Milani

Milani

(Deity)

Titles

The Everbloom

Adjective

Milanite

Realm

Refuge of the Red Rose, Axis / Milani's Garden, Elysium

Alignment

Chaotic good

Areas of Concern

Hope
Devotion
Uprisings

Worshipers

Freedom fighters: mainly human with some aiuvarin & dromaar

Edicts

Confront oppression in all its forms, defend the common folk, overcome despair to seize victory

Anathema

Abandon those in need, enslave or oppress others, harm the innocent through direct or inadvertent action

Follower Alignments (1E)

LG	NG	CG
LN	N	CN
LE	NE	CE

Domains (1E)

Chaos, Good, Healing, Liberation, Protection

Subdomains (1E)

Azata, Defense, Freedom, Purity, Restoration, Revolution, Riot

Follower Alignments (2E)

LG	NG	CG
LN	N	CN
LE	NE	CE

Domains (2E)

Change, destruction, freedom, zeal

Favored Weapon

Morningstar

Symbol

Rose on bloody street

Sacred Animal

Mouse

Sacred Colors

Red, white

Images of Milani

Source: Inner Sea Faiths, pg(s). 70–74 (1E)
Gods & Magic, pg(s). 66 (2E)

The minor goddess Milani (pronounced meh-LAW-nee), also known as the Everbloom, is the patron of all those who fight against oppression and unjust rule. Her symbol is a rose growing out of a blood-soaked street.

History

Until the death of Aroden in 4606 AR, the goddess Milani was simply one of dozens of saints within the Last Azlanti's faith. She was the beacon of hope to all those who fought against repressive regimes, giving courage to those who had little but their desire to live a free life. The death of her patron, combined with the tremendous upheaval and suffering that followed his death, gave her a focus and attracted many new followers. Those devoted to her found the courage to organize the rebellions against the infernal takeover of the Chelaxian Empire, helping many of her outlying territories break free of its control. They fought against the slow slide into barbarism, restoring people's hope that a just and good society could be restored. Milani has never been as popular as Aroden's other followers, such as Iomedae, perhaps because the Inheritor's worship had already been firmly established before their patron's passing.

Realm

Milani has two realms: Milani's Garden in Elysium, where she spends most of her time, and the Refuge of the Red Rose in Axis, a small corner located within the collapsing divine realm of Aroden. Only a few square miles in size, the Refuge of the Red Rose sits near the center of her former patron's realm. From here she gives aid to all those fighting oppression and evil, strives to mitigate the institutionalised inequality in Axis, and seeks to relocate the downtrodden to friendlier places.

Relationships

A depiction of Milani.

Warm relationships

Milani and her clergy are generally on good terms with the more benevolent deities:

Cayden Cailean

Cayden is seen as a true ally in the quest for freedom. Thais, the herald of Cayden Cailean, uses an ancient halberd which she borrowed from the Everbloom's arsenal.

Desna

Desna is seen as supporting Milani's portfolio interest of hope.

Erastil

Erastil, like Torag, is seen as a god who supports communities.

Iomedae

Iomedae and Milani were both servitors of Aroden, so Iomedae and her followers are held in the highest regard. The Inheritor herself refers to Milani as her 'sister', and she is always ready to support her should the need arise.

Kurgess

Milani appreciates the humble beginnings of the demigod Kurgess, and his wish to aid those in need.

Sarenrae

Milani's relationship with Sarenrae and her church is much more complicated than those with other benign religions. Milani is simply disgusted with the acceptance of slavery by many of the Dawnflower's followers, especially those of Qadira; yet Sarenrae is more powerful than Milani and clearly a force for good. This tension leads to an awkwardness and a more formal relationship than that which she enjoys with other good-aligned deities.

Shelyn

Associated with Milani's portfolio interest in devotion, Shelyn is seen as the inspiration for perfect devotion.

Torag

Torag, like Erastil, is seen as a god who supports communities.

Neutral relationships

Milani's history and half-elven heritage leaves her feeling embarrassed and annoyed with the minor god members of the elven pantheon, despite similar alignments. She deals with this by simply ignoring them for the most part, unless communication is critically necessary.

Inimical relationships

Asmodeus and Zon-Kuthon are Milani's arch-enemies, though she cleverly uses her lowly power to avoid their attention and that of other evil deities. She battles against all of them, often utilizing mortals to confound the evil these gods would wreak.

Planar allies

Milani has several planar allies:

• Charl: a brown-haired celestial human ranger who is always eager to visit the mortal realm and appears as a sturdy young man with a pair of hunting knives or a homemade shortbow.
• Courage Heart, herald of Milani: a former mortal ranger executed during the Red Revolution by a final blade which trapped her soul until Milani freed her and made Courage Heart her herald.
• Dallem the Lucky: another celestial human ranger ally, this young woman has black hair with a shock of white in the front. She is preternaturally quiet and prefers to incapacitate rather than to kill.
• Nyla: said to be Milani's animal companion in life, this hound archon was granted sentience and immortality at the time of Milani's ascension to godhood.

Church of Milani

A knight vigilant of the Knights of Lastwall whose shield bears the religious symbol of Milani.

Her church is generally most popular in areas of intense upheaval such as Galt, the River Kingdoms, and parts of Cheliax, and generally only gather in small congregations. In peacetime, her followers demonstrate their obedience by planting and cultivating roses or brewing and sharing tea, then praying to her while inhaling their scent. During conflicts, Milanites train for battle alongside their allies.

Clergy

Clergy in service to Milani generally have intense periods of work and proselytizing in troubled regions followed by years of tranquillity once they achieve their goals. They are aware that their calling often ends in martyrdom, and it is a common belief that those who are strong of faith will return again to continue the fight. Many clerics of Milani believe that they are a new incarnation of a martyr of the church, and can in fact access memories from their previous lives.

Religious texts

Milani's religious text is The Light of Hope often split into two sections:

1. Milani's history as a mortal (potentially an autobiography penned after she became a saint);
2. teachings for mortals, including sermons, prayers and songs.

Traditionally, pressed roses serve as bookmarks in the text and rose petals are placed in the book to mark special pages when the text is given as a gift.

Holidays

There are no particularly Milanite holidays observed by her church; instead the church tends to celebrate anniversaries of local triumph over oppression by civilians, and mark the deaths of local heroes. The church does participate in a moment of silence for Aroden on Foundation Day in recognition of Aroden's canonization of Milani. Other recognized holidays marked by her church are:

• Liberty Day in Andoran: a relatively bloodless revolution
• Armasse: for its element of teaching the common folk how to fight
• Even-Tongued Day: for its celebration of freedom from the empire of Taldor

One revolutionary holiday notable for the church's distinct refusal to celebrate it is All Kings Day, as Milani loathes the Red Revolution of Galt and its associated tyranny and violence.

References

Paizo published major articles about Milani and her church in The Shackled Hut and Inner Sea Faiths.

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.