Goddess, Agaskw

Agaskw, also known as Nokemis, is a wise and respected deity among the Abenaki people. She is considered the grandmother of Gluskab and is revered for her knowledge and cunning.

• Pantheon: North American Pantheon
• Deity Title: Grandmother Woodchuck, Keeper of Lore and Wisdom, Keeper of Ancient Wisdom
• Deity Symbol: A stylized image of a woodchuck or marmot
• Home Plane: The Beastlands
• Deity Level: Lesser deity
• Alignment: Neutral Good
• Aliases: Nokemis, My Grandmother
• Superior: No known superior deity
• Traditional Allies: Gluskab, other nature spirits, woodland animals and creatures
• Traditional Foes: None known
• Divine Artifact: The Burrow Digger, a magical digging tool that allows the wielder to create extensive burrow systems and tunnels with ease.
• Servants: Animal spirits, earth elementals, woodland creatures
• Servitor Creatures: Marmots, groundhogs, squirrels, rabbits
• Sacred Animal: Woodchuck, Marmots
• Manifestations: A grand old woodchuck, the rustling of leaves in the wind, a gentle voice filled with knowledge and wisdom, sudden appearance of marmots, digging sounds coming from underground
• Signs of Favor: Discovering a cache of valuable resources while digging, sudden insight into nature and the environment, Abundant crops, successful hunts in the woods
• Worshipers: Abenaki farmers and hunters, elders, woodland-dwelling races, those seeking wisdom and knowledge
• Cleric Alignments: Neutral Good
• Specialty Priests: Marmoteers, burrow-diggers, wisdomkeepers
• Holy Days: Celebrations associated with the emergence of marmots from hibernation
• Portfolio: Wisdom, nature, underground resources
• Domains: Earth, Nature, Knowledge
• Favored Weapon: Shovel, digging tool
• Favored Class: Druid, Ranger
• Favored Race: Abenaki, halflings
• Duties of the Priesthood: Preserve Abenaki traditions, oral history, and lore, perform wisdom keeping ceremonies, lead hunts and agricultural rituals
• Major Cult/Temple Sites: Abenaki communities, possibly underground burrow systems
• Benefits: Increased wisdom and knowledge, successful hunts and crops, ability to burrow through earth and find hidden resources.

As a deity, Agaskw is associated with the earth, burrowing animals, and the seasons. Her domain encompasses the aspects of nature that are cyclical, such as the changing of the seasons and the migration patterns of animals. She is also considered a patron of wisdom, known for her cunning and ability to see the future.

In appearance, Agaskw is often depicted as a large, burly woodchuck with sharp, cunning eyes. She is said to be adorned with a crown of leaves and twigs, symbolizing her connection to the earth. Described as a wise and experienced being of the Golden Age. It is believed that she takes on the appearance of a plump, furry creature with a woodchuck’s characteristic features, including large, burrowing front claws and a bushy tail.

She is usually depicted as being light brown or reddish-brown in color, with a kind and grandmotherly face. It is said that she moves slowly and methodically, her movements reflecting her great age and wisdom. Despite her slow gait, Agaskw is always alert, her sharp eyes missing nothing that goes on in the natural world around her. Overall, she is seen as a symbol of the earth and its cycles, and is revered for her understanding of the natural world and its ways.

Her divine artifact is the The Burrow Digger, a magical digging tool that allows the wielder to create extensive burrow systems and tunnels with ease.

Worshipers of Agaskw include those who live close to the earth, such as farmers and hunters, as well as wise elders and those who seek knowledge and understanding. Her followers believe that by honoring her and seeking her guidance, they will be blessed with wisdom and a deep connection to the earth.

Agaskw’s clergy is comprised of wise elders, healers, and diviners who use their connection to the deity to help others and offer guidance. They hold holy days during the solstices and equinoxes, and perform rituals to honor the changing seasons and to seek the deity’s blessings.

As a deity, Agaskw is neutral in alignment, reflecting her balanced connection to both the natural world and the forces of wisdom. She is revered by her followers for her wisdom, cunning, and ability to see the future, and is considered a powerful and respected member of the Abenaki pantheon.