Simierlan was born at dawn on the day of Jaryae's festival, the Feast of Joy. A sign of Simierlan's divine heritage, the child's gender was often in flux. In moments in which Simierlan was closer to the nature of Jaryae, he appeared as a male Genasi of Radiant para-elemental Soul. In the moments in which Simierlan was closer to the nature of Vayr, she appeared as a female Aasimar with golden skin and glowing elyes.
This could easily have left Simierlan as an outcast, but the god and goddess left servants with children of their own to watch over their child. In the countryside of Cathia, the blended followers of Vayr and Jaryae built a commune. It was mostly self-sufficient so Simierlan rarely needed experience something from the outside. It was a peaceful existence with people who believed in them and felt no awkwardness over their transitive states. Simierlan grew up comfortable with their genderfluid state, switching from one set of pronouns to the other depending on manifestation. As Simierlan grew, they developed an increasing amount of control over these transitions.
In his male state, Simierlan made his first trip to a city at the age of 16. There, he found new wonders and excitement. Up until that time, he had never seen to many people of so many types. On the second night of the trip, he snuck out of the lodgings his protectors had purchased. He came to a poorer section of the city and discovered a slum for the first time in their experience. The moment moved him, and involuntarily, they shifted forms. Simierlan became female, and several of the city folk responded in horror and revulsion. They lashed out at her, the first time their life that they had been treated so.
She managed to escape them and return to their protectors. They described to her that this was indeed a part of the world and the occupied kingdom of Cathia. In that moment, she decided: she would not let that injustice stand. When they returned to the enclave, they began training. Two years later, they returned to the city where they had first learned of injustice. It began with a teen girl, dressed as a boy, defended against assailants by a woman in shining golden armor. A man in similar golden armor raided a brothel staffed with slaves. A month later, slavers were chased into the street and left for the guard.
The city pushed back against this vigilante. First mobs hunted for them, then actual units of the guard. Still Simierlan persisted. Others, many of them rescued by the transforming warrior in golden armor, joined the cause and soon the city was in open revolt. That drew the ire of Cathia's occupiers. They mobilized a militia and sent it towards the city.
Simierlan met with them. In her female guise, she listed their grievances and explained that when slavery and the abuse of women and the downtrodden was stopped, they would stand aside. The government declined. Faced against a superior force, Simierlan and their followers withdrew.
As Simierlan returned to their enclave, the militia followed. At dawn, at the very gates of where Simierlan had grown up, innocent of the thing that had driven their life for more than two years, the two forces confronted one another. At dusk, only Simierlan's forces remained.
Those who had rallied to Simierlan began expanding the compound to accommodate their increased numbers. Many began training in arms and divine magics, calling themselves the Children of the Dawn, referencing the battle at the gates of Simierlan's home.
Over the next four decades, Simierlan and the Children of the Dawn would strike out again and again against injustice. Slavers, thieves, and those who taught hatred would find themselves besieged within Cathia. The government tried time and again to broker peace, but as long as they refused to outlaw and pursue those who preyed upon the weak and marginalized, Simierlan would not negotiate.
In secret, a second order of Simierlan's followers formed. They called themselves the Children of the Dusk, and they worked to infiltrate and expose perpetrators of injustice wherever they hid. And after decades of hunting, they found a source of corruption within the capital of occupied Cathia.
Simierlan rallied their forces. The battle took almost two weeks, with both gender identities of Simierlan appearing many times and in many places on the battlefield. In the end, the Child of the Heavens and the Children of the Dawn and Dusk stood triumphant but worn. It was nearly midsummer and though Simierlan still looked young, they felt old.
In his male state, Simierlan made his first trip to a city at the age of 16. There, he found new wonders and excitement. Up until that time, he had never seen to many people of so many types. On the second night of the trip, he snuck out of the lodgings his protectors had purchased. He came to a poorer section of the city and discovered a slum for the first time in their experience. The moment moved him, and involuntarily, they shifted forms. Simierlan became female, and several of the city folk responded in horror and revulsion. They lashed out at her, the first time their life that they had been treated so.
She managed to escape them and return to their protectors. They described to her that this was indeed a part of the world and the occupied kingdom of Cathia. In that moment, she decided: she would not let that injustice stand. When they returned to the enclave, they began training. Two years later, they returned to the city where they had first learned of injustice. It began with a teen girl, dressed as a boy, defended against assailants by a woman in shining golden armor. A man in similar golden armor raided a brothel staffed with slaves. A month later, slavers were chased into the street and left for the guard.
