Goddess, Vammatar (Goddess of Pain and Misfortune)

Vammatar is a Finnish goddess who embodies the darker side of life, representing pain, disease, suffering, evil, and misfortune. She is the daughter of Tuoni, the god of the underworld, and Tuonetar, the goddess of death. Vammatar has three sisters, Kipu-Tyttö, Kivutar, and Loviatar, who are also associated with pain and suffering.

• Pantheon: Finnish
• Deity Title: Vammatar, Goddess of Pain and Misfortune
• Deity Symbol: A black and red serpent
• Home Plane: The underworld
• Deity Level: Lesser deity
• Alignment: Neutral Evil
• Aliases: The Pain Maiden, The Lady of Suffering
• Superior: None
• Traditional Allies: Tuoni, Tuonetar, Kipu-Tyttö, Kivutar, Loviatar.
• Traditional Foes: None in particular
• Divine Artifact: The Crown of Suffering, a cursed crown that brings pain and misery to whoever wears it.
• Servants: Demons and spirits of pain and suffering.
• Servitor Creatures: Snakes and other venomous creatures.
• Sacred Animal: The serpent.
• Manifestations: Visions of snakes and other venomous creatures, the sudden onset of pain and illness, the appearance of cursed objects.
• Signs of Favor: Protection from pain and suffering, the ability to cause pain and suffering in others.
• Worshipers: Those who seek to cause pain and suffering, those who believe that suffering is necessary for growth or purification.
• Cleric Alignments: Lawful Evil, Neutral Evil, Chaotic Evil
• Specialty Priests: Torturers, assassins, healers (who use pain as a form of treatment).
• Holy Days: The Winter Solstice, the day of Vammatar’s birth.
• Portfolio: Pain, disease, suffering, evil, misfortune.
• Domains: Evil, Pain, Death, Trickery.
• Favored Weapon: The Whip.
• Favored Class: Cleric.
• Favored Race: Humans.
• Duties of the Priesthood: To cause pain and suffering in others, to spread disease and misfortune, to seek out cursed objects and artifacts.
• Major Cult/Temple Sites: The Black Temple of Pain, located deep in the underworld.
• Benefits: The ability to inflict pain and suffering on others, immunity to pain and disease, protection from curses and other forms of misfortune.

As a goddess of misfortune, Vammatar is often depicted as a cold, cruel, and unforgiving deity. She enjoys inflicting pain and causing suffering, taking pleasure in the misery of mortals. Her motivations are shrouded in mystery, but some believe that she is driven by a desire for power and control.

Despite her reputation as a malevolent goddess, Vammatar is also seen as a figure of healing and transformation. In Finnish mythology, pain and suffering are seen as a necessary part of life, a means of purifying the soul and preparing it for the afterlife. Vammatar is associated with this process of transformation, guiding mortals through the trials and tribulations of life and helping them emerge stronger and wiser.

In some traditions, Vammatar is also associated with the natural world, particularly with the darker aspects of nature. She is said to dwell in dark forests and deep caverns, where she is surrounded by creatures of the night. Some believe that Vammatar is the source of all disease and pestilence, and that she can only be appeased through offerings and sacrifices.

Despite her fearsome reputation, Vammatar has a loyal following of worshippers who seek her protection and guidance. Many of these worshippers are healers and herbalists, who use their knowledge to treat the sick and afflicted. Others are seekers of knowledge, who seek to understand the mysteries of life and death.

Vammatar is often depicted as a tall and striking figure, with pale skin that seems almost translucent in some lights. Her long, flowing hair is as black as night and often appears to be in motion, even when there is no breeze. Her eyes are a piercing shade of blue that seems to glimmer with a mischievous light. She wears a dress made of shimmering black fabric that appears to be woven from spider webs, and her long, delicate fingers are adorned with rings made of various types of bone. Despite her beauty, there is a sense of danger about her, as though she could turn on a whim and inflict terrible suffering on those around her.

Overall, Vammatar is a complex and multifaceted deity, embodying both the dark and light aspects of life. While she may be a challenging and sometimes terrifying presence, she is also a powerful guide and teacher, leading mortals through the trials and tribulations of life and helping them emerge stronger and wiser.