Forgotten Realms

Mystra
Lady of Mysteries

Johnny Tek
 Written by Johnny Tek

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 A whisper, whisper through the day and night,
Confiding all the secrets of a glean.
A wonder, wonder when the dream takes flight,
Revealing all the roads and gates unseen.
The Mother’s message bids the children seek
What reaching for the stars they can achieve.
A warning though for those whose hearts are weak
When stepping towards the dangers of the Weave.

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Mystra _ their harnessed magic. Without the stability provided by the
Weave, creations of magic would be far more difficult to
produce without failure or chaotic results.

The Weave is also intrinsically connected to Mystra’s existence.

NEUTRAL GOOD The goddess and the Weave could be described as one and the
same. Changes or disturbances in the Weave as such are
Other Names or Titles: Lady of Mysteries, Mother of All automatically detected by Mystra, and can affect Mystra on
Magic, Mystryl (formerly), The Hidden One (in Rashemen), some level.
She of The Wild Tides
Mystra’s unity with the Weave grants her the ability to bestow
Symbol: A circle of seven blue-white stars with red mist or deny magic of any kind throughout the worlds within her
flowing from the center. Weave’s influence; the Lady of Mysteries can also alter the
Divine Portfolio: Magic, spells, the Weave, time. rules for how magic can be used within the Weave, though she
will not change the rules for any reason other than protecting
Divine Residence: Dweomerheart the stability of the Weave. It is speculated by religious scholars
that there are rules of conduct that even Mystra must follow
Divine Allies: Amaunator, Chauntea, Eilistraee, Kelemvor, lest her authority be stripped in its entirety by an even greater
Labelas Enoreth, Oghma, Selune, Sune power that few in the mortal realms are even aware of. These
rules prevent Mystra from abusing her connection with the
Divine Enemies: Bane, Cyric, Ilsensine, Orcus, Kiaransalee,
Weave as to make herself indisputable ruler over all the gods.
Lolth, Shar, Talos
According to scholars, Mystra’s Weave is not the only one in
Exarchs: Azuth, Savras, Shandril
the multiverse; other gods of magic on other worlds or planes
of existence also maintain their own Weaves. For this reason, a
number of mages that were visiting other planes or worlds
Mystra is the goddess of magic, spells, and the Weave. during the Spellplague stayed away from Toril until Mystra’s
Originally known as Mystryl, the Lady of Mysteries has return after the Sundering. The rules of magic may not always
existed since before the dawn of life on Toril, albeit in different apply the same way between different worlds and planes
incarnations. As of the most recent era of her existence, the however, so caution is usually advise when traveling from one
current goddess of magic is the third to bear the Weave to another.
responsibilities of her role.
Mages thrive when the Weave’s integrity is undisturbed. There
The current Mystra is a kind and thoughtful deity who are few educated spellcasters that do not pay some homage to
respects the free will of mortals, even if some of those very Mystra, for magic by its very nature is untrustworthy enough
mortals may pursue advancement in the arcane arts in ways without risking the ire of the goddess. There is also the
that Mystra herself finds disturbing (if Mystra learns of the ambition of some mages to gain such favor with the Mother of
development of a new spell that would endanger the Weave or All Magic that she bestows upon them the roles and abilities
magic itself however, she may use her divine power to prevent (powerful abilities according to lore) of her Chosen, the
its further development). As such, Mystra will normally act designated champions of her faith. It is rumored that Mystra’s
through her living worshippers, particularly her Chosen such Chosen can manipulate the very Weave around them to such
as the famed Elminster Aumar. In dire situations that widely extent that they can even cast spells normally in zones of wild
threaten the existence of magic itself (or the mages that use it), magic and dead magic.
such as tears in the Weave or magical plagues, more direct
interventions may occur but such happenings are quite rare. The story of the current incarnation of Mystra began in 1332
DR (Year of the Sword and Stars), when she was born to a
The goddess of magic ultimately desires peace (if not merchant’s family (records of the family’s name and existence
camaraderie) between those who study the arcane arts, so that have mysteriously disappeared since Mystra’s apotheosis,
they may live to produce new imaginings of magic’s perhaps an act of protection by the goddess herself).
possibilities. From soft whispers on the wind to vibrant dreams, Nicknamed “Midnight” by her friends in childhood, the future
Mystra will from time to time aid mages in their work with Lady of Mysteries lived a common Faerûnian town life until
indirect, subtle divine inspiration. her teenage years, when she met a conjurer who shared with
Midnight her first taste of true magical knowledge. Pursuit of
To truly understand the gravity of Mystra’s responsibilities, the Art became an obsession for Midnight, and her
one must understand what the Weave itself is. The Weave is a determination led to worship of the then-Mystra. Midnight
construct of magic-directing forces; it permeates all of went even so far as to serve in a temple until her 21st year,
existence like a universally cast net. The Weave is not 1353 DR (Year of the Arch), when a high priest of another
physically tangible, but has substance that can be manipulated temple arrived and became Midnight’s patron for wizardly
or damaged. The Weave is a medium through which the raw training.
magical energy that also permeates the universe can be
harnessed. Arcanists are able to channel and shape magical Midnight left the high priest’s temple nearly a year later in
energy through the Weave much like a blacksmith pours 1354 DR (Year of the Bow), and spent the next several years
molten metal into a mold. Every magic spell ever invented is a traveling to further her study of the Art.
variation on the mold that all spellcasters use to give shape to

3
Then in 1358 DR (Year of Shadows) came the Time of
Troubles, when the gods were somehow forced to walk among
Divine Allies
mortals as reduced states of their true glory, inhabiting mortal
avatars vulnerable to death by mortal hands. During this time,
in an attempt to return to the heavenly realms, the second Amaunator (Lawful Neutral)
incarnation of Mystra was slain by the god Helm who was
tasked to guard a passage leading back to the divine homes. Symbol: A golden Sun (optionally with a face on the solar
disk).
In the aftermath, Midnight, who was favored by the second
Mystra, was chosen to bear the mantle of the goddess, and she Amaunator, the Faerûnian pantheon’s god of bureaucracy,
ascended to the position by the highest divine decree. contracts, law, order, the Sun, and time, took over Mystra’s
Midnight chose to adopt the name Mystra to make the duties as guardian of the time stream for a time after she was
transition go more smoothly for the sake of Mystra’s faithful. brought down by Cyric. When Mystra returned to power,
Amaunator offered to vacate his position of authority over
Less than thirty years after her ascension, the third Mystra was time in deference to legitimacy; the Lady of Mysteries chose to
shockingly murdered in 1385 DR (Year of Blue Fire). Cyric share the role with the Keeper of Law in admiration of his
had made his way into Mystra’s palace and drove his sword willingness to take up such grave responsibility. The
into her body, snuffing out her life and unleashing a torrent of cooperation between the deities has greatly secured the
magical energy in the form of blue fire. The Weave was stability of time’s flow within the realms.
destabilized or partially collapsed all over the Realms, causing
death and chaos. The resulting wave of destruction came to be
known as the Spellplague.
Chauntea (Neutral Good)
In 1479 DR (Year of the Ageless One), it was revealed that
Mystra had not completely perished thanks to her foresight Symbol: An upright blooming rose on a sunburst wreath of
and planning for such a situation. The goddess of magic golden grain.
survived through shards of her former self, and was able to Chauntea, the Faerûnian pantheon’s goddess of agriculture,
revive with the help of her Chosen, and over the next six years cultivated plants, farmers, gardeners, and summer, has been a
recovered her former glory and restored the Weave. devoted friend of Mystra since before the dawn of life in the
With the return of Mystra after the Sundering, it has been realms. The Earthmother is the very spirit of the world Toril;
rumored that a number of trusted deities have been granted a she owes much to Mystra for siding with Selune against Shar
portion of Mystra’s hold on the Weave, in order to prevent when Shar attempted to cover Chauntea’s body in darkness
such a tragedy as the Spellplague from ever happening gain; a during the Days of Creation, the time before life began. The
selfless sharing of connection to ensure that Mystra’s death will Weave is also connected in many ways to the balance of nature
no longer result (at least not immediately) in the Weave’s since magical energy is the very energy that enables life to
collapse. exist; Chauntea has a deep stake in assisting Mystra in matters
concerning the Weave, since disruptions to the Weave could
During Mystra’s absence, many threats to the greater whole of damage the world, the body of Chauntea herself.
Realmspace had been barely thwarted, ranging widely from
titanic, enigmatic horrors of the Far Realm seeking full entry
into the sphere, to the failed ascension ritual of Thay’s ruler
Szass Tam, which would have elevated him to the rank of a Corellon Larethian (Chaotic Good)
greater deity while simultaneously destroying the world of Symbol: A crescent moon.
Toril. Many among the many threats would have been much
more easily dealt with if they hadn’t taken advantage of Corellon Larethian is the Seldarine (elven) pantheon’s god of
Mystra’s inability to intervene during their occurrence; even magic, music, arts, crafts, war, the elven race, poetry, bards,
now new threats may appear without Mystra learning about and warriors (as well as the pantheon’s leader). Not long before
them in time. the death of Mystra and the Spellplague tragedy, Mystra,
along with Labelas Enoreth, had partially foreseen that some
In order to combat potential future threats, compensate for her terrible cataclysm was approaching, and that Corellon’s twin
lack of experience compared to other deities, and learning children Eilistraee and Vhaeraun would not be spared from
from the mistakes of her predecessors, the Lady of Mysteries the destruction to come. Mystra worked together with
has assembled an organization among the deities of magic that Corellon to set the stage for Eilistraee and Vhaeraun to be sent
have a foothold in Realmspace, the Council of Arcana; the to a hidden place of dreams beyond the reach of the
Council’s purpose is to share information, discuss potential upcoming cataclysm. The gamble paid off, and the twins were
threats to magic, and foster cooperation in preserving the able to return safe and sound about a century later in the wake
Cosmic Balance. This formation of the Council of Arcana of the Second Sundering. For saving his children, Corellon has
may be the source of rumors about Mystra sharing the Weave pledged his friendship to Mystra, and gratefully offers
with other deities. whatever aid or advice he can to help the “young” goddess of
the Weave to successfully survive the test of time.

