Malady

Goddess of Knowledge, Teaching, and Magic

The Knowing Arcanum

Revered by seers, sages, and teachers of all walks of life, Malady guided the growth of civilization throughout the Age of Arcanum like sunlight guides the branches of a tree. She is the goddess of knowledge, teaching, and magic, cultivating countless amounts of information and arcana during her long existence. Grievously wounded by the Bloodthirster during the Calamity, and only barely able to recite the rites of banishment to dispel Darkin afterward, her followers are now hunted by agents of her ancient foes as she recovers. Her devout now worships in private, spreading knowledge, philosophy, and lore anonymously through traceless channels.
Malady sits among the infinite library that fills the hidden realm of the Endless Athenaeum, located somewhere within the Astral Plane, her celestial servants cataloging all known things as she inspires those who pray for her insight and guidance. Her Godstone is located within the great Nasai Library in the region of Naset. Within she is depicted with her four limbs and three eyes reciting the rites of banishment to Darkin, her lower half severed by the Taker of Skulls Bhaal early in the battle.

Depiction

Malady's lower half was destroyed in her fight with the Chained Oblivion, it's either now shown as completely gone or slowly regenerating into incorporeal limbs. She possesses four arms under her purple cloak, and a gold mask adorns her face: completely featureless aside from her three eyes.

Enemies

Malady and her worshippers stand against all of the Betrayer Gods, her followers seeking to remind future generations of the dangers of their evils. Of these deities, however, the Knowing Arcanum despises the Whispered One Arkhan for seeking to hide the knowledge that should be shared. In addition the World's Oblivion Darkin for attempting to destroy the rest of the cosmic pantheon (Dunamis, Malady, Xapham), as well as a special hatred for the Bloodthirster Bhaal for nearly destroying her during the Calamity.

Divine Domains

• Arcana
• Eldritch
• Knowledge

Divine Symbols & Sigils

Featureless Mask Aside from Three Eyes.

Tenets of Faith

• Unmask those who seek to destroy Malady. Learn their secrets and unveil them to the world.
• Uphold and teach the importance of reason, perception, and truth in guiding one’s emotions and path. Cultivate this knowledge and spread it to the realms.
• Condemn those who lie without moral cause, for evil folk gain power when their followers obscure the truth. Never stoop to the level of selfish liars.

Holidays

Malady has no public holy day, for her public worship was shattered during the Calamity, and she has since fallen into half-remembered myth. Only in the great Library of Naset has the Forgotten Mentor’s faith been resurrected—though her worship by the intellectuals of the city bears little resemblance to that of the knowledge-seekers of old.

Divine Classification

Goddess

Alignment

True Neutral

Honorary & Occupational Titles

• The Forgotten Mentor
• Lady of Learning
• The All-Seeing Eyes

Gender

Female

Areas of Worship

• Knowledge
• Teaching
• Learning
• Arcane Magic