Lathander (lah-THAN-der)

Lathander is a Faerûnian greater god with a vast portfolio including birth, renewal, spring and youth, as well as athletics, self-perfection, vitality and creativity. The Morninglord is symbolized by the rising sun, but rather than being the god of the sun itself, he is the god of dawn, which represented the potential of a new day. A god of hope and beginnings, Lathander's name is invoked at the start of new endeavors, whether sealing a new deal, or setting out on a new journey.
Some saw the Commander of Creativity as the neutral good aspect of Amaunator but the two were considered separate deities again after the Second Sundering.
During his numerous visits to the Great Mother's Garden, Lathander appeared as a giant of a man, to match the size of his lover, Chauntea. His visage radiated bright shine of the morning sun and his hair burned with flaming orange-red fire. Lathander appeared as a handsome young slender muscled human man. His preferred clothes were a set of colorful robes of reds, pinks, and yellows. A red and golden sash embraced the god's waist. He wore golden sandals and left scorch marks everywhere his feet touched the ground. Lathander often floated and liked to materialize in a glorious spectacle of dawn sun beams. His radiant face darkened akin to solar eclipse when the god was angered or upset.

Titles:

The Morninglord
Amaunator*

*Some followers of Lathander insisted that he was in fact the reincarnation of Amaunator, the Netherese god of the sun, which was known as the Risen Sun heresy. Others took this heresy further, claiming that he would take up the mantle of the lawful neutral Amaunator again, and that the transformation from deity of the morning to sun god was imminent.

Personality:

Despite being among the oldest of Faerun's gods, Lathander nonetheless retained the cheery hopefulness of youth. His is an eternal optimism, a constant willingness to focus on hopes for the future rather than wallow in the failures of the present. He is a doggedly determined god who encourages proactive altruism and constant reevaluation of the old ways. Exuberant and friendly, his interests lay in vibrant life (regarding both birth and nature), and conversely urges the destruction of the corrupted mockeries of life that he sees the undead as.
Though liked for his many positive qualities, Lathander also has a reputation for displaying the flaws common to the young, such as zealotry, vanity, and excess. Though enthusiastically altruistic and only slightly vain, it was said by his critics that his aggressive do-gooder mentality often prevented him from taking more sensible courses of action. His headstrong conceit could blind him to the consequences of his actions as in his idealistic crusades he simply attacked directly and hoped for the best, ignoring the ramifications.

Alignment

Neutral Good

Species

Greater God

Church/Cult

Church of Lathander

Sex

Male

Aligned Organization

Church of Lathander

Relationships:

Lathander and Chauntea had been romantically connected for centuries and saw each other as kindred spirits. His allies include Gond, Tymora, Tyr, Torm, Ilmater, Sune, Selûne, Oghma, Kelemvor, and Mielikki. His foes are Cyric, Talos, and Shar. Helm held a great deal of resentment for Lathander, as the latter indirectly caused the death of Helm's lover, Murdane.
Prior to Chauntea, Lathander's paramour was Tyche, an ancient goddess of fortune who later split into Tymora and Beshaba. Tyche and Lathander once observed a birth of a new universe for an entire year while lounging on a space whale's back. The couple watched as a crystal sphere engorged and then split apart, new stars lit inside them. The Morninglord held that memory dear.