House of the Moon

The House of the Moon

The House of the Moon is a temple of Selûne in the city of Waterdeep. It is one of the largest temples in the city.

History

Precursors

One of Waterdeep's oldest faiths is the worship of Selûne, with Selûnites recorded to have worshiped on the side of Mount Waterdeep as early as the Year of the Half Moon, 390 DR, before there even was a city. Later, when Bloodhand Hold dominated the area (482–882 DR), goodly Selûnite lycanthropes formed the Cult of the Howling Moon and assembled in what was later known as the Dancing Court. Though the cult was expelled by Nimoar the Reaver (reigned 482–936 DR), it later returned.
Later, local Selûnites worshiped at the former wizard's tower known as the Plinth, making it the center of their faith in the city. Around the Year of the Dawndance, 1095 DR, they donated the Plinth to the Lords of Waterdeep, after which it became a shrine to all small faiths in the city. Meanwhile, they built the High House of Stars, and commenced worship there in the Year of the Gleaming Crown, 1097 DR. However, in the Year of the Tomb, 1182 DR, it was infiltrated by the Dark Army of the Night, who killed most of the priests, looted the vaults, and burnt it down.

Early History

The House of the Moon was opened for worship in the Year of Soft Fogs, 1188 DR. It became the target of another arson attempt by the Dark Army on the Night of Temple Fires in the Year of the Saddle, 1345 DR, but the priests managed to thwart the attack. The House of the Moon was well established in Waterdeep by the 1350s DR. 

The Time of Troubles

One night during the Time of Troubles of the Year of Shadows, 1358 DR, a purported avatar of Selûne arrived in Waterdeep and summoned the faithful to the House of the Moon. High priestess Naneatha Suaril was there to greet her, and temple guards assembled at the temple doors. The avatar promised the faithful her grace and protection. However, one did not believe her: Luna, the true avatar of Selûne, who'd come with her friend Vajra to see for herself. Vajra had already snuck in and out of the temple to find the Wand of the Four Moons, but with no success. As the mob of worshipers and then the temple guards overwhelmed and subdued Vajra, Luna confronted the avatar and the two engaged in a battle of spells on the steps of the temple. Finally, the priests gave the false avatar the Wand of the Four Moons and she used it to knock out Luna. The temple guards took Luna prisoner at the avatar's direction.
Uncertain of this supposed goddess, the Lords of Waterdeep kept the temple under constant surveillance. Her true identity unknown, Luna was kept as a "special guest"—prisoner—at the House of the Moon for a dozen days. The false Selûne had her completely under her control. Learning of this, Luna's friends Vajra, Kyriani, Onyx, and Timoth resolved to rescue her from the temple.
Onyx and Timoth first infiltrated the temple to find Luna. The dwarf snuck in through a secret hole and a grating, and let the centaur through the door, and they overcame the temple guards. After stealing their priestly robes, the pair tried to pass themselves off as new converts to Uton and another priest. They found the room where Luna had been held, but she was gone. They were then confronted by Naneatha Suaril and the priests; not believing they were friends of Selûne, she accused them of being agents of Shar, goddess of darkness and foe of Selûne, and she left hell hounds to deal with the intruders instead. Onyx and Timoth fought them off and escaped. Continuing on, they eavesdropped on Naneatha and the avatar, before they were ambushed by the Lunatics, elite but insane temple defenders. Smashing a window, the Lunatics took the fight outside, and battled Onyx, Timoth, Vajra, and Kyriani before the temple. The heroes unmasked one of Lunatics, expecting the dark goddess Shar but finding instead a brainwashed Luna! 
Witnessing the battle outside, Naneatha began to question the false Selûne, who soon revealed her murderous intent. Learning that Luna was truly Selûne and that the false avatar was in fact Shar, Naneatha defiantly shoved her off the temple balcony, falling over herself. However, both were saved by Shar's featherfall spell. Shar took out her rage on Naneatha, hurling a meteor swarm; Naneatha somehow diverted the spell, but not before both were knocked unconscious. Her near self-sacrifice bought time for Luna and her friends to escape the temple. Later that night, Luna transformed fully into an avatar of Selûne, and famously battled Shar over the streets of Waterdeep, her light blasting away Shar's darkness. It became a local legend of the faithful that during the Time of Troubles, Selûne battled Shar in Waterdeep, hurling her down amongst the city's spires.

Recent History

In the aftermath of the Time of Troubles, the clergy has grew in strength. To atone for being tricked by Shar, Naneatha launched a crusade against Shar's followers and had driven them out of the city by 1372 DR. Naneatha had also firmly supported the establishment of the Order of the Blue Moon, dedicated to both Selûne and Mystra.

Members

The Church of Selûne in Waterdeep in the mid–14th century DR was led by Priestess of the High Moonlight Naneatha Suaril. She was head of the temple by 1358 DR and maintained this position through 1369 DR and 1372 DR. The temple was staffed with regular priests and priestesses and defended by temple guards, as well as the fanatical Lunatics. During the Time of Troubles, when the false avatar resided there, hell hounds were also kept to deal with intruders.
Circa 1372 DR, the church had 240 members, with 153 humans, 24 half-elves, 24 werecats, 12 elves, 12 halflings, 8 gnomes, and 7 of other races, mostly good lycanthropes. They were clerics, bards, druids, rangers, and sorcerers and wizards. Senior members often became Silverstars. Members of the Order of the Blue Moon regularly attendED the church in the early 1370s DR and made it their base of operations.    Joining the church required a demonstration of understanding of its teachings and a vow of devotion to Selûne. Though there was no fee to join, there were dues of 5 gp per month. Members were expected to follow the tenets of the faith and perform charity work among the needy, poor, or sick, for about 10 hours a tenday.

