Astoria and Aedarius

Astoria is the Goddess of Life and her twin brother Aedarius, the God of Death. They are the two key figures of the pantheon, the beginning and the end, the circle that all life is trapped within.

Astoria is always presented with very pale skin and white robes. She is the one who represents the birth of life, from procreation to child birth and into adulthood. Her clothing depends on what part of the cycle she is currently being asked to influence, naked when it comes to fertility, full robes when it comes to being a mother, and so on. Sometimes when portrayed as defending her children she is shown wearing plate armor polished to a mirror finish. Also on her waist she wears a belt with three daggers each with it's own purpose: cutting the cord during child birth, defending your family and the last a simple tool for eating. Her clergy consists of healers, clerics and caregivers.

Aedarius is always shown as a hunter dressed in black leathers with a bow in his hand. Death is not seen a necessarily bad thing but an essential part of life that comes for every living thing. His skin is pale like his sister but he never wears anything of light color. Although when claiming the life of a lover he is commonly displayed wearing only a loincloth. A frequent saying is that when one dies they have 'caught the arrow of Aedarius' along with an animal being killed for food as a 'blessing from Aedarius'. His clergy consists of paladins, under takers and hunters.

Larger temples for the pair are commonly built as one structure but with a divide between the two. With only one inside door connecting the two that can priests may use, all others must exit one side completely before being able to enter the main doors to the other. The side for Astoria is where marriages are performed, children are taught and even children are born in side rooms specially made for this. Aedarius is for funerals and rites for the dead are performed. Along with cremation and rooms for those who are dying to pass along in as much peace as can be administered.