4
 in line with the creation and preservation of ideas promoted by
Eilistraee (Chaotic Good) Oghma’s faith. Should Mystra perish (again), there is no
Symbol: A drow female with flowing long hair and a silver guarantee that the next deity of magic would share the same
longsword, with the full moon in background. dogma as the current deity, so the Lord of Knowledge will act
to ensure that Mystra remains very much alive and well in her
Eilistraee, the drow goddess of dance, song, beauty, position among the gods. Oghma will often send his exarchs
swordwork, hunting, and moonlight, is a quintessential artist Deneir (god of glyphs, images, literature, scribes, and
among deities. Mystra has always held a strong kinship with cartography) and Milil (god of poetry, song, and eloquence) to
Eilistraee because the art of magic draws from the imagination act as his proxies for meetings with Mystra.
just as dance and song do. Eilistraee in turn holds great
reverence for the Lady of Mysteries for the wonders of beauty
brought about as a result of Mystra’s personal philosophy of
encouraging artistic expression through magic. Selune (Chaotic Good)
Symbol: A pair of eyes encircled by seven stars.

Selune, the Faerûnian pantheon’s goddess of non-evil

Kelemvor (Lawful Neutral) lycanthropes, moon, navigation, questers, stars, and wanderers,
Symbol: An upright skeletal arm holding up a trunkless could be described as “the mother” of Mystra, since the
balanced scale. original incarnation of Mystra (then named Mystryl) was born
from a fateful combination of Selune’s and Shar’s essences.
Kelemvor, the Faerûnian pantheon’s god of the dead, remains Each bearer of the role since the first has continued to side
a confidante of Mystra despite maintaining a relatively neutral with Selune against the dark machinations of Shar. As the
stance in the conflicts between gods. Kelemvor and the current third incarnation of Mystra is yet young by the standards of
incarnation of Mystra have known each other even before they deities, Selune offers the Lady of Mysteries wisdom and advice
ascended to their current positions of divinity. A number of from time to time (much as a mother advises her daughter).
bards even sing of ill-fated love between the two at some point
during the trials that brought them into the divine pantheon.
Despite his neutrality, should some great threat to the Weave
also pose a threat to the balance between life and death, Sune (Chaotic Good)
Kelemvor would very likely step in to assist Mystra in solving
the problem. For now, hard-earned trust and work towards Symbol: The face of a beautiful woman with flowing red
keeping an eye on their mutual enemy Cyric keeps the two hair.
deities in regular contact. Sune, the Faerûnian pantheon’s goddess of beauty, love, and
passion, was one of the three gods that imprisoned Cyric for
attempting to murder Mystra. The Lady of Love gets along
well with Mystra, offering advice and comfort like a mother or
Labelas Enoreth (Chaotic Good) elder sister. Sune is also an important ally against Shar, whose
Symbol: A setting sun. nihilistic machinations are a potential threat to all existence,
and even more so against Cyric, who offended Sune during a
Labelas Enoreth, the Seldarine pantheon’s god of time, trial of the gods with an act of strife so heinous to her that she
longevity, the moment of choice, and history, was originally was the first among the deities to battle Cyric and imprison
just a free traveling deity that visited interesting places and him following the evil god’s murder of Mystra.
divined their histories. After reviving during the events of the
Second Sundering, Mystra contacted Labelas and requested
his aid in protecting the time stream, since Labelas’ travels
have earned him invaluable insight for recognizing Titania (Chaotic Good)
discrepancies in history’s path. The now aptly titled Lord of
the Continuum enthusiastically agreed to help, since the perks Symbol: A white diamond with a blue star at its center.
of taking on such a duty would include the ability to travel Titania, is the Seelie Court pantheon’s goddess of faerie folk/
through history without interference from the Weave’s built in realms, friendship, and magic (as well as the pantheon’s
safeguards. leader). The Great Queen of the Fairies was introduced to
Mystra by their mutual friend Corellon Larethian, as a way to
help Mystra build a strong coalition of collective security,
something that the Mother of All Magic needed as the holder
Oghma (Neutral) of divine portfolios that are among the most deeply coveted
Symbol: A partially unrolled blank scroll. among the gods. Titania has shared a wealth of knowledge on
many deities in the multiverse, valuable advice on navigating
Oghma, god of bards, inspiration, invention, and knowledge, the politics of the gods, and vital intelligence on dangerous
will normally keep a distance from the larger conflicts fought beings such as the Queen of Air and Darkness who will use
between deities and their faithful. Should Mystra’s existence be any and all means to satisfy their greed for power.
threatened however, Oghma will lend his aid, since Mystra’s
spreading of magical knowledge and inspiration is very much

5
Divine Enemies Kiaransalee (Chaotic Evil)
Symbol: An open female drow hand wearing silver rings on
each digit except for the thumb.
Bane (Lawful Evil) Kiaransalee is the goddess of the undead and vengeance in the
Symbol: An upright black fist, with green rays emanating Dark Seldarine pantheon. The Lady of the Dead was thought
from between the fingers. slain by a High Magic ritual not long before the Spellplague,
but she resurfaced recently, and once again supporting her
Bane, the Faerûnian pantheon’s god of strife, hatred, tyranny, faithful’s perverse experiments with undead creatures. Since no
and fear, truly despises Mystra for both she and her previous great magic in Realmspace beyond the 9th circle is possible
incarnation have been the source of many frustrations and without Mystra’s permission, Kiaransalee counts the Lady of
ruined plots. The Black Lord covets the power of Mystra Mysteries as one of the conspirators on whom vengeance must
because with control over magic itself, Bane could truly be applied. As the Revenancer seems to show no restraint
become ruler of all the gods, overcoming all who stand in his when it comes to the Cosmic Balance, Mystra must prepare for
way. It may be Bane’s hope that the relative inexperience of possible abuses of magic conducted by Kiaransalee, which
the current Mystra will offer future windows of opportunity for might threaten the stability of the Weave.
Bane to usurp her authority and claim irresistible dominion
over all the worlds. With his deep grudge, his disciplined
patience, and ability to make meticulous, long-reaching plans,
Bane is one of the most dangerous enemies that Mystra must Lolth (Chaotic Evil)
be wary of.
Symbol: A female drow-headed black spider hanging from a
spider web.

