragonborn, the Nord Froki Whetted-Blade says:
Those sycophants in the Temple would call her Kynareth. Just a pale shadow of the truth, like all the Temple Divines. Kyne! Blessed Warrior-Wife. Shor’s widow, sacred to any true Nord hunter. She’s the mother of men and beasts, and her veil is the storm.
This is prompt Froki to offer the quest “Kyne’s Sacred Trials,” an ancient Nord hunting trial:
It’s an old Nord Tradition, a test to prove your worth in the eyes of Kyne. Show that you’re a hunter and no simple butcher. Kyne teaches us to respect the beasts and blesses the hunter who will face their champions. True Nord hunters are those who survive the Trials.
In the Ancient Nordic Pantheon (the precursor to the Nordic Pantheon) she was depicted as the Hawk.
On my own shrine for her I have pictures of hawks, candles in owl-shapes holders, statues of owls and other birds, and also deer and rabbits. I also have a statue of a Dragon. Her animal is the hawk, though she is the mother of all beasts and so any would be suited.
Storms and rain are sacred to her, so spending time out in thunderstorms (safely! Please follow safety precautions) or light showers are great ways to start getting in touch with her strong presence.
In the past I have asked her to bless me with strength and confidence, but spells and prayers for dealing with the loss of a significant other or loved one, becoming closer to the animal kingdom, and any magic that has to do with storms would be appropriate.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
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