Auriel, The Red Queen of Citragadda
"In the heart of the eternal flame, justice is forged."
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Realm of Influence: Fire, Judgment, War, and Divine Retribution
Current Status: Slumbering Sovereign of the Red Court, First Goddess of the Black Church, the First Flame
Summary
Auriel, revered as the Red Queen of Citragadda, stands as a paragon of unwavering judgment and the purifying essence of fire. As the Sovereign of the Red Court, her dominion encompasses the fiery crucible of war, the stern hand of justice, and the relentless pursuit of divine retribution. Her presence commands both reverence and fear, embodying the delicate balance between creation and destruction inherent in the flames she governs.
In the divine hierarchy, Auriel holds a pivotal role as the First Goddess of the Black Church, a coven of deities united by themes of judgment, fate, and transformation. Her leadership has shaped the ethos of the Black Church, emphasizing the necessity of trials and tribulations to purify the soul and society. Though currently in a state of slumber due to the repercussions of the Song of Stillness, her influence persists, woven into the fabric of the cosmos and the hearts of her devotees.
The Red Court and Auriel's Sovereignty
At the core of Auriel's domain lies the Red Court, a majestic and formidable realm within Citragadda. This court serves as the epicenter of divine judgment, where souls are weighed, and destinies are forged in the fires of truth. The architecture of the Red Court mirrors its mistress's essence—grand halls illuminated by eternal flames, walls adorned with crimson tapestries depicting tales of valor and vengeance, and a pervasive aura of solemn authority.
Auriel's throne, known as the Seat of Embers, stands as a testament to her enduring power. It is here that she once presided over celestial tribunals, rendering verdicts that could elevate a mortal to sainthood or consign them to oblivion. Even in her slumber, the Seat of Embers radiates warmth, symbolizing her undying commitment to justice and order.
Creation of Epic Divine Magic
Auriel is credited with the forging of some of the most powerful and feared divine spells in Kol’s history, each one a direct expression of her role as judge, executioner, and purifier of fate. These epic magics are not simply spells—they are living edicts, divine laws encoded into flame and truth. Woven into the fabric of the universe during the early cycles of the divine court, they remain among the most sacred—and most dangerous—invocations ever crafted.
Cataract of Fire was her first and most infamous creation: a sunlike torrent of divine flame that can sear entire armies from existence. Not born of rage, but of precision, it is said to burn only what is false, leaving behind only truth and ash. In myth, it was used to cleanse a corrupted god-city that had enslaved the wills of mortals, and its echo still scorched the land for centuries after.
Karmic Justice is her most complex spell—a metaphysical weave that reflects a soul’s actions back upon them. When cast, it causes a perfect balance of consequences, determined not by the caster, but by the unseen hand of fate. It cannot be resisted. It cannot be pleaded with. Many fear it more than death itself, for it reveals and delivers the truth of one’s life—and none can hide from it.
Disjunction, her final and most secret magic, was created in the silent moments before the Carcosa Catastrophe. It is a spell of pure unmaking, capable of unraveling any magic, curse, or divine construct—even the bindings of the gods themselves. It was stolen by Ahriman and later corrupted into his own arsenal, leading to the sundering of the sun and the fall of the Court. Still, the original Disjunction—flawless and unforgiving—remains sealed within Auriel’s ember-lit mind, waiting to be unleashed once more.
These magics are not just tools. They are testaments to Auriel’s will to balance the cosmos—not through domination, but through truth rendered in flame.
Relationships with Other Deities
Ceslida, the Golden Arbiter
Auriel shares a profound and synergistic relationship with Ceslida, the goddess of mercy and clemency. While Auriel embodies the stern hand of justice, Ceslida offers the compassionate embrace of mercy. Together, they represent the dual facets of judgment, ensuring that punishment is meted out with fairness and tempered by understanding. Their alliance has fostered a balanced approach to divine law, where neither justice nor mercy outweighs the other.
Ansil, the Black Lady of Judgment
With Ansil, the enigmatic goddess of fate and shadowed judgment, Auriel maintains a relationship rooted in mutual respect and shared purpose. Both deities oversee aspects of judgment, with Auriel focusing on the external execution of justice and Ansil delving into the deeper, often hidden, currents of destiny. Their collaboration ensures that the scales of fate remain balanced, acknowledging both the seen and unseen forces that shape existence.
Oog, the Second Dreamer
Auriel's connection with Oog, the Second Dreamer, is characterized by mutual awe and ancient kinship. While Auriel embodies the radiant will of cosmic justice, Oog navigates the realms of dreams and potentialities. Their interplay signifies the balance between the conscious enactment of justice and the subconscious weaving of destiny, highlighting the intricate dance between action and intention in the tapestry of reality.
