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If so, that places Belisarda around since essentially the beginning - way before the PoM the Ssethrics, etc. What did she do with all that time?
Belisarda is divine aspect of the planet of Arcanis. You could say she was created when the planet itself was created. In the far future of To Peel the Veil of Lightness and Dark the world was dying as Belisarda was already dead. Also I found it interesting that in ARPG there is a Tier 1 Deity spell for worshipers of Belisarda called Crushing Weight which is localized gravity. This shows she is more than just nature, or life, she can control the gravity of the planet and represents the planet itself.
I am reminded of Avatars from Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda. There were Avatars of the stars, for the moons, even black holes had Avatars.
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Lyssandra may be active in defending at least some followers of Belisarda, and that she is associated with the green moon in some fashion.
If we assume that Lyssandra is the avatar of the Green moon. Then it is only Nayal who we can't identify yet. Recall the Black moon wasn't present until
after the Human Pantheon arrived. Nayal can't represent the Black Moon. Whatever she represents she hates Belisarda.
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Next in time we have her discovery, apparently insane and in agony in the depth of Arcanis, talking about how he took something from her, as you've already quoted.
You have misread the line. But I understand why.
The line as written is.
“Taken from me! How could He have been taken from me?”This means Belisarda is missing a He, whether He was taken, or He left on his own is unknown.
In the original 3.5 book the line was different.
"Taken from me! How could He haven taken it from me?"Not only is there an unidentified He who she assumes is the thief, but also an unknown "it" that was taken.
This could just be Henry fine tuning the story, like he did with the Issori description in early modules.
There were only so many Beings that we are aware of at this time in history. And only two are male.
Kassegore
Yig
Belisarda -avatar of the planet
Lyssandra-avatar of the green moon
Nayal
Leeta of the Whispers
Khi'faree god of Shadows
As far as we know the Issori gods were dead. Even many of the heresies, infernal cults, and other religions we are aware of don't date back to
before the Elorii existed. Looking at you Thousand Eyed Man.
But as you mentioned the Human Pantheon did engage in time travel, and as any sci-fi fan knows that complicates things. Why stop at only 1 time period to kill the first gods? Playing with time has unforeseen consequences. Might need to make sure certain time periods stay the course to get the outcome you want. Like making sure the Elorii are created in the first place.
What relationship would cause Belisarda to wail at the loss of a He? A child, but her first children the Tree Lords were still alive. A mate, perhaps. This mysterious He could have been a con by the Human Pantheon to make sure Belisarda was distraught and in the caverns away from the protection of her divine sisters for Ss'koreth to find and capture.
Needless to say when you introduce the possibility of time travel it opens up more possible scenarios and what ifs. I won't share my speculations only because there is too many possibilities.