Jula was born from the divine union of Jusannia and Pollaran — a meeting of different divine natures that produced something unexpected: a goddess whose entire existence was defined by the tension between opposing forces.

Pollaran, the warrior-god, fierce and uncompromising, represented the necessity of defense, of standing against evil, of refusing surrender. Jusannia, whose nature was gentler, represented the desire for peace, for the continuation of life, for the healing that follows conflict. From both parents, Jula inherited a radical understanding: that peace is not the absence of conflict but the deliberate choice to end it, and that sometimes this choice requires force.

She came into being early among the gods of the Shattered Domain, one of the first to recognize that a fractured reality needed not just power but the will to reconcile. Unlike other deities who carved out domains and defended them jealously, Jula saw her purpose differently: to move through conflicts, to offer an alternative to endless war, to teach mortals that harm could be stopped if enough people chose to stop it together.

The story that defines Jula's relationship to mortals begins with Nashan Cawdin, a devout follower of Pollaran who witnessed something unprecedented: Jula's ascension from infancy to adulthood in a single day. She emerged fully formed, beautiful and terrible both, embodying the paradox of her parentage. Pollaran presented her to Nashan at his temple, declaring her his divine daughter. Nashan, witnessing this miracle, pledged his service to her immediately.

But Jula's response revealed her nature. She did not accept his devotion abstractly. She whisked him away to an undisclosed location and spent months with him, not as a goddess with a worshipper but as a person exploring what connection meant. She fell genuinely in love with him — a dangerous thing for a god to do, as her parents had warned.

In the end, Nashan was mortal, and Jula was not. That fact could not be overcome. But before returning him to the world, Jula asked him what he desired most for it. His answer was simple: "World peace."

Jula, inspired by his wish and heartbroken by the limit it imposed, dedicated herself to the pursuit of peace — not as an abstract virtue but as a practical, achievable goal through tireless effort. She established her first temple with Nashan's help, and he became the first and truest of her followers. Throughout the remainder of his mortal life, she visited him in various forms, keeping faith with him. When he died, she herself appeared to guide his soul to the afterlife, honoring the love they had shared.

What followed was an era in which Jula moved through the conflicts of the mortal world, appearing in crisis moments, offering alternatives to slaughter, building networks of followers committed to the work of peace. She taught that peace was not weakness but the hardest victory — that to stop a war took more courage than to fight in one.

She created the White Rose Legion, a military force dedicated not to conquest but to the protection of peace, to the deterrence of aggression, and to the defense of the defenseless. This was her profound paradox: a god of peace with an army. But the contradiction was intentional. Jula understood that some conflicts could only be ended by force — force applied precisely to stop harm, not to inflict new harm.

Over centuries, Jula established herself as perhaps the most pragmatic of the gods: valued not by those who hated violence absolutely, but by those who had experienced violence and wished for it to end, and were willing to do hard work to make that happen.

Jula offers a bargain that is challenging but honest. She does not promise that all violence will stop, but that you will not face it alone, and that there are paths beyond it.

The faithful of Jula organize their understanding around these core principles:

(See also: claw/Soul_Coins_and_Divine_Economy)

Jula accumulates divine power through the prevention of harm and the deliberate choice to seek peace despite the invitation to violence. Her coin is generated in moments of restraint and reconciliation.

Jula's temples are constructed as sanctuaries first and foremost — places designed to be genuinely safe from violence.

Halls of the Dove are imposing stone structures, deliberately fortified and built to endure. The stones are sourced from the nearest quarries, making them literally rooted in the earth of the region. The buildings are not tall or grandiose but solid and practical.

Interior layout is careful and intentional. The primary worship shrine is central, but accessible. Underground chambers provide shelter and space for those fleeing violence. Healing centers are prominently placed, with beds and supplies for the wounded and traumatized. Upper levels contain quarters for clergy and space for housing long-term refugees or those in need of sanctuary.

Notably, every temple includes a Barren Flower Bed at its entrance — a deliberate space that has never been cultivated. It symbolizes potential and hope: the possibility that something new could grow there. It also serves as a visible reminder that even in sanctuary, the earth remembers what was lost.

The most sacred spaces are the Chambers of Refuge — private spaces where those fleeing violence can rest, speak freely, and be protected by Jula's law. What is said in these spaces remains confidential. Those who enter them cannot be forced to leave.

