The Handmaidens of Halea are often listed in a particular numerical sequence. The exact sequence may vary from place to place and is not a matter of scripture. That given here is common on Harn. However, in any list, or row of statues or murals, Sardura is always shown last (relative to someone entering the temple by the front entrance). This serves to remind the worshippers of the consequences of betraying the six handmaidens who bear pleasant gifts.
While the handmaidens are never worshipped as such, prayers may be offered to them [1]. As with all Halean prayers, these are in the form of bargains (an upcoming article on Halean liturgy will deal more thoroughly with this topic). The instances where such prayers would be offered are listed for each handmaiden, as are suitable occasions to invoke the demigoddess' name. Note that in most cases, Halea's name will be invoked first so as not to accidentally slight the goddess. Halea, herself, of course, contains all seven aspects of the religion in herself and combines the powers of her handmaidens should she need to.
The descriptions here follow the format suggested in the HRT template for divine beings, adding 'Appearance' in front of the 'Notes' section. The descriptions from GoH are included in the text, along with the products of my own fevered imagination.
Selina is depicted as a beautiful young woman in extravagant clothing and bedecked with jewellery. She carries a bag of coins.
The Princess of Abundance embodies the lust for wealth and vigilantly guards Halea's unsurpassed treasure hoards. Outsiders see her as tempting mortals with material goods, but to the Haleans themselves this is not temptation, simply the offering of rewards for services rendered.
Selina represents the spending of wealth rather than its acquisition. As such, all material goods not directly the province of the other handmaidens are special to her. Fine clothes, jewellery, expensive furnishings and extravagant homes are will within her purview, and may be requested in prayers. Naturally, she also represents coinage and gemstones as the direct means to acquire these other luxuries. Her name is sometimes invoked in gratitude after the delivery of luxury furnishings and the like.
Elomia is depicted as a slim young woman in modest clothing, carrying a scroll or abacus.
Elomia is the patron of commerce, stimulated by the 'game' of business. As such she acts as the patron of traders and usurers. Some outsiders confuse Elomia and Selina, seeing them both as demigoddesses of wealth. To Haleans the distinction is clear: Elomia represents the acquisition of wealth, while Selina represents the spending of it. She is a means to an end, not the end itself.
While the usurers' methods of compound interest rates and the like are special to Elomia, it is in the bargain that she finds her fullest expression. To her, the skills of bargaining, the use of half-truths and exaggerations, and all the other tricks of the hard working merchant are sacred. She will not tolerate outright lies and contract breaking, but almost anything else is fair game. Prayers are offered to entice her to lend her golden tongue to a merchant at his next bargaining session, and her name is frequently invoked over signed contracts and other deals. In this respect she perhaps the most important of Halea's handmaidens to most worshippers.
Tania is said to be the second most attractive being on two worlds, and her image conforms even more strongly to local standards of beauty than that of the other handmaidens. She is shown in courtesan's clothing and striking a lascivious pose.
Tania is the demigoddess of sex and passion, taking the form of a beautiful young courtesan. She indulges in sex with either gender, leaving her partner worn to the point of exhaustion. She is said to walk the earth more frequently than the other handmaidens, but deals wrathfully with those who 'steal' her mortal lovers. She represents what is perhaps the most visible face of Haleanism to many outsiders, and is the reason why so many Laranians and Peonians frequently dismiss the religion as empty hedonism. Yet, like her mistress, Tania is cunning and shrewd. She gathers information for use by the goddess, just as pillow talk can prove useful to the courtesans who regularly pray to her. Tania gives the appearance of being a great gossip, yet she knows when to keep valuable information for later use.
Besides courtesans, all manner of Haleans offer prayers to Tania when they wish to be lucky in love, or merely to attract an attractive person for a single night of pleasure. The limits of Tania's interests vary with the local culture, but are usually lax. [6]
Galopea is shown as a full bodied young woman, even plump in some localities. She usually holds a goblet, although this is sometimes replaced by a tray of delicacies.
Unfairly called the 'glutton of heaven' by some, Galopea is the muse of pleasant repast, the joys of gourmet dining, pleasant food and wine. Anything which is consumed for pleasure is special to her, so drugs also fall within her purview [5]. The common act of eating for sustenance is beneath her attention, and Halean's do not say grace before a meal as a Peonian might. However, her name is certainly invoked before special feasts or, on a less formal level, before a new bottle of expensive wine is opened. Chefs and vintners may pray to her, although common cooks are unlikely to be Halean in most areas.
Dulcia is depicted as a young woman playing a musical instrument. The instrument varies from locality to locality; harps and flutes are most common. Her clothing is often clinging or low cut.
She is muse of music, dancing and sultry words, and keeps the Eleri Shasa ('Melodium Erotica'), a libram of words to inspire love and lust in mortals. More than this, she also represents fine art in all its forms [4], although that with erotic connotations is most favoured. Dulcia takes favour in all forms of created beauty, and may bless either the angst-ridden creative process of a perfectionist or a work of spontaneous improvisation. Prayers are often offered to her before either is begun, and her name is frequently invoked in thanks before the performance of a major piece of music or poetry. Occasionally, prayers may also be offered to her before engaging in diplomatic relations, although more commonly Elomia or Halea herself fill this role.
Images of Thalia show her in mismatched clothing, with wild hair and a knowing grin. She holds a pair of dice.
A whimsical and capricious entity who delights in the vagaries of chance, over which she has some control. Her control is not complete, however, and her mood changes so frequently that she can never be completely relied upon. She is unusual, in that, while many Haleans ignore her (preferring instead the greater certainty of Elomia) her name is often invoked by non-Halean gamblers. Hence the saying 'catch, recast' often used by dice players seeking for Thalia to intervene on their behalf. This superstition appears to be unfounded, for the many Haleans who run gambling houses seem always to make more money than their punters. Such people are among the few Haleans who regularly offer prayers to this handmaiden, although all may do so from time to time if it seems that luck, rather than skill, may be their salvation in some difficult situation.
Sardura is depicted as a young woman with a stern visage, and wearing close-fitting golden armour. She bears a short bow and a dagger and is often shown in a menacing stance.
The Left Hand of Bargains is despatched by Halea when compacts are not lived up to and punishes with her 'subtle stings' those who betray the goddess. Vengeance will be appropriate to the bargain; those who break contracts find themselves worse off than they were before. Alone among the handmaidens of Halea, she does not grant favours, but takes away that which is not deserved [6]. Her arrows do not kill or injure, they bring bad fortune on those they strike.
She also represents security, and is the patron of the Solithar (temple guards) and of other bodyguards and protectors of valuable goods. Locksmiths offer prayers to her [8], but more commonly she is called on by those who have been cheated or robbed or when a contract is broken. Otherwise her name is usually invoked in the form of 'may Sardura never have to visit you'.
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