Mystra (MISS-trah)

Overview

Mystra is the goddess of magic, and with that the goddess of possibilities. She is venerated by mages and by those who use magic or magical objects in their daily lives. She also receives the prayers of those who find magic wondrous or encounter magic they fear. Mystra is the goddess of the essential force that makes all spellcasting possible. She provides and tends the Weave, the conduit through which mortal spellcasters and magical crafters can safely access the raw force of magic.
The faith of Mystra is pervasive in Faerûn, which is to be expected for a land as touched by magic as it is. Her worshipers include those who use magic or work closely with it, such as alchemists and sages. The blue-clad priests of Mystran temples count wizards and sorcerers among their numbers, as well as the occasional bard. The goal of Mystra’s faithful is simple: that magic be preserved and promulgated throughout the Realms. It isn’t unusual for her followers to keep an eye out for those who demonstrate high potential for using magic and help arrange for such persons to find tutelage with a suitable mentor.

(Mystra's great power and responsibility is over the "Weave", the source of all magic)

Ethos & Dogma

This incarnation of the Mother of All Magic was quite the opposite of her predecessor, Mystryl. Whereas Mystryl was quixotic and quick to change, Mystra was said to be a manifestation of the Cosmic Balance—maintaining order in the world of magic by correcting great inequalities if things went askew. Indeed, in the wake of the Fall of Netheril, one of her first acts as the Lady of Spells was to ban the use of all magic greater than the ninth level. Among sages and historians, this was known as Mystra's Ban. She was not as concerned with the ethics of Good versus Evil as long as the laws of magic were upheld.
Early in Mystra's tenure, she chose a champion, called the Magister, to wander the Realms, applying the Art as he or she saw fit, choosing enemies that would bring glory to the title. She fully expected that her representative would be challenged and eventually defeated by other mages, only to be replaced by another spellcaster worthy of the office. It was her belief that in this way the Art would be strengthened and improved through conflict and adversity. Toward the end of her reign as the keeper of the Weave, she had grown tired and bitter, fed up with the schemes, maneuverings, and blatant attacks that her preeminent position attracted from every power-hungry being, sycophant, and fawning parasite, for century after century. Her pride in her status, and the kindness and respect she received from those that aided or worshiped her for other than magical gain, kept her hopes alive.

Religious Orders

• Church of Mystra
• Chosen of Mystra
• Children of the Starry Quill
• Order of the Blue Moon
• Order of the Shooting Star
• Knights of the Mystic Fire
• Sisterhood of Silver Fire
• More information coming soon!

(Mystra has gifted many champions of magic a tiny spark of her divine power creating the "Chosen of Mystra")

History & Relationships

Mystra is the third deity to hold the position of Lady of Mysteries and Mother of All Magic since the rise of Netheril. The first was Mystryl, who died saving the Weave from the arrogance of the Netherese archwizard Karsus. The Lady of Mysteries was the first to create the Chosen of Mystra, including Elminster, Khelben, and the Seven Sisters. She died at the hands of Helm during the Time of Troubles while trying to return to the upper planes which was the event that brought about the Spellplague.
Mystra's customary advisors are Azuth, the Lord of Spells, Savras, and Velsharoon. The Mother of Magic also maintains close alliances with the deities of knowledge, such as Oghma, Deneir, and Milil as well as deities of magic from other pantheons, including Corellon Larthian. She despises Cyric with a passion and views Bane with a burgeoning hatred though her chief antagonist is Shar. Shar secretly created the Shadow Weave long ago in response to Selune's creation of Mystryl and the Weave which Shar inadvertently contributed to as well. Mystra sees Shar's action as a direct threat to the integrity of her own Weave and her ties to Selune are strong and growing.

(When Mystra was slain by Helm during the Time of Troubles, the weave convulsed fracturing bringing the Spellplague to Faerûn)

Tenets of Faith

• Love magic for itself, do not treat it just as a weapon to reshape the world
• True wisdom is knowing when not to use magic
• Conduct yourself humbly and be mindful of others
• Seek always to learn and create new magic

(Mystra is the caretaker of all magic through her dominion over the "Weave")

Holy Symbol

(The holy symbol of Mystra)

Statistics

Titles

• The Lady of Mysteries
• The Mother of All Magic
• Mistress of Magic
• Our Lady of Spells
• The Mother of Mystery
• Lady of Magic
• Lady of Might
• One True Spell
• Goddess of Magic
• The Whore (Derogatory)
• The Harlot (Derogatory)

Adjectives

• Mystran

Portfolio and Domains

• Magic
• Spells
• The Weave

Common Worshipers

• Bards
• Wizards
• Arcane Lore Seekers

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Divine Classification

Greater Deity

Alignment

Neutral Good

"I am Mystra. I am the Lady of Might and the Mistress of Magic! I am Power Incarnate! Wherever magic is worked, there am I – from the cold poles of Toril to its hottest jungles, whatever the hand or claw or will that works the sorcery! Behold me and fear me! Yet behold me and love me–as all who deal with me in honesty do. This world is my domain. I am magic, mightiest among all those men worship. I am the One True Spell at the heart of all spells. There is no other.”
— The Mother of All Magic, to young Elminster Aumar