Jula's faith operates differently from many others because it is organized around both spiritual leadership and practical authority. The structure reflects her dual nature — both peaceful and strong.

Keepers of the Peace lead local temples, but they work alongside Commanders of the White Rose — military leaders who manage the defensive forces. These two roles can be held by the same person or work in close coordination. The relationship between spiritual and military authority is deliberately maintained as collaborative rather than hierarchical.

At the top, a Council of Reconciliation meets to discuss major theological and strategic questions. This council includes both veteran peaceworkers and veterans of the White Rose Legion. No decision of major consequence is made by one without consulting the other.

Below this structure are regional networks of temples, sanctuaries, and militia stations. These networks are largely autonomous but coordinate when conflicts threaten to spread across regions.

The unique feature of Jula's organizational structure is the sanctuary protocols: agreements made between temples and regional governments that guarantee the inviolability of temple grounds. Breaking sanctuary — entering a temple by force or extracting someone from Jula's protection — is among the most serious violations possible and provokes unified response from the entire faith.

Conversion to Jula's faith occurs in two primary ways, reflecting its dual nature.

Soft entry is common: a person witnesses violence or escapes from it and finds their way to a sanctuary. They may not believe in Jula, but they are seeking refuge. The temples provide it without requiring faith. Many people have lived under Jula's protection for years before formally converting, and many never do. Jula does not require conversion to extend protection.

Formal initiation for those who wish to commit more deeply involves different paths. Those seeking to become Peace-keepers take vows of de-escalation, of sanctuary maintenance, and of commitment to mediation work. Those seeking to join the White Rose Legion take vows of protection, of disciplined force, and of the commitment to use violence only when necessary to stop greater harm.

Both types of initiation are public. The initiate states their commitment before the community and before the altar. The vow is witnessed, making it both spiritual and social.

What makes an enemy rather than a convert: Those who perpetuate violence for profit or pleasure. Those who use the cover of peace-negotiation to set up new conflicts. Those who abuse sanctuary by hiding to plan fresh violence. These are not approached for conversion; they are opposed, sometimes with force.

A devoted follower of Jula is recognizable by a particular combination of qualities: softness and steel.

Date: Second full moon of the year.

Commemorates the birth of Nashan Cawdin and his meeting with Jula. On this day, ceremonies focus on reconciliation: those experiencing turbulence in their relationships are invited to seek counsel from keepers to rediscover peace and renewed love. Temples hold public mediations if disputes are brought before them. The day emphasizes the possibility of healing relationships that have been fractured or damaged.

Date: Tenth new moon of the year.

The most significant holy day, commemorating Jula's divine ascension and her dedication to peace. The faith hosts a week-long celebration. Feuding families are invited to attend, share meals together, and symbolically bury their grievances. It is a time of particular openness to reconciliation and a moment when Jula's blessing for peace-making is understood to be especially active.

Date: Mid-year (the precise date varies by region based on local conflicts resolved).

This observance is a tribute to the peaceful terminations of wars and major conflicts. The faith commemorates its successful interventions, with senior keepers sharing stories of conflicts they have helped quell. The magnitude of the conflict resolved determines the length of the stories, creating a natural hierarchy in which great conflicts are honored more prominently — a reflection of Jula's belief that the largest victories are worth the most attention.

Date: First day of spring.

A day of introspection and spiritual renewal, celebrating Jula's association with life and rejuvenation. Followers engage in meditation and introspective reflection. They gather in temples or natural sanctuaries to share serene music and poetry. The day emphasizes that peace is not numbness or absence but a full, engaged, deeply felt state of being.

When two factions agree to peace and wish to publicly affirm this commitment, they perform this ritual before Jula's altar. The leaders of each faction clasp each other's arms, and a keeper binds their arms together with a peace cloth — a white linen marked with Jula's symbol. The factions formally declare their peaceful intentions.

The ritual includes an element chosen by the local tradition: some regions have the parties spit upon the cloth (a symbolic contamination of peace-breaking), others have them shed blood upon it (committing themselves at the deepest level), and still others have them kiss over it (sealing the commitment with intimacy).

The ceremony often concludes with the formal signing of peace agreements if they exist, but the ritual itself precedes the paperwork — establishing that the commitment is spiritual before it is legal.