Lolth, the Demon Queen of Spiders, primary deity of the

Cyric (Chaotic Evil) drow, delights in sowing chaos and ever desires greater power
Symbol: A white jawless skull at the center of a black or in her ambition. Such is Lolth’s ambition that she covets the
purple sunburst. divine authority of Mystra, and seeks to supplant the goddess
of magic one way or another. One particular plot of Lolth’s
Cyric, the Faerûnian pantheon’s god of murder, lies, ironically worked in the Lady of Mysteries’ favor, when the
deception, and illusion, like Kelemvor, also knew the current Spider Queen attempted to create a new Weave of her own
Mystra since before they ascended into divinity. Cyric lost his from the tattered remains of Mystra’s Weave, devastated from
sanity during his early years as a deity, and Shar took the Spellplague; at that time, Mystra had returned, and took
advantage of his madness to convince him into murdering control of Lolth’s work to supplement the repair of the
Mystra; this act of murder caused the Weave to collapse and original Weave. Lolth holds great enmity for the much younger
bring about the Spellplague. Cyric’s incredibly destructive upstart deity who had the audacity to steal from the Demon
action was punished by the gods Lathander, Tyr, and Sune, Queen of Spiders, and has very likely added the Mother of All
who imprisoned the Prince of Lies in an inescapable plane Magic as an objective of vengeance for the long game.
later known as The Supreme Throne. Cyric remains
imprisoned, but his followers plot to find a way to release their
deity. Mystra is particularly weary of Cyric despite his inability
to reach her, for even from his prison, Cyric continues to Orcus (Chaotic Evil)
whisper his insane commands to the remaining worshippers
that revere the mad deity. Symbol: A horned goat’s head.

Orcus is a Demon Lord of the Abyss who has acquired a

divine spark, with some influence over the portfolios of
undeath and necromancy. The Prince of Undeath seeks to
Ilsensine (Lawful Evil) snuff out all life in the multiverse, replacing it with the undead
Symbol: An illithid head with its mouth-tentacles wrapped in a cosmic scale perversion of the natural order. Filled with
around the world. destructive ambition, Orcus’ plans will undoubtedly threaten
the balance of magic towards the sinister side of necromancy,
Ilsensine is an enigmatic deity of mental dominion and magic making him an obvious threat to the Weave should the Lord of
who has become a patron deity among illithids (also known as the Undead succeed far enough into the mortal realms of
mind flayers). They desire absolute control over all existence, a Realmspace. Recent troubles with the Demon Lords, including
recurring theme among the illithid enclaves. The Tentacled Orcus, in the Underdark of Faerûn have caught the interest of
Lord has been encouraging his followers to perform all sorts of the goddess of magic.
ambitious experiments, including the creation of dead magic
zones where only psionic magic can function, which would
produce a terrifying advantage for the illithids in battle against
foes equipped with standard magics. Mystra sees a potential
all-out conflict with Ilsensine brewing, should they succeed far
enough in mastering the unraveling of the Weave.

6
Shar (Neutral Evil) Exarchs
Symbol: A full black disk with a deep purple border. Exarchs are deities and demigods that serve other (usually
more powerful) deities that protect, rule over and/or provide
Shar holds the longest lived hostility against the goddess of them with support against their enemies.
magic across all three incarnations. Shar, the Faerûnian
pantheon’s goddess of caverns, dark, dungeons, forgetfulness,
loss, night, secrets, and the Underdark, is resentful against the
Lady of Mysteries for continually siding with Selune against Azuth (Lawful Neutral)
Shar since the earliest age of Mystra’s existence. Shar
begrudges the current Mystra for every offense made by all Symbol: A human’s left hand, closed except for a single finger
three incarnations with an undying bitterness that shall never pointed upward, and outlined in blue fire.
end until the goddess of the Weave is erased altogether from Azuth is the Faerûnian pantheon’s god of wizards, mages,
the multiverse. It was Shar who orchestrated Cyric’s murder of spellcasters in general, and magic-using monks. He was
Mystra, which led to the Spellplague, and after returning in originally a mortal archmage whose achievements in magical
the wake of the Sundering, Mystra is more vigilant than ever research earned him the recognition of the second incarnation
against the manipulations of the Lady of Loss. Shar is cold of Mystra, as well as the privilege of being first to bear the
and calculating but her hatred leads her to unreasonable paths rank of Magister (a true grandmaster of the magical arts).
- a potential weakness that Mystra may be able to exploit in Azuth also became the second Mystra’s consort and advisor;
their future confrontations. Mystra brought about Azuth’s rise to divine status, placing
upon him the great responsibilities of preserving wizardry and
the like in her worlds of influence. After the second Mystra
perished and the current Mystra took her place, Azuth was
Talos (Chaotic Evil) grief-stricken, but welcomed the newly ascended deity with
Symbol: Three lightning bolts, each of a separate color, open arms; the first Magister pledged to the new Lady of
radiating explosively from a central point. Mysteries loyal service as an exarch. Azuth’s relationship to the
third Mystra has been rumored to be much like that of a
Talos, the Faerûnian pantheon’s god of storms, destruction, nagging parent due to the vast gap in their experiences and
rebellion, conflagration, earthquakes, and vortices, is also Azuth’s strict nature.
among those that covets control of the Weave, without
consideration for how much devastation he might cause. Talos’
followers are also known to use magic recklessly, uncaring in
how much destruction they wreak upon the realms. Mystra can Savras (Lawful Neutral)
not simply take away magic from Talos’ faithful without due
cause according to the rules set for her position, so she can Symbol: A crystal ball containing many kinds of eyes.
only command her servants to stem or prevent the havoc Savras is the Faerûnian pantheon’s god of divination, fate, and
caused by Talos’ church whenever possible. truth. He was a fierce centuries-long rival of Azuth, and
fought with Azuth to become the primary deity of wizards, but
ultimately lost. Savras was imprisoned by Azuth for a time,
then released as an exarch of Azuth. When both Azuth and
The Queen of Air and Darkness (Chaotic Savras were resurrected in the wake of the third Mystra’s
Evil) return, Savras’ contract of servitude under Azuth had been
Symbol: A black diamond within a circle of ten stars long nullified by Azuth’s death during the Spellplague. The
current Mystra offered Savras a new position as one of her
The Queen of Air and Darkness is the goddess of illusions, exarchs. The All-Seeing Savras could foresee great need in the
darkness, secrets, murder, and Winter in the Unseelie Court future for his role as Mystra’s exarch so he accepted the offer
pantheon (as well as the pantheon’s leader). As the sworn and took up residence in Dweomerheart, this time not as
enemy of Titania, who rules as Queen of the Seelie Court, the Azuth’s exarch but of Mystra herself. The flame of rivalry
Wretched Queen sees Mystra, who has allied with Titania, as a between Azuth and Savras has predictably rekindled since
potential weakness of Titania to exploit. The Queen of Air then.
and Darkness also covets the divine portfolios of Mystra,
seeing them as potential treasures to obtain with the right
schemes; such power in the hands of the Unseelie Court could
greatly unbalance the conflict between Seelie and Unseelie,
leading to untold horrors and a threat to the Cosmic Balance,
so Mystra retains a vigilance against suspicious movements
coming from followers of the Unseelie Court.

7
Shandril (Neutral Good) Council of Arcana
Symbol: A blue flame underneath an arch of seven stars. At the suggestion of the deity Kelemvor, Mystra organized
various gods associated with magic so that they would meet
As a mortal human, Shandril Shessair was gifted with the regularly to discuss matters related to the stability of the
power to channel and control spellfire, magical power in its Weave, as well as potential threats and mysteries associated
raw form, which resembles silvery flames to the naked eye. with magic in their realms of influence.
Shandril’s life ended in a tragic demise that broke her very
soul, but Mystra restored Shandril’s essence and gave the In addition, Mystra was concerned that feuds between the
woman a new life and purpose. gods of magic could potentially escalate to a scale that would
threaten the very balance of magic. The value of enabling
Shandril was remade into an immortal servant of Mystra, with arbitration by group mediation became one of the more
the role of monitoring and governing the use of spellfire across pressing motivations for forming the Council of Arcana.
the worlds within Mystra’s influence. Shandril was transformed
into the very personification of living spellfire and granted a Within the Council, no hierarchies are observed, all may speak
deep connection to the Weave that would allow her to appear freely, violence is forbidden, and Mystra serves as chairperson
anywhere the power of spellfire was present. Although to announce the beginnings and endings of meetings as well as
Shandril’s abilities are far more limited compared to the other the current planned topics of discussion. Not every god of
exarchs, it is rumored that she can never be slain so long as magic is a member of the Council but those who do attend the
there is even a small vestige of Mystra’s Weave remaining. meetings are able to set aside differences for the sake of civil
discussion. This does not necessarily make them allies, but it
Not long before the Spellplague, which resulted from Mystra’s does provide a method for the involved parties to maintain
murder by Cyric, Shandril was sent to a remote location where vital communication, and perhaps keep tabs on each other.
she slumbered safely until Mystra returned. It is said that the
Mother of All Magic divined her own coming death and took The following deities are among those that are known to be
measures to protect Shandril, who would be among those most members of the Council. Azuth and Savras are also assumed
affected by the Weave’s collapse. to be members. Oghma may occasionally attend or send one
of his exarchs to do so.

