Shallya

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Shallya
A common symbol of Shallya

Shallya is the goddess of Healing and Mercy. She is the sister of Myrmidia, goddess of strategy and war, both being the daughters of Morr and Verena. Shallya is portrayed as a young, beautiful maiden, whose eyes are perpetually filled with tears.

Symbols

Shallya's most common symbols are a white dove, and a heart with a drop of blood.

Beliefs

The patron deity of pregnant women, Shallya protects against miscarriages and eases the pain of childbirth. She is an exceptionally important goddess throughout the Old World. People pray to Shallya all the time: when they are suffering from an illness, when they are hoping to have children, or when they are looking for forgiveness for their sins. The goddess forgives all and her priestesses hear confessions from any. Of all the gods, she is the only one who most people agree really listens.

Cult

Shallya is worshipped throughout the Old World. Her temples are places of comfort for the sick, wounded, dying and homeless. Many of the people of the Old World were born in a temple of Shallya; most of them return when they are ill or dying. In the end, it is to the temple of Shallya's father they go.

Shallya's priests, who are mostly female, are able healers, trained in the arts of healing and midwifery, and invaluable wherever there is plague, war, or strife.

The cult of Shallya is a peaceful one, and does not take active steps against enemy cults. The one cult they are not complacent towards is that of Nurgle, whose followers are expected to be thwarted. The Cult of Shallya has no military Templar order of its own, instead relying on others for protection. The only official holy order of the Cult is composed of the priests themselves, and is called the Order of the Bleeding Heart.

Holy days

Shallya has no specific holy days but it is customary to make a sacrifice to the goddess each year on anniversary of one's birth.

Relations

The Cult is on friendly terms with most other Old World cults. The warlike nature of Ulric means the two cults are not closely allied. There is some distrust towards Ranald, as it is believed that Ranald was once a human who managed to trick Shallya into becoming a god. She already forgave him but her followers are only human and some of them fail to follow her example.

Strictures

Followers of Shallya lead a life according to strictures of pacifism and mercy. They are forbidden from taking a human life, even in self-defense, although a follower of Shallya would not be expected to preserve the life of a follower of Nurgle. The lives of other intelligent races cannot be taken except in self-defense. Followers are expected to provide healing to anyone in need. Priests never wear armor, or use shields or weapons with the exception of a staff.


The gods & goddesses of the Old World
Old Faith - Rhya - Taal - Ulric - Manann - Morr - Verena - Myrmidia - Shallya - Ranald - Handrich - Stromfels - Khaine - Sigmar - Lady of the Lake - Lucan & Luccina - Ursun - Dazh - Tor - Esmeralda

Notes & sources

  • Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 1st Edition, 1988, pp. 200-201
  • Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition, Black Industries, 2005, p. 183