Mystra (MISS-trah)

(a.k.a. The Lady of Mysteries / Mother of All Magic)

Mystra is a busy and devoted deity. She provides and tends to the Weave, the conduit that allows mortal spellcasters and users of magic to safely access the raw force that is magic. Essentially, Mystra is the Weave. As the goddess of magic, she is also the deity of the possibilities that magic can bring about, making her one of the most powerful beings involved with Toril. Although she is good and has the ability to prevent the creation of new spells and magic items that her philosophy opposes, she rarely exerts this ability unless the creation could threaten the Weave or the balance of magic in general.

Religion

Mystra’s church preserves magical lore in secret and hidden places so that magic would continue and flourish in the future even if the dominant races of Faerûn were to fall. Its members also search out those skilled in magic or who have the potential to use it. Her clerics are encouraged to explore magical theory and create new spells and magic items. Sites dedicated to the goddess are enhanced by the Weave to allow any spell cast by her clerics while in one of those sites to have one metamagic effect without the requisite need to use a higher-level spell slot (the metamagic effect ends if the target of the spell leaves the site). Mystra honors the commitments that some members of her clergy made to the previous goddess of magic (who was lawful neutral). They have not been forced to leave the clergy due to alignment differences.

Clerics

Clerics of Mystra pick one time of day or night to consistently pray for spells. They celebrate the 15th day of Marpenoth, the anniversary of the ascension of the current Mystra from her mortal form, but otherwise have few calendar-related rituals, focusing more on a personal style of worship. Her clerics usually multiclass as some sort of arcane spellcaster.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Mystra was once a mortal wizard named Midnight. She assumed the fallen Mystra’s portfolio and divinity during the Time of Troubles. Her allies are the deities of knowledge, Mystra’s customary advisor (Azuth), Selûne (creator of the deity Mystryl, later called Mystra), and Kelemvor, whom she knew as a man when she was a mortal