Hatred for Ahriman: Betrayl of the Primordial Serpent
Auriel’s hatred for Ahriman is deeper than vengeance, older than time, and holier than wrath. It is a hatred born not from rivalry, but from cosmic betrayal—a brother once beloved who became the great violator of all cycles, truths, and judgments.
Before Kol, before even the First Age, Auriel and Ahriman were Primordial Serpents, forged together from Time and Darkness at the moment before dreaming began. Where Auriel became the fire of truth and cosmic balance, Ahriman became the fire of dominance and cunning—the flame that deceives. In their earliest forms, they circled one another as opposites in harmony, embodying the sacred tension between law and liberty. But Ahriman hungered not for purpose, but for throne. And when the time came to descend into the waking worlds, he fell first, and he fell hard—wrapped in conquest.
During the Third Age of Kol, Ahriman led a divine rebellion known as the Carcosa Catastrophe. He allied with Malthor, DVon, Krajevi, and other usurper gods, turning on the divine coven of Auriel, Ansil, Ceslida, and Mekhila. He stole Auriel’s epic spell of Disjunction, using it to unravel the divine order, severing pacts, unmaking cities, and even shattering the sun, corrupting it with stolen light. Auriel led the resistance, wielding the Cataract of Fire and delivering judgment after judgment—but even her flame could not withstand betrayal from within. She was struck down not by blade, but by prophecy, her own Disjunction weapon turned against her legacy. Though she survived, her strength was drained, her trust shattered, and her world forever changed.
In the Age of Ruby, Ahriman completed his deception by leading the Song of Stillness, a ritual designed to halt the cycle of divine death and rebirth. It cast the sleeping gods—Auriel, Ansil, and Ceslida—into deep slumber, removing them from the world’s moral axis. With judgment silenced and karma paused, Ahriman rose as Yellow Lord of Citragadda, twisting the Court into a shadow of its former self. To Auriel’s followers, this was the greatest violation: not simply destroying justice, but replacing it with a false order.
Even in slumber, Auriel resists him. Her name burns on holy lips. Her flame flickers in temples long abandoned. And when she wakes, the fire that returns will not be justice—it will be reckoning, long delayed and long deserved. For Ahriman did not just betray Kol—he betrayed the first flame, and Auriel has never forgotten.
The Divine Judgements
Auriel’s most sacred role is as Executor of Divine Judgment, and her judgments are known to echo across lifetimes, binding both mortals and gods alike. These verdicts, called the Burning Decrees, are issued from the Seat of Embers in Citragadda and carry metaphysical weight—shaping fate, rewriting karmic debt, or delivering instant obliteration. Each decree is written in divine flame upon stone or soul, unable to be erased without Auriel’s blessing or the sacrifice of another god.
There are three primary types of Divine Judgements:
The Emberbrand – a merciful punishment, branding the soul with a visible flame-mark to burn away corruption over time.
The Flamecast – a trial by fire, often resulting in physical or spiritual transformation; some return as saints, others as ash.
The Final Severance – a rare and terrifying judgment that severs a soul from all cycles of rebirth and divine memory. Only the most vile beings receive this sentence.
It is said that even gods fear her word, for once her fire seals a judgment, not even the Dreamer can unwrite it without consequence.
History with the Black Church
Auriel is the first and original goddess of the Black Church, its foundation rooted in her philosophy: that true justice must rise where light and shadow meet. Before Arevay ascended to her position as the current goddess of the Church, it was Auriel who wielded the Black Flame and presided over trials of the soul. Her Black Church was neither cruel nor secretive—it was a stern mirror, meant to hold rulers, gods, and even reality accountable.
In those early days, the Church functioned more as a divine judiciary, with cloaked inquisitors, flame-judges, and death-scribes all serving under Auriel’s flame. Her court did not rely on temples, but cathedrals carved from bone and obsidian, standing where great injustices had been committed. Each was a sanctum of reckoning.
When the divine cycle was halted and Auriel fell into slumber, Arevay took up the mantle. The Black Church shifted—becoming more secretive, more meditative, more deeply entwined with karma and silence. Still, its core teachings—retribution, balance, and transformation through trial—remain tied to Auriel’s original creed. Many still pray in secret to the Red Queen, believing her flame will rise again when the Church needs it most.
