![[Wee Jas.png|400]] **Lesser Deity** **Alignment**: Lawful Neutral (Lawful Evil tendencies) ### Overview Wee Jas, known as _The Ruby Sorceress_, _The Witch Goddess_, _The Stern Lady_, _The Dark-Eyed Lady_, _The Taker_, and _Death's Guardian_, is the intermediate goddess of magic, death, vanity, and law. One of the most influential divine powers of the Suel pantheon, she embodies magical knowledge, disciplined study, lawful authority, beauty, and the proper treatment of the dead. Her followers believe that understanding the laws governing existence is the foundation of power and that magic provides the means to comprehend and influence those laws. Wee Jas is an exceptionally intelligent, demanding, and calculating deity who places obedience and discipline above personal sentiment. She believes that every individual possesses a proper place within an established order and that advancement should result from knowledge, preparation, and the correct application of power rather than chance or disorder. Despite her association with death and necromancy, Wee Jas is not inherently malevolent. She regards herself as a guardian and steward of the dead, overseeing their proper treatment and the lawful administration of matters concerning mortality. She accepts death as a necessary part of existence and expects her followers to respect those who have passed before them. Her understanding of morality is strongly influenced by law. Wee Jas may tolerate actions that other deities consider cruel or disturbing, provided they conform to an acceptable legal framework. Her worshippers therefore include individuals of differing moral convictions, united primarily by their commitment to lawful conduct. Wee Jas is invariably depicted as an extraordinarily beautiful human woman, although the precise details of her appearance vary. She may possess different hair colours, facial features, and styles of dress depending upon the circumstances of her manifestation. Her chosen appearance commonly reflects the standards of beauty valued by those before whom she appears. She wears elaborate and expensive gowns, frequently decorated with jewels and precious metals. A necklace, brooch, or other ornament bearing the image of a skull usually identifies her divine nature. She can alter her clothing instantly through magic and takes considerable pleasure in presenting herself with elegance. Wee Jas was an important goddess of magic within the ancient **Suel Imperium**. Following its destruction during the **Rain of Colorless Fire**, her surviving worshippers placed increasing emphasis upon her responsibilities toward the deceased. Her association with death became a defining feature of the religion inherited by later generations. Her worship is particularly important among Suel wizards, sorcerers, necromancers, scholars, judges, magistrates, and those responsible for funerary rites. Although her followers are concentrated in regions possessing strong Suel traditions, her influence extends throughout much of the Flanaess. ### Domain and Influence Wee Jas's divine authority encompasses magic, death, vanity, and law. Her teachings establish that knowledge and discipline are the principal means through which individuals acquire power, security, and control over their circumstances. She regards magic as fundamental to understanding the universe. Its laws are not arbitrary but form an intricate structure that can be studied, mastered, and applied by individuals possessing sufficient intelligence and determination. Her worshippers are encouraged to investigate magical phenomena, preserve ancient knowledge, develop spells, and create enchanted objects. They regard uncontrolled or poorly understood magic as dangerous because it allows unpredictable forces to operate beyond established principles. Wee Jas teaches that magic is the key to understanding the world. Through disciplined study, individuals may achieve greater knowledge, personal power, security, and influence over their destinies. The goddess's authority over death is closely connected to this understanding of universal order. Mortality is one of the laws governing existence, and the proper handling of souls and remains is therefore a sacred responsibility. Unlike **Nerull**, whose divine influence is associated with the violent taking of life and the spread of death, Wee Jas is primarily concerned with the lawful administration of death and the preservation of its established boundaries. She permits the creation and use of undead creatures under appropriate circumstances. However, her teachings require that remains be acquired lawfully and that the deceased not be reanimated against their will. This distinction allows necromancy to exist within her religion without being treated as inherently forbidden. Nevertheless, the raising, resurrection, or magical control of the dead remains subject to strict religious oversight. Wee Jas also demands respect for ancestors and predecessors. Her followers believe that the living inherit knowledge, institutions, and opportunities from those who came before them. The dead should therefore be remembered for their contributions, and their achievements preserved for future generations. Her authority over vanity reflects her appreciation of beauty, elegance, wealth, and personal accomplishment. She does not regard admiration of one's appearance or abilities as inherently shameful. However, she expects such qualities to be cultivated with discipline and presented according to appropriate standards. Wee Jas is the daughter of **Lendor**, the greater Suel god of time, patience, and the established order of the universe. She maintains a close relationship with her