Abilities of Clergy

Members practice skills in diplomacy and understanding motive, healing, religious lore, and spellcraft and concentration. Those of strong faith can receive a blessing from Selûne, saving them from harm for a minute, when under a moonlit sky between sunset and sunrise. Those who are afflicted lycanthropes can better resist changing shape. Many spellcasting members are initiated into the magical secrets of the church and learn the arts of lunar magic.

Location

The House of the Moon stands in the Sea Ward district of Waterdeep.

Description

The four-story temple complex is constructed of creamy gray stone, with a central hall ringed by lesser domes and tall slender towers of circular or hexagonal plan. Every dome and tower-top is gilt with gold. Sometimes, the whole temple appears entirely golden. Every dome and corner is topped by a spire bearing a crescent moon. A wide stairway leads up to the huge double doors under an arch adorned with more symbols of the moon, and is flanked by smaller arches. Many balconies and large windows look out over the streets. After the events of the Time of Troubles, it had new gates built of ornate design. These depict a triumphant Selûne throwing a defeated Shar down amongst the spires of Waterdeep.

Interior

The main doors lead directly into the main hall. Inside, the temple features creamy white and gray stone walls with arched doorways connecting the chambers. It is lavishly decorated, with pale pink and blue tapestries hung on the walls and carpets of matching hues. Large urns stand in some corners and on plinths and tables. The moon and its phases are depicted everywhere, from over the arches to along the walls and even in gratings.
One room is set aside for "special guests", but is in effect a prison cell, with bare stone walls and spartanly furnished with a wooden bed, desk, and bench. During the Time of Troubles, Luna was an unwilling guest here, and drew the phases of the moon above the bed to mark off the days. The high priestess's quarters lay on the highest floor of the temple, in a tower atop the main dome. It is furnished with an elegant chaise longue. During the Time of Troubles, Naneatha gave up this room to the supposed avatar of Selûne.

Relics

The temple housed the original Wand of Four Moons, the weapon of Selûne, by 1358 DR. It was stored in a large sky-blue case adorned with pale-yellow images of the phases of the moon. However, by 1369 DR, it had been replaced with a replica. This replica had been created and blessed by Selûne herself to commemorate her battle with Shar in the city during the Time of Troubles in 1358 DR. Identical in appearance, it levitates within a glass case guarded by a silverstar priest and radiates a soft, silvery-blue light. It has no other powers, but some lucky pilgrims see it drip Selûne's essence or might hear the goddess whisper inspiring or helpful words. When Selûne manifests in the temple, she emerges from this replica. It is said to contain some of her power. It is claimed by some that Naneatha can, with a plea to the goddess, summon the real Wand of Four Moons in place of the replica and wield it with its full power. Selûnite pilgrims come to the temple to see this holy relic.

Dress

The House of the Moon is known to have the most grandiose ceremonial vestments of Selûne's church. Naneatha Suaril presided over ceremonies in a majestic gold-hued dress with a wide-bottomed hooped skirt and a great fan-like collar ascending from the back of her neck, both stiffened with whalebone, all set with clusters of pearls and precious stones. Even lesser priestesses wore robes of silver. Regular priests wear pale-blue robes with short capes circling back and chest with a circle-design around the edge. These priests wear silver crescent moons on their foreheads. 
For armor, the temple guards wear chainmail vests and leggings with plate shoulder guards, armbands, bracers, breastplates, greaves, belts, and waist-guards, in silvery and golden hues. Their heads are protected by conical helms with chainmail neck guards. Helms, bracers, and waist-guards are adorned with a crescent moon symbol. With their armor, they wear red cloaks, but they can also don a priest's pale-blue robes over their armor. For weaponry, they carry unique polearms topped with crescent-moon blades.

Activities

At the temple, priestesses play odes to the moon upon their harps. Others sell healing draughts and potions that bestow various benefits, such as granting infravision from dusk to dawn or keeping the imbiber alert throughout the night while receiving the benefits of a good sleep. The temple also provides cures and healing. 
The annual temple holiday of Selûne's Hallowing celebrates the moon, stars, and navigation. The main ceremony is a parade of the faithful, who leave the House of the Moon at moonrise and journey through the streets down to the harbor. High Priestess Naneatha Suaril bore the replica Wand of Four Moons at the head of this parade. The temple also holds a festival on the Feast of the Moon.

Reputation

The House of the Moon is known to be the greatest, and certainly the most opulent and beautiful, of the temples to Our Lady of Silver. It is the center of much moon-related activity in and around Waterdeep.

Notable Members

• Priestess of the High Moonlight Naneatha Suaril
• Kyriani Agrivar
• Lady Alathene Moonstar
• Feluna Moonstar 
• Acolyte Respen
• Uton

Type

Cathedral / Great temple