Talona

Talona

Talona (pronounced: /tɑːˈloʊnɑː/ tah-LO-nah), called the Lady of Poison, Mistress of Disease, and Mother of All Plagues, is the goddess of poison and disease. Talona is depicted as an old crone who brings misfortune and death. On the other hand, she can also be depicted as a beautiful and innocent woman.

Divine Realm

Talona's realm is known as the Palace of Poison Tears. Under the Great Wheel cosmology, it was located in the jungle-covered orbs of Cathrys, Carceri's second layer, known for its poisonous vegetation. Under the World Tree cosmology, this realm was located in the Barrens of Doom and Despair.

History

In -33 DR, a demipower named Kiputytto tried to challenge Talona for her portfolio. The conflict that ensued devastated the nation of Asram with terrible plagues, forcing its citizens to provide Talona devotional power in hopes that she would lessen the plague's effects. Talona ultimately won the conflict and shortly afterwards murdered Kiputytto. In the years that followed, texts would be written that referred to the latter deity as an alias of hers, further cementing Kiputytto's defeat. During the Time of Troubles, a formula to the concoction known as the Chaos Curse was indirectly given to the evil wizard Aballister Bonaduce by an avatar of Talona.

Relationships

Deities

Prior to the Time of Troubles, Talona was a servant of Bhaal and had a heated rivalry with her fellow servant Loviatar. During that time, she was often teased and tormented by her. Mocked for her appearance, the size of her portfolio, and her small number of followers. She would occasionally provide aid to adventurers of good alignments if she viewed their goals as something that would damage Loviatar's reputation.
Circa 1369 DR, she developed an alliance with the deity Shar. She despises Chauntea, Mielikki, Kelemvor, and Tyr. She disliked Ilmater for the cures he found.

Worshipers

Her priests, known collectively as Talontar, typically wear ragged gray-green robes. Though they wash these vestments, they never repair them. Older and high-ranking members of her priesthood tend to either ritually scar or tattoo their bodies all over. When embarking on a battle or dangerous adventure, a follower of Talona will often don armor of a black and purple hue that is adorned with a variety of spurs, horns, and spikes.
Her followers, sell various poisons, antidotes, and medicines. When not doing so, they are known to travel across Faerûn, seeking out new diseases or afflictions while also spreading rumors about Talona in hopes of boosting her reputation.
Talontar devote much of their lives to building up an immunity to various diseases and poisons, by means of both inoculation and magic. Because of this, they often treat those afflicted with disease, or bury their bodies. They also tend to be hired by paranoid members of high society, such as wealthy merchants or rulers, to test their food for any poison.

Orders

Followers of Plague

This group experiences pain as if it were pleasure. They believe death is more powerful than life, though they are equal in balance. They follow the dictum to work in her name and let their doings be subtle or spectacular

Plague Rats

An elite group of assassins, thieves, and wererats that operate throughout the North and the Western Heartlands

Temples

The House of Night's Embrace is Talona's largest church in Faerun - located in Tashluta.