father, whose authority over time and cosmic order complements her own concern with magic and law. Her divine relationships are influenced more strongly by alignment and respect for established authority than by conventional distinctions between good and evil. Among the Suel deities, she maintains favourable relations with **Bralm**, **Fortubo**, and **Osprem**. She also maintains a complicated relationship with **Phaulkon**, who shares certain interests with her but whose chaotic temperament conflicts with her devotion to law. Wee Jas regards **Boccob**, the greater god of magic, as a respected divine associate. Although their portfolios overlap, they approach magic differently. Boccob concerns himself with magic as a universal force, while Wee Jas places particular importance upon its study, laws, and disciplined application. Within the Suel pantheon, Wee Jas possesses exceptional authority over magic and death. Boccob and Nerull govern similar concerns, but neither belongs to the Suel pantheon. This distinction contributes to her unusual prominence within Suel religious traditions. She may cooperate with lawful deities such as **Heironeous** and **Hextor**, despite their opposing moral philosophies. Her commitment to law enables her to maintain relationships with both benevolent and malevolent powers when their objectives are compatible with her own. Her relationship with **Norebo**, the Suel god of luck, gambling, and risk, is particularly complicated. Both are associated with Lendor, yet Suel mythology also identifies them as lovers. Norebo's chaotic temperament conflicts with Wee Jas's preference for discipline and predictability. Their relationship is characterised by attraction, rivalry, arguments, and recurring attempts to reconcile opposing philosophies. Wee Jas strongly dislikes **Myhriss**, the goddess of love and beauty, whose authority overlaps with her interests in vanity and attraction. She is particularly hostile toward **Phyton**, the Suel god of nature, beauty, and farming, whose claim over beauty conflicts with her own divine concerns. Other chaotic Suel powers, including **Beltar**, **Dalt**, and **Vatun**, are generally regarded as enemies. Her relationship with Phaulkon and Norebo demonstrates that such disagreements do not always prevent cooperation or affection. Wee Jas maintains divine realms within the **Infernal Battlefield of Acheron**, where two important dominions are attributed to her. The first is the **Patterned Web**, situated within **Tintibulus**, the third layer of Acheron. This realm is arranged in an immense octagonal pattern resembling a carefully constructed spiderweb. Its architecture reflects mathematical precision, magical order, and the goddess's insistence upon proper conduct. Visitors are expected to bring suitable gifts. Those who fail to honour Wee Jas appropriately may become trapped within the realm for a year unless the goddess determines that their obligations have otherwise been satisfied. The second is the **Cabal Macabre**, situated within **Ocanthus**, the fourth layer of Acheron. This realm takes the form of an immense and intricately carved castle of black ice standing upon an enormous frozen shard. Its architecture is exceptionally elegant, and its surfaces reflect a pale supernatural light. The surrounding layer is filled with countless sharp fragments of black ice moving through the darkness. These fragments create dangerous storms capable of destroying unprotected travellers. The Cabal Macabre reflects Wee Jas's authority over death and her appreciation of beauty, while the Patterned Web embodies her mastery of magical laws and strict organisation. ### Symbols and Icons ![[Wee JasSymbol.png|300]] Wee Jas's principal holy symbol is a **red skull**, frequently depicted before a fireball or surrounded by magical flames. The emblem combines her authority over death with her mastery of magic. The skull represents mortality, the preservation of ancestral knowledge, and her responsibility toward the deceased. The flames represent magical power, supernatural transformation, and the destructive potential of arcane forces. Rubies possess particular religious significance. Their deep red colour reflects the goddess's principal title and symbolises beauty, power, and the preservation of valuable knowledge. Her followers commonly incorporate skulls and gemstones into religious ornaments, necklaces, brooches, rings, and ceremonial decorations. Priests frequently wear their holy symbol as an item of jewellery rather than as a plainly displayed religious emblem. The traditional ceremonial garments of her clergy consist of full-length hooded robes decorated with alternating layers of grey and black. Their appearance reflects the religion's preference for dignity, elegance, and disciplined presentation. The hoods are normally worn down to reveal the jewellery adorning the priest's head, neck, and arms. An ancient Suel tradition also distinguishes between clergy according to moral alignment. Lawful good priests wear black vestments, lawful neutral priests wear grey, and lawful evil priests wear white. Later religious traditions are more restrictive, recognising primarily lawful neutral and lawful evil priests, with grey and black garments commonly associated with these congregations. These distinctions reflect differences between established Suel traditions rather than a single universally observed arrangement. Wee Jas's favoured weapon is the **dagger**, associated with Suel magical traditions, religious ceremonies, and her appreciation of precise instruments. Her followers frequently carry finely crafted daggers decorated with gemstones or skull motifs. These