Lathander, the Dawnbringer
Lathander is a Faerûnian greater god with a vast portfolio including birth, renewal, spring and youth, as well as athletics, self-perfection, vitality and creativity. The Morninglord is symbolized by the rising sun, but rather than being the god of the sun itself, he is the god of dawn, which represents the potential of a new day. A god of hope and beginnings, Lathander's name is invoked at the start of new endeavors, whether sealing a new deal, or setting out on a new journey.
Some saw the Commander of Creativity as the neutral good aspect of Amaunator but the two were considered separate deities again after the Second Sundering.
Description
His visage radiates bright shine of the morning sun and his hair burns with flaming orange-red fire or the golden light of the sun itself. Lathander always appears as a handsome young man. His preferred clothes are a set of colorful robes of reds, pinks, and yellows, often light and breezy. A red and golden sash embraces the god's waist. He's known to wear golden sandals that leave scorch marks everywhere his feet touch the ground. However, Lathander often likes to materialize in a glorious spectacle of dawn sun beams, and hovers above the ground, his feet never touching the ground. It is unclear whether this is due to his flair for theatrics or if he is mindful of not burning the ground he walks on. His radiant face darkens akin to solar eclipse when the god was angered or upset.Perceived Personality
Despite being among the oldest of Faerun's gods, Lathander nonetheless retains the cheery hopefulness of youth. His was an eternal optimism, a constant willingness to focus on hopes for the future rather than wallow in the failures of the present. He is a doggedly determined god who encourages proactive altruism and constant reevaluation of the old ways. Exuberant and friendly, his interests lay in vibrant life (regarding both birth and nature), and conversely urges the destruction of the corrupted mockeries of life that he saw the undead as. Though liked for his many positive qualities, Lathander also has a reputation for displaying the flaws common to the young, such as zealotry, vanity, and excess. Though enthusiastically altruistic and only slightly vain, it is said by his critics that his aggressive do-gooder mentality often prevents him from taking more sensible courses of action. His headstrong conceit could blind him to the consequences of his actions as in his idealistic crusades he simply attacks directly and hopes for the best, ignoring the ramifications.Worship
Lathanderian religion is quite structured in comparison to many others. Novices in the Lathanderian faith are called the Awakened, while clerics were known as Dawnbringers. The full priests took a new name in his service when they were ready to signify that Lathander personally recognized and accepted them. This new name could either be used instead of their old name or simply used only when addressing other Dawnbringers and when in solitary prayer. Titles used by Dawnbringers (in ascending order) are: Dawngreeter, Dawnlord, High Dawnlord, Dawnmaster, Morninglord, High Morninglord, Mornmaster, High Mornmaster, and Sunrise Lord. Specialty priests were also known as morninglords or Dawnchasers.Holy Days and Rituals
The Song of the Morning, or Song of Dawn, is sung in Lathanderian temples on certain days throughout the year, notably on the mornings of Midsummer and the vernal and autumnal equinoxes. The elegant song honours Lathander with an intricate combination of choral harmonies. The holiday of Rhyestertide celebrated in Waterdeep is held in honor of Rhyester, Lathander's first prophet. Another Waterdhavian festival called Sornyn is observed by both the Lathanderian and Waukeenar clergies of the city. It is a blessed occasion to forge new business agreements, formalize pacts and contracts, build relations with foreign entities, and interestingly enough, overindulge in wine and other drink. Most Lathanderians celebrate the Festival of Fiery Night, a night-long revel that is to many little more than an excuse to get exceedingly drunk.Factions
“The Netherese of old knew Amaunator, the great sun lord, whose light and order filled the world for an age. We know him now as Lathander...Just as the sun brightens while it climbs into the sky, so will Lathander's glory and radiance grow as he resumes the glory and mastery that were his of old.” — Sunmaster Andar, espousing beliefs of the Risen Sun.Within the greater church was a faction that believed Lathander was in fact the reincarnation of the Netherese god Amaunator. This divine theory led to the rise of the Risen Sun heresy, the belief that Lathander would transform into a resurrected Amaunator within a matter of years. Yet others subscribed to the Three-Faced Sun belief, that the sun itself was trisected overdeity—that comprised the three aspects of dawn, highsun, and dusk—only two of which could be witnessed by mortals at any given time. To these individuals, Lathander supplanted Amaunator as the aspect of dawn and became dominant over highsun and dusk. Opinions differed on whether Lathander or another deity would ascend as the aspect of highsun, and what would become of the aspect of dawn. Most factions of the Amaunator worship believe that Lathander is a pretender god trying to usurp the throne of the old Sun God.
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