Exphīra

by

Finley Vorden

Exphīra, the Goddess of Nature, might seem to overlap with Denēlia, but where she represents woodland creatures, Exphīra embodies wild, untamed nature. Her followers range from benevolent gardeners to reclusive nomads with the ability to communicate with plants.

Exphīra’s devotees speak carefully to avoid offending the world around them. For instance, they might say “May I borrow some of this living wood?” before harvesting timber, or “the waters have shared their bounty” to show gratitude after fishing. While I initially dismissed such practices as superstition, I’ve since developed an inexplicable habit of thanking trees before breaking their fallen branches for kindling.

Exphīra devotees should:

• Sleep under open sky once per decād
• Protect natural spaces
• Never waste resources
• Learn the names of local flora and fauna