Hephestia

Hephestia, Flame of Hearth and Forge

Hephestia appears as a wizened Creator woman, or as a beautiful Creator maiden, wreathed in a robe of shimmering fire. She can also manifest as a blazing inferno. Despite what one might expect from an Elemental Spirit of Fire, she is usually soft spoken and infinitely patient, though her ire can certainly be raised by those who would misuse the power of her fire.

Basic Pact

• Bid: I bid you to Create and Prepare.
• Offer: I offer you fortitude and a steady hand.
• Purpose: As the forge refines the blade, so the hearth refines the spirit. Not for you to brave the battle! Rather it is your duty to send forth the warrior prepared and keep the home fire burning that he may have a warm hearth to return to.
• Gift: Followers of the Flame receive only an unshaped lump of iron. It is up to the Caller to shape their own gift.
• Mark: Callers of Hephestia are marked with an indelible brand in the shape of either a hammer or a stylized flame. The mark may be placed anywhere, at the behest of the caller upon forming the dedication, but the brand cannot be concealed. It burns through any clothing placed over it, appearing on the cloth as a seared shape.

Benefits

• By touching the staff to liquid or its container, followers can purify it to safe, drinkable water. They can only affect liquid within a certain, continuous radius of where the staff touches, and when the staff is taken away the changes persist, but the water can be re-contaminated if the contamination source is still present. Excessive use that causes harm to local flora or fauna may draw rebuke from Ser'ther.
• Callers of Hephestia are immune to the flames of Hearth and Forge. Meaning that a dedicated smith could handle the tools of his trade bare handed and a matron at the hearth could stir the embers with only her hand..
• Callers of Hephestia receive a +1 bonus to all NON-COMBAT fire magic.