weapons serve both practical and ceremonial purposes. ### Worship and Tributes Wee Jas's worship centres upon the disciplined study of magic, respect for the dead, obedience to law, and the recognition of beauty and personal achievement. Religious services are elaborate, carefully organised, and frequently lengthy. The clergy considers proper ceremony an essential expression of devotion and expects participants to observe established procedures. Unlike religions whose ceremonies emphasise spontaneity, Wee Jas's priesthood believes that religious rites should demonstrate precision, dignity, and attention to detail. Services commonly involve magical fires, illusions, offerings of jewellery, and formal declarations of loyalty. The goddess's images are praised during worship, and valuable objects may be sacrificed in recognition of her authority. Established religious practices include: - **The Nights of the Waxing Moon**: On nights when either **Luna** or **Celene** is waxing, followers gather to light magical bonfires, produce illusions, and offer praise and sacrifice to Wee Jas. These observances celebrate the controlled use of magical power and the beauty of supernatural phenomena. - **Goddess' Blush**: Celebrated on **Coldeven 4**, this observance requires worshippers to gather within a temple and sacrifice an item of jewellery. The offering is burned in a sacred fire, demonstrating respect for the goddess's beauty and authority over material possessions. - **The Ruby Convocation**: Held once every ten years, this prestigious gathering brings together senior clergy and influential members of the faith. It is organised as an elaborate formal celebration during which guests exchange magical knowledge, strengthen alliances, recount important achievements, and discuss matters affecting the religion. - **The Ruby Toast**: Conducted at the conclusion of the Ruby Convocation, this ceremony involves drinking wine from a goblet containing a ruby. The toast honours the Ruby Sorceress and acknowledges her influence over magic and lawful society. After the wine is consumed, the ruby is cast into a ceremonial fire. - **The Rites of Accumulated Lore**: These monthly observances involve priests or respected members of the congregation reading passages from ancient writings concerning magic, history, philosophy, and other subjects. The ceremonies preserve the achievements of earlier generations and reinforce the belief that knowledge must be maintained through disciplined study. - **Prayers to Honoured Ancestors**: Worshippers frequently invoke the names and wisdom of deceased individuals rather than attributing every instruction directly to Wee Jas. Figures remembered through these traditions include **Yag the Many-Eyed Traveler** and **Queen Ochtho XIV**. Their names are used to introduce teachings and prayers concerning wisdom, experience, and proper conduct. - **Funerary Observances**: The clergy performs detailed rituals intended to ensure that the dead receive proper treatment. These rites vary according to the deceased's position, accomplishments, and status within the community. - **Preservation of the Dead**: Priests use religious ceremonies and protective magic to prevent corpses from rising as uncontrolled undead. The proper handling of remains is considered an important responsibility. - **The Study of Magic**: Research, instruction, and the creation of enchanted objects are regarded as meaningful religious activities. Worshippers are encouraged to expand their understanding of magic through disciplined study. - **Offerings of Finery**: Jewellery, gemstones, and beautiful objects are appropriate offerings to Wee Jas. Such gifts reflect her appreciation of elegance and the sacrifice of something personally valuable. - **Preservation of Ancestral Knowledge**: Religious scholars maintain records of earlier generations, preserve ancient writings, and protect magical discoveries from destruction or neglect. - **Observance of Lawful Agreements**: The faithful are expected to honour contracts, religious obligations, and established legal procedures. Deliberately breaking an important agreement may be regarded as an offence against the goddess. Wee Jas's religion preserves several significant sacred writings. **The White Book** is an extensive collection of funerary instructions containing more than one hundred pages. It describes the traditional burial practices of the Suel peoples, including prayers and ceremonies appropriate to individuals of different social positions. The text also contains rituals intended to prevent the dead from rising as undead creatures. It is widely regarded as an important authority concerning the proper treatment of mortal remains. **The Abominable Devastation** is a controversial religious work considered heretical by most of the established church. The text claims that Wee Jas deliberately withdrew the magical protection surrounding the Suel Imperium, leaving it vulnerable to the Rain of Colorless Fire. According to this interpretation, the destruction of the Imperium was divine punishment for the misuse of magic and the violation of sacred laws. The orthodox priesthood generally rejects this account, regarding it as an accusation against the goddess rather than an established explanation of the catastrophe. --- ### Clergy and Temples Wee Jas's followers are commonly known as the **Jasidin**, while her ordained priests are called the **Karuth**. Her clergy includes clerics and priests trained in funerary rites, magical scholarship, religious law, and the administration of sacred responsibilities. Wizards, sorcerers, necromancers, and other arcane practitioners also occupy important positions