Baravar Cloakshadow (Neutral Good)

Twilitha Daysbreak (Lawful Neutral)
Symbol: A dagger pointed downwards, placed on its side
Symbol: A praying maiden underneath an arch of seven against the center of a cloak.
stars.
As the Gnome pantheon’s god of illusions, deception, traps,
A hold over subordinate who originally served the second and wards, Baravar Cloakshadow couldn’t resist attending
incarnation of the Lady of Mysteries, Twilitha Daysbreak meetings that would include both potential friends and
continues to serve as an exarch who channels the portfolio enemies alike; the back and forth of intrigue and subtle
aspects of rituals and laws of magic (Twilitha is neither a deity wordplays would offer a treasure trove of personal delights for
nor demigod, but above a Chosen due to Mystra granting the Master of Illusion. Even without the fun to be had,
partial influence on aspects of her portfolio to the exarch). The Baravar would have attended the meetings anyway; he is
Maiden of Rites was originally a half-elf adventuring wizard known for his obsession with contingencies and preparations,
who had befriended the previous Mystra a short time before and he does have a legitimate concern for the Weave’s
the tragedy of ancient Netheril that resulted in the previous integrity, since illusions tend to fail wherever magic itself is
Mystra ascending to divinity as Mystryl’s successor. It has been unstable.
speculated by scholars that Twilitha might have even been a
magic teacher for the previous Mystra during that Mystra’s
mortal years.

Twilitha Daysbreak prefers to spend most of her time alone in

Corellon Larethian (Chaotic Good)
contemplation of new formulas for magic rituals, but she Symbol: A crescent moon.
always makes sure to fulfill her responsibilities as a messenger,
investigator, and teacher at a prominent school of magic. As a Corellon Larethian is the Seldarine pantheon’s god of magic,
proponent of the adoption of magic as a pillar of society, music, arts, crafts, war, the elven race, poetry, bards, and
Twilitha is highly invested in learning the going ons of magic- warriors; he is also the leader of the Seldarine, the elven
rich countries such as Halruua on the world of Toril in pantheon. Corellon is a compassionate protectionist deity who
Realmspace. If a particularly complex magic ritual has been will readily intervene in matters of urgency that could
invented or discovered, and news of it well spread, a potentially lead to the destruction of beauty and life; the
mysterious half-elf with wavy brown hair and circle-lensed integrity of the Weave would of course be among the highest
glasses might be discovered snooping around near the rumored priorities towards the protection of life and beauty. Due to his
location of discovery. responsibilities as a pantheon leader, Corellon will often be too
busy to attend most meetings; in Corellon’s absence, he usually
sends his daughter Eilistraee as his proxy or leaves things to
Hanali Celanil.

8
 harboring conflicts of interest against each other or coveting
Dangun (Lawful Good) Mystra’s authority over the Weave of Realmspace, the
Symbol: A tree rising from the ground to touch a cloud. participation of Hakiyah brings a sense of security much
needed by a goddess who lacks the vast experience of so many
Dangun is the Constellation pantheon’s god of mountains, of her peers.
protection of nature, and community. Having tired of a recent
break away from meddling in politics, Dangun eagerly
accepted a request from his grandfather, the Heavenly
Emperor Sang-Je, to occasionally attend meetings at Mystra’s Hanali Celanil (Chaotic Good)
Council as a proxy. Known as a builder of communities, the
Mountain Lord is another potential voice of reason and Symbol: A gold heart.
calmness at the Council, though it’s rare for him to speak at Hanali Celanil is the Seldarine pantheon’s goddess of love,
the Council meetings unless sharing some information from romance, beauty, enchantments, magic item artistry, fine art,
the Heavenly Emperor. and artists. Hanali had no particular interest in attending the
Council of Arcana but since Corellon himself requested it of
her, the Winsome Rose decided to attend out of curiosity.
Hanali finds the Council rather entertaining thus far, more so
Dugmaren Brightmantle (Chaotic Good) for the interactions between the attending deities rather than
Symbol: An open book. the actual topics discussed. She also enjoys spending time with
Eilistraee who often attends as Corellon’s proxy.
As the Morndinsamman pantheon’s god of scholarship,
invention, and discovery, Dugmaren Brightmantle is one of the
most popular deities among dwarven mages and artificers.
Dugmaren lamented the terrible loss of knowledge and Isis (Neutral Good)
inhibition of arcane innovation that resulted from the
Spellplague. Although he won’t commit himself to taking a Symbol: An ankh and star side-by-side on a lunar disk.
more active role as an ally of Mystra, the Errant Explorer will For the peoples of Unther and Mulhorand, Isis is the goddess
eagerly assist in preserving the Weave if necessary. Moradin, of weather, rivers, agriculture, love, marriage, and good magic.
the leader of the dwarven pantheon, has also instructed Although she vehemently despises the god Set who also attends
Dugmaren to keep an eye on the duergar god Laduguer who the meetings, it was her brother Thoth who convinced her to
also attends the Council of Arcana. suppress her enmity for the sake of protecting the balance. Isis
is also greatly concerned over how threats to the Weave could
harm the societies that depend on magic to thrive. The Lady
of Rivers will include subtle barbs against the evil Set in her
Eilistraee (Chaotic Good) addresses at the Council whenever possible; Set in turn
Symbol: A drow female with flowing long hair and a silver reciprocates such mistreatment with barbs of his own as an
longsword, with the full moon in background. exercise of wit.
Eilistraee, the drow goddess of dance, song, beauty,
swordwork, hunting, and moonlight is a quintessential artist
among deities. Having enjoyed friendship with both the second Kuan-ti (Neutral Good)
and current incarnations of Mystra, as well as owing the
current Mystra a life-saving debt and for the opportunity that Symbol: A black-winged chariot.
helped reconcile the Dark Maiden with her estranged twin Kuan-ti is the Celestial Bureaucracy pantheon’s god of
brother Vhaeraun, Eilistraee is happy to help the Mother of diplomacy, protection, and fortune-telling. The Celestial
All Magic as a proxy for her father on the Council. The Emperor Shang-ti, looking down on the “primitive powers”
Dancing Goddess is somewhat skeptical about how well the gathered by Mystra but cautious nonetheless, ordered the
congregation of magic-oriented deities will fare due to the Arbiter to attend the Council as his proxy and report back
wide variety of backgrounds being represented, but hopes that with any important developments. Kuan-ti is a passionate
the experiment helps foster peaceful relations. idealist who enjoys peaceful diplomacy despite being known
for many great feats of war, and carries the air of a
peacemaker to the discussions in the Council chamber.
Hakiyah (Neutral)
Symbol: A cresting blue wave.

Hakiyah, the Zakharan pantheon’s goddess of seas, reason,

honesty, and truth, was invited by Mystra to bring a calming
influence to potentially heated discussions during Council
meetings. The Lady of the Sea Breezes was recommended by
the deity Oghma, for her skill as a mediator and ability to
expose deception; with a number of deities potentially

9
Laduguer (Lawful Evil) Thoth (Neutral)
Symbol: A broken arrow bent and split into two parts. Symbol: An upright ankh above an ibis head.

Known as the Master of Crafts in the Duergar pantheon, For the peoples of Unther and Mulhorand, Thoth is the god
Laduguer is the duergars’ god of magic weapon creation, of neutral magic, scribes, knowledge, invention, and secrets.
artisans, magic, and gray dwarves. Despite Laduguer’s strong The Keeper of Knowledge has held contact with all three
xenophobia, he grudgingly attends the Council of Arcana in incarnations of Mystra since it is also within his dogma to
order to observe with his own eyes and ears the potential spread the use and study of magic. Thoth is mainly concerned
nuisances that may interfere with the magical traditions that he with his own worshippers so he will not actively ally with other
dearly clings to. There is also the matter of Lolth, whose ire deities outside of his local pantheon unless a dire situation
has been provoked by Laduguer’s vigorous support of the absolutely requires such. Known for his cool-headedness and
duergars’ economic advantages over the drow in certain vital restraint, Thoth has earned respect among his fellow deities as
Underdark markets; being on the good side of Mystra, who is a bastion of reason. Thoth’s reputation and mastery of reason
herself an enemy of Lolth, may provide Laduguer an extra enabled him to convince his sister Isis to attend the Council of
card to play in coming gambits. Arcana despite her reservations against any interaction with
the deity Set outside of violent exchanges. Much preferring
civilized diplomacy to barbaric violence, Thoth has become a
major proponent of maintaining the communications and
O-Kuni-Nushi (Lawful Good) discussions made possible with the formation of the Council.
Symbol: A medicine jar over a downward katana.