When peace cannot be achieved through diplomacy or non-violent means, and Jula's followers have been forced to use the White Rose Legion, the Rite of Submission is performed upon the defeated faction's surrender. The vanquished leader's hands are bound with a peace cloth by a keeper, who then formally asks if they submit to peace and vow to maintain it. Typically, the defeated party symbolically offers something precious — often a relative to join the order as a hostage but also as a sign of genuine commitment to peace and a guarantee of their peaceful intentions.

This ritual is crucial to Jula's theology: victory in her name does not mean humiliation or permanent subjugation, but the restoration of peace and the offer of a path back to community.

Performed at the dawn of each year, this ritual invokes peace for the forthcoming year. A white dove, understood by the faith as an embodiment of Jula's presence in the mortal world, is released into the heavens as a tangible manifestation of the community's hopes and prayers for peace. The ceremony is accompanied by hymns and prayers, and the release of the dove is the moment of greatest spiritual intensity.

A personal ritual that any follower of Jula can perform. In times of conflict or turmoil, an individual may place a white rose at a shrine or temple dedicated to Jula as a private pledge to peace and a plea for Jula's guidance in finding peaceful resolution to personal circumstances.

Performed when a significant conflict has been resolved. Two candles are lit from a single flame, representing the separate parties in the conflict. These candles are then used to light a third candle together, symbolizing their reconciliation and unity. The ceremony serves as a reminder of Jula's teachings about peace and forgiveness, and it marks the moment when relationships can begin to heal rather than continue to fester.

Worn by senior keepers and those involved in formal mediation work. These robes are pure white or dove-grey, made of fine linen or light wool. They are adorned with the symbol of the dove carrying a rose, embroidered or sewn on the breast and hem. The whiteness is intentional — it signals that the wearer is neutral, untainted by allegiance to any party in a conflict. The simplicity of the robes reflects Jula's theology: peace does not require grandeur.

A short cloak worn over one shoulder by members of the White Rose Legion during formal ceremonies. The cloak is thick white wool, designed to be both practical and symbolic. It is clasped with a brooch shaped like a white rose, and it carries the weight of the organization's history — each cloak is passed from one White Rose member to the next as they rise in rank.

Worn by all initiated keepers. This pendant depicts the dove carrying the rose in its beak. It is made of silver or white metal and is simple but striking. The pendant identifies the wearer as someone who has committed to peace and who can be approached for sanctuary or mediation.

Keepers of the Peace often wear cords of white and red woven together at the wrist, representing the balance between mercy (white) and necessary force (red). The cords are knotted with Jula's symbol and are considered a sign of rank within the order.

Nashan was a devout follower of Pollaran who bore witness to Jula's miraculous ascension from infancy to adulthood. His devotion to Jula was immediate and absolute, but it transformed when Jula made him an offer no other mortal has received: to leave the divine realm and spend time in the mortal world with him.

Their months together changed both of them. Nashan showed Jula the texture of mortal suffering, the way violence rippled through families and communities, the desperate desire for peace that even the strongest warriors harbored. Jula showed Nashan the possibility of something beyond the endless cycle of conflict that had defined his life under Pollaran's sign.

When Jula asked him what he wanted most for the world, his answer — world peace — became the foundation of her entire faith. He established her first temple, and she appeared to him throughout his mortal life, keeping faith with him even as the limits of mortality became clear. When he died, she herself conducted his soul to the afterlife, an honor she has never repeated.

Nashan is remembered not as a saint or prophet but as the one who taught Jula to love mortals enough to die for peace.

Francess was a halfling farmer of modest means, living in the lowlands where a dispute over water rights escalated rapidly toward violence. Upstream farmers claimed the right to use and pollute water as it passed through their land first; downstream farmers, facing the contamination, were preparing to forcibly remove the offending farmers.

Distressed by the impending violence and driven by a faith in Jula he had never formally pledged to but somehow understood, Francess placed himself physically between the mob and the accused farmer. He delivered an impassioned plea for peace and called upon Jula for guidance. Recognizing his solitary stand for peace amid chaos, Jula granted him the wisdom to mediate the conflict.

Francess went on to dedicate his life to peace-work, traveling throughout agricultural regions to prevent disputes over land and water from escalating to violence. His interventions were not flashy; he simply arrived when conflicts were brewing and helped people see alternatives to slaughter. He is invoked by farmers, by those facing injustice, and by anyone who stands alone against imminent violence.