among the faithful, although not all are ordained priests. The priesthood is disciplined, hierarchical, and strongly committed to formal religious procedure. Members are expected to respect superior authority, preserve important knowledge, and maintain the dignity associated with their goddess. All ordained clergy are lawful. Ancient Suel tradition recognises lawful good, lawful neutral, and lawful evil priests. However, the prevailing religious traditions of the later Flanaess place particular emphasis upon lawful neutral and lawful evil clergy. Within a particular congregation, the clergy traditionally follows the same alignment, reinforcing unity of doctrine and conduct. The church recognises respected religious authorities under titles including **Magus** and **High Magus**. These positions are associated with seniority, magical learning, and responsibility for important religious institutions. The organisation of individual temples varies according to local traditions, and no single universal sequence of lesser priestly ranks is consistently observed throughout the Flanaess. Training for prospective priests is rigorous and formal. Initiates are generally educated within institutions resembling strict academies or boarding schools. Their instruction includes religious doctrine, magical theory, funerary practices, ancient history, and the laws governing their communities. Even minor infractions of temple regulations may result in punishment. The clergy believes that obedience to small rules prepares initiates for the more serious responsibilities they will eventually assume. The Karuth are expected to develop expertise in magic, although the precise nature of their studies depends upon their responsibilities. Some specialise in necromancy and the treatment of the dead, while others concentrate upon magical research, divination, law, or the preservation of ancient knowledge. In addition to overseeing funerary ceremonies, priests may arbitrate disputes, provide advice concerning magical matters, investigate unusual supernatural occurrences, and assist in the creation of enchanted objects. Senior clergy are expected to employ their magical abilities to strengthen the defences of their temples and surrounding communities. The church also provides magical services to individuals who do not openly oppose the goddess's teachings. Such assistance commonly requires payment, the provision of useful information, or the performance of an agreed service. Priests frequently carry staves and daggers. Their garments are usually elaborate, consisting of layered robes decorated with jewellery and religious insignia. The temples of Wee Jas are generally impressive structures resembling the towers of powerful wizards. Their interiors contain valuable artwork, carefully arranged ceremonial spaces, extensive crypts, and important collections of magical and legal writings. Libraries are particularly important. The clergy attempts to preserve surviving fragments of the laws and magical knowledge of the ancient Suel Imperium. Many temples contain funerary chambers and crypts holding the bodies of important scholars, nobles, and powerful spellcasters. Certain deceased wizards are buried with their magical equipment, spellbooks, or other valuable possessions. Some sanctuaries possess permanent magical flames burning upon their highest towers, symbolising the continuing authority of the Ruby Sorceress. Wee Jas is worshipped throughout regions possessing substantial Suel populations, particularly in **Keoland**, **the Sheldomar Valley**, **the Duchy of Urnst**, **the Amedio Jungle**, and the territories controlled by the **Scarlet Brotherhood**. Her worship was also established in **Lo Reltarma** upon Lendore Isle before the region passed under elven control. She maintains followers within **the Pale**, despite the considerable influence of Pholtus in that nation. Several important temples are associated with her religion. **The Scarlet Spire**, situated within **Alhaster**, is a recognised temple dedicated to Wee Jas. Its presence reflects the spread of the faith beyond regions traditionally dominated by Suel culture. **The Temple of Wee Jas in Hardby** is an important religious institution containing numerous priestesses and maintaining connections with the city's political establishment. Among its senior clergy is **Dorfea Norbe**, a High Magus associated with the temple and the ruling family of Hardby. **The Temples of Hesuel Ilshar** are important centres of Wee Jas's worship within the territories of the Scarlet Brotherhood. These institutions are associated with powerful magical traditions and the political authority exercised by Suel rulers. **The Temple of Wee Jas in Sasserine** is another significant religious institution. The city's early history is closely associated with priests of the Ruby Sorceress, who participated in its original establishment. Several specialised organisations serve the faith. **The Ruby Knights** are a militant religious order responsible for defending temples, guarding important members of the clergy, assisting powerful arcane spellcasters, and instructing novices. Members combine martial training with religious discipline and possess considerable influence within the church's military activities. A specialised group within the Ruby Knights is known as the **Knights-Vindicator**. These individuals undertake sensitive assignments involving infiltration, intimidation, espionage, and assassination. Although they possess abilities suited to covert operations, some prefer to leave unmistakable evidence of their actions as a warning to enemies of the faith. **The Cabal of the Everburning Flame** is