The World of Terramunde

Ustia

Statue of Ustia

In the Olimbian pantheon, Ustia is the virgin goddess of the hearth. Her holy symbol is a hearth or flame, her sacred colors are white and red and her favored weapon is the dagger.

Her followers are lawful-good, nuetral good, or chaotic good and u sually choose the Fire domain.

The Ustales Aeternae

The Ustales Aeternae, or Sisters of the Flame, is a lawful-good order of preistesses and holy warriors, originating in the early days of the Human Empire, who's power and prestige rivals that of the Knights Exemplar. The two orders are collectively known as the Ordinum Sanctor Magnorum.

The Ustales at each temple of Ustia are charged with maintaining the Flama Sacrum, a flame that is never allowed to go out. Having taken a vow of chastity, they are freed from the social obligations of marriage and childbirth.

The attire of an Ustelis consists of an infula (a headband of white wool), a suffibulum (a white woolen veil worn during rituals and sacrifices), and a palla (a long, simple shawl made of white wool cloak, draped over the left shoulder and pinned with a brooch). Under these garments, most Usteles wear red and white ribbons, symbolizing the undying flame and their purity. They have an elaborate hairstyle consisting of seven braids.

The Ustales are led by the Ustalis Maxima, who presides at the Temple of Ustia in Aeterna, the home of the Flama Prima, or first flame. Answering to her are the Ustalis Provinciala, each assigned to a kingdom or region. Below them are the Ustalis Comitata, who oversee a county, parish, or shire. Finally, the Ustales Rectora lead the individual temples of Ustia. Ustales Judicae, ordained by the Ustalis Maxima to seek and remedy injustice, report to the Ustalis Comitata and Ustalis Provinciala of each region they travel through.