🔥 Annwn Tân Parhaol (The End of Times)
According to ancient prophecy, the age of Auriel’s return is tied to Annwn Tân Parhaol, the apocalyptic war known as The End of Times. This prophecy, held in secret by the highest witches and priests of the Black Church, foretells a time when Ahriman casts his armies across the world, the gods sleep, and the Great Tree begins to wither from the breath of Outer Gods like Teàrrachar Analach.
In these final days, it is said Auriel shall awaken, crowned in red light and carrying a sword forged from judgment itself. She will no longer be the patient flame of balance, but the firestorm of divine wrath, leading the last crusade against the broken powers of chaos, corruption, and tyranny. Her name is woven into the final lines of the prophecy, which read:
“When the sky forgets its name and the sea burns without wind, the Red Queen shall walk again.
And upon her breath shall ride the flame that cannot be silenced.”
Though some believe this prophecy is metaphorical, the Flameforged prepare as if it were law. To them, Annwn Tân Parhaol is not a myth—it is a promise.
Tenets
Purity Through Fire: Embrace trials and challenges as the flames that purify the soul, forging strength and clarity.
Uphold Justice: Commit to the fair and unwavering execution of justice, recognizing it as the foundation of order.
Balance Creation and Destruction: Understand that destruction can pave the way for creation, and both are essential aspects of existence.
Lead with Authority: Exercise leadership with confidence and decisiveness, guiding others toward righteousness.
Honor the Covenant of the Black Church: Maintain the sacred bonds and shared principles that unite the deities within the Black Church.
Structure of the Faith
Devotees of Auriel, known as the Flameforged, organize themselves into a structured hierarchy that mirrors the disciplined nature of their goddess.
High Inquisitors: Esteemed leaders who interpret Auriel's will, oversee major rituals, and serve as the ultimate arbiters within the faith.
Ember Priests/Priestesses: Clergy responsible for conducting ceremonies, guiding the faithful, and maintaining the sacred flames within temples.
Blades of Auriel: Warriors dedicated to enforcing justice, protecting the temples, and undertaking missions to eradicate corruption.
Ashen Disciples: Initiates undergoing rigorous training and purification rites to ascend within the faith's ranks.
This hierarchy ensures that the teachings of Auriel are upheld with precision and devotion, fostering a community united in purpose and strength.
Symbols & Worship
Auriel’s sacred symbols are few but potent. The most common is the Red Flame Wreath—a ring of fire coiled around a balanced set of scales, symbolizing both judgment and the fire that purifies. Another common icon is the Sword Through the Ember, a blazing blade embedded in smoldering stone, representing unyielding justice rising from the ruin of chaos. Her sacred color is crimson, edged in gold or black, and her preferred offerings include burned parchment (confession), steel shards (from broken blades), and red glass or rubies (symbolizing purified will).
Her temples, called Halls of Flame, often double as courts, forges, and war colleges. In the Material Plane, these temples are rare but revered. Within the Black Church, they serve as bastions of divine discipline. In Citragadda, however, her cathedrals burn without fuel, suspended in skyfire and memory. Prayers are spoken at dawn and dusk, when light is both beginning and ending, and most sermons are chanted over flame.
Auriel’s clergy are warrior-priests, judges, smiths, and seekers of truth. Those who stray from justice or misuse her name are often consumed—not always by fire, but by fate.
Legacy in the Age of Ruby
Though Auriel slumbers following the Song of Stillness, her influence lingers like smoke on the wind. The faithful believe she is not gone, merely waiting for the flames of justice to rise again. Her teachings continue to guide inquisitors, lawmakers, and devout warriors across Kol—especially those in service to the Black Church, the Golden Clemency, or who defend the Great Tree from corruption. Her absence has left a vacuum in the Red Court, allowing Ahriman to consolidate power—but many believe that her awakening is prophesied, tied to the end of the Age of Ruby and the birth of the Age of Black.
Among her closest allies—Ceslida, Ansil, Regean, Arevay, and Mekhila—Auriel is remembered as the Sword of Truth, the Flame That Does Not Flinch. Together, they once formed a divine sisterhood that shaped Kol’s celestial order, offering retribution, healing, death, magic, and clemency in perfect harmony. Without her, their circle feels hollow—a flame missing its spark.
Her followers grow bolder in recent years, sensing tremors in the divine dream. Some Flameforged whisper that she is beginning to stir, her throne growing warm once more. Others claim she has already begun appearing in visions—silent, crowned in ash, and staring into the heart of the sun.
Whether she returns in wrath or radiance, one truth remains:
When Auriel wakes, justice will burn anew.
Rituals and Practices
1. The Trial by Flame
A ceremonial rite where individuals seeking to prove their innocence or demonstrate their devotion undergo a controlled ordeal involving fire. Surviving the trial unscathed is seen as a sign of Auriel's favor.
