Avandra (uh-VAHN-druh)
goddess of freedom, change, travel, and fate
Avandra, the Chainbreaker, is the goddess of change, representing freedom, revolution, travel, and certain aspects of Fate. Born into the fires of war, she was instrumental in the effort for mortals to gain their freedom from the Tyrant Lord.
Avandra typically appears as a winged warrior woman in light armor. Though her physical appearance can vary, typically her feathered wings glow with orange and teal fire, and she has curly red hair that shares that glow. She usually carries a shield, which she uses to protect mortals rather than herself, and a polearm weapon made from a stolen battle standard with the still-smoldering flag burned away. One aspect of her appearance that stays consistent is a large scar on her left forearm, a wound incurred in the moment of her birth from an arrow fired by one of the Archfiend's generals.
Depictions of her character vary greatly. Along the eastern edge of the map, she is worshipped as a warrior goddess beating back the darkness of the Abyssal Rift and protecting her charges. In the elven kingdoms of the east, she's often linked to the elven patron god Corellon, whom she reportedly had a close relationship. Additionally, she herself is patron goddess and creator of the avariel elves, who primarily worship her. In human settlements, she has less sway, particularly in regions like the Eglian Empire, where she plays a very minor role. Often she is assigned a role as the daughter of Pelor, and instead of a depiction as a warrior goddess she is portrayed almost as a rebellious child. In the West, she represents a spirit of adventure, often tied to the goddess of wealth, Tymora. In Ikria, she is seen as a liberator and occasionally as a new incarnation of the goddess Mystra, emphasizing her aspect as a fire goddess and her fantastical origins. Some cults spread across the world venerate her as the only true goddess, because she was called into being by mortal need.
Avandra's Influence
Avandra enjoys the winds of change and exhorts her faithful to follow where they blow. For Avandra, change represents ever-renewing opportunities. Each moment is a chance to alter the course, either personally or on a grander scale. and to take things in a better direction than in the past.
Though other gods advocate that people follow their hearts without constraint, Avandra stands as the symbol of true freedom. She commands the domain not to protect the selfish feelings of individuals but to defend the sovereign right of all people to take control of their destinies. Avandra hopes that others use their freedom to do the right thing. and she stands against tyranny of any kind. Her followers keep alive flames of hope in oppressive societies, serving as the seeds of rebellion or peaceful reform.
Avandra's Goals
Avandra is the most active in the lives of mortals, desiring to see each of them set a path towards their destiny, and while she understands that the destiny of some mortals leads towards evil, she maintains hope that the course of fate can be changed and even the wicked can be redeemed.
In her domain as goddess of travelers, she also aspires to protect travelers from dangers on the road. Through her blessing, a traveler might avoid the worst of the challenges the world has to offer, but could still run into foes that will challenge them, but not enough to kill them. She cherishes those who have a heroic destiny, and seeks to help them reach their potential for greatness.
Relationships
Avandra is closest with The Raven Queen and Ioun, and together they make up the Triune Goddesses of Fate.these three goddesses are commonly considered Sisters, and work together to govern the flow of fate in mortal's lives.
Avandra's greatest enemy among the gods is Bane. As Bane is the god of tyranny and oppression, and Avandra is the goddess of freedom and revolution, the two are fundamentally opposed in every way. Though Bane has certainly attempted to slay Avandra in the past, and Avandra is weaker than him, she cannot be killed by Bane, for freedom and hope can never be completely killed even in the face of tyranny.
Avandra is an ally of Pelor, and it is her blessing that allowed Pelor to defeat Tharizdun in the early days of the world. For this, Pelor regards Avandra as a being worthy of great praise, and holds her in high esteem. Avandra enjoys Pelor's company, and often mediates in disagreements between the gods, but disagrees with Pelor's belief that he has the right to rule over gods and men.
Avandra and Tymora are very close friends, with both of their domains being very close in relation to each other. The two are close companions, and often challenge each other, with Avandra betting that she can change the fate of a mortal, and Tymora determining the chances.
To Avandra, Erathis is a bit of an annoyance. Erathis's steadfast devotion to order chafes against Avandra's desire for all to run free, and Erathis find Avandra to be a naive optimist for believing that people could be good without a strong presence of law.
Worshipping Avandra
Avandra is frequently worshipped by travelers of all kinds. Adventurers, merchants, sailors, even soldiers marching through the lands make prayers to her, and she is frequently invoked during ceremonies for those coming of age, as "travel" can encompass the spirtual journey that one undergoes throughout their life.
As Avandra is a goddess who stands against organized institutions, it is seldom that she has a temple or church dedicated to her. Places of worship to Avandra are found at small wayside shrines at which travelers leave offerings of provisions or coin, for those who come after to partake of. Additionally, prayers to Avandra are often said at thresholds- such as the door to a house or the gate of a city, usually before embarking on a journey. A few exceptions can be found in the Ikrian continent, as those who felt the benefits of her protection most keenly raised grand temples in thanks to her.
