Milil

Milil

Milil (pronounced: /mɪlˈlɪl/ mil-LILL), also known as the One Who Watches While Music is Alive and the Guardian of Singers and Troubadours, is the good-aligned exarch of Oghma. Before the Era of Upheaval, he was venerated as the Faerûnian deity of song, poetry, eloquence, creativity and inspiration. He is predominantly worshiped by human, elf, and half-elf bards, but also attracts other musically-inclined individuals such as troubadours or poets. As a whole, Milil's ideology represents the concept of a finished thought, as well as the process that takes an idea from conception through to its completion. His ethos teaches to consider the world as a continued process, comparing it to a song that began at birth and finisheds upon their death.

Description

Milil is a consummate performer and possesses a confident, constantly-inspired personality. He possesses an impeccable memory as well as a broad knowledge of lore from across Toril that serves to bolster the facile improvisations of which he is more than capable. However, Milil is also quite egotistical and adores being the center of attention - he is easily bored when this isn't the case. He is also extremely flirtatious, with both mortals and other deities alike.

Appearance

Milil appears as a young, charismatic male with shoulder-length hair, indistinguishable as either human or elf. His clean, handsome good looks are exceeded by a hauntingly beautiful voice. He dresses in the bright, elegantly patterned clothes of a troubadour accented with gold jewelry and other eye-catching decorations.

Powers

Along with his vast knowledge of many magical spells, his favorite school of which is that of charm, Milil's singing voice can destroy any magical silencing effects and pacify any beings within his vicinity. He can masterfully play any instrument and has perfect memory of any song heard by him or any priest in his service. Milil is immune to any spells or effects of a vocal or musical manifestation and, by touch, can cause or confer deafness or the specific knowledge of a song, including exact tune and lyrics so that it may never be forgotten by the recipient.
Milil's favored weapon is Sharptongue, a magical rapier he will, on occasion, lend to mortals performing great quests in his honor. He can also conjure a harp of magical flames, a favored display to demonstrate his divinity.

Manifestations

To signify his approval of artistic work, whether it be a song, epic poem, theatrical performance or the like, Milil conjures a golden-lined image of two dancing hollyphants. This appears out of thin air or, if on parchment, in what seems like glowing yellow ink. Messengers of Milil's influence include songbirds, particularly nightingales, peregrine falcons, calico cats, and white steeds including pegasi. Conjured signs of inspiration include various flowers including peonies, lilies, red or yellow roses, and perfectly formed gemstones. Other signs of his influence include the appearance of hollyphants, aasimar, light aasimons, movanic devas, and solars.
Milil often appears on Toril as haunting music, or a beautiful disembodied male voice, that resonates within woodland clearings. He enjoys planting beneficial visions in the minds of performers and artists who please him, which includes locations of treasure or the whereabouts of long-lost loved ones. Another favored manifestation of Milil is that of a shimmering radiance, emanating from a bard, poet, or other performer who is in the throes of inspiration in the pinnacle of a performance. The sight of this brilliant aura can move audiences to tears, bring them to give generous donations and offerings, or act in blindfold obedience of the performing artist.

Relationships

Deities

As a deity, Milil, along with Deneir and Gond, serve the greater power of Oghma. Despite this shared service, Milil has little in common with Gond, and their relationship is quite strained. Milil is on excellent terms with a number of powerful gods, including Mystra and Sune, and often works closely with Lliira. He is welcome in the elven pantheon as well, and considers Finder Wyvernspur to have some promise, although the feeling is not reciprocated.
He has earned the enmity of Cyric for his ridiculing ballad about the period of madness the Prince of Lies experienced.

Followers

The faith of Milil is an organized group that attracts attractive, sensual, and musically-inclined followers. In addition to their affinity with song and musical instruments, they tend to appreciate good food and wine, the beauty found in both nature and civilized society. The church is primarily comprised of clerics, but also include bards, mystics, and spellsingers.

Orders

Harmonious Order

This group of personable and swaggering paladins encourages bards to accompany them to create ballads based on their exploits taken in Milil's name. 

Dogma

Life is a song, beginning at birth and only silenced with the final chord. Strive always to make the whole song, not just the lyrics and music, more beautiful. Destroy no music or instrument, nor stop a singer before the tune is done. Listen to the world around as well as filling it with your own sound. One singer's music is another's noise, so still no bad music if its making be joyful. Spread the teaching of song and musicianship always. Sing to Milil every day. Music is the most precious thing folk can create—so encourage its training, use, and preservation at all times and in all possible ways. Awaken a love of song in all folk you can, and offer its performance freely around campfire or on the trail. Cease not in your own seeking for new tunes, new techniques, and new instruments to master.