2 prt question.
In the realms it seems like the gods have a certain influence shaping folk, but in turn there seems to be a measure of the folk shaping the gods … if nothing so drastically literal about it as Discworld or even to the extent of Riordan’s stuff
/1 So part 1: what impact on the deity RE their manifestations & the like might be wrought by … say … Tempus finding himself worshipped by several tribes of goblins?
The second part is just trying to understand both the reals power balance of say the Elven god of /2— 🌈Jaye🦄Em🌹Edgecliff🏳️🌈 (@jayeedgecliff) September 30, 2019
Magic (name escapes me) and Mystra, how does that work & what normally is the enticement for a [race] to worship [race’] or [race”]’s gods instead?
Thanks
P.s. hope the surgery went well— 🌈Jaye🦄Em🌹Edgecliff🏳️🌈 (@jayeedgecliff) September 30, 2019
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Hi! The surgery went well, but the recovery will be long (minimum 8 weeks for the sternum to heal).
Right, here we go with Part 1:
If Tempus found himself worshipped by tribes of goblins, he’d send manifestations of his favor 2)
…(weapons appearing out of thin air when needed, warhorn calls to rally or retreat when beneficial to the tribe), and his dream-visions sent to sleeping goblins, and visible-to-all waking visions that appear above goblin…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2019
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…cooking fires or when shamans pray, would show the goblins to themselves executing battle tactics, strategic withdrawals and the like, rather than mob charges and savage but foolish fighting forays. And to other of His… 4)
…faithful, Tempus might send images of goblins fighting under the signs of His favour to show them goblins worship him, and he’s fine with that.
Part 2:
Mystra IS the Weave, and in most cases and at most times controls access…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2019
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…for mortals AND OTHER GODS to the Weave, when attempted by arcane spells (the divine spells used by clerics bypass her and her power, and there are many routes to drawing on the raw energies of the world that are deemed…#Realmslore 6)
…“magic”). In the Seldarine pantheon, all deities USE magic, and the following have portfolios concerned with magic: Alathrien Druanna (runic and conjuration magic); Darahl Firecloak (earth and fire magic);
Kirith Sotheril…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2019
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…(divination and enchantment magic); Mythrien Sarath (mythals); Rellavar Danuvien (magics concerned with cold and protection from the elements); Sarula Iliene (water magic); and Ye’Cind (music-based magics, and enchantments).#Realmslore8)
But the main elven deity concerned with magic is the leader of the Seldarine, Corellon Larethian.
So, Mystra versus Corellon…Corellon is a greater god, and more powerful than most “human pantheon” greater gods because he has…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2019
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…less competition among elven deities, and therefore more concentrated power and authority. But this varies over time, as humans rise in collective power and dominance in the world, and the elves wane (though they surge, and… 10)
…resurge, hence the variances). However, Mystra was THE greatest deity in the setting, because it is magic-rich and she controlled the access of other gods to the swift, massive power of arcane magic (the fastest route to…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2019
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…the most smiting power, among “systems” of magic; divine magic eats at the deity using it, but arcane magic draws from the collective well and so doesn’t erode a god’s power unless mishandled).
I say “was” because this is 12)
…where the Overgod (Ao) comes into play, limiting her power. Mystra further lessened her own power by investing her divine essence (silver fire) in mortals (her Chosen; whereas many deities proclaim mortals “Chosen” who are…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2019
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…their champions or favoured ones or envoys whom they invest with some “superpowers” but can control, Mystra’s Chosen really hold a spark of her divinity within themselves, and so she can destroy them, at the cost of losing 14)
…that essence, but NOT coerce them). This spread out her power and was an insurance policy so that she could arise again, if destroyed, from her scattered sparks of essence. However, every time Mystryl and her successor…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2019
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…Mystras “died” and were replaced (such as by the mortal Midnight), the replacement is less experienced than the predecessor, and hence less capable (because they lack a lot of the magical knowledge and experience of a 16)
…previous Mystra).
Moreover, the nature of Mystra is to increase the access of everyone to magic, mortal or divine; she only acts against those who try to use magic to prevent others from having or wielding magic. So she is…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2019
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…less authoritative and imperious than Corellon, and more generous/accommodating.
So although Mystra is ‘on paper’ mightier than Corellon, it’s not a clear-cut “Mystra beats Corellon” in any situation. Which is a very wordy 18)
…way of saying: the power balance tips back and forth. Most often, their aims and interests are more allied and opposed; disagreements may be over means or style, not end goals, so both deities would be inclined to warn the…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2019
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…other of pitfalls, but let the other try “another means” of doing something, via servitors and mortals, to see which best succeeds.
Which brings us to the most usual enticements for a human to worship Corellon, or an elf to 20)
…worship Mystra. Most often, they are rooted in personal or family gratitude to a deity for their boons/aid to self or family members or allies/fellow adventurers or neighbours, in life.
And always remember, many deities in…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2019
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…the Realms happily share. As in, it’s polytheistic, not monotheistic. Aside from clergy and paladins, devotion to just one deity is unusual, not the norm. Devotion to deity’s of one’s own racial pantheon IS the norm, but22)
…exceptions are many and accepted, not shunned or thought insane or “strange.” If someone said: “Yon (human) wizard holds Corellon dearest, before Mystra,” the response might be: “Oh. What did Corellon do for him, then?”#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2019
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Hope this is of help; Realms forever!!!#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) October 1, 2019