Akreena

Akreena is a majority deity in Wyneira.

General
Akreena (known as "Opfern" by the Dwarves) is the highest and most commonly revered dwarven deity. She is associated with the domains of Life and the Forge. Depending on the the tradition and epithet in question, her symbol is a a bronze hand, either open with fingers down and palm presented, or a clenched fist grasping a raised smith's hammer. In both Dwarf and Folk traditions, Akreena/Opfern is said to have sacrificed her own hand so that her children might gain the power to forge tools of their own.

Forms/Epithets
Whether as Akreena or Opfern, she is most commonly depicted as a powerful dwarven golem of pure bronze, sometimes with feminine features.The open-handed Opfern is more common on the surface of Unsere in both Folk and Dwarven places of worship. This is also the Opfern most associated with the common Folk name and epithet of "Akreena, the Mother." This form of Opfern is focused primarily (but not exclusively) on fertility, both in the literal sense of procreation as well as the more figurative sense of producing and sharing one's craftwork. New creations including fresh tools, inventions and especially children are seen as loved by the open-handed Opfern.

The close-handed Opfern, while hardly unheard of on the surface of Unsere, is more common in the halls of Eisenholde under the stones of the Eisenaxt Mountains. Though the Folk do have an epithet for this form of Akreena as well (Akreena, the Smith), it is rarely used in practice as the Mother epithet is generally deemed sufficient for the needs of most worshipers, or has been otherwise conflated with the Smith, assuming an epithet is used at all. While the open-handed Opfern/Akreena, the Mother is primarily concerned with the fruits born of labor, the close-handed Opfern/Akreena, the Smith is primarily concerned with the quality of the labor itself. Refined technique, perserverance and dedication to one's craft are seen as loved by the close-handed Opfern.

Worship
Traditionalist Dwarven sects (most common in Eisenholde) generally only accept other dwarves as Opfern's true children. Following literal interpretations of the stories surrounding her and the sacrifice of her hand, they see a tangible connection to Opfern as the basis for what they believe to be inherently superior dwarven craftsmanship.

Worshipers among the Folk and more progressive Dwarves (more common on the surface) believe Opfern/Akreena's "children" refer to any who revere and worship her. These followers take a more symbolic view of her sacrifice, believing that while the sacrifice certainly happened, the blessing of craftsmanship were derived from the divine act of sacrifice itself rather than from the power of her disembodied hand.