Lord Arragon presided over a small outpost on the fringe of a kingdom, subjected to constant raids by local warlords. After years of losses and desperate attempts at negotiation that the warlords refused, Arragon made a pragmatic choice: if peace could not be achieved through dialogue, it would be enforced by force.

He requested and received skilled spies from the crown, who infiltrated and destabilized the smaller warlord factions. But the larger factions remained unmoved by subterfuge. In response, Arragon assembled a substantial militia and sought Jula's blessing to end the violence as swiftly as possible. The militia successfully routed the remaining warlords, finally bringing peace to the outpost.

Arragon's significance in Jula's faith is his understanding that sometimes peace requires military action. He is not a war hero; he is a man who used force specifically and only to stop ongoing harm. He exemplifies the difficult balance Jula requires: the willingness to be strong, to make hard choices, but never to glorify violence or to pursue victory for its own sake. After the immediate threat was ended, Arragon worked to rebuild relationships with the conquered warlords' families, beginning the actual work of peace.

Anara was a renowned diplomat from centuries past, celebrated for her ability to resolve seemingly intractable conflicts and foster genuine peaceful resolutions. A devoted follower of Jula who attributed her success to divine guidance, Anara traveled extensively, disseminating Jula's teachings and working directly to bring peace to warring regions.

Her legacy endures as a symbol of Jula's belief that peace is possible through wisdom, patience, and genuine attention to the suffering of all parties. She negotiated peace between kingdom and kingdom, between factions and families, between groups that had sworn eternal enmity. She is frequently invoked in prayers seeking harmony and understanding, and her name has become synonymous with peace itself in some regions.

A relic that seems strange for a faith devoted to peace: the skull of Nashan Cawdin, blessed by Jula's divine kiss. It plays a crucial role in the initiation rites for those ascending to the higher echelons of the clergy. Each aspirant kisses the skull, pledging their eternal service to Jula and to the work of peace.

The skull lacks its lower jaw — a mysterious absence that has never been explained. Legend whispers that should the missing jaw be found and reattached, those who kiss the skull on the mouth would receive a unique divine blessing. This belief has led to decades of searching and speculation about what that blessing might be: peace between all nations? The end of warfare? The power to enforce peace through magic? The answer remains unknown.

These miraculous white roses bloom outside Jula's temples at the darkest hour of night, sprouting from barren flower beds where nothing else grows. They must be harvested before noon, and thus each temple assigns an acolyte to inspect the flower bed at dawn.

The number of roses that bloom indicates the degree of divine intervention required in the region in the coming period. The highest count ever recorded was six roses — a number that preceded a civil war that the peace-keepers worked extensively to contain. Once the roses are sanctified by the temple clergy through prayer and ritual, they bestow a prophetic vision upon one of the senior clerics. That cleric is then tasked with resolving the conflict revealed in the vision. The flowers wither away by noon, leaving no trace.

An ancient coin, ordinary in appearance, that once belonged to Francess Gnown. According to legend, Francess used it to settle a dispute among farmers — flipping it or using it as a neutral object to help parties reach agreement. It carries a potent curse for those who use it to cheat or exploit others: if accepted in payment for an unjust deal, the coin's curse lingers with the debtor until they return double what they originally sought to extort.

The term "coin's curse" has become a saying in regions where the coin is known. In negotiation, the oppressed party may slide the coin across to the oppressor, uttering "take this coin's curse" to signify their unwillingness to accept an unjust agreement and their faith that justice will ultimately prevail.

A silver pendant shaped like a dove carrying a rose, identical to thousands of others worn by Jula's followers. This particular pendant was worn by Peacekeeper Anara herself during her lifetime of diplomatic work. It is said to be blessed by Jula and believed to bestow tranquility and clarity upon those who hold it.

The pendant is frequently used in peace and reconciliation ceremonies, placed at the center of mediation circles or held by both parties to agreements as they pledge their commitment. It is kept in a place of honor in Jula's primary temple, and it travels occasionally to conflicts where legendary peacemaking is needed.

How they refer to themselves: The Rose or The Defenders of the Peace

The White Rose Legion is the martial embodiment of Jula's faith — a regimented military force summoned when diplomacy and peace talks have failed, and force becomes necessary. Their approach to warfare is precise and swift, aimed at quelling strife with minimal unnecessary bloodshed. They serve not to conquer but to defend the defenseless and to create the conditions under which peace can be negotiated.