O-Kuni-Nushi is god of medicine, sorcery, land mastery, and

protection of animals in the Eight Million Gods pantheon. As Titania (Chaotic Good)
a staunch protector of animals and spirits as well as a patron Symbol: A white diamond with a blue star at its center.
of heroes, the Great Land Master was horrified at his
powerlessness to prevent the great destruction and harm dealt Titania, is the Seelie Court pantheon’s goddess of faerie folk/
to many lives and souls during the Spellplague tragedy. When realms, friendship, and magic (as well as the pantheon’s
O-Kuni-Nushi learned of Mystra’s Council experiment, he leader). The Queen of the Seelie Court was one of the first to
gladly accepted the invitation to attend, at least so that he can join the Council along with Corellon Larethian, seeing Mystra
better gauge the situation surrounding Mystra and perhaps as a responsible young deity worth supporting into maturity;
attain foresight of a possible future cataclysm. The Spirit Titania’s support roused the curiosity (and dread in some
Healer is known to be a cunning deity, and prefers to use cases) of other gods of magic, enticing them to participate in
words over might to settle arguments, but is ready to draw his the grand experiment, as the Seelie have long been known as a
blade should the politics at the Council ever turn violent. meddlesome driver of happenings in the mystical realms. As
Titania is famous for maintaining a dignified calmness except
in the face of truly heinous acts of evil, she is one of the most
difficult to read (and provoke) among the Council members.
Set (Lawful Evil) Her fabled skill with etiquette and pleasantries hides well the
Symbol: A coiled cobra. equally fabled vindictiveness and contempt that the Great
Fairy Queen might hold for those who earn her ire. When
For the peoples of Unther and Mulhorand, Set is the god of Titania is too occupied with other matters, she may send her
the desert, destruction, drought, night, rot, snakes, hate, exarch Verenestra as a proxy for Council meetings.
betrayal, evil magic, ambition, poison, and murder. Despite the
inclusion of betrayal in his portfolio, the Lord of Carrion will
never act against the wellbeing of his followers, and attending
the Council represents a necessity towards maintaining the Soma (Lawful Neutral)
wellbeing and loyalty of the faithful. Many of Set’s Symbol: A crescent moon over a flowering plant.
worshippers depend on magic to succeed in nefarious plots, so
the stability of the Weave is a high priority, even if it means Soma is the Vedic pantheon’s god of the Moon, stars, plants,
having to interact with insufferable do-gooders that are likely and prophecy. The Moonlight Seer has been monitoring
to get in Set’s way. There are also those among the Council potential incursions into the mortal realms by the Great Old
members who might prove to be useful pawns towards Set’s Ones of the Far Realm, and believes that a number of
ultimate objective of achieving supremacy as king of the gods unexplained fluctuations of time and space seen in some parts
in Mulhorand and perhaps beyond. of wildspace are signs of a possible future breach of the planar
barriers. The Weave of Realmspace is an important support
reinforcing the dimensional walls of the Material Plane against
incursions of unspeakable horrors, so Soma has taken a seat at
the Council to keep informed as well as to share warnings of
the dangers that he sees.

10
Velsharoon (Neutral Evil) Afterlife
Symbol: A crowned laughing humanoid skull over a black
hexagon.

Formerly an exarch of Azuth, Velsharoon like Savras was

Dweomerheart
released from a contract of servitude when Azuth perished in Once located on an expansive plateau in the heavenly plane of
the events of the Spellplague. Unlike Savras, the Lord of the Elysium, Dweomerheart now resides in its very own plane of
Forsaken Crypt was not offered a position as Mystra’s exarch existence. The previous version was destroyed in a
nor did he ever desire such. Velsharoon is the Faerûnian conflagration of blue flames when Mystra was slain by Cyric.
pantheon’s god of necromancy, necromancers, evil liches, and At the time, many souls and even a few gods were lost but the
undeath. His sole concern motivating him to cooperate with majority were evacuated to Kelemvor’s Fugue Plane, where
the Council of Arcana is that threats to the Weave would they were judged and appropriately relocated.
threaten the research that Velsharoon and his faithful conduct
for their necromantic experiments. The Lord of the Forsaken After Mystra returned and the Weave was fully restored, the
Crypt otherwise has no concern for others and prefers to be Lady of Mysteries constructed a new Dweomerheart, stronger
left to his explorations of the boundary between life and death. and more secure than ever. The survivors among her faithful
were all invited to the new home of the Mother of All Magic.

The current Dweomerheart is a self-contained mountainous

island surrounded by a seemingly endless ocean, with most of
Verenestra (Neutral) its inhabitants presiding in a vast city at the center. When one
Symbol: A filigree-edged silver mirror. travels far enough away from the island that it disappears on
the horizon, it reappears in the opposite direction.
Verenestra, is the Seelie Court pantheon’s goddess of female
faeries, charm, and beauty. As Titania’s longtime exarch, Each of the many mountains on the island contains a network
Verenestra is well trusted to represent the Faerie Queen’s seat of caves and tunnels in which all sorts of wildlife thrives. There
in the Council of Arcana. As the patron goddess of dryads, are also many special caverns that are magically enchanted to
nymphs, and sylphs, the Charming Maiden is expectedly simulate different types of environments, including forests,
skilled in the arts of seduction and diplomacy, and uses that swamps, grassy fields, deserts, magma flows, crystal gardens,
skill to put out fires before they might start. Verenestra is a and even the void of wildspace. The varied environments are
powerful force of stability in a potentially messy congregation ideal for all sorts of magical experiments that can not be
of rival deities constantly sizing each other up. pursued within the usual outdoors or within the confines of the
city. Powerful dimensional barriers prevent magical effects
from leaking outside of the “testing caves”.

Dweomerheart has a 24-hour day-and-night cycle in which the

sky periodically transitions back and forth between a lightly
clouded blue-white sky and a lightly clouded starry sky of
black and blue.

Most petitioners in Dweomerheart are either mages, scholars

of magical lore, or those who were entranced by the beauty of
magic. As such, visitors to the plane will normally see magic
being flung about here and there at every hour as well as
clustered groups discussing theories and techniques.

Seven Stars
The city of Seven Stars is a sprawling metropolis of stone,
wood, and crystal buildings. The designs of all the structures
exhibit a wide array of intricately developed architectural
aesthetics, with a predominant blue and white theme honoring
the favored colors of the goddess Mystra.

Seven Stars is divided into nine districts, with eight of the

districts each featuring schools, shops, and research
laboratories specialized in one of eight categories of magic:
abjuration, conjuration, divination, enchantment, evocation,
illusion, necromancy, and transmutation. The ninth (and
largest) district is at the center of the city and houses both a
grand stadium where magical competitions are held and the
House of Arcana, where Mystra herself resides.

11
Surrounding Mystra’s palace in the central district are seven
huge ivory statues, each one shaped in the likeness of an
armored knight. It is said that should Dweomerheart ever ADON, SERAPH OF MAGIC
come under attack, the statues would awaken as magically
empowered golems of unfathomable power and defend the Formerly the first priest and first Patriarch of the
city against looming threats. current Mystra’s church, the human cleric Adon was
The central district also houses the former Magisters of both granted the form and responsibilities of Mystra’s Seraph
the second and current incarnations of Mystra (See The of Magic, the highest ranked among the goddess’
Magister in Misc. Lore section). Each Magister has their own angels, some time after his death in 1371 DR (Year of the
palace or tower, designed to their own preferences, with angels Unstrung Harp). Adon’s form became that of a powerful
assigned to guard their gates (as well as warn visitors of angel with silver-feathered wings and a halo of seven
potential hazards while the Magisters are performing magical
blue-white stars of light orbiting his head (though he
experiments). A magic portal leads directly from each
Magister’s estate to the Magisters’ Assembly chamber at the often molds himself with magic to appear as his original
House of Arcana. form did, for the sake of personal comfort).

