Tymora

Tymora, Lady Luck

Overview
Tymora, known as Lady Luck, the Lady Who Smiles, or the Bright Lady, is the goddess of good fortune, luck, and victory through chance in Faerûn. She is a deity of the chaotic good alignment, embodying the thrill of risk, the joy of unexpected success, and the belief that fortune favors the bold. Tymora’s influence is felt wherever dice are rolled, gambles are taken, or adventurers dare to defy the odds. In 1372 DR, her worship is widespread across Faerûn, particularly among those who live by chance—adventurers, gamblers, merchants, and rogues—making her a beloved figure in cities like Suzail, Waterdeep, and the Dalelands, where her shrines often double as gathering spots for the hopeful and the daring.

Origins and History
Tymora’s origins trace back to the ancient deity Tyche, the original goddess of luck in Faerûn’s pantheon, who held dominion over both good and ill fortune. During the Dawn Cataclysm (circa -30,000 DR), a cosmic schism sparked by Tyche’s growing corruption split her essence into two distinct deities: Tymora, who embodied good fortune and benevolence, and Beshaba, the Maid of Misfortune, who took on the mantle of bad luck and malevolence. The two sisters have been rivals ever since, their domains representing the dual nature of chance. By 1372 DR, Tymora’s power has grown with the rise of adventurers and the expansion of human civilizations, her influence peaking after the Time of Troubles (1358 DR), when the gods walked Toril and her mortal interactions solidified her following. Her role in thwarting Beshaba’s schemes during that era—often through the bravery of her mortal champions—cemented her reputation as a goddess who rewards courage and optimism.

Portfolio and Domains
Tymora’s portfolio encompasses good fortune, luck, skill, victory, and the spirit of adventure. She governs moments of serendipity—finding a coin on the road, narrowly dodging a deadly blow, or winning a high-stakes bet. Her domains reflect her chaotic, benevolent nature:

• Chaos: Representing the unpredictable nature of luck.
• Good: Her inclination toward benevolence and aiding the virtuous.
• Luck: Her core domain, governing chance and fortune.
• Protection: Reflecting her role in shielding the bold from misfortune.
• Travel: Tied to her patronage of adventurers and explorers.
  Tymora’s favored weapon is the shuriken, a symbol of precision and chance, often depicted as a spinning disc on her holy symbol—a silver coin bearing her smiling face, wreathed in a halo of flames.

Personality and Symbolism
Tymora is a vibrant, optimistic deity with a mischievous streak, delighting in the chaos of chance and the triumphs of those who embrace it. She is often depicted as a youthful, radiant woman with golden hair, clad in shimmering silver robes that ripple like liquid light, her emerald eyes sparkling with amusement. Her laughter is said to echo through the planes when a mortal defies the odds, and her smile brings warmth to those who invoke her name before a risky venture. Tymora values boldness, rewarding those who take chances rather than play it safe, but she has little patience for recklessness without purpose—her favor falls on the daring, not the foolish. Her holy symbol, the silver coin, embodies her duality: one side shows her smiling face, the other a blank surface, symbolizing the uncertainty of fate. Temples often feature spinning wheels, dice, or cards as decor, reflecting her love of games of chance.

Worshippers and Clergy
Tymora’s followers are a diverse lot, united by their willingness to embrace risk for reward. Adventurers are her most ardent devotees, invoking her name before delving into dungeons or facing dragons, believing her favor can turn a deadly encounter into a tale of triumph. Gamblers, rogues, and merchants also pray to her, seeking luck in games of chance or risky trade ventures. In Cormyr, her worship is strong among the Purple Dragons, who often carry Tymoran tokens into battle, and among Suzail’s merchants, who leave offerings at her shrines before embarking on trade caravans. Common folk, too, call on Tymora for small blessings—a good harvest, a safe journey, or a stroke of luck in love.

Her clergy, known as Luckbringers or Fortune’s Friends, are typically chaotic good, though some are neutral good, reflecting their focus on benevolence over strict adherence to chaos. Clerics of Tymora wear silver robes trimmed with gold, often adorned with coin-shaped medallions or dice pendants, and they carry shurikens as ceremonial weapons. They are a cheerful, outgoing bunch, known for their optimism and willingness to take risks, often acting as mediators, counselors, or impromptu leaders in times of crisis. Temples to Tymora, called Halls of Fortune, are lively places, filled with laughter, music, and the clatter of dice, doubling as community centers where people gather to share stories of luck and chance. Major temples exist in Waterdeep (The Tower of Luck), Arabel (The Lady’s House), and Calimport, but smaller shrines—often just a coin-adorned altar—are found in nearly every tavern, inn, or marketplace across Faerûn.

Holy Sites and Festivals
Tymora’s holy sites are often located in bustling cities or along well-traveled roads, reflecting her association with travel and chance encounters. The Lady’s House in Arabel, Cormyr, is a prominent temple, its silver dome engraved with spinning wheels and its halls open to all who seek fortune’s favor. Shrines to Tymora are common in gambling dens, such as those in Selgaunt, Sembia, where her coin is kissed before a roll of the dice. Her followers celebrate The Turning of the Wheel, a festival on the 22nd of Marpenoth, where they spin wheels of fortune, share tales of lucky escapes, and offer silver coins to the poor, believing generosity invites Tymora’s smile.

Mechanical Aspects (Pathfinder 1e)
For Pathfinder 1e, Tymora’s domains and cleric abilities are adapted from her 3rd Edition Forgotten Realms profile:

• Alignment: Chaotic Good.
• Domains: Chaos, Good, Luck, Protection, Travel.
• Favored Weapon: Shuriken (treat as Pathfinder shuriken: 1d2 damage, 19-20/x2 crit, range 10 ft., 1/2 lb., piercing).
• Symbol: Silver coin with Tymora’s smiling face, wreathed in flames.
• Cleric Abilities:
• Luck Domain: Gain Bit of Luck (touch grants +1 luck bonus on one attack, save, or check, 3 + Wis modifier uses/day) and Good Fortune (reroll any roll 1/day at 6th level).
• Protection Domain: Gain Protective Ward (+1 resistance bonus to saves in 10-ft. radius, 1 round, 3 + Wis modifier uses/day) and Aura of Protection (DR 2/evil at 8th level).
• Chaos Domain: Gain Touch of Chaos (touch forces target to roll twice and take worse result, 3 + Wis modifier uses/day) and Chaos Blade (weapon gains anarchic property 1/day at 8th level).
• Good Domain: Gain Touch of Good (+1 sacred bonus to attack, saves, or checks, 3 + Wis modifier uses/day) and Holy Lance (weapon gains holy property 1/day at 8th level).
• Travel Domain: Gain +10 ft. speed and Agile Feet (ignore difficult terrain for 1 round, 3 + Wis modifier uses/day Dimensional Hop (teleport 10 ft./level 1/day at 8th level).