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Mina (Dragonlance)

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Mina
Dragonlance character
File:Takhisisandmina.JPG
Mina standing near the body of Takhisis.
First appearanceCitadel of Light (July 1998)
Created byMargaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
In-universe information
RaceDeity
GenderFemale
Title
  • Dragonslayer
  • Saver of the Silvanesti
  • Goddess of Tears
    • ClassCleric
    AlignmentNeutral good or neutral evil

    Mina is a fictional character from the Dragonlance universe. She was originally introduced as a mortal champion of The One God (who is later revealed to be the Head of the Pantheon of Evil Takhisis). Upon the conclusion of the War of Souls, Mina takes the body of the slain Takhisis, who was forced to became mortal, and builds a tomb for it. Later, it is discovered that Mina is actually the daughter of Paladine and his consort Mishakal, however this is only known to them and Majere, the god of wisdom. She was placed in a deep sleep to hide her presence from the other gods, as this would upset the balance between good, evil, and neutrality. She was awakened accidentally by Takhisis when she stole the world after the battle with Chaos. She is neither a deity of good, evil, or neutrality, but instead stands apart.

    Mortal manifestation

    Although a god, she was introduced as a mortal. Her divinity is not revealed until her fifth book, Amber and Iron.

    Early life

    Mina was awakened from her enchanted sleep by Takhisis after the Queen of Darkness stole the world. She washes up on the shores of Schallsea and is found by a fisherman, who takes her to the orphanage of the Citadel of Light. As she had been placed in an enchanted sleep her whole life, she had no memory. Goldmoon, high priestess of the heart, adopts her, and she lived at the citadel until she turned fourteen, when she left to search for the gods.[1]

    Priesthood to the One God

    Mina is called into service by the One God, who takes the place of a singular and supreme deity in a time when all the other gods of the three pantheons have vanished.[2]

    Takhisis tests Mina and eventually reveals her priestess and herself on the night of the great storm when a voice can be heard throughout Krynn. Mina is revealed to a small detachment of the Knights of Neraka, which she later takes control of.[3] She leads the knights through a series of large scale and heavily lopsided battles, earning her a fearsome reputation. Her divinity allows her to sway men, and although she intends for them to worship the One God, she inadvertently builds up an army of her own worshippers.

    With the assistance of Mina, Takhisis is able to destroy the Dragon Overlords who stepped in when the world suddenly appeared in their part of the universe. Upon their destruction, she uses the captive souls of the departed to manifest herself in mortal form, planning to take over Mina's body. However, she is stopped by all the other gods, who have been led back to Krynn by Raistlin Majere and Tasslehoff Burrfoot. Takhisis is killed by the Elf King in fit of fanatical worship; Mina then slays him in vengeance for killing her goddess.

    High Priestess of Chemosh

    After Takhisis dies, Mina stands guard over her tomb until Chemosh, God of Death, finds her and takes her to his palace. She becomes his High Priestess and lover. Chemosh is attempting to take the place of Takhisis as the head of the Pantheon of Evil, and uses her as a means to an end. He gives her the power to take souls and convert victims to become his Beloved, an unstoppable form of undead. Mina's powers again inadvertently manifest, causing the beloved to serve her rather than the God of Death.[4] She is confronted by Zeboim Goddess of the Sea who sends her Monk Rys Mason to find her.

    She is kidnapped by Nuitari God of Dark Magic. His mages discover that magic has no effect on her unless she is told what the magic would do in advance. She is released when Zeboim negotiates her life for the Tower of High Sorcery of the blood sea, which Nuitari had built without her knowledge. A rift soon develops between Chemosh and Mina, who he believes betrayed him. Distraught at again being cast aside, Mina manifests her true power, revealing herself as a goddess.

    Soon afterward, Chemosh finds Mina unconscious after having raised the tower of Istar from the middle of the Blood Sea in an effort to appease him. The gathering of gods that occurs afterward reveals that she was a lost god.[5] Majere, claims that Mina was in fact a god of Light, tricked into serving darkness and into believing that she was a mortal by Takhisis. Mina cannot handle this revelation and reverts to a child in order to cope. With her memory gone but a strong sense that she needs to understand herself, she wanders Krynn and eventually meets Valthonis, the god Paladine in mortal form. She reconciles with him even though she swore vengeance on him, as she realizes he is her father. Valthonis leads her to godshome, where she ascends to become a deity. Despite attempts by the gods of good and evil to entice her to their side and thus tip the balance of the universe, Mina refuses to join any of the existing alliances, instead separating herself from all of the gods.

    Godhood

    After raising the Tower of High Sorcery of the Blood Sea, Mina becomes unconscious. However she overhears the discussion the gods are having. Majere reveals that she is the child of Paladine and Mishakal and was hidden to ensure that she did not upset the balance. When Takhisis stole the world she tricked her into thinking she was mortal and to serve evil. The news is momentous: whichever pantheon she chooses would become more powerful and possible upset the balance.

    Mina, unable to handle the news that she overhears reverts to a childlike entity and entreats the monk Rhys Mason to take her "home." Gilean forbids the gods of light and darkness to interfere with her journey of self-discovery; without the power of Paladine or Takhisis, the gods of good and evil have no choice but to obey his edict, at least overtly. Both Chemosh and Sargonnas secretly attempt to sway her to the side of darkness, but she rejects their entreaties. Sargonnas' attempt culminates in a confrontation with Valthonis, once the god Paladine, whom Mina had sworn to kill at the conclusion of the War of Souls. Mina reconciles with Valthonis, who leads her to Godshome. There, Mina refuses to join either the Pantheon of Light or that of Darkness, becoming a force unto herself.[6]

    When Mina reaches Godshome she ascends into godhood as the Goddess of Tears, bringing comfort to whoever comes to her for aid regardless of whether they are good or evil. She is neither good, evil, or neutral. Unlike the other gods, she can better relate to the pain that mortals feel, having walked among them. Her symbol is an amber teardrop.[7] Unlike the other gods, she refuses to empower clerics or accept followers, acting directly when she feels that her interference is warranted. She detests Chemosh for his treatment of her while she was his priestess and acts aloof when in the presence of Mishakal and Majere, though she does not actively oppose them.

    References

    1. ^ Margaret Weis (2000). Dragons of a Fallen Sun: The War of Souls vol. I. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-1807-1. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
    2. ^ Margaret Weis (2003). Dragons of a Vanished Moon: The War of Souls vol. III. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-2950-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
    3. ^ Margaret Weis (2002). Dragons of a Lost Star: The War of Souls vol. II. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-2706-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
    4. ^ Margaret Weis (2005). Amber and Ashes: The Dark Disciple vol. I. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-3257-0.
    5. ^ Margaret Weis (2006). Amber and Iron: The Dark Disciple vol. II. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-3796-3.
    6. ^ Margaret Weis (2008). Amber and Blood: The Dark Disciple vol. III. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 978-0-7869-5001-0.
    7. ^ Appendix, Amber and Blood


    List of Dragonlance deities
    Good: Paladine Majere Kiri-Jolith Mishakal Habbakuk Branchala Solinari
    Neutral: Gilean Sirrion Reorx Chislev Zivilyn Shinare Lunitari
    Evil: Takhisis Sargonnas Morgion Chemosh Zeboim Hiddukel Nuitari
    Other: High God & Chaos Mina
    PANTHEON OF DRAGONLANCE
    High GodChaos
    PaladineMishakalGileanTakhisisSargonnas
    BranchalaMajereReorxMorgionChemoshHiddukel
    ShinareSirrionChislevZivilyn
    Kiri-JolithHabbakukSolinariMinaLunitariNuitariZeboim


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