Astrea, the first goddess
A missive addressed to "Nobody" is flung towards you by an errant breeze and bears the facsimile of a clerk's carefully inked dispatch...
Shortly before the dawning of the fifteenth century, temple workers preparing the foundations for a new temple of Light, unearthed the lost sanctuary of Astrea, the first goddess, upon Mount Olympus. This marks the second known temple to the ancient deity of wisdom; the first more generally known as the temple of Telemachus, is located in one of Mercinae's quieter residential districts along the city's outer wall and is surrounded by verdant orchards.
Long past is the age when a steady stream of petitioners sought out the temple of Wisdom, but Astrean scholars posit that the ancient goddess historically favoured the onyx stone for its purity of form, malleability, and certain mystical texts allude to an arcane ceremony performed at the temple by Her followers.
Most marked in the excavation was a discovery that is baffling contemporary sages who are flocking to the site: an unmarred statue of the goddess which predates the Divine War. Existing statues depict Astrea as missing her left limb, and in her right hand, bearing an open tome. It was commonly believed until now that she carried a piece of fruit in the missing hand.
The new discovery, much to the consternation of contemporary scholars, some of whom already are decrying it as a fraud, may have the missing piece of the puzzle -- a left hand bearing a brass plummet, which may have been formerly jewelled and plundered in war.
Existing historical texts pin Astrea's appointment as the first goddess of Avalon, charged with the aiding of mortals, especially the young. Her subdued appearance at the appointment of the god of Light was marked by a leading scholar of wisdom, who wished to remain unidentified but had this to say about the discoveries:
"Astrea's existence on this side of the Doors of Night is a remarkable occurrence, unthinkable a few years ago. Only time will tell whether the appearance will be fleeting or herald a new era of change." But will there be two deities of Wisdom? The official Olympian scribes confirmed that, in deference to Telemachus' more recent claim, the deity self-identified with the realm of Invention.
