> [!infobox]+ Ioun > <div class="infobox-coat-of-arms"> > <div style="text-align: center; padding: 5px;"> > <div class="character-name-container"><div class="character-main-name">Ioun</div><div class="character-epithet">the Knowing Mistress</div></div> > </div> > </div> > <div style="text-align: center; padding: 0.2em;"> > <img src="IounSymbol.png" alt="Ioun" 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 Knowledge, Learning and Teaching</td></tr> > <tr><td class="infobox-label">Alignment</td><td class="infobox-data">Neutral</td></tr> > <tr><td class="infobox-label">Symbol</td><td class="infobox-data">A pair of opened eyes crowned with a third open eye</td></tr> > <tr><td class="infobox-label">Holy Day</td><td class="infobox-data"><em>Not Known</em></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">Ioun sits among the infinite library that fills the hidden realm of the Endless Athenaeum, her celestial servants cataloguing all known things as she inspires those who pray for her insight and guidance.</td></tr> > <tr><td class="infobox-label">Divine Champion</td><td class="infobox-data"><em>Not Known</em></td></tr> > </table> ### About Revered by seers, sages, and teachers of all walks of life, Ioun guided the growth of civilization throughout the [[Age of Arcanum]] like sunlight guides the branches of a tree. Grievously wounded by [[Tharizdun]] during the [[Dawn-War]], her followers are now hunted by agents of her ancient foes as she recovers. Her devout now worship in private, spreading knowledge, philosophy, and lore anonymously through traceless channels. Exceptions to this are the agents of the S.B.I. The Stacien Bureau of Investigation are an independent group of investigators, spies and archivists that seek to reveal truth at all costs. Most members aren't zealous worshipers of Ioun, but still pay homage to her in some form. Another exception is her temple in [[Rexsall]], one of the only places in [[Stacia]] where her followers can worship her in peace, knowing they will be safe in [[Bahamut|Bahamut's]] city. ### Depiction Common representations show the Knowing Mentor as a greying, mature woman with a welcoming, matronly smile. Her olive skin is weathered and wrinkled around her almond shaped eyes with purple irises. She wears blue and white robes that tumble out from her form in tendrils of parchment. ### Divine Domains Many of the Knowing Mistress' clerics are granted powers of Arcana, Knowledge or Twilight. ### Holy Day Ioun has no public holy day, for her public worship was shattered during the Calamity, and she has since fallen into half-remembered myth. Those in [[Rexsall]] try to worship her in a traditional manner, but with no living worshippers from that age, it has not always been accurate to what it was. Though it is called Mentor's Grace, the day of graduation and thanks for teachers is not a direct holy day. No religious ceremonies are had. ### Commandments of Ioun - Unmask those who would destroy Ioun. Learn their secrets and unveil them to [[Aeborhia|the world]]. - Uphold and teach the importance of reason, perception, and truth in guiding one's emotions and path. - 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. ### History - #### The Age of Founding When the gods landed on [[Aeborhia]], Ioun had no desire to create life. Instead she chose to guide it, showing mortals the way of sharing knowledge, and imbuing sentient beings with the desire for knowledge. Ioun constructed the rites used by all the other gods to seal away [[Tharizdun]] in the [[Abyss]], a deed he never forgot. When the secrets of arcane magic was bestowed upon mortals, Ioun took it upon herself to help those understand it's potential. Both as a weapon to defend against the [[Primordials]], and as a tool for life to progress. During the [[Age of Founding|Schism]], Ioun did not fight many battles. Instead choosing to teach mortals more powerful means of protecting themselves with arcane magic. In fear that the [[Prime Deities]] may lose this war, she granted some mortals the knowledge of spell creation. - #### The Age of Arcanum It was under Ioun's guidance that magical knowledge flourished. Magocracies were formed, with independent flying cities becoming the superpowers of [[Aeborhia|the world]]. Ioun, alongside [[Corellon]] were scolded by the other gods when the mage, who's name is now wiped from memory, constructed rites to challenge another god and successfully take it's place in the Pantheon. This mage stood against and destroyed the now forgotten god of death, fate and winter, taking his place over all of these dominions as the Raven Queen. [[Corellon]] and Ioun were quick to destroy these rites, like the Raven Queen had done, they wiped the knowledge from memory, and hid it deep within Ioun's realm, the Endless Athenaeum. They were unsuccessful with removing the memory from one mage however, an Archmage who's true name is also lost to history. The mage who would later go on to become the Archlich and god, [[Vecna]]. - #### The Dawn-War During the [[Dawn-War]], aspects of [[Tharizdun]] started to leak from the [[Abyss]]. With the ancient shackles holding him back weakening, he managed to send a small aspect of his divinity to the [[Material Plane]] to fight the [[Prime Deities]]. Ioun led the charge against the [[Tharizdun|Chained Oblivion]], giving herself as bait. Even though [[Tharizdun]] only sent a small aspect of himself, it was enough to gravely wound Ioun. Luckily, [[Pelor]] arrived in time and together, the [[Pelor|Dawnfather]] and Knowing Mistress completed the Rites of Banishment and sealed [[Tharizdun]] away again. Though Ioun remained injured, some believing she will never recover until the [[Tharizdun|Chained Oblivion]] is destroyed forever. During a part of the [[Dawn-War]] known as the [[Crusades of Dawn|Second Crusade of Dawn]], [[Pelor]] again was going through [[Betrayer Gods|Betrayer God]]'s one by one banishing them. It was during this time that the Archlich [[Vecna]] ascended to godhood, using rites of his own making, which tore open a new place in the Pantheon rather than displacing another god. Some scholars believe he learned the beginnings of them from the mage who became the Raven Queen, though none can say for certain. Feeling responsible, Ioun wished to join [[Pelor]] and the Raven queen in attacking [[Vecna]] at his fortress in the [[Shadowfell]]. Though she ended up missing the battle due to her injuries, [[Vecna]] was banished to the [[Astral Sea]]. - #### Post Dawn-War Ioun, like the rest of the [[Prime Deities]], left the [[Material Plane]]. She returned to her library in the Endless Athenaeum and is still recovering from her wounds. She is rarely worshipped in [[Aeborhia]] now, due to most of her followers being killed in the [[Dawn-War]]. ### Modern Worship of Ioun Today, fewer than a hundred people still honour her, though most are drawn more by her story and legacy than by active devotion. The only standing temple to Ioun sits in [[Rexsall]], maintained not by priests but by volunteers who preserve her memory. The day known as “Mentor's Grace” is associated with her influence on learning and wisdom, but it was never a holy day - it serves instead as a day of graduation and giving thanks to teachers. ### Known Worshippers of Ioun #### Champions #### Other Worshippers