Alber

[al-ber]

Basic Information

• Name: Alber
• Domain: Wilderness, Untamed Nature
• Title: The Wild Guardian, The Untamed
• Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
• Symbol: A tree intertwined with wild vines
• Primary Worship Area: Agra Island. Vahshi Forest, Ridgeback Forest

Physical Description

• Appearance:

Alber is depicted as a towering figure, crafted from the very essence of the primeval forests. Her skin is rugged and textured like the bark of ancient trees, weathered and wise, covered sporadically with patches of soft moss and delicate lichen. Her hair, a wild and unruly tangle of vines, cascades down her shoulders and back, interspersed with leaves, flowers, and the occasional berry.

Alber’s eyes are a vivid and penetrating green, glowing with a primal and powerful light that reflects the depth and vitality of the natural world. While her body is muscular and robust, mirroring the strength of the oldest trees whose roots have delved deep into the earth. Her arms and legs are like the trunks of mighty oaks, showcasing her physical strength and her rooted connection to the earth. Her movements, though powerful, carry the grace of a creature perfectly in tune with the natural world.

Adorned with elements of her domain, Alber wears no crafted garments but is instead cloaked in a mantle of foliage that changes with the seasons. In spring and summer, it flourishes with the vibrant colors of flowers and fresh leaves; in autumn, it turns to the golds and reds of falling leaves; and in winter, it bears the whites and grays of frost and snow.

• Height: 300cm
• Weight: 190kg
• Distinguishing Features: Her bark-like skin, and her hair made of flowing vines.

Personality

• Traits: Fierce, enigmatic, and unpredictable. Alber is a reflection of the raw, unbridled aspects of nature, embodying both its beauty and its dangers.
• Strengths: Possesses immense power over natural environments, can control flora and fauna, and has the ability to restore or ravage the wilderness. Her connection to the natural world grants her resilience and a profound understanding of the earth’s balance.
• Weaknesses: Her power is diminished as the wilderness has been increasingly encroached upon by civilization. She can be volatile and may react unpredictably to disturbances in nature. Emotionally, she is affected deeply by environmental degradation and loss.
• Goals and Motivations: Alber strives to protect and restore the natural world, even as her power dwindles. Her primary motivation is to resist the encroachment of civilization and to preserve the wild areas that remain. She seeks to inspire respect for the untamed nature of the world and to rekindle her lost strength through the preservation and rejuvenation of wilderness.

Relationships

Family:

• Theri’an: Brother. Agra shares a unique relationship with Theri’an, blending rivalry and camaraderie. Unlike her typical reserved or indifferent demeanor towards other gods, Theri’an’s shared wild side and occasional ruthlessness resonates with Alber, and the two are often depicted in stories as working side by side.
• Agra: The connection between Agra and Alber is less clear. Some believe Agra may be Alber’s mother, given their shared dominion over nature. Others theorize that Alber is not a seperate goddess, rather she represents a wrathful aspect of Agra, a side brought forth by humanity’s relentless destruction of the natural world.

Rivals/Enemies: Unlike many of her divine counterparts, Agra’s enmity is less focused on the machinations of gods or even the vices and more directed towards mortal empires that threaten the natural world.

• Dahri Empire: Agra has harbored a longstanding animosity towards the Dahri Empire, primarily due to their extensive deforestation and environmental destruction, particularly in the Vahshi Forest. This conflict has not only fueled a bitter feud but also precipitated numerous wars. Agra views the Dahri as a persistent blight on the landscape.
• Riben: Emerging more recently as a focal point of Agra’s ire, Riben has drawn her wrath through their bold encroachments and disregard for the sanctity of the Vahshi Forest. As this empire’s activities increasingly threaten the ecological balance, they have become the primary target of Agra.

Attitude towards Mortals: Alber is both nurturing and wrathful. She can be a protector to those who respect and care for nature, but she shows fierce anger towards those who exploit or destroy it. Her interactions with mortals are often driven by their actions towards the environment.