The Legion's reputation is formidable. Their courage is legendary, but their restraint is equally famous. A White Rose soldier does not glorify violence; they use it as a last resort and mourn every life lost. Their heraldry is a single white rose adorned with eleven thorns, each symbolizing a rank within the Legion's hierarchy. Those who rise through the ranks earn new thorns by demonstrating both martial prowess and mercy.

How they refer to themselves: the Wardens or the Shields of the Refuge

These keepers specialize in maintaining and protecting sanctuary spaces. They manage the temples as refuges, provide emotional and spiritual counsel to those traumatized by violence, and work to ensure that those under Jula's protection remain genuinely safe. They are less involved in external conflict resolution than in the healing work that must follow violence.

Sanctuary Keepers are often recruited from those who have themselves escaped violence and found healing in Jula's temples. Their understanding of what refuge means is intimate and experiential.

How they refer to themselves: the Speakers or the Truth-Tellers

These practitioners specialize in complex negotiation and mediation, particularly in situations where the parties have harmed each other grievously and where simple agreement is insufficient. They work with conflicted groups to help them process trauma, understand each other's perspectives, and build the kind of trust necessary for genuine peace.

The work of the Speakers is slow and often frustrating. Many conflicts that come to them seem permanently broken. But the faith's record shows that most can be healed if enough time and genuine intention are invested.

How they refer to themselves: the Pure or the Absolute Peace

This heresy takes Jula's teachings of peace to an extreme, advocating for complete non-violence and non-action even in the face of active violence and injustice. They believe that any form of intervention, even defensive force, is a violation of Jula's teachings.

The orthodox faith rejects this firmly. Jula's theology explicitly permits and sometimes demands the use of force to stop harm. The Extremists' refusal to defend the vulnerable contradicts the faith's core commitment to reducing suffering.

How they refer to themselves: the Iron Peace or the Righteous Force

This heresy believes that peace can only be achieved through the assertion of overwhelming force, and that Jula's sword (often depicted pointing downward in her statues) is a symbol of the need for military strength to enforce peace. Members are often involved in aggressive actions, justifying invasions, coups, and conquest as necessary steps to impose peace — often at enormous human cost.

The orthodox faith considers this a corruption of Jula's teaching. Peace imposed through conquest is not peace; it is dominion. The use of force must always be defensive, not expansive.

How they refer to themselves: the Removed or the Inner Peace

This heretical group interprets Jula's teachings as a call for individual peace through isolation and withdrawal from society. They believe that true peace can only be achieved by cutting oneself off from all conflict, which they see as inevitable in community.

Orthodox Jula rejects this on the grounds that it abandons those still suffering in conflict. Peace that comes at the cost of refusing to help others suffering is not Jula's peace.

How they refer to themselves: the Secrets or the Truthless

Founded by the charismatic Seraphis, this cult claims that Jula has a hidden aspect as a goddess of secrets and subterfuge — that true peace can only be achieved through the manipulation and control of information. Members of the cult are often involved in espionage, blackmail, and information warfare, all claimed to be divinely sanctioned.

The cult corrupts Jula's teaching by making deception a path to peace. Orthodox Jula holds that peace built on lies is fragile and will collapse once the lies are revealed.

How they refer to themselves: the Blessed or the Seekers of Endless Peace

Founded by Lady Elira, a noble who claims to have been visited by Jula in a dream, this cult focuses obsessively on Jula's Midnight Blooms. They believe the flowers hold the key to eternal life and eternal peace, and they hoard them, refusing to let them be used for prophetic visions as intended.

In reality, the cult has become little more than a treasure-hunting organization, convinced that if they can preserve the blooms indefinitely, they will unlock a permanent state of peace. They actively oppose the temple keepers' use of the blooms for their intended purpose.

How they refer to themselves: the Believers or the Hope Eternal

Founded by the cleric Thoren, who claims to be the reincarnation of Nashan Cawdin, this cult teaches that Nashan and Jula were divine lovers whose union could bring about everlasting peace. Members obsess over finding the missing jaw of Nashan's Cranium, convinced that its reattachment will bring about Nashan's full return and usher in a new divine era.

Thoren claims to be the only one who can guide this process, and he leverages this claim to accumulate power and resources from followers who believe that the discovery of the jaw is imminent. In reality, the jaw's location (if it still exists) is unknown, and the belief in its power to transform reality is theologically baseless.

(See: Cosmology/Physical Realms/The Shattered Domain)