The Arcanist

The Deity of Magic

The deity of Magic has gone by many names over the centuries- worshiped by any culture with an understanding of magic. At this point in history, however, they are understood nearly world-wide as the same being- The Deity of the Weave, Vundath. Even the gnomes, who still use their archaic name Dahgmer, understand this to be the same being elves and humans call Vundath. The only difference is that they view them as a female deity. This deity is the guardian of the weave of magic and their job is maintaining it and stopping anyone who might abuse it in ways that threaten the world. The world has never lacked in ambitious, power-hungry figures, and those with an intellect to match that ambition will almost always be drawn to the arcane as the highest power they can wield. Vundath and their servants act as a check to these people and try to reduce the damage they might cause in their quest for power and knowledge. They have imposed many limitations on mortals in order to protect the weave's structural integrity but have had mixed success in this. For the past two thousand and a half years (since the Event) the weave has been a huge mess that servants of Vundath have been attempting to mend.

Vundath of the Common Pantheon

Portfolio: Arcane Magic, The Weave,
Domains: Knowledge, Arcana, Forge
Alignment: NG
Alias/s: Master of the Weave
Symbol: Tulip, Hand & Star
Vundath, taken from the elvish pantheon, is the keeper of the weave of magic. He is like an administrator, controlling what magical knowledge is to be known and what is to be remain hidden to mortals for their safety. It was he who limited the level of power mortals are capable of achieving. At the same time, Vundath is a researcher and it is said even he does not know all secrets of the weave. He is still continuously studying it and learning new information, some of which can be traded to mortals who have conducted their own novel research that peaks his interest. There are many myths that pit Vundath against Vanar, goddess of secrets and she who gifted mortals the knowledge of necromancy. Vundath has seen her as his mortal enemy ever since. Ever since The Event occurred, Vundath is said to have become incredibly reclusive and very very rarely interacts with his most devout in any way- generally only to prevent possible arcane disasters. Some claim that one reason he has become reclusive is that he is still consumed by the long drawn-out process of repairing the weave of magic and the veils between the worlds after The Event. There are still many open wounds both in the veil of the ethereal plane and the seams of the weave. Arcanists in general have almost entirely lost his trust after this occurrence nearly ripped both the world and planar system apart- especially his trust of both humans and elves. Others think he has become reclusive out of shame- shame that he was unable to protect the weave and prevent the Event from happening in the first place.

Vundath of the Elvish Pantheon

Portfolio: Magic & Secrets
Domains: Arcana, Knowledge, Order
Alignment: LG
Alias/s: The Spell Weaver
Symbol: Wand with Three Stars
Vundath is an ancient elven deity with multiple conflicting origin stories. The prevailing myth is that he has existed as long as the weave of magic, created by Ceralae to maintain it's integrity and keep unruly spellcasters from manipulating it in corruptive or damaging ways. In another myth he was a mortal who was the first elf to tap into the weave after watching how the dragons did it, and taught this knowledge to other elves. Either way, he is a patron of spellcasters and arcanists, those who dare to experiment with the unknown and risk potential devastation all in search of understanding. He is a holder of many secrets- magical knowledge which if put into the wrong hands could end entire civilizations. His most devout are often charged with tracking down rogue spellcasters with knowledge and magical artifacts that are too dangerous (usually given to them by Vanar) and attempting to subdue them and contain the offending spellbook or magic item. Spellcasters who reach too high and try to rival the gods themselves in arcane power must be stopped, as history has shown time and again. One of the worst perpetrators of this were the followers of Vanar, a goddess who began as Vundath’s underling in charge of dispensing Arcane knowledge. In some stories she was his sister- often a twin like Elyra & Arthfael. When she gave mortals knowledge of necromancy, Vundath was forced to take over her former job of facilitating knowledge while she fled to the shadowfell.
Vundath is very particular about which of his devout are worthy of any tutelage he has to give. He is said to be under Ceralae’s wing, and in some cases, must consult with her or the archivist Izumir, before releasing certain arcane secrets into the mortal population. Though much magic can fall into morally gray areas that Vundath does not feel inclined to judge one on- seeking arcane knowledge purely to wield power over others is a disgraceful act and one worthy of punishment. There are hidden vaults around the world where powerful and dangerous artifacts and tomes are kept and guarded for the protection of the world and the weave of magic. It is said that Vundath is responsible for weakening the minds of mortals so that they are incapable of remembering spells past the ninth level of power, severely limiting what mortals are capable of casting. This was a result of the mages who nearly destroyed the world 2500 years prior.
Though most of Vundath’s followers work in spheres of magical academia- mostly scholarly wizards- some also come in the form of natural born sorcerers trying to understand what they are and how they came to be. Vundath is fascinated by these enigmas who tap into the weave as if it were instinct while most others must study for years just to accomplish the smallest arcane feats. Most elves think sorcerers are Vundath’s chosen ones and hold a great destiny. He often has disdain for the warlocks and occasionally clerics of other gods that gain their gifts and abilities from higher powers without understanding the underlying machinations. There are no known clerics of Vundath, as he has a strong code of learning what you earn through rigorous study.

