> [!infobox]+ Avandra > <div class="infobox-coat-of-arms"> > <div style="text-align: center; padding: 5px;"> > <div class="character-name-container"><div class="character-main-name">Avandra</div><div class="character-epithet">the Changebringer</div></div> > </div> > </div> > <div style="text-align: center; padding: 0.2em;"> > <img src="AvandraSymbol.png" alt="Avandra" style="max-width: 250px; height: auto;" class="internal-image"> > </div> > <table class="infobox-table"> > <tr><td class="infobox-label">Province</td><td class="infobox-data">Goddess of Change, Freedom and Luck. Seen by some as the matron <a href="Deities.md" class="internal-link">deity</a> of <a href="Halflings.md" class="internal-link">Halflings</a></td></tr> > <tr><td class="infobox-label">Alignment</td><td class="infobox-data">Chaotic Good</td></tr> > <tr><td class="infobox-label">Symbol</td><td class="infobox-data">A woman's profile embossed on a gold amulet or coin</td></tr> > <tr><td class="infobox-label">Holy Day</td><td class="infobox-data">New Dawn, 28^th Godsnight</td></tr> > <tr><td class="infobox-label">Type</td><td class="infobox-data">Greater <a href="Deities.md" class="internal-link">Deity</a></td></tr> > <tr><td class="infobox-label">Home Plane</td><td class="infobox-data">Avandra calls no domain in the planes her residence, instead eternally wandering through the Outer Planes where serenity can be found, distantly watching over the potential of mortals</td></tr> > <tr><td class="infobox-label">Divine Champion</td><td class="infobox-data"><em>Not Known</em></td></tr> > </table> ### About Also known as “She Who Makes the Path,” Avandra champions freedom, travel, trade, and adventure across the lands. Her will heralds open frontiers, and her call beckons her followers to discover that which awaits them beyond the known. There are few urban temples dedicated to the Changebringer, but her shrines are often found along well-travelled roads and off the beaten path. Her worship is common among merchants, free spirits, and adventurers, and tavern cheers celebrate her as a bringer of luck and fortune. ### Depiction The Change Bringer is often depicted as a young woman of dark complexion and long, light brown hair that cascades to form the road left behind her. Most art shows her in constant motion, ever leading into the unknown. ### Divine Domains Many of the Changebringer's clerics are granted powers of Moon, Nature or Trickery. ### Holy Day Avandra's holy day takes place on the last day of the last month, when the old year gives way to the new. In eastern [[Eprya]], people celebrate by having a feast on the shore at dusk to watch the sunset. They feast and discuss their hopes for the new year until the sun rises. In [[Aekacira (Country)|Aekacira]], this day marks the start of a new contract year at the [[Golden Scales]] of [[Zhavrin's Gate]]. ### Commandments of Avandra - Luck favours the bold. Your fate is your own to grasp, and to do so is to have the Change Bringer behind you. - Change is inevitable. The righteous can ensure that such change is for the better. - Rise against tyranny. Fight for the freedom of yourself and others when you can, and inspire others to fight when you cannot. ### History - #### The Age of Founding Some speculate that Avandra was responsible for the creation of [[Halflings]], thus is seen by some as their patron [[Deities|deity]]. Instilled in every [[Halflings|Halfling]] today is a sliver of the Changebringer's luck, which they can call upon daily. Avandra chose not to create her own realm to call home and to offer to the souls of her followers. Instead choosing to invite the souls of her most devout to join her on her journeys across the planes of existence. Most of these souls would find a place to settle eventually. She remained neutral when arcane magic was bestowed upon mortals, though did defend the decision when the [[Betrayer Gods]] pushed for [[Aeborhia|the world]] to be razed and the gods to start again. - #### The Age of Arcanum Avandra had little to do with the magical and technological advances during the [[Age of Arcanum]]. With most mages renouncing the gods during this magical age, those without magic turned to the [[Prime Deities]] more than ever. Avandra continued to stand for those who needed luck and freedom. - #### The Dawn-War Avandra is known to be the sworn enemy of the [[Betrayer Gods|Betrayer God]] [[Asmodeus]]. It's said that during the [[Dawn-War]], her Vestiges of [[Divergence|Vestige of Divergence]], the [[Kiss of the Changebringer]] was stolen from her neck by [[Asmodeus]] himself. Avandra defeated [[Asmodeus]] by tricking his armies into attacking one another. [[Asmodeus]]' betrayal of [[Raei]] earlier in the war led to a close bond between the followers of the two goddesses, with some divine scholars speculating that Avandra was the one that nursed [[Raei]] back to health. - #### Post Dawn-War After the [[Dawn-War]], with the [[Betrayer Gods]] sealed away, Avandra joined the other [[Prime Deities]] in leaving the [[Material Plane]] for good. She now drifts between outer planes, watching over the mortals she comes by. ### Modern Worship of Avandra In the modern age, the worship of Avandra remains lively yet scattered, flourishing most strongly among [[Halflings]] who honour her as patron of luck, freedom, and bold living. Shrines and modest temples to the Changebringer can be found in nearly every city, often tucked between busy markets or along the edges of taverns and gambling halls. The largest of these temples can be found in [[Ciderhall]], [[Aekacira (Country)|Aekacira]]. Her faith is unbound by hierarchy, each temple follows its own traditions under the guidance of local priests or priestesses, with little communication beyond chance meetings or shared travellers. Amulets of Avandra, often simple coins or charms marked with her symbol, are a common sight among gamblers, rogues, and wanderers who trust in her blessing for fortune's favour and safe passage. Her worship is not about rigid doctrine, but about embracing the risks of life with courage and delight. ### Known Worshippers of Avandra #### Champions Elkush † - A champion of Avandra. After the [[Dawn-War]], he led a group of [[Yuan-Ti]] slaves to freedom and they founded a colony in [[Togas]]. #### Other Worshippers [[Ilaphe]] - A member of [[Group 8274]], guided the survivors of the [[Togas]] colony to safety near Rexsall, known to them as 'Elkush'.