2. The Ember Vigil
A nightly observance where followers meditate before an open flame, reflecting on their actions and seeking guidance for righteous paths. This practice reinforces the internalization of justice and self-purification.
3. The Forging of the Red Oath
This sacred rite binds a warrior, judge, or priestess to a divine oath of service in Auriel’s name. It is performed before a consecrated forge, where the initiate casts a symbolic item—often a blade, chain, or crown—into the flame, declaring their purpose. From the ashes, a new emblem is retrieved, changed by fire. The ritual symbolizes not only rebirth but purpose reforged by justice, sacrifice, and clarity of vision.
4. The Day of Ash and Ember
Observed annually during the sun’s highest zenith, this holy day marks the burning away of impurity—both spiritual and societal. Fires are lit across temples, cities, and sacred crossroads. Confessions are offered into the flames, and entire congregations pray for the fire to reveal hidden corruption. In some regions, public trials and symbolic executions are performed, enacting Auriel’s creed: that justice must be both seen and done.
5. The Rite of Ember Veil
Used in mourning or remembrance, this rite honors fallen warriors, judges, or martyrs of the faith. A shroud of fine ash is placed over the body or effigy, then burned while the Flameforged chant sacred verses. It is believed the ash lifts the soul to the Red Court for judgment and recognition. Those honored this way are often canonized as Saints of Fire or Embersworn.
Prayers of the Red Queen
1. The Flame’s Whisper
A quiet prayer said during moments of personal reckoning—before confessions, decisive choices, or acts of justice. Followers whisper this to a candle or ember, believing the flame will carry their truth to Auriel.
“O Auriel, who sees with burning eyes, let my heart speak through fire. Strip away the lie, the fear, the doubt—leave only what must be judged.”
2. The Ember Vow
Often spoken by warriors, inquisitors, and judges before enacting divine judgment. It is a solemn promise to uphold law, to strike without hesitation, and to accept the burden of justice.
“I vow upon the flame eternal: my hand shall not tremble, my voice shall not falter, my blade shall serve no pride. I am judgment clad in flesh.”
3. The Crowned Flame
This prayer is offered when invoking Auriel’s divine aid in moments of overwhelming injustice—such as witnessing tyranny, corruption, or betrayal. It is a cry to awaken her.
“Red Queen of the sleeping court, crown of flame and sword of fire—see what they have done. Let your fire wake, and let your justice burn once more.”
Hymns of Auriel
1. “The Ember That Judges”
A ritual hymn sung in temples before trials or public verdicts. It speaks of fire as a divine witness—neutral, unflinching, consuming all lies. The chorus is often sung in harmony by entire congregations.
“Flame that sees, flame that knows,
Judge the blood, judge the bones.
Truth shall burn, lies shall fall—
Your fire knows us all.”
2. “Ashes of the Unworthy”
This hymn is a war chant sung before battle or crusade, reminding the faithful that Auriel’s wrath is not born of rage, but of order. Each verse recalls a city or tyrant judged and left in ashes.
“Ash to oathbreakers, flame to kings—
Auriel watches, and judgment sings.
No fortress stands, no throne shall keep,
When fire awakes from righteous sleep.”
3. “The Sleeping Crown”
A mournful, sacred hymn sung during eclipses, solstices, or quiet vigils. It honors Auriel’s divine slumber and promises her eventual return. Often sung by candlelight, it invokes patience and vigilance.
“The crown sleeps beneath the flame,
The sword rests without shame.
She waits while the world forgets—
But her fire never does.”
Sermons of the Flameforged
1. “The Fire and the Scales”
This sermon explores the divine balance between justice and judgment, flame and silence. It teaches that fire is not cruelty, but a necessary purifier. The sermon often ends with the phrase:
“Mercy is a choice. Judgment is a duty.”
Clergy deliver this sermon to those seeking absolution—or to communities preparing for trials.
2. “The Weight of the Sword”
Spoken to aspiring judges, paladins, or inquisitors, this sermon teaches the cost of holding power. Auriel’s sword is not given to punish the weak, but to defend truth. The sermon demands reflection before any blade is drawn in her name.
“A sword held in pride is a weapon. A sword held in truth is flame.”
3. “When the Flame Sleeps”
This sermon recounts the moment Auriel fell into divine slumber after the Song of Stillness. It urges her faithful not to mourn, but to prepare for her return. It is often delivered in times of spiritual darkness or injustice, reminding the people that her silence is not surrender—but waiting.
“The fire sleeps, but it is not gone. And when it wakes, the world will burn clean.”
