Creusa,
Woman of the River
Goddess of the Creusa River, patron & ancestress of the Elven Imperial Dynasty
One of the best-known mythological figures in Realmgard’s history, despite being understood as a a fairly minor, local deity, the river goddess Creusa nevertheless looms large in the history of the Elven Empire.
The mythological accounts differ on whether Creusa is the daughter of Aeto — and thus a sister of Sephas and Valhas — or one of the many river goddesses fathered by Aivas — and thus a half-sister of Pherais and Anassa — or even the daughter of another deity altogether.
The matter is further complicated by the fact that Creusa is generally held to be the sister of Capitolina, herself a figure of unclear parentage, though often said to be another of daughter of Aeto.
The eponymous river of which Creusa is the patron goddess features prominently in the history of the Elven Empire: the first Elven refugees to arrive in Realmgard under the leader of the exiled royals Eos and Adrastos settled along the Creusa River and the river valley became the heartland of the Elven Empire and its preceding polities, culminating with the foundation of the new capital city of Imperialis.
Creusa is held to be the divine ancestress of all Elven Emperors, due to her marriage to the Elven hero Fulmen. The well-known, widely-celebrated story of Fulmen and Creusa tells that Fulmen was gravely wounded while fleeing from his enemies and made his way to the banks of the Creusa River, where the goddess if said to have been moved by pity for the handsome Elven hero and nursed him back to health.
After unifying the Elves under his leadership, Fulmen took Creusa as his wife. Although Fulmen himself was never actually Emperor — reigning under the title “King of Natalis” — the title of Emperor was established by his dynastic line. The hero-twins Sator and Messor founded the city of Imperialis and Sator was ultimately acclaimed the first Elven Emperor.
Much like Capitolina is said to have come to the aid of the city of Imperialis throughout history, Creusa is also said to frequently come to the aid of mortal heroes in their time of need — as, for example, when Sator and Messor were put to flight by their political enemies as their ancestor Fulmen had once been, Creusa is said to have caused the river to burst its banks, summoning a great surging torrent that Sator and Messor’s pursuers were unable to cross.
Not considered a member of the Ennead — though generally considered a part of the Ennead’s extended family — Creusa was nevertheless worshipped prominently at Imperialis and the temple of Creusa Mater Regalis (“Creusa, Royal Mother”) was given pride of place among the sanctuaries of Imperialis. Parading the sacred image of Creusa through the streets of the city was a major aspect of the Imperial coronation ceremonies.
The elected leaders of the present-day city of Imperialis no longer claim direct descent from Creusa as a rule, though individual politicians may try to establish descent from the ancient Imperial dynasty as means of legitimacy. However, parading with the sacred image of Creusa means part of the inauguration of the city’s leadership, largely as a symbolic means of establishing political and historical continuity in the present-day city with the ancient institutions.
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