Mythology and Worship

• Creation Myth:

In the dawn of Staterum, when the world was still a canvas awaiting the strokes of creation, the elemental forces swirled in chaos, shaping land, sea, and sky. Amidst this primordial dance, the spirit of the wilderness began to coalesce, drawn by the deep yearning for life’s untamed beauty to flourish. This spirit, a raw and powerful force, manifested itself as Alber, the embodiment of nature’s wild heart.

Alber arose not from the will of gods or the plans of other deities but from the inherent necessity of nature itself. As the landscapes of Staterum formed—mountains pushing skyward, rivers carving the earth, forests spreading across vast expanses—there was a palpable need for a guardian, a deity who would ensure that the wilds remained untouched and untamed by the hands of civilization.

The forests, teeming with life and mystery, called out for protection. In response, Alber’s form took shape within the deepest woods, where the trees reached oldest and the earth was dark and rich. Her body, crafted from the elements of these ancient places, became a living testament to the endurance and resilience of the wilds.

As Alber walked the untrodden paths of her nascent world, her steps sowed the seeds of countless plants and trees, her breath infused the air with the freshness of pine and earth, and her voice became the wind that rustled through the leaves. Her presence alone was enough to sanctify the natural order, preserving the sanctity of the wild places against the encroaches of those who would seek to tame them.

As civilizations rose and the influence of other gods expanded, Alber remained a constant force, a reminder of the world’s inherent wildness and beauty. Her creation was not an act but a consequence of the world’s deep need for balance between the untamed and the cultivated, between the chaos of growth and the order imposed by civilization.

• Major Cults and Religious Practices: The majority of Alber’s followers are found in the major forest around the world. In particular, Agra Island is known for devotion to Alber, with numerous temples and religious members found here.
• Festivals: Festivals dedicated to Alber are often tied to the cycles of nature, such as the changing of the seasons or the full moon. Celebrations might include feasts, dance, and offerings of natural materials. The festivals serve to honor the wild and reaffirm the bond between mortals and nature.
• Clergy and Temples: Priests and priestesses of Alber are often druidic in nature, living closely with the wilderness they revere. Temples dedicated to Alber are usually open-air sanctuaries, integrated into the natural environment rather than constructed structures. They may be located in deep forests, atop mountain peaks, or by sacred natural springs.

Significant Historical Impact

• Major Plot Points in World History: Alber was once much more prevalent in the wider world, particularly Vahshi Forest, where the Alberine believe she watched over them and protected their borders. However, her involvement within the world has greatly diminished over time, although it is worth noting she is one of the few Gods to remain on Staterum following the Age of Darkness (AoD).
• Artifacts:
  • The Verdant Staff: An ancient relic said to be imbued with Alber’s power, capable of controlling plant life and summoning natural guardians.
  • Heart of the Wild: A mystical gem that embodies the essence of untamed nature, believed to have been a core source of Alber’s once-great power.

Quotes

“To tame nature is to enslave it; to protect it is to honour it.”

Cultural Reverence

Alberine

To the Alberine, Alber is more than a goddess — she is the very spirit of the Vahshi Forest itself. They view her with deep reverence, honoring her as both a nurturing provider and a fierce protector. Her presence is felt in every whisper of the trees and every beast that roams their ancestral home. While she offers bountiful life to those who respect her realm, the Alberine know well that her wrath can be equally devastating when provoked. Her daughter is said to still reside deep within the forest, serving as an intermediary between Alber and the Alberine, maintaining the fragile harmony between mortal settlements and the untamed wilderness.

The Dahri Empire:

Among the people of the Dahri Empire, Alber is not recognized as a deity but rather as a symbol of the deadly wilderness embodied by the Vahshi Forest. To the Dahri, “Alber” is less a goddess and more a whispered name for the unseen terrors that thwart their expansion — the feral beasts, the cursed trees, and the treacherous mists that claim whole expeditions. In their eyes, she represents the unchecked savagery of nature, an obstacle to be conquered rather than revered. The name Alber is invoked in curses and tales of the many soldiers, settlers, and explorers who have vanished within the forest’s endless green shadows.