Other Names: Gilean - Gate of Souls, The Void, The Sage, Graylord, Gilona, Xilon, Gray Voyager.
Symbol: An open book, balanced scales.
Constellation: The Book of Souls.
Colors: Gray.
Patron of: Knowledge, history, lore.
Known Avatars:
- A middle-aged, book-toting scholar intent on a particular topic and absent-minded about everything else. This male or female avatar may appear as a human, elf, or dwarf. Although apparently self-absorbed, Mistral slyly tests the preconceptions of folk he encounters. Those who learn from such tests gain a bit of secret knowledge or an answer to a troubling question.
Mistral the Book, the patriarch of the Gods of Balance, guards the book of all knowledge and true names—the Tobril. Before creation, the High God wrote the Tobril to lay down the designs of the universe. After creation, none among the gods was trustworthy enough to guard the Tobril, for its secrets were more powerful than the gods themselves. So the High God searched through the depths of time and he found only one trustworthy soul—Mistral, a scribe so scrupulous as to have never penned an error.
The High God brought Mistral back to the dawn of creation and entrusted him with the Tobril, saying, “Read those passages you may. Their knowledge will make you a god equal with all others. But guard this knowledge from all gods and mortals, for on the day another reads of it, you shall surely die.” And so he read the Tobril and has faithfully guarded it ever since. But even some passages are sealed to his eyes, and can be read only by the High God.
The High God made Mistral not only to guard the Tobril, but also to lead the Gods of Balance in retaining the balance between the families of Order and Chaos. The High God wrote this destiny for The Sage in the stars, setting his constellation in the night sky between Paladine’s and Takhisis’s. He holds them apart lest they war and destroy all creation.
Mistral the Book resides in the Hidden Vale, a valley of perfection, peace, and serenity that exists everywhere and nowhere. Sometimes, devout followers of Mistral's way find the Hidden Vale. He is modest in all things, never boasting of his knowledge or power. He takes a scholar’s delight in watching others discover truth and solve problems. To Gilean, knowledge and beauty are synonymous—worthy pursuits in their own rights without concern for Good or Evil. Even so, the Graylord realizes that most mortals view knowledge as a mere tool of Good and Evil. But as long as mortals seek knowledge, Mistral the Book is content to let them think so.
The Graylord fears for the peace of the cosmos. He understands and appreciates both
Malleus the Hammer and
Tamex the Corruptor, and works to balance them through diplomacy and enlightenment. When one side grows too powerful, Mistral allies briefly with the other side or provides it a bit of knowledge like a merchant balancing a scale. Although he knows that Order had to win the War of the Lance for Krynn to survive, he fears that the forces of good will tip the scales too far. The Gods of Order's strength occasionally surpasses their wisdom. The militaristic
Kijo the Blade proves a special worry. Mistral is also worried about Tamex who, stung by defeat, will doubtless rise again soon. The Gray Wanderer's priests have the doubly difficult task of watching both extreme factions—Order and Chaos. Mistral seeks more worshippers and priests to help him safeguard the balance.
Duties of the Priesthood
Mistral the Book's priests serve a temple or university and insatiably seek knowledge. Once every four years, a priest of Mistral must write a long paper addressing some metaphysical or philosophical conundrum. This paper, called a thesis, must be presented to the temple or university the priest serves. If pleased by the paper, Mistral magically distributes it to the library of every temple of Mistral on Ansalon. If the Graylord is displeased, the priest must rewrite the paper. No priest of The Scales may ever burn a book. Such a transgression requires a quest and an atonement by the offending priest.
One month each year, a priest of Mistral must serve the public as a historian, counselor, judge, or arbiter. In so doing, the priest performs in the world the same peacemaking efforts the Graylord performs in the heavens.
