Divine Spark

Divine sparks are a fairly unknown aspect of the Everplanes. It is believed to be an object of near limitless divine power that contains the essence of divinity.

History

In the beginning, when the everplanes was born from the battle between Shar and Selune, the was only primordial energy in the world. Their battle laid the foundations for what the Everplanes would become, including other gods through the creation of Divine Sparks from this primordial energy.
They were scattered throughout the Everplanes, most taken up by other gods through the Era of Creation, though some remained lost in the universe to be later found. After the Era of Creation, some mortals managed to get their hands on Divine Sparks themselves, becoming ascended beings.

Ascension

The acquisition of a Divine Spark would allow any being to ascend to godhood. Depending on the strength of the individual, this could lead to widely varied results.
Before the Divine Lattice surrounded the Prime Material plane, deities could roam freely, which allowed ascended beings to have much more power. After the cataclysm however, deities true forms could no longer enter the Prime Material, meaning mortal ascension has become much rarer, and if it were to happen, they may be under the same restraints as the other gods.

Sparks after death

A Divine Spark would remain after a gods death. It was believed that the Spark of a dead divine being would contain properties of its previous form. Domains may linger to be adopted by a new ascended being, and in some cases (like Mystra), the name and worshippers of a god would continue to the new form.

Creating a Spark

It is possible to create a spark though the method is nearly impossible to replicate. The spell was known as the Rite of Ascension, and it has been cast on a couple of occasions. This ritual is now locked away and entrusted to Ioun, The Knowing Mistress, though some may still try to replicate it.
Those who managed to cast it successfully ascended to divinity soon after. 
See Vecna, The Whispered One or The Raven Queen.

Type

Metaphysical, Divine