Nelashra, the Sunfire Sovereign

Demigod, Dragon Ascendant of Flame and Restoration

Domains: Life, Light

Nelashra is one of the Five Dragon Ascendants. Her worship centers on preserving life when it can still be saved and helping people recover after destruction has passed.

Her flame is central to that tradition. At her will, it can pass over the living without burning them, closing wounds and sustaining those who might otherwise die from their injuries.

Symbol

Nelashra's symbol is a dragon claw cradling an upright flame.

The flame represents the restorative fire for which she is known.

Red and gold are most closely associated with her.

Depictions

Nelashra is depicted as a red dragon with broad wings and horns sweeping back from her skull. Gold bands sometimes decorate her horns or forelimbs.

Her fire is usually shown in gold or orange. Religious art often depicts it passing harmlessly over wounded figures, while other images show Nelashra sheltering survivors beneath her wings.

The First Restorative Flame

Nelashra fought through the final battle of the Dawn War.

After the Primordial Titans were defeated, she was among the five dragons transformed by portions of their power. The change also altered the nature of her flame.

Accounts of the battle's aftermath describe Nelashra moving among the wounded while fires still burned across the field. Those who expected her breath to scorch instead saw it pass over injured bodies without consuming them. Wounds closed beneath its heat, and survivors close to death endured long enough to receive further care.

Later traditions remember this as the first known use of Nelashra's restorative flame. Her worship grew around the responsibility that remains once immediate danger has passed.

Worship and Practice

Nelashra holds an especially important place in Dragonborn religion, particularly throughout the Aldramar Isles, though her worship extends beyond Dragonborn communities.

Her followers place greater value on useful aid than elaborate offerings. Helping someone recover from injury or supporting people after a disaster can itself be an act of worship.

Protective vows also have a long place in her traditions. Someone who freely accepts responsibility for another person's safety is expected to remain until that responsibility has genuinely ended. The passing of immediate danger does not always mean the work is finished.

Io and Ao remain older figures within Dragonborn religion as the first dragons. Some traditions acknowledge them before asking Nelashra for aid, particularly when the prayer concerns the preservation of life.

Nelashra and the Dragonborn

During the Incursion, Nelashra joined the other Dragon Ascendants at Thuradun and gave part of her own essence during the Second Forging that created the first Dragonborn.

Among later Dragonborn communities, stories of her flame became closely associated with the obligations that follow survival. Rescue carries responsibility beyond the moment someone is pulled from danger.

The present whereabouts of Nelashra and the other Ascendants are unknown. Some Dragonborn traditions hold that the Five still travel Eldareth in Dragonborn guise, concealing their identities as they move through the world.

Teachings

• Preserve life when it can still be saved.

• Protect those whose safety has been placed in your hands.

• Give care where suffering remains.

• Help survivors regain what they need to continue.