On the New Year, the final day of Avandeir, priests and priestesses of Avandra will gather and give out blessings of the goddess in the form of coins bearing her holy symbol, which can be fastened out of wood, common metal, or even gold depending on the wealth of the location that the holiday is celebrated on. These tokens are not meant to be hoarded, but rather passed around- left at shrines or given as a token of thanks. It is believed that these tokens grant luck, and are more powerful if they've been in more hands in the course of the year.
Avandra's Favor
Avandra chooses champions who will tirelessly defend against tyranny, regardless of their mortal ties and associations. She cares more for consistency of actions than for vows of loyalty and expressions of devotion. Whether you are silently devoted to her or vociferous in your praise, it is your actions in her name that will prompt her to continue her support- or withdraw it.
Because she is the goddess of change, Avandra's attentions can be unpredictable. What made the god turn her attention to you? What act of charity or feat of skill made her think you would be a good champion? The Avandra's Favor table offers a handful of suggestions.
| d6 | Sign of Favor |
|---|---|
| 1 | You were born at midnight between the last day of Avandeir and the first day of Peldeir. |
| 2 | You dedicated your life to upsetting the balance of power in a corrupt settlement. |
| 3 | You were part of a revolution to fight off tyrants and establish freedom in your city. |
| 4 | One of your parents or a mentor was a champion of Avandra. |
| 5 | You travel frequently, adventuring to the farest reaches of the earth and perhaps even beyond. |
| 6 | Despite having been knocked down repeatedly in life, you show grit and determination in all you do. |
Devoting one's self to Avandra means a lifelong devotion to change, growth, and freedom for all people. As a follower of Avandra, consider the ideals on the Avandra's Ideals table as alternatives to those suggested for your background.
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Devotion. My devotion to my god is more important to me than what she stands for. (Any) |
| 2 | Liberty. The strong mustn't exploit the weak. (Chaotic) |
| 3 | Community. I strive to deepen the bonds of my family, companions, and neighbors. (Any) |
| 4 | Change. There are no constants in this life. Everything's just waiting to be something else, including me. (Chaotic) |
| 5 | Protection. When gods or mortals go mad with power, it's the powerless who suffer, and I mean to keep them safe. (Good) |
| 6 | Adaptability. Plans change, circumstances go awry. I must bend in response to changes, not break. (Any) |
Myths of Avandra
Myths of Avandra talk about her changeable nature, her desire to protect freedom, and her champions- most of which are travelers that she guides along her path. Some also tell of her skill in deception.
Avandra and the Doppelganger
When the world was young, Avandra was deeply involved in the lives of its creatures. She delighted in making their lives better. One mortal who was the object of Avandra's favor was a beautiful woman who was pursued by a cruel suitor. This suitor set his servants on her like hunting dogs. Two times Avandra helped the woman to flee or fight by changing her luck, and each time the woman praised Avandra after her escape.
The third time the woman was threatened, Avandra gifted her with the power to change her form so that she could save herself from any future threat. The woman used her power to become an assassin, killing her suitor and all who served him. When Avandra sought her out to rebuke her, the woman used her power to hide from the goddess. By the time Avandra found the woman, her children's children had given birth to many more offspring, all having the power to change shape. The goddess's gift, once given, could not be taken away. Thus the race of doppelgangers and their descendants, the changelings, were born.
From that episode Avandra learned a bitter lesson about being overly generous to mortals. Ever since then, she has been careful to help mortals only in small ways, often hiding her hand. By allowing mortals to face their own problems, Avandra provides them with the chance to discover their full potential.
Goddess of Trickery.
If the devils and demons of the Hells and the Abyss ever were rallied together against the gods and mortals, all would fall before them. Thanks to Avandra, the two sides remain locked in conflict. Avandra used illusions to trick Bane's armies of devils into fighting the legions of demonic forces from the Abyss, and they remain fighting to this day. Though the illusions she used thousands of years ago to spark the conflict have faded, the memories of the original spark of conflict have faded as well, and none of the hellish nor abyssal forces remember that it was her doing keeping them distracted to preserve the worlds.
Relationships
Titles and Aliases
- Chainbreaker
- Changebringer
- Fateforger
- Wayfarer
- Light Against the Dark
- The Sun Saint
Alignment: Usually chaotic, often good
Suggested Classes: Bard, Cleric, Monk, Rogue
Suggested Cleric Domains: Life, Peace, Trickery, War
Suggested Backgrounds: Entertainer, Far Traveler, Folk Hero, Sailor
Most champions of Avandra are calm under pressure, creative, and clever. They often seek to challenge the status quo and thrill at taking chances and discovering new things.
Earning and Losing Piety
You increase your piety score to Avandra when you expand the god's influence in the world in a concrete way through acts such as these:- Healing a sick or injured traveler or merchant
- Proving your worth by exploring something few have seen before
- Supporting those who would reform or overturn institutions
- Fighting for the freedom of yourself and others
- Killing a traveler for any reason other than necessity
- Steal from those that help you in your travel
- Trying to keep change from happening
- Declining an adventure
- Giving way in the face of tyranny
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