As Seraph of Magic, Adon delivers messages for

Mystra, protects the followers of the goddess, and
House of Arcana investigates potential threats to the Weave of
Inside Mystra’s palace are grand, opulent halls of diamond, Realmspace. It is said that Adon can instantly teleport to
silver, and platinum as well as lavishly decorated corridors anywhere Mystra’s Weave touches, and can sense a
beautified with chandeliers, ornaments, paintings, and disturbance in the Weave anywhere within 100 miles of
tapestries. The decorations are redesigned at the end of every
him. In battle, Adon wields a heavily enchanted
seven days, and dozens of mages are given the honor of
leading the task by volunteer lottery. warhammer that can dispel magical barriers or destroy
illusions in a single blow, and a blessed shield that can
The most notable chambers in the House of Arcana are attract and disperse any targeted offensive magic cast
Mystra’s audience hall, where the goddess receives important by a nearby mage of his choice, even spells that target
visitors and performs special ceremonies, and the Magisters’
points in space rather than creatures or objects.
Assembly, where the past Magisters who have served the

12
incarnations of the Lady of Mysteries regularly convene to The paladins of Mystra are known as weave knights. They will
discuss advanced magical theories, important events in the city, often accompany dweomerkeepers when threats to the Weave
and potential future candidates for the position of Magister in are being investigated. Weave knights can also be found
the mortal realms. Mystra herself will occasionally attend the guarding hoards of magic items, notable research facilities, or
Magisters’ Assembly to collect feedback and wisdom on libraries of arcane lore. As their name suggests, they are able
matters of great import. It is said that the Magisters are the to channel the Weave’s power into their weapons to deal with
greatest treasure possessed by the Mother of All Magic, given various threats.
their collective knowledge, power, and experience as many of
the greatest mages throughout history. The deity Azuth is the There are many temples and shrines devoted to Mystra, with
official chairperson at the Magisters’ Assembly. the most prominent ones found in major cities where mages
are more common. Civilization’s advancement and magic use
seem to go hand in hand as societies develop, so the worship of
Mystra is more commonly seen in the more civilized areas of
Sanctuary Arcane the world. The church of Mystra is well-organized and
sponsors many different groups devoted to the service of
Floating high above the city of Seven Stars, the Sanctuary Mystra. The three most notable organizations sponsored by
Arcane is an invisible adamantine/mithral fortress built for the the church are as follows: an order of paladins known as the
purpose of providing a neutral space where the Council of Knights of the Mystic Fire, an order of rangers known as the
Arcana could meet. There are portals in the Sanctuary Arcane Order of the Shooting Star, and an order of bards known as
that can only be used by other deities, and only when Mystra the Children of the Starry Quill.
beckons them to come. Once inside the Sanctuary Arcane,
visitors are unable to use offensive magic or swing weapons Unlike most other clergies, clerics and paladins of Mystra do
around, and all poisons and diseases are purified. not share a traditional time of day or night to pray for their
spells. It is simply left up to each individual to choose based on
The Sanctuary Arcane also serves as a platform of defense personal preference or convenience.
from which any possible (though unlikely) invasion by hostile
forces could be detected and dealt with before it could reach The standard daily ritual for the cleric or paladin of Mystra is
the city (an “eye in the sky” as it were). to meditate for a few minutes before sleeping or after waking,
and focus on “feeling” their innate connection to the Weave,
developed through their faith and service to the Lady of
Mysteries. A sense of comfort and confidence is acquired from
Dogma reconfirming the envelopment of the goddess’ will around
These are the tenets that worshippers of Mystra are given to those who act as her eyes, ears, and hands.
live by. Traditional ceremonial dress is a simple robe of blue fabric,
sometimes trimmed with white, accented by a deep blue cloak
● Love magic for itself, not just as a weapon of control and
in colder climates; the sleeves of the robe are usually tailored
dominance that can reshape the world.
so that they allow great freedom for the arms, to facilitate the
● True wisdom comes from learning when to use magic as well somatic movements of spell casting. Some form of blue
as when to restrain oneself from using magic. headgear is also required, and is often adorned with a holy
symbol of Mystra; the form of the headgear sees many
● As your power develops, learn to use magic more and more different variations as one visits different sects of Mystra’s
sparingly, for the threat and promise of its art often outstrips its church.
performance.
Clerics and paladins of Mystra, when not tasked with a
● Forget not that the art of magic is a privilege bestowed by specific objective from the church, will often be found seeking
the Mother, and be humble, not prideful in its use. information about spellcasters, magic items, and stores of
magical knowledge. Many of these devotees will join
● Seek always to learn, discover, and develop new magic, but adventurers on quests and missions that provide opportunities
be careful not to be reckless in its use. to expand the church’s growing archives of documented lore.
Participating in magical research or protecting the lives of
emerging mages is also typical of the clergy.

Clergy The lifestyle of clerics or paladins of Mystra typically revolves

around an insatiable curiosity for magical knowledge. This
The clerics of Mystra, known as dweomerkeepers, are curiosity can be expressed in many different ways. Some delve
proponents of magical research and caretakers of the Weave. into deep scholarly studies through reading and peer
Every large institution of magical learning in the Realms will discussion. Some travel from town to town listening to all the
usually have one or two resident dweomerkeepers leading or rumors and stories being passed around at taverns. Some
assisting in ambitious projects pushing the boundaries of explore the deep dungeons and ancient ruins of the world,
magical lore. The dweomerkeepers can also often be found hoping to find some clue or remnant of the past. As a faith
wandering towards areas of reported dead or wild magic, so that values individualism and creativity of expression, the path
that they can use their divine gifts to repair the Weave in such of Mystra’s faithful can go in countless directions.
locations.

13
 performer(s) must be bathed in starlight, or leaning into a
Customs of the Faith flame, or concentrating on a conjured magical source of
The 15th day of the month of Marpenoth (the 10th month in illumination. While in position, the performer(s) chant the
the 12-month calendar of Harptos used for the year) is following:
celebrated as the anniversary of the current Mystra’s ascension
to godhood. A series of spell castings, each coupled with a Hallowed Lady, Mother Mystra,
whispered prayer of thanks, is the traditional method of
Guide my thoughts now
celebration for this holiday, and the festivities held at the city
of Waterdeep are the most renowned because they incorporate Light my way
magical fireworks into their planned events. It’s a popular
excuse for mages to show off their flashiest spells for their Inform my deeds
friends, loved ones, peers, and rivals.
Enlighten me, as you enlighten all
There are three particular rituals that are practiced by most
sects in the church of Mystra: “Starlight”, “Magefire”, and Show me what is best to do
“The Hymn to the Lady”. To deliver, succor, protect, and enrich
“Starlight” is a ceremony that typically commemorates the Blessed be thy will
initiation of a new priest of Mystra or the marriage of
Mystra’s faithful. The ceremony is carried out under a night I am [name of performer],
sky by two or more priests of Mystra. The priests conduct a
special ritual that bestows the benefit of a fly spell on the new And place myself in thy hands
initiate or married couple. This magical effect lasts as long as
Guide me
the stars can be seen in the sky and if the recipient(s) still
remains in mid-flight when the effect’s duration ends, they
gently descend to the ground without harm. If the special
conditions are not met, then there is no effect (for example, if
the initiate is actually a spy working for another deity or if the
couple were never wedded).

“Magefire” is a ceremony of renewal. A circle of clergy

surround a single person lying on the ground; the surrounding
clergy conduct a ritual in which the person at the center of the Feats
circle slowly levitates about 8-10 feet above the floor. As the Clerics and paladins can take special feats as servants of
affected person levitates, blue fire crackles and hums around Mystra.
the person’s body; the blue fire has a healing effect that cures
poison, disease, exhaustion, and fatigue. By the end of the
ceremony, when the affected person safely comes back down to
the floor and stops emanating blue fire, the person retains a Dweomerkeeper of Mystra
feeling of vigor and refreshment - this feeling is described as
“the most blissful feeling one could know” by those who have Requirement: Cleric, worships Mystra
experienced it. As a dweomerkeeper of Mystra, you encourage the spread of
“The Hymn to the Lady” is typically observed at funerals. the magic and nourish the Weave with your faith.
ceremony consists of clergy singing a plainsong dirge in a
● You have advantage on Wisdom checks made to notice dead
ritual that evokes illusory images of dead mages and clergy of
magic zones and wild magic zones, and you can cast cleric
the past - those who came before, and collectively over
spells normally in a dead magic zone or wild magic zone.
generations built a long and proud history preceding those
who currently live in the present. The ceremony symbolizes ● You have advantage on Intelligence checks made to recall
how the mourned dead are joining that history and will have information on magic items and spells.
their stories preserved in memory as they pass on to the
afterlife. It is said that the life story of every person honored by ● You treat detect magic as one of your prepared cleric spells
this ceremony is somehow kept within the Weave itself and without counting it towards your maximum limit. If you
certain magic spells have indeed been able to recall these already do so, then choose any other 1st-level cleric spell for
stored memories of those who have passed on. Sometimes the this instead.
“Magefire” ceremony may also be observed following “The
Hymn to the Lady”, with the corpse being levitated instead of ● When you prepare cleric spells, one of the spells can be
a living person; such an honor is usually granted at the funerals from any class spell list.
of well-accomplished members of the church or great heroes
who died in the line of duty. ● You can expend a use of Channel Divinity as a reaction to
gain advantage on a saving throw made against a spell effect.
When facing a difficult time, the followers of Mystra may be
witnessed performing the “Plea For Guidance”. The

14
 At Higher Levels. When you cast this magic spell with a
Weave Knight of Mystra spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the radius of effect increases by
Requirement: Paladin, worships Mystra 10 feet for each spell level above 2nd.
As a weave knight of Mystra, you defend magical artifacts,
places of magic, records of magic, and the Weave.

