> [!infobox] > ![[Vakasis.png]] > ###### Information > | | | > | ---- | ---- | > | **Titles** | The Burning Blade, The Inferno's Wrath, The Ember Queen, The Flaming Storm | > | **Domain** | Power, Fire, War, Storms | > | **Gender** | Feminine | > | **Alignment** | Neutral | > | **Artifact(s)** | Greataxe | > # Symbol > ![[Vakasis Symbol.png]] ### **Description** **Vakasis, the Flame** is the fearsome Goddess of Fire, battle, and unrelenting power. She embodies not only the physical flame but also the metaphorical fire of rage, passion, and ferocity. Worshipped by warriors, conquerors, and those who thrive in chaos, Vakasis represents the strength that comes from embracing raw emotion — particularly anger — as a tool for power and control. Vakasis's influence is not one of blind destruction, but rather calculated force — the flame that burns with purpose rather than one that consumes indiscriminately. She is revered by those who understand that power must be tempered, and that strength wielded without discipline will inevitably lead to ruin. Her followers are not bound by social status or station — her worship transcends these, drawing in both noble warlords and desperate peasants alike. Vakasis is not worshiped out of reverence alone; her followers often call upon her in moments of desperation, rage, or overwhelming adversity. ### **Appearance** Vakasis appears as a tall, imposing figure clad in heavy, soot-stained armor marked by glowing crimson runes. Her eyes burn like embers, flickering with an inner fire that never dies. Her hair is a living inferno, shifting between smoldering embers and roaring flame. Her signature weapon is a massive, jagged greatsword known as **Emberfang**, said to be forged from molten rock and enchanted to burn eternally. When Vakasis manifests in visions, she often appears wreathed in smoke or accompanied by embers that dance and flicker around her, marking her presence. ### **Worshippers and Clergy** Vakasis attracts a diverse following, often defined more by attitude than profession. Her followers are passionate, ambitious, and driven by an inner fire. Many are warriors, barbarians, and mercenaries who believe strength is the truest path to power. Her clergy, known as the **Emberforged**, often preach that strength comes from channeling one's emotions rather than suppressing them. These militant priests temper their followers in both mind and body, pushing them to embrace their inner fire without allowing it to consume them. **Common Worshippers Include:** - Warriors and soldiers seeking strength in battle - Barbarians and berserkers seeking to master their rage - Smiths and craftsmen who work with fire to forge weapons and armor - Those seeking vengeance or power to overcome oppression While Vakasis is often seen as chaotic and destructive, her Emberforged priests teach that true strength lies in knowing when to unleash rage and when to control it. ### **Dogma** Vakasis’s teachings focus on embracing one's emotions — especially anger — and turning them into strength. Her philosophy warns that bottled fury breeds weakness, while controlled rage can become a powerful tool. **Core Tenets:** - Power is earned through struggle and conflict. - Emotions are weapons; suppress them, and you suppress your strength. - Controlled rage is your greatest ally — wield it with purpose. - Destruction can be creation; ruin can pave the way for growth. Vakasis’s followers are often encouraged to test themselves constantly — physically, mentally, or emotionally — believing that only by challenging their limits can they unlock their true potential. ### **Manifestations** Vakasis rarely appears directly, but her presence is often marked by intense heat, sudden bursts of flame, or an unnatural glow in fire’s embers. Many claim her guidance comes in the form of whispers carried on smoke or flickering patterns within fire. **Her favored omens include:** - Flames that burn unnaturally bright or cold - Sparks that linger unnaturally long in the air - The scent of smoke appearing without a visible source - Weapons glowing faintly red-hot before critical moments In rare cases, Vakasis is believed to possess warriors in moments of desperation, driving them into an unstoppable frenzy that leaves them temporarily immune to pain or fear. ### **Relations with Other Deities** Vakasis holds a firm alliance with **Olos, the Captain**, recognizing his structured strength as a powerful complement to her raw power. While Olos oversees order in war, Vakasis embodies the chaos and emotion that drives soldiers forward in the heat of battle. Vakasis has a strained relationship with **Vaaldin, the Cosmic Void**, as her destructive nature contradicts Vaaldin’s pursuit of knowledge and careful logic. Similarly, Vakasis’s impulsive nature places her at odds with deities like **Isyn, the Artist**, whose work thrives in precision and patience. Vakasis maintains a complicated rivalry with **Ezrasil, the Trickster**, as Ezrasil’s chaotic pranks often undermine the focused discipline she preaches. However, both gods are known to occasionally align when chaos serves their interests. ### **Holy Days and Rituals** - **The Ember's Vigil:** A night of intense meditation where followers fast and surround themselves with controlled flames, symbolizing mastery over their emotions. - **The Festival of the Rising Flame:** A fiery celebration held when two moons align — symbolizing balance between raw emotion and tempered control. Ritual combat, forging ceremonies, and fire-dancing performances are common during this time. ### **Favored Weapons and Tools** Vakasis’s favored weapon is the **greatsword**, representing power wielded with focus. Many of her followers also carry fire-themed charms or weapons marked with flame motifs, believing these symbols invoke her strength. ### **Myths and Legends** - **The Pyre of Titans:** Legend speaks of Vakasis forging her greatsword, **Emberfang**, from the heart of a slain titan’s molten core. It is said that her weapon still holds a fraction of that titan’s rage, granting immense power to its wielder. - **The Battle of Burning Stone:** A famous tale tells of Vakasis manifesting during a siege on a mountain fortress. She is said to have infused the defenders with an unstoppable fury that allowed them to drive back their attackers — even as the fortress itself crumbled to ash. - **The Phoenix Pact:** An obscure legend claims Vakasis once aided a powerful phoenix in escaping an eternal prison. In gratitude, the phoenix bestowed Vakasis with the power to burn her enemies while leaving her followers unharmed — a power her Emberforged clergy still invoke to this day.