Chauntea is recognized as the serene god of the harvest, her arms spread wide as she offers bounty to her worshipers or cradles communities in her embrace. Almost every human settlement contains at least a modest shrine to solicit her favor, and she is closely associated with Melora, her divine mother.
Wise and even-tempered, Chauntea values community, stability, and the balance of nature. She is the god of family, domestication, and agriculture, as well as defense of the home and territory.
Chauntea appears to mortals as a young woman with hair the color of autumn leaves and wearing a dress woven of grain stems. She's usually seen wearing garlands of vines and leaves, as well as a crown of leaves. She carries a pitchfork and a jug of water, which she uses to nourish the crops she governs.
Chauntea's Influence
Chauntea governs nature as it comes into play in the lives of mortals, representing domesticated nature- a bounteous, nurturing provider. But she also reminds mortals that they are part of the natural world; they are animals that eat and digest and reproduce and sleep, and Chauntea is influential in all of that, as well.
Mortals seek her favor because the fertility of nature is necessary for their existence. It isn't her wrath they fear- she is not a god of storms or plagues -but her withdrawal. Without her, plants, livestock, families, and communities simply fail to thrive. Her goodwill is a bulwark against both physical starvation and starvation of the spirit: despair, loneliness, and moral weakness.
Chauntea promises that spring will always come again, trees will always bear fruit, and flocks will always bear young. Children will always be born, parents will always care for them and be cared for in their turn. Great fortune or adventure might not be at hand, but the little joys of life-the smell of spring blossoms, the sweetness of ripe fruit, the flaming beauty of autumn leaves, the fellowship of community-can be savored.
In many ways, Chauntea represents the essence of the divine relationship with mortals: fertility and protection are the center of the aid mortals have always sought from gods, and Chauntea doesn't complicate these basic needs by couching them in terms of abstract ideals of honor or law or justice. She is the distillation of an ancient and primal exchange: mortal devotion in return for divine blessing.
Chauntea's Goals
Chauntea doesn't engage in underhanded politicking or petty disputes. She seems to stand above the quarrels and tumultuous rivalries of other deities, and equally aloof from the machinations of the mortal world. Her fundamental concern is for the well-being of mortal folk, starting with their physical health but also including their need for security, love, and belonging.
Divine Relationships.
Chauntea might not want to wield power over other gods, but her position of detached compassion lends her significant influence to wield as she chooses. The other gods trust her to be impartial in their disputes and honest about her motivations, and they look to her for wisdom and even sometimes comfort.
Her closest relationship is her mother Melora. Melora, as the goddess of all nature, is often more wild than the relatively calm and serence Chauntea, but the two recognize that they are both sides of the same coin, and have a good relationship.
The gods who provoke Chauntea's sharpest disdain are Tyr and Loviatar, who seem devoted to the idea of preventing mortal life from fully flourishing. War-even if it's couched in noble terms, as Tyr's followers like to do- is fundamentally an instrument of death, bringing a premature and pointless end to mortal life. That said, Chauntea does recognize the need to fight in defense of one's life, family, and community when they come under attack, so she and Tyr are able to find some common ground in their domains of protecting the home, and in their shared hatred of Loviatar.
Worshipping Chauntea
The earth's fertility is essential for mortal life to continue. Those who live in the modern city might not be as aware of that fact as those who farm their own food, but even they long for children, know the pinch of hunger, and feel the turn of the seasons.
Prayers to Chauntea focus on asserting Chauntea's constancy and bounty, praising the god's love and generosity. Worshipers of Chauntea gather for a feast once a month, on the evening of the full moon, that celebrates the god's role in parenthood and community. New parents receive gifts and blessings, and young couples sneak away into the woods in hopes of finding sweet berries and sweeter kisses.
Chauntea's Favor
Chauntea grants her favor to champions in the mortal world who advance the cause of civilization and community. She nurtures the power and influence of those who provide food and care to others and has little patience for those who display arrogance and self-centeredness, instead elevating those who seek to elevate others.