a group of fire-specialist wizards based in **Hesuel Ilshar**. Its members are devoted followers of Wee Jas who serve as battlewizards and maintain the magical flames associated with important temples. Their work demonstrates the close relationship between arcane research, organised military power, and religious authority within certain Suel communities. **The Cult of the Green Lady** is a splinter sect operating from an ancient burial cairn near **Diamond Lake**. Its members venerate a deceased priestess of Wee Jas as a saint. Their traditions differ from those of the orthodox church, and their activities are associated with the hidden religious history of the region. ### Powers and Abilities Wee Jas possesses extraordinary divine powers associated with magic, death, law, beauty, and the control of supernatural forces. Her abilities reflect her mastery of arcane knowledge and her authority over the lawful boundaries separating life from death. Her principal abilities include: - **Supreme Magical Knowledge**: Wee Jas possesses extraordinary understanding of magical theory and the laws governing supernatural power. Her knowledge extends across arcane and divine traditions. - **Mastery of Spellcasting**: She can employ an immense variety of spells, drawing upon powerful arcane magic as well as divine abilities associated with her portfolios. - **Divine Protection**: Wee Jas possesses supernatural magical defences that protect her against physical attacks and hostile spells. - **The Globe of Radiant Invulnerability**: She possesses extraordinary protective magic capable of surrounding her with a radiant defensive field. This power can protect her from lesser spells and produce supernatural illumination. - **Control of Undead**: Wee Jas possesses authority over undead creatures, particularly those whose existence conforms to her understanding of lawful necromancy. - **Divine Necromancy**: She can manipulate life and death through exceptionally powerful magic, allowing her to command or influence supernatural forces associated with mortality. - **Guardianship of the Dead**: Wee Jas exercises authority over the proper treatment of the deceased and the restoration of life. Her clergy must obtain permission before undertaking certain actions that interfere with the established boundaries of mortality. - **Ability Alteration**: Wee Jas can permanently increase or decrease the intelligence, wisdom, or charisma of an individual who has performed an exceptionally important service or committed a grave offence against her. - **Control of Magical Appearance**: She can change her clothing and presentation instantly through magic, reflecting her authority over beauty, illusion, and vanity. - **Gifts of Enchanted Clothing**: Garments bestowed personally by Wee Jas may acquire temporary protective enchantments, allowing their recipients to benefit from her divine favour. - **Command of Lawful Creatures**: She can summon lawful undead and dragons to carry out her commands. Her authority extends to supernatural creatures whose activities are compatible with her lawful nature. - **The Service of Zem'Jil**: Among her known supernatural servants is **Zem'Jil**, a transformed succubus whose allegiance demonstrates the goddess's ability to impose lawful service upon unusual extraplanar creatures. - **Divine Heralds**: Wee Jas may send a powerful **githzerai sorcerer** to act as her herald. This servant possesses exceptional magical abilities and acts as an intermediary when the goddess wishes to influence events without intervening personally. - **Extraplanar Allies**: Her servants include **formian taskmasters**, **formian myrmarchs**, and **horned devils**. These beings reflect her association with disciplined magical power and lawful supernatural authority. - **Authority Over Acheron**: Within her divine realms, Wee Jas commands supernatural servants and exercises extraordinary control over the magical and physical environment. Several important relics and enchanted objects are associated with her worship. **The Ruby Blades** are enchanted daggers fashioned from deep red crystal. According to religious tradition, the original weapons were created from gemstones removed from the hem of Wee Jas's own gown. Each blade possesses powerful lawful enchantments and strengthens its wielder's ability to rebuke or command undead creatures. The weapons also possess divination magic associated with monitoring the condition of living creatures. Their full supernatural abilities are available only to properly devoted servants of Wee Jas. **The Scrolls of Uncertain Provenance** are mysterious bundles of ancient writings associated with the goddess. Despite their name, they do not contain conventional spell scrolls. Instead, they preserve obscure knowledge concerning life, death, and the boundaries separating the two. Their contents are written in numerous languages, often changing between languages within individual sentences. Even powerful translation magic cannot reliably reveal their meaning. Readers who successfully interpret the scrolls may gain access to extraordinary powers involving supernatural pacts, restoration, and resurrection. However, prolonged study is extremely dangerous. The writings may inflict curses, drain life energy, cause madness, or temporarily transform a reader into a ghost. The scrolls are considered among the most mysterious relics associated with Wee Jas because their origins remain uncertain even to the goddess's own religious scholars. **The Royal Firemage Gown** is an elaborate magical garment originating from the ancient Suel Imperium. It was recovered from the eastern fringes of the Sea of Dust by **Temeria**, a