The sun god, Solis'Rae is often depicted as a man with fiery red or golden hair, dressed in white and gold robes, with a golden, bright disc of golden sunlight, or concentric rings of gold and fire. Artists often depict the god of the sun either tossing his golden spear across the skies, to represent the swift motion of sun crossing the day. In other depictions, Solis'Rae takes the form of an older man, caring for children, to capture his role as the god of fathers and fatherhood. Though the age of Soli'sRae can be depicted differently, his defining features always include his fiery red hair and an aura of light that often surrounds him. Many modern interpretations of the god may sometimes include wings and divine halos, both of which are entirely artistic liberties. As the patron god of fathers, small statues of him, alongside his sister, Nissa'Lune, are often found in households to symbolize safety and protection. Children will often carry necklaces with sun discs on them to bring forth the protection of Solis'Rae.
The second born of the divine Astral gods, Solis'Rae took the great force of Light and shaped it into a disc to illuminate the expanse of the Astral and Lumis. He did this in accordance to the decree of his father, Thana'Tomos, alongside his sister, Nissa'Lune, to maintain the cycle of Day and Night. This writing in the old texts solidify Solis'Rae as the god the Sun, with mastery over the domain of Fire. Like his mother, Aes'Thera, he uses the great Light to shine truth and press back the Dark, but he also focuses on bringing forth warmth from the flames of his sun disc. The god of the Sun is often depicted carrying a great spear, gold and often times encased in flames. This spear is the sacred object that he throws into the Night sky to pierce the veils of Darkness and bring forth the day. It is said that the Sunspear knows where to find Solis'Rae, and as he tosses it across the horizon, it circles the great expanse of Lumis, returning to him, no matter where he may be.
It was also Solis'Rae that first brought the life-essence fruits to the Land, as means to replenish his own aether. He would later command the fruits of Lumis to become abundant, and he gave the fruit to the Children, that they may sustain themselves as well. It was the act of bringing fruit bearing plants and much of the other vegetation of Lumis that granted him governance over the Court of Summer. His brilliance and warmth feeds the months of natural growth and the children of the gods enjoy the fruits of Summer's lush abundance. Soliss'Rae himself holds preceding over ushering in the heat of the sun disc over the land, and it is said that he would often come down upon the earth itself to usher prosperity to the lands. His Court of Summer concerns itself with not just the abundance of food for the children, but also with the rituals of coming of age. He oversees the moment when young men take their first steps into manhood, and the day of BrightTide marks this festival.
The ancient scriptures tell us that Solis'Rae 'made men in his image.' It was the god of the sun that helped shape the first of the Children, and he took on the rule of First Father. He would be the one to temper the hearts of men and share of his warm embrace so that fathers may do the same with their children. It is this symbolic essence of the god found in fatherhood that gave him dominion over the affairs of Men and Fathers. He is thought to play the central role in the Trinity of Men, as the one who guides the other two gods, Core'Lione and Osto'Ronius, in the rites of passages for men.
It is a popular practice of many places to depict Solis'Rae as a watcher over those who seek protection, or those who seek to protect others. This makes the sun god a popular figure of worship and reverence by many paladins and warriors who take oaths to protect. The tenants of the SunSpears are an order of Paladins who, like the great Sunspear of Solis'Rae, travel the lands to try and keep at bay the evils of the world. They take a sacred oath to protect the weak, and taken if the sacred 'Flameseed' to show their commitment and loyalty to the order.
Solis'Rae has often been written about in new testaments as a god who believes that life's greatest duty is to one another and to protect those that are weak and most vulnerable. He tempers the flames of those who seek to be mentors and guardians. There are some scholars that argue about the ethical structures of organizations dedicated to the sun god, because many who take on zealot oaths often fail to recognize or observe their practices with more care. Some groups, for example, like the Cleansing Flames, inquisition authority that take the symbol of Solis'Rae as bringer of truth. They perform acts that involve using fire to "burn away" the sins or secrets of those they capture for questioning. They have been marked on many occasions as an extreme organization, taking the name and symbolism of Solis'Rae in bane of his true nature.
As the Wheel turns, and days begin to stretch, with warmth enveloping the land, it marks the passing of BloomTrail and the coming of BrightTide. BrightTide, a celebration that is observed throughout the summer, observes the coming to fruition of the lands' vegetation, and prepares the realms for time of cultivation. It's zenith takes place on the Summer Solstice, where the annual BrightTide Festival is held.
BrightTide Festival commemorates the coming of age of young people, where they take their first steps, as rites of passages, into adulthood. The symbolic passing that Solis'Rae watches over is represented by a form of presentation that families do before shrines of the sun god or temples to Solis'Rae. Young people remove their sun disc necklaces to show that they no longer are in danger of being outside the watchful protection of Solis'Rae, and they ceremoniously return them to their parents, who them pass them on to the young children of the household. Many places throughout the realms celebrate BrightTide in different forms. Some rites of passages include the beginning of combat training for many young people, where they are presented before the War god, Core'Lione, to take on his blessing. Those who become first time parents also partaker of the rite of passage in some regions. The Matriarchs and Patriarchs of a household may bless the new parents by symbolically passing along a torch of fire from Solis'Rae and a bowl or water from Nissa'Lune.
BrightTide is symbolic of fruitful endeavors, taking on of new and exciting challenges in life, and so weddings held during this time of year are often marked as moments of exciting new journeys for couples to venture through. Funerals held during BrightTide often forgo a solemn affair for a more celebratory event, where the diseased are seen as entering the realms of Thana'Tomos in warm embrace through his son, Solis'Rae.