Although Chauntea's demeanor is gentle, her call to service is nonnegotiable. She lavishes fortune and prosperity on those who serve her, but she will not be ignored. It is rare for her to abandon a champion, but neither will she allow a champion to abandon their service. The Chauntea's Favor table offers suggestions for what might make the god of the harvest take notice of you.
| d6 |
Sign of Favor |
| 1 |
You were an orphan who wandered into one of Chauntea's temples seeking a meal and a safe place to spend the night. |
| 2 |
You are a village leader who sees caring for your neighbors as your most important job. |
| 3 |
You pioneered an agricultural innovation. |
| 4 |
Though you have no children of your own, you have assembled a tight-knit chosen family. |
| 5 |
You defended your town or village from an outside threat- be it monsters or mortal attackers. |
| 6 |
You sought Chauntea's help on behalf of your community during a drought or natural disaster. |
Devotion to Chauntea
Following Chauntea means dedicating yourself to caring for others, promoting civilization and community, and putting the needs of others above your own. After all, Chauntea asks nothing for herself. As a follower of Chauntea, consider the ideals on the Chauntea'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 |
Civilization. Nature achieves its highest calling when human communities make use of it. (Lawful) |
| 3 |
Humility. I put the needs of others above my own and strive to lead through service. (Any) |
| 4 |
Protection. I devote myself to ensuring that the vulnerable and the innocent can live in safety. (Good) |
| 5 |
Bounty. I am generous and share what I have, hoping to improve the well-being of all around me. (Good)) |
| 6 |
Community. I strive to deepen the bonds of my family, companions, and neighbors. (Any) |
Myths of Chauntea
Chauntea rarely engages in legendary undertakings. It is her unshakable reliability that makes her a popular deity.
The Miraculous Field
In Arvandor is a farm that produces incredible fruits and grains that can heal illnesses, increase fertility, and stave off hunger for days. While many seek the farm, it is said that the vineyard around it is so labyrinthine that few have ever reached its center.
The Old Harvest.
In rare, remote settlements, high summer ceremonies acknowledge ancient rural practices devoted to a less merciful vision of Chauntea. These communities offer abundant sacrifices to the god, but also guard their ancient rituals from outsiders, as Chauntea's organized clergy harshly forbids discussion of abandoned religious practices. However, occasionally, a centuries-old depiction of the goddess breaks, revealing an ancient icon inside, typically a primitive mud idol of a woman bearing a sheaf of grain in one hand and a skull in the other.
Partners in Possibility.
The holiday known as the Blessing of the Beasts celebrates humans' partnership with domestic animals. The horses and oxen that pull plows, the cats that guard the granaries, and the roosters that wake families and call them to their work are given blessings, special treats, and a day of rest. Stories say that strays found on this day are servants of Chauntea and destined for great things. Others claim that on this day domestic animals can speak-that is, if they have anything they care to say to their supposed owners.
Striving for Perfection.
Although Chauntea delights in nature's bounty, she ever strives to tap its greater potential. Her followers recount legends of breeders and horticulturalists who cultivated remarkable new types of plants and animals-such as the everfruit of Jerya or the storied Kyashin dragon-hens. Yet, while Chauntea looks on such innovations with delight, some other gods see them as blasphemies.
The Years of Rage.
The tales about Chauntea don't specify what ignited the god's rage in ancient times, but they do record that for a year, she tore down her own temples and refused to let any plants grow. The mortals of the world, threatened with starvation, beseeched her to curb her wrath. In an effort led by Chauntea's priests, nearly all of humanity prayed for a week, neither eating nor sleeping, praising Chauntea for her serenity and generosity. After that time, she relented and produced a miraculous crop of grapes that cured illness and fed the people. Ever since then, her statues have been adorned with twining grape vines around their left wrists in commemoration of that event.
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