descendant of the ruling family of Hardby. Temeria wore the gown to a formal celebration in the Free City of Greyhawk in **490 CY**. When its existence became known to the High Priestess of Wee Jas in Hardby, magical investigation revealed its connection to the ancient Suel royal household. Temeria eventually presented the gown to the temple as a gesture of goodwill and political alliance. The garment possesses powerful protective enchantments, including resistance to fire and the ability to produce a magical shield of flames. It has not been publicly seen for many years, and its present location remains uncertain. **The Dagger of the Fireheart** is a powerful enchanted weapon created by **Akalra**, a Suel witch devoted to Wee Jas. Akalra fashioned the dagger as protection against political and magical enemies, quenching it in her own blood during its creation. She eventually came into conflict with **Iggwilv**, the powerful witch and mother of Iuz. In **465 CY**, Iggwilv killed Akalra, whose death established her as one of the recognised martyrs of the Jasidin faith. The dagger is believed to have passed into Iggwilv's possession, possibly within the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth. Its enchantments strengthen the wielder's magic, particularly spells associated with charm, fire, and necromancy. It also possesses magical protective properties and the ability to disguise its wielder. **The Fury of Wee Jas** is an enchanted longsword bearing the goddess's holy symbol upon its blade. The sword possesses supernatural powers capable of stealing the life force of those it strikes. However, its magic is dangerous even to its wielder. When an attempt to drain an opponent's life fails, the weapon may instead draw life energy from the person holding it. The sword's name and emblem associate it with Wee Jas, although its precise origin and relationship to the established clergy remain uncertain. It should not be regarded as one of the goddess's personal weapons. These relics and enchanted objects reflect Wee Jas's mastery of magical power and her belief that extraordinary knowledge requires discipline, caution, and acceptance of the consequences of its misuse. ### Treatment of the Chosen and Faithful Wee Jas treats her followers according to their obedience, intellectual accomplishments, magical ability, and respect for lawful authority. She values discipline and expects her servants to fulfil their responsibilities without unnecessary complaint or deviation. Her favour is most commonly associated with those who demonstrate exceptional magical knowledge, preserve important traditions, or perform services that strengthen the established order. Although Wee Jas is capable of granting extraordinary rewards, she is more readily associated with punishment for failure than public praise for ordinary accomplishments. Her treatment of devoted followers is reflected in several established traditions: - **Blessings of Magical Knowledge**: Faithful scholars and spellcasters may receive insight into complex magical problems or supernatural assistance in their research. - **Protection of the Dead**: Priests devoted to Wee Jas perform rites intended to safeguard the deceased and ensure that remains are treated according to established customs. - **Divine Permission for Resurrection**: Ancient Suel religious law requires clergy to consult Wee Jas before employing magic to raise or resurrect the dead. She is especially reluctant to permit the restoration of weak or chaotic individuals. - **Divine Permission for Commanding Undead**: Later religious traditions place considerable restrictions upon commanding undead creatures. Clergy are expected to seek the goddess's approval before imposing control upon such beings. - **Control of Undead**: Properly devoted priests may receive the power to rebuke or command undead creatures when permitted by the goddess, reflecting her authority over death. - **Ability Alteration**: Wee Jas may permanently improve the intellectual or personal qualities of an individual who has performed an extraordinary service in her name. Conversely, she may diminish these qualities as punishment for exceptionally serious offences. - **Sacred Relics**: Favoured servants may receive access to Ruby Blades or other objects associated with the goddess's magical power. - **Recognition of Scholarship**: Priests and arcane spellcasters who preserve ancient knowledge, recover lost magical writings, or develop important spells may attain considerable standing within the church. - **Protection Through Law**: Followers who honour their obligations and observe the rules of their communities may receive assistance from the clergy when their rights are threatened. - **Punishment for Disobedience**: Wee Jas may respond harshly to betrayal, unlawful behaviour, or the deliberate misuse of magic by individuals sworn to her service. - **The Fate of the Faithful**: Devoted souls may enter her realms within Acheron, where they continue their existence under her authority. Wee Jas's treatment of the dead extends beyond those who formally worship her. Certain traditions maintain that she receives the souls of individuals who died without demonstrating particular devotion to another deity. Such souls are believed to remain within her custody for a period before some are returned to mortal existence through reincarnation. This belief is not universally accepted, but it reflects her followers' understanding of the goddess as a lawful guardian of souls rather than a power concerned solely with her own worshippers. Wee Jas does not maintain a single universally established order of mortals formally designated as her