● You have advantage on Wisdom checks made to notice dead

magic zones and wild magic zones, and you can cast paladin Stars of Mystra
spells normally in a dead magic zone or wild magic zone.
4th-level evocation
● When you apply your Divine Smite extra damage, you can SPECIAL: You must be a worshipper of Mystra, as well as a
choose to deal force damage instead of radiant damage. cleric or paladin to cast this spell.
● When you use Divine Sense, you also detect the locations of Casting Time: 1 action
spellcasters, magic items, magical effects, dead magic zones,
Range: Self
and wild magic zones.
Components: V, S
● You have resistance to acid, cold, fire, force, lightning, Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
necrotic, psychic, radiant, and thunder damage from spell You invoke the wrath of Mystra to create seven Tiny floating
effects. This does not include damage caused indirectly by spell orbs of light around you that follow you when you move,
effects, such as attacks from summoned creatures or remaining within the space that you occupy.
nonmagical fire produced as the side effect of a spell setting
objects on fire. When you cast this spell, you can immediately command one
of the orbs to shoot out at one creature within 100 feet. Make
a ranged spell attack against the creature; on a hit the creature
loses one 4th level spell slot (or a slot of the next highest level
that it can cast if it has no 4th level slots) as if it was expended.
The creature also takes radiant damage equal to 1d6 per level
Exclusive Spells of the spell slot that it lost. The orb that was shot is
Clerics and paladins of Mystra are able to prepare the immediately dismissed after the attack whether it hits or
following spells, unique to worshippers of Mystra. misses.

Once on your turn, as an action, you can make a ranged spell

attack with one of the orbs.
Weave Restoration The orbs created by the spell each produce bright light out to
2nd-level abjuration (ritual) 20-feet, and another 20 feet of dim light further out.
SPECIAL: You must be a worshipper of Mystra, as well as a At Higher Levels. When you cast this magic spell with a
cleric or paladin to cast this spell. spell slot of 5th level or higher, the maximum level of the spell
slot lost by an affected creature increases by 1 for each spell
SPECIAL: This spell can be cast normally in a dead magic level above 4th. For example, if the spell is cast with a 6th level
zone or wild magic zone, as well as within the presence of an slot, then the affected creature loses a 6th level slot on a hit, or
antimagic field, such as that which is created by the spell the next highest level of slot that it possesses.
antimagic field.

Casting Time: 1 action

Range: Self (10-ft. radius sphere)
Components: V, S, M (a tiny piece of transparent glass or
crystal)

Duration: Instantaneous
You invoke the power of Mystra to repair the Weave in a dead
magic zone or wild magic zone. Throughout the affected area
within the spell’s range, magic can be cast normally, magic
items will work normally, and magical effects will work
normally.

In addition, for 1 minute after this spell is cast, the affected

area will suppress the effects of any overlapping area of an
antimagic field, such as that which is created by the spell
antimagic field. This effect can not be dispelled.

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Misc. Lore Lovers Reunited
Other stories and information that might be shared among the It was a terrible tragedy in 1357 DR (Year of the Prince) when
faithful of Mystra. the spellfire-blessed Shandril Shessair was separated from her
husband Narm Tamaraith in death. Shandril had used her
spellfire to heal the body of her husband who was fatally
wounded. Shandril mistakenly believed that she killed Narm
The Birth of Mystryl instead of healing him, so she took her own life in the madness
of grief. Narm had actually been saved; it was however too
Before the dawn of mortal life, there were the sister goddesses late to stop his wife from giving in to her pain. Shandril was
Selune and Shar. Together they brought light and darkness to afterwards repurposed by Mystra to start a new life as an
the worlds and all seemed harmonious until they disagreed on exarch.
how much light and darkness should exist in all creation. Shar
threatened to completely cover the most precious world Abeir- Shandril, in her new form, bade Narm to find happiness with
Toril in darkness, and Selune fought with Shar to prevent it. It another woman as he lived the rest of his life, and left to
is said that their battle would soon destroy all that was created, perform her new role as a wandering watcher in service to a
so in a desperate ploy to end the conflict decisively and quickly, goddess.
Selune tore apart a piece of her own body and flung it at Shar
as a weapon. the piece of Selune missed Shar’s vital center but The story did not end there however.
also tore off a piece of Shar in its path. The essences of Selune
Narm’s love for Shandril could not be so easily extinguished.
and Shar mingled together and formed the first goddess of
He would travel to the very stars if necessary to be with her
magic, Mystryl. It was then that Shar was forced to concede
again. The problem was figuring out how, and as an aspiring
her defeat as Mystryl chose to side with Selune in the battle.
wizard, Narm turned to magic.
Shar would hold an eternal grudge ever since, and Chauntea,
then the spirit of the disputed world, would hold an eternal Narm sought out the elder archmage Elminster Aumar, who
gratitude. had previously tutored Narm for a brief time. After months of
travel, Narm eventually found the Sage of Shadowdale and
pleaded for more teaching. Out of compassion and curiosity,
Elminster took Narm in as an official apprentice and to the
The Folly of Karsus archmage’s surprise, Narm developed his prowess in the
At the height of the ancient Netherese Empire more than a wizardly arts with prodigious speed. The desire to reunite with
thousand years ago, before its more recent return as a power Shandril drove the young man on with a madman’s pace but it
of Faerun, there was a powerful mage named Karsus. With the is also speculated that the spellfire used to save Narm’s life did
knowledge and experience of centuries of research and not completely dissipate. It is theorized that the remaining
training, Karsus embarked on the most ambitious and most magical essence altered Narm’s mind and body in ways that
foolish of journeys: the creation of a spell that would steal the would enhance his training as a shaper of spells.
very power of an existing deity.
Impressed by Narm’s development and recognizing the purity
Karsus sought to solve the problems facing the empire by of the man’s intentions, the goddess Mystra offered Narm the
becoming a god and using his divine power for the sake of rank, responsibilities, and privileges of a Chosen, which
Netheril’s survival. The grave mistake made then was that of included the ability to channel the silver fire of raw magic, also
all the deities that Karsus could have chosen, he chose to steal known as spellfire. Upon Narm’s acceptance of the new
from Mystryl, the goddess of magic, spells, and the Weave. position as a Chosen, the power of spellfire enabled Narm to
reach out into the Weave and call to his beloved.
Upon casting the mighty spell, one of the most complex spells
ever created, Karsus succeeded in taking Mystryl’s divine Miraculously, Shandril answered the call of Narm, and the
power, but his miscalculation immediately became apparent lovers were finally together again. Mystra, taking pity on the
when his mortal mind connected with the Weave. The couple, granted Shandril the additional ability to revert to her
incredible pressure of maintaining the stability of the Weave original human body. From then on, Shandril could always
was too much for the unprepared mage to handle, and magic find Narm and Narm could always contact Shandril, thanks to
throughout existence became chaotic. The floating cities of the their shared connection to the Weave.
empire fell to the ground in crashing destruction, killing
Narm survived the events of the Spellplague and the Second
millions of its citizens, and Karsus himself experienced his
Sundering, and is said to be currently traveling across the
body torn apart in the tumult of the devastating event.
worlds of Mystra’s influence, to investigate potential threats to
To save the Weave and magic itself as well as countless more magic and magic users. Shandril, who was recently
innocents, Mystryl sacrificed her own life to restore stability reawakened from a protected slumber by Mystra, continues to
and passed on her mantle to another mortal far more watch over all users of spellfire and from time to time meets
compatible with her power; the destined mortal was a young with Narm to share stories of their adventures and savor the
woman who would become the second goddess of magic, continuance of their wedded bliss.
taking on the name Mystra as an homage to the first while
signifying the beginning of a new era for magic.