The city pushed back against this vigilante. First mobs hunted for them, then actual units of the guard. Still Simierlan persisted. Others, many of them rescued by the transforming warrior in golden armor, joined the cause and soon the city was in open revolt. That drew the ire of Cathia's occupiers. They mobilized a militia and sent it towards the city.
Simierlan met with them. In her female guise, she listed their grievances and explained that when slavery and the abuse of women and the downtrodden was stopped, they would stand aside. The government declined. Faced against a superior force, Simierlan and their followers withdrew.
As Simierlan returned to their enclave, the militia followed. At dawn, at the very gates of where Simierlan had grown up, innocent of the thing that had driven their life for more than two years, the two forces confronted one another. At dusk, only Simierlan's forces remained.
Those who had rallied to Simierlan began expanding the compound to accommodate their increased numbers. Many began training in arms and divine magics, calling themselves the Children of the Dawn, referencing the battle at the gates of Simierlan's home.
Over the next four decades, Simierlan and the Children of the Dawn would strike out again and again against injustice. Slavers, thieves, and those who taught hatred would find themselves besieged within Cathia. The government tried time and again to broker peace, but as long as they refused to outlaw and pursue those who preyed upon the weak and marginalized, Simierlan would not negotiate.
In secret, a second order of Simierlan's followers formed. They called themselves the Children of the Dusk, and they worked to infiltrate and expose perpetrators of injustice wherever they hid. And after decades of hunting, they found a source of corruption within the capital of occupied Cathia.
Simierlan rallied their forces. The battle took almost two weeks, with both gender identities of Simierlan appearing many times and in many places on the battlefield. In the end, the Child of the Heavens and the Children of the Dawn and Dusk stood triumphant but worn. It was nearly midsummer and though Simierlan still looked young, they felt old.
So it was that at the Feast of Midsummer, at dusk, Simierlan passed from the mortal world without dying. Simierlan is not a fully ascended Demigod, but is rather a heroic immortal residing beyond the Prime Material. Paladins and Cerics of Simierlan actually gain their divine spells from power that Simierlan borrows from their divine parents.
Simierlan has two main orders of followers. The Children of the Dawn are protectors, healers, and vocal leaders. The Children of the Dusk are spies, hunters, and manipulators. Both work towards the same goals: the protection of those who find themselves unjustly outcast. The Dawnborn work through the law and in the open, shining the light on injustice and setting an example for others. The Duskborn are the other side of the coin, serving in the shadows to find those who profit from injustice and plot attacks on the downtrodden and marginalized. These orders are mostly active in Cathia, though they have intentions of taking Simierlan's work beyond those borders. Similarly, worship of Simierlan is mostly contained to Cathia. Outside of Cathia, stories are told of Jaryae's pregnancy and child, but the stories trail off after the birth and the divine child is mostly unknown.
Simierlan's symbol is a circle divided side to side; one half is gold and the other black, but both sides have golden rays radiating from them. Simierlan is Neutral Good, but Children of the Dawn are often Lawful Good and Children of the Dusk are often Chaotic Neutral. It is important to note that Simierlan identifies with both genders; to this end, Simierlan uses the pronoun of whatever gender they are presenting as in the moment. When referring to the entire body of their life, the they pronoun is used for Simierlan.
The tenants of the Children of the Dawn are:
1. Carry the hope of the dawn with you.
2. Help the downtrodden and outcast wherever you find them.
3. Serve justice, even in the face of societal opposition.
The tenants of the Children of the Dusk are:
1. Find those who oppress, torment, and diminish others.
2. Drag those who use the dark to commit evil into the light.
3. Help those he need deliverance to find it.
Simierlan's symbol is a circle divided side to side; one half is gold and the other black, but both sides have golden rays radiating from them. Simierlan is Neutral Good, but Children of the Dawn are often Lawful Good and Children of the Dusk are often Chaotic Neutral. It is important to note that Simierlan identifies with both genders; to this end, Simierlan uses the pronoun of whatever gender they are presenting as in the moment. When referring to the entire body of their life, the they pronoun is used for Simierlan.
The tenants of the Children of the Dawn are:
1. Carry the hope of the dawn with you.
2. Help the downtrodden and outcast wherever you find them.
3. Serve justice, even in the face of societal opposition.
The tenants of the Children of the Dusk are:
1. Find those who oppress, torment, and diminish others.
2. Drag those who use the dark to commit evil into the light.
3. Help those he need deliverance to find it.
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