Dahgmer of the Gnomish Pantheon

Portfolio: Magic, Experimentation, Cosmology
Domains: Arcana, Knowledge
Alignment: N
Alias/s: The Arch-Mage
Symbol: Two crossed wands, black and white
Dahgmer is the goddess of magic and spellcasters to the gnomes, and not really so different from Vundath of the elves and humans. Plenty of scholarly gnomes consider them the same deity, more or less. Dahgmer is a female as opposed to the male persona Vundath is known for. Dahgmer is a goddess of arcane learning and experimentation but also of the study of the other planes and the machinations of the world- the underlying network of cogs that bind the material, the magic, and even the spiritual. Followers of Dahgmer are usually wizards who study the weave of magic but they also study how it is that other people, like bards or sorcerers and even clerics are able to access and do magic of their own. Dahgmer was said to be the patron deity of the lost gnomish homeland of Gulthar- that her guidance is what led them to be the only ones capable of standing up to the goddess Eresh when she enslaved the world. Much of the magic and technology she supposedly gifted them was lost when Eresh destroyed them, but many still seek out this lost knowledge by pillaging the ruins or searching the other planes of existence, as plane-shifting was what Gultharian gnomes were most known for. It seems that since the Event, and actually even before then (after the fall of Gulthar) Dahgmer because increasingly stingy with the magic knowledge she was willing to impart on her followers. It is claimed that she does this for their own protection and out of fear that history could repeat itself with various groups fighting over magical knowledge or to keep one group from becoming too powerful. Being a follower of Dahgmer is understanding that there is a limit one must not breech on their path to power or enlightenment, or she will swiftly take actions necessary to neutralize them for the greater good.

TEMPLES OF THE ARCANIST

The largest temples to The Arcanist are located in the following places.

• Mianith (capital of Astrithyr)
• Sylan (Astrithyr)
• Ilzhara (Va'Sehir)
• Kharo'jhan (Capital of Va'Sehir)
• Leyline (Namiza)
• Yersek (Kardath)
• Azanrul (Stronghold of Azan)
• Emenna (Namiza)
• Darweilm (Geddri)
• Tisenga (Luxumu)

Worshipers

Worshipers of the Arcanist are almost always scholars, wizards, and artificers. Occasionally you might find a bard worshiper or a sage of magical history and cosmology instead of an actual practitioner, but overwhelmingly this deity is worshiped by those who study and want to learn arcane magic. Of course it's not only the academics who would like to possess magic abilities and turn to worship of the Arcanist as a result. Some are tricksters or fighters who want to supplement their usual hobbies with some magic. Some sorcerers may also worship this deity in hopes of discovering why they have their natural gifts. Clerics and Paladins of this god are nearly unheard of, save perhaps among the elves of Astrithyr. The Arcanist is known for making one earn their knowledge, so it is not likely they would just gift their followers with free spells that they did not have to learn themselves. Still, there are agents of them in the world that work to keep ambitious and dangerous magic-users from going too far and to keep dangerous magic out of people's hands. Perhaps some of them get a little extra help in doing so. The Arcanist's followers are often tasked with fighting the forces of their old nemesis The Warlock, who so freely gives out dark and dangerous arcane secrets. They are also in charge of confiscating deadly legendary weapons from the age of mageocracies and either destroying them or locking them away. It takes a special sort of person- one of great integrity, to be entrusted with a task of such temptation. Most are actually aasimar of the Arcanist who have been raised and guided all their life to fulfill this purpose without giving in to their own ambitions.

On-Brand Worshipers

• Artificer: All
• Bard: Lore & Creation
• Cleric: Arcana
• Fighter: Eldritch Knight, Arcane Archer, Rune Knight
• Rogue: Arcane Trickster
• Sorcerer: Wild Magic
• Wizard: All
• Sage Background
• Cloistered Scholar Background