Chosen. Her most influential servants are senior priests, High Magi, powerful necromancers, religious scholars, Ruby Knights, and individuals whose accomplishments have earned her recognition. ### Myths and Legends Wee Jas's mythology is closely associated with the ancient Suel Imperium, the destruction of its civilisation, the mysteries of magic and death, and her complicated relationships with other divine powers. Her religious traditions include accounts that are accepted as established doctrine alongside stories whose truth remains disputed even within her own clergy. - **The Daughter of Lendor**: Wee Jas is a daughter of Lendor, the ancient Suel god of time, patience, and cosmic order. Their relationship establishes her authority over law and the disciplined study of supernatural forces. She shares her father's preference for stability and the preservation of established structures, although her appreciation of beauty and magical ambition gives her a more personally demanding temperament. - **The Witch Goddess of the Suel Imperium**: Before the destruction of the Suel Imperium, Wee Jas was principally revered as a powerful goddess of magic. The empire's extensive reliance upon arcane spellcasting gave her religion considerable influence among its scholars, noble houses, and magical institutions. Her worship was closely connected to the preservation of spells and the laws governing supernatural power. - **The Rain of Colorless Fire**: The destruction of the Suel Imperium during the Rain of Colorless Fire transformed the relationship between Wee Jas and her surviving followers. Faced with enormous loss of life, the scattered Suel peoples increasingly sought assurances that their dead would receive proper treatment and passage into the afterlife. Wee Jas consequently acquired greater prominence as a guardian of the deceased as well as a goddess of magic. - **The Abominable Devastation**: A controversial religious account claims that Wee Jas deliberately withdrew the magical protections surrounding the Suel Imperium before its destruction. According to this interpretation, the catastrophe represented punishment for the empire's abuse of magic and disregard for divine law. Most of the established church rejects the accusation, and the truth of the claim remains unproven. - **The Arcane Well**: One of the most important mysteries of the Jasidin faith concerns an alleged magical well hidden somewhere within Wee Jas's realm in Acheron. Religious tradition maintains that the goddess has concealed a substantial portion of her divine power within the well, allowing other deities to underestimate her true strength. The well is said to be guarded by powerful supernatural servants and at least one imprisoned demigod. Some accounts claim that exceptional mortal wizards receive a small portion of its power at birth. - **The Hidden Greatness of Wee Jas**: Closely connected to the legend of the Arcane Well is the claim that Wee Jas possesses greater divine power than her apparent status suggests. Her followers maintain that the Ruby Sorceress deliberately conceals much of her true strength to avoid provoking unnecessary rivalries. The extent of her concealed power remains uncertain, and the doctrine is primarily preserved as a religious explanation for the exceptional authority she possesses over magic and death. - **The Godless Dead**: According to an important funerary tradition, individuals who die without particular devotion to another deity may pass into Wee Jas's custody. The goddess preserves these souls within her realm before eventually allowing some to return to mortal life through reincarnation. Those who are reborn possess no ordinary memories of their previous existence. The tradition reflects her authority as a guardian of the dead, although its application to every unclaimed soul remains disputed. - **Love Is a Gamble**: This story concerns the complicated romance between Wee Jas and Norebo. The two represent fundamentally different attitudes toward existence: Wee Jas favours law, restraint, and predictability, while Norebo embraces risk, chance, and adventure. In one version of the tale, Wee Jas seduces Norebo, only for him to escape her embrace the following morning. She pursues him, alternately attempting to bind him through rules and expressing genuine affection. Norebo continually challenges her belief that relationships can be governed through strict expectations. - **The Creation of the Hellfurnaces**: According to Suel legend, the first great argument between Wee Jas and Norebo was so violent that it caused the southern Crystalmist Mountains to erupt. The resulting volcanic devastation gave rise to the region known as the **Hellfurnaces**. The story provides a mythological explanation for the mountains' extraordinary volcanic activity and the destructive consequences of divine conflict. - **The Service of Zem'Jil**: Wee Jas is served by an unusual supernatural attendant named **Zem'Jil**, a transformed succubus. Her presence illustrates the goddess's ability to impose discipline and lawful authority upon creatures whose nature would ordinarily conflict with her teachings. - **The Martyrdom of Akalra**: Akalra was a powerful Suel witch who rose from humble origins to become the leader of a magical coven. She created the Dagger of the Fireheart to defend herself against dangerous enemies. Her eventual conflict with Iggwilv ended in **465 CY**, when the witch-queen killed her. Akalra's death is remembered within the religion as an example of devotion maintained in the face of overwhelming magical power. - **The Recovery of the Royal Firemage Gown**: The recovery of an ancient Suel royal garment by