The Red Goddess – a normally benevolent goddess, who freed Peloria from Carmanian bondage and liberated their minds from fear and hate – is a Chaos deity. She has the Runes of Moon, Chaos, and Life. This paradox is a source of her power, but also the source of the unwavering antagonism with the Storm Gods (Orlanth, Storm Bull, Humakt, and even the more peaceable Lightbringers) and their cults. It is also the source of her antagonism with the cults of Darkness (Kyger Litor, Zorak Zoran especially). The mastery of the Crimson Bat is a constant reminder of this connection.
The Seven Mothers are NOT tainted by Chaos, but they helped bring her into existence. They aid the Red Goddess by wielding powers she lacks, and being able to interact with powers that reject her.Most Lunars believed that the Red Goddess shall free the world from bondage and liberate the minds and souls of all. This is her promise and much of the appeal of the Lunar Religion even in places like Sartar.Most Orlanthi believed the Red Goddess is one of the Lords of Terror, Gbaji reborn, and the harbinger of a new Gods War. This is why she is hated and feared and even rival gods are willing to cooperate against her.
Both viewpoints are likely true. Once the Lunar Way came into direct conflict with the Orlanthi, perhaps the Hero Wars were inevitable.
What drives the conflict is that the Red Goddess embraces Chaos and Orlanth rejects it. The Red Goddess is a Greater Goddess created within Time and Orlanth is pledged to the Cosmic Compromise. The Red Goddess is the daughter of Yelm (in some form or another) and her son is heir to his Empire. thus inheriting the ancient conflicts between Dara Happa and the World Council of Friends (repeated with the EWF and Dara Happa/Carmania).
My point is the origin of the cosmic conflict between Air and Moon is older and deeper than Justice or empire. It is seeded in the Gods War and it’s resolution, in the nature of the cosmos.
