# Esta Merlani ##### (es-tah mer-lawn-ee) ###### Lady of Liberty, Spirit of Freedom, Second Light of Amangyr, First Settler *** **Saint Esta Merlani** is the second of the five prophets of **Amagyr**, venerated and worshiped by the **Miryag** people. She is known as the Lady of Liberty, the Spirit of Freedom, Second Light of Amangyr, and the First Settler of the Merlani Free Cities.  ## History The legend of Esta Merlani does not have a clear point of origin. There is not a minor clan among the Varyag that doesn't have a story about how Esta Merlani had saved some important clan figure from a monster attack, natural disaster or some other form of calamity. The sheer volume and variety of these tales makes it unlikely that they were all actually the work of St. Esta, but many of them probably are, and sorting out the fact from the fancy would be impossible. What is known is the Esta Merlani was a known folk hero by the time she first encountered **Annis Dayrin**. Esta rescued Annis from the clutches of the sorcerer **Bethylar**, who had intended to imprison and enslave Annis and her clan within his underwater stronghold. Annis and Esta soon became friends and travelling companions. It was Esta's influence that allowed Annis' message of **Amangyr** to spread among the Varyag, and allowed Annis to become the leader of her own small clan. Esta and Annis would later be joined by **Toman Atvar**, **Rhynnis Polimon** and her one-time lover **Unthar Karak** as the **Warriors of Amangyr's Light**. These five would defeat the **Four Fiends of Yreshi**, gather the **Weapons of Etama**, defeat the **Beast of Fate**, restore the **Light of Truth** and lead their people through the **Trial of the Landing**. The idea of a unified Miryag nation was not to be, and that suited Esta just fine. She was the first to leave Sulima, and while she bade not one single person to join her, many of the small clans that had survived the Trial of the Landing followed behind. She settled upon one of the islands of **Illurgen**, but had no interest in forming a new nation. Instead, she told those who followed her to "Live Free to Die Trying." With those words, the Merlani Free Cities were born.  ## The Church of Free Devotion The Church of Free Devotion is not so much dedicated to St. Esta Merlani herself as much as the ideas she represented. Free Devotion means that anyone can worship any god and still be within the aegis of the Spirit of Freedom. All the Gods are gods, and all the Faithful are faithful, and the only true blasphemy would be in stopping others from worshipping as they choose. What this means in practical terms is that the followers of Free Devotion either follow a broadly outlined pantheon of deities adapted from the diverse pool of ideas and traditions found in the free cities, or that they mash all of their preferred traditions, philosophies and outlooks into a single all-purpose monotheistic figure. There are no wrong answers with free devotion. Only those who agree, and those who agree to disagree.  ### Holy Texts _Ou Verte, Merlani_ is the sacred record of the life, legends and lessons of St. Esta Merlani. It is said that no two copies of the book are exactly the same, as the stories and accounts have been passed by word of mouth, and only disseminated in written form long after St. Esta herself had passed from public life. While there are some grounded and downright mundane accounts of the Lady of Liberty's life, the more popular versions view her as the one responsible for lifting the shadow of **Meralina**, and freeing the gods to look after the people of Temnia.  ### Worshipers Those faithful to the Spirit of Freedom take greatest pride in their independence, open-mindedness and their cosmopolitan world view.  ### Taboo Those who venerate St. Esta have a strong aversion to magic that entrances or ensnares the mind. Many an apothecary has been run out of a free city for selling love potions, and woe be to any performer who tries to make money as a mesmerist. The faithful of the St. Esta will not wear chains, even as jewelry, and also disdain any bracelet or anklet that must be unclasped to be removed.  ### Clergy The clergy of the Lady of Liberty is unorganized lot of fervent zealots, amoral power brokers, well meaning do-gooders, and political radicals. Each of the Free Cities has their own church, each of which is organized (or not) in their own way and comprised of any number of any given divine class. The most powerful and successful churches tend to be built around a cult of personality, thus Oracles and Paladins tend to be the most powerful and influential. The churches are independent, and while they do not necessarily recognize the authority of clergy from outside their particular organization, there is an unwritten code of respect, welcome and non-interference between the churches. The vestments and livery of of clergy varies widely, but there is one unifying aspect common to all: Each wears the design of the unbroken circle upon their brow. This can be placed with a diadem, headband, tattoo, scar or paint; it can be simple or intricately detailed, it can be most any color, but the placement is always the same.  --- ## Herecies ### Varyag Essa, Knight of the Gray Skull, is the champion of plunder. **Amanguire's** champions are each terrible and loathsome fiends. Essa is the greediest and most rapacious and destructive of the bunch. Legend has it that she will steal anything she can get her hands upon, and will gleefully murder anyone who might stand in her way. It is said that if she cannot steal a thing, she would see it destroyed so that no one else could have it, either. Essa's participation in the Massacre of the Burning Boats is said to be her attempt to steal the Varyag people from Artrya herself, and that when the faithful attempted to flee to safety, she ordered their extermination.  ### Ylvani Many of the legendary deeds and accomplishment of the Lady of Liberty are also attributed to the Summer Son, Ethele. It is not known if the Erume's legends made their way to the Varyag, and thus to the Miryag, or if both were derived from legends that predate the third age.