Temeria demonstrated that valuable treasures of the fallen Imperium could survive for centuries within the ruins bordering the Sea of Dust. Its presentation to the temple of Wee Jas in Hardby strengthened the relationship between the church and the ruling family. The gown's subsequent disappearance remains an unresolved mystery. These traditions demonstrate the complex nature of Wee Jas's divine identity. She is associated with the destruction of an ancient civilisation, yet also with the preservation of its knowledge. She governs death while accepting certain forms of necromancy, and she values law while maintaining a relationship with a god of chance. ### Encounters with Wee Jas's Influence Wee Jas's influence is most frequently encountered through magical academies, funerary temples, necromantic research, ancient Suel ruins, judicial institutions, and organisations dedicated to preserving magical knowledge. - **The Scarlet Spire**: This temple in Alhaster serves as an important centre of worship for the Ruby Sorceress and preserves her religious traditions within the region. - **The Temples of Hardby**: Religious institutions dedicated to Wee Jas maintain connections with the city's political establishment and preserve magical knowledge associated with the ancient Suel peoples. - **The Scarlet Brotherhood**: Within the territories controlled by this organisation, Wee Jas's church possesses important temples and connections to powerful Suel magical traditions. - **The Cabal of the Everburning Flame**: Fire-specialist wizards based in Hesuel Ilshar maintain magical fires within temples and provide supernatural assistance to the church. - **The Ruby Knights**: These martial servants guard temples, protect important priests, and undertake military assignments on behalf of the faith. - **The Knights-Vindicator**: Particularly dangerous members of the Ruby Knights undertake missions involving espionage, intimidation, and assassination. - **The Cult of the Green Lady**: This splinter sect near Diamond Lake venerates a deceased priestess of Wee Jas and preserves religious practices distinct from those of the orthodox clergy. - **The Nights of the Waxing Moon**: During the waxing phases of Luna or Celene, priests gather to create magical fires, perform illusions, and offer sacrifices to their goddess. - **Goddess' Blush**: On Coldeven 4, temples receive offerings of jewellery to be burned in honour of the Ruby Sorceress. - **The Ruby Convocation**: Every ten years, influential members of the church gather to exchange knowledge, establish alliances, and participate in an elaborate ceremonial celebration. - **The Rites of Accumulated Lore**: Monthly readings of ancient writings preserve magical knowledge and commemorate the accomplishments of scholars and ancestors. - **Funerary Ceremonies**: Priests may be encountered preparing the dead for burial, conducting rites from the White Book, or protecting graves against unlawful disturbance. - **Necromantic Disputes**: Followers of Wee Jas may confront individuals who create undead without lawful permission or interfere with the proper treatment of souls. - **The Lost Knowledge of the Suel Imperium**: Religious scholars may sponsor expeditions into ancient ruins to recover magical writings, historical records, or artifacts connected to their civilisation. - **Sacred Relics**: Objects such as the Ruby Blades, Scrolls of Uncertain Provenance, Royal Firemage Gown, and Dagger of the Fireheart may become the objectives of dangerous expeditions. - **The Patterned Web**: Travellers entering Wee Jas's realm within Tintibulus encounter an enormous supernatural structure whose arrangement reflects exacting magical laws. Those who fail to present suitable offerings may find themselves unable to leave. - **The Cabal Macabre**: Planar travellers seeking the Ruby Sorceress may journey to her castle of black ice within Ocanthus, confronting the dangerous storms of frozen shards surrounding her domain. ### Conclusion Wee Jas is the intermediate goddess of magic, death, vanity, and law, and one of the most important divine powers of the ancient Suel pantheon. Her teachings emphasise disciplined study, respect for established authority, the preservation of knowledge, and the proper treatment of the dead. Her religion maintains a highly organised priesthood whose members include magical scholars, funerary specialists, necromancers, and lawful religious authorities. Through its temples, libraries, and specialised military orders, the church preserves important traditions inherited from the Suel Imperium. Her relationships with Lendor, Boccob, Norebo, and other divine powers establish her position among the gods concerned with cosmic law, magic, and the nature of mortal existence. Her complicated romance with Norebo demonstrates the tension between discipline and chance that appears throughout her mythology. The destruction of the Suel Imperium remains central to her religious history. Its catastrophic loss of life increased the importance of Wee Jas's role as a guardian of the dead, while the preservation of surviving magical knowledge became one of the defining responsibilities of her followers. Her realms of the Patterned Web and Cabal Macabre, together with the legends of the Arcane Well and the Godless Dead, reflect her authority over both magical order and mortality. The Ruby Sorceress's enduring purpose is the preservation and enforcement of the laws governing magic, death, and civilisation. Her faithful believe that true power is achieved through knowledge and discipline, and that even death must be approached with dignity, respect, and an understanding of the order governing existence.