16
 With the Shadow Weave, the Lady of Loss is able to raise
The Magister spellcasting minions (at last within Realmspace) who are not
The Magister is the personal champion of Mystra, not so bound by Mystra’s rules of magic, a very dangerous threat to
much for fighting, but for promoting the spread of wizardly the followers of the goddess of magic. Shar likely has sinister
training and knowledge, as well as fostering new talents longterm plans for the Shadow Weave, but for now Mystra has
through healthy competition towards becoming the next her followers gradually disable the Shadow Weave piece by
Magister (widely seen as the most prestigious title for a wizard piece, removing Shar’s influence on the rules of magic in
of Realmspace). At any given time, there is one Magister, strategic areas where their respective followers might clash.
anointed by Mystra from among wizards in the living realms,
and the title usually passes on to a successor when the
predecessor is slain, abdicates in a duel, or peacefully retires.
Many common folk in civilized realms have heard legends or Voices in the Weave
folk tales about the Magister but very few know the full details Some who perish in the living realms of Realmspace have
of the office or what benefits are conferred by the office. remained as Weave-Ghosts, not quite undead but not quite
A Magister is granted special powers, but unlike a Chosen of dead either. Weave-Ghosts are ghost-like entities whose
Mystra, remains mortal, though it can be said that some of ethereal bodies are sustained by the power of the Weave, by
their powers might exceed those of a Chosen. In fact, for a magical energy filtered and purified through the Weave itself
short period period of adjustment time after being newly rather than necrotic energies from the Negative Energy Plane
anointed, a Magister enjoys a temporary ward of protection or radiant energies from the Positive Energy Plane. All Weave-
that makes them almost invincible to most opponents. When Ghosts are those who have sincerely pledged loyalty to Mystra
that protection period ends, they still retain a number of while retaining a personal need to continue meddling in the
abilities that would make most rival mages drool in living realms. Some are given special missions, such as
anticipation of usurping the title. guarding the prison of the Phaerimm, or watching over
fledgling mages who have great potential, while others simply
The very first Magister in recorded history is currently the do as they will, such as haunting a certain Sage of
deity Azuth, granted the office by the second incarnation of Shadowdale, or performing magical experiments in the homes
Mystra sometime during the era of the Dawn Cataclysm. The that they lived in while still alive.
office was later passed on to Shornthal Imynster, who held the
office from 136 DR (Year of the Storm Skeleton) to 148 DR Weave-Ghosts, aside from possessing the usual qualities of
(Year of the Blue Ice). A long succession of Magisters coming ghosts, are able to continue casting spells as they were able to
into office has been recorded from then on, to Talatha do so in life, and can acquire such ability in the Art if they
Vaerovree, who was murdered by a clone of the wizard train to do so, thanks to their connection to the Weave.
Manshoon in 1385 DR (Year of Blue Fire); the Manshoon
clone himself was slain by an unrecorded wizard, the
succeeding Magister, in the same year, whose head, according
to rumor, subsequently exploded as a result of the Spellplague, Weave Anchors
also that same year (quite possibly the shortest time that a Although Mystra’s godly body was dealt a lethal strike in 1385
Magister ever held the office). There was no new Magister for DR (Year of Blue Fire), the Spellplague that resulted did not
nearly a century afterwards, until some time after the goddess precipitate the total collapse of the Weave, with enough of the
of the Weave returned during the time of the Second Weave kept intact enough for magic to function (though new
Sundering. methods had to be adopted to stabilize the magic). A number
of high-ranking members of Mystra’s faith, as well as trusted
The identity of the current Magister is unknown, and no allies, know the reason why.
servant of Mystra seems to be sharing said knowledge at this
time. The Lady of Mysteries imparts a small portion of her
connection to the Weave to an untold number of mortals and
immortals in the living realms. These special few are anchors
for the Weave, some unknowingly. As long as these Weave
The Shadow Weave Anchors remain alive, they help sustain the Weave as an
The Shadow Weave is a second Weave in Realmspace, woven auxiliary source of stability in the event of Mystra’s untimely
by the dark goddess Shar. It exists between the threads of demise. It is for the same reason why the Weave did not
Mystra’s Weave, connected to Mystra’s Weave like a parasite collapse when the previous incarnation of Mystra was slain by
inside a creature’s body. When the Lady of Mysteries was slain Helm during the Time of Troubles.
by Cyric and her Weave collapsed, the Shadow Weave was The existence of the Weave Anchors also prevent Mystra from
damaged alongside it. With the restoration of the Weave, the experiencing a complete death as a deity, as pieces of Mystra
Shadow Weave has also been restored. According to magical among the Weave Anchors can coalesce to reform the body
researchers, it is likely that the Shadow Weave depends on and consciousness of Mystra; magical scholars remark that this
Mystra’s Weave to exist, for now, so while the Shadow Weave is a similar process to how mortal souls can reform after being
can be dismantled without harming Mystra’s Weave, the destroyed, with incarnum, the stuff of souls, being collected by
opposite is not possible. the original core of the soul.

17
 Update Log

Changes in v1.1:

Added “time” to divine porfolio.

Added Amaunator, Labelas Enoreth, and Sune to Divine Allies.

Added Talos to Divine Enemies.

Added paragraphs describing Mystra’s relationships with Amaunator, Labelas Enoreth, and Sune.

Added paragraph describing Mystra’s relationship with Talos.

Changes in v1.2:

Fixed the formatting of Exclusive Spells and Misc. Lore for a more comfortable read.

Revised the resistance benefit in the Weave Knight of Mystra feat to the following:

“● You have resistance to acid, cold, fire, force, lightning, necrotic, psychic, radiant, and thunder damage from spell
effects. This does not include damage caused indirectly by spell effects, such as attacks from summoned creatures or
nonmagical fire produced as the side effect of a spell setting objects on fire.”

Changes in v1.3:

Added title to Mystra: “She of the Wild Tides” (underwater realm of Serôs).

Reorganized divine allies and divine enemies sections with alignments and holy symbols, putting the sections in line
with the more recent format of pamphlets.

Moved the text in Midnight’s Ascension, The Spellplague, and Mystra’s Return from Misc. Lore to the introductory
first section. Added some more text to the introductory lore as well, including some lore about the current Mystra’s
mortal life before ascension.

Corrected text in introductory section, that stated that the Weave “collapsed or destabilized” to “destabilized or
partially collapsed”, since the Weave still technically held on for the most part.

Moved Kelemvor over to Divine Allies, and added the following text to his entry in newly reorganized Divine Allies
section: “For now, hard-earned trust and work towards keeping an eye on their mutual enemy Cyric keeps the two
deities in regular contact.”

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Added the following text to Sune’s entry in Divine Allies section: “and even more so against Cyric, who offended
Sune during a trial of the gods with an act of strife so heinous to her that she was the first among the deities to battle
Cyric and imprison him following the evil god’s murder of Mystra.”

Added Corellon Larethian to Divine Allies section.

Added Titania to Divine Allies section.

Added Ilsensine to Divine Enemies section.

Added Kiaransalee to Divine Enemies section.

Added Orcus to Divine Enemies section.

Added The Queen of Air and Darkness to Divine Enemies section.

Added Twilitha Daysbreak to Exarchs, based on an easily missed reference of Mystra’s proxy in Planes of Law (2e).

Added symbols to entries in Exarchs section.

Added symbols to entries in Council of Arcana section.

Added Dangun to Council of Arcana section.

Added Eilistraee to Council of Arcana section.

Added Hakiyah to Council of Arcana section.

Added Kuan-ti to Council of Arcana section.

Added O-Kuni-Nushi to Council of Arcana section.

Added Soma to Council of Arcana section.

Added Titania to Council of Arcana section.

Added Verenestra to Council of Arcana section.

Moved indoors description of Mystra’s palace from Seven Stars entry to new House of Arcana entry in Afterlife
section.

Added paragraph about the Magisters’ housing to Seven Stars entry in Afterlife section.

Added boxed text for Adon, Seraph of Magic following the Sanctuary Arcane entry in Afterlife section.

Reorganized text to place “Customs of the Faith” section following the Clergy section.

Added “Plea for Guidance” to the Customs of the Faith section, based on an Ed Greenwood tweet.

https://twitter.com/TheEdVerse/status/1463327395688161283?
fbclid=IwAR2xA6c6HDvDereUPt5rx9Qf7n881ylrRwShombkPRGAnz_Rfzinwa1CSkg

Changed duration of Weave Restoration in Exclusive Spells section from Permanent to Instantaneous, since it is not
an enchantment of the Weave but rather mending the Weave. The 1 minute after-effect is now immune to dispelling.

Added year of occurrence at the beginning of Lovers Reunited entry in Misc. Lore section.

Added The Shadow Weave to Misc. Lore.

19
Added The Magister to Misc. Lore, based on Secrets of the Magister, and an Ed Greenwood tweet.

https://twitter.com/TheEdVerse/status/1264986081012977664

Added Voices In The Weave to Misc. Lore.

Added Weave Anchors to Misc. Lore.

Changes in v1.3a:

Corrected Cyric’s holy symbol.

20