Lyrium

God of Love and Intrigue

Domains: Trickery, Unity
Weapons: Jambiya (Dagger), Dart; Poison, Thunder
Symbol: A lyre with a heart shaped opening into the soundbox, and a narcissus flower at the base of the strings; the constellation Siren
Dominion: Love, Lust, Beauty, Art, Music, Indulgence, Pleasure, Oratory, Drama, Comedy, Tragedy, Irony, Guile, Intrigue, Reversal, Going with the Flow, Artists, Politicians, Thieves
Lyrium is the god of love, beauty, music, the stage, intrigue and deception. His is the voice whispering to encourage you do what you really want - to rest when you "should" be working, to reward yourself with indulgence in your vices, to gather the courage to say hello to that person who has smitten you by their very presence, to smooth things over with a little white lie when the truth would have unpleasant consequences. His is the subtle hand that guides you to look toward the person you will soon have a crush on just when the light hits them in the right way or they are saying words you agree with or want to hear, who helps you keep in tune when you play an instrument, and who ensures you find compromising information to see what you do with it, even as with the other hand he helps someone else to pick your pocket or stumble upon the opportunity you allowed yourself to be distracted from.
It is said that Lyrium brings mortals together when he sees potential in their union, and pulls them apart when he tires of the routine they settle into or when he eyes a more interesting match. The heart filled with love for a mate is touched by Lyrium, but so is the heart that strays and falls for others. He is less concerned with whether a relationship is good or easy than with whether it is interesting, or has future potential to bring what he sees as entertainment or useful or beautiful things into the world. His patronage and adoration of drama, comedy, tragedy, and irony can all influence those whose hearts he sets on a path to cross each other. For this reason, those who have found each other through Lyrium and seem to be good for each other may thank him for his blessing, but turn more toward Heliana or toward Katabis and Persereka when seeking the actual continuation of their relationship and when praying that their partner does not cheat.
Lyrium is said to be the true creator of art and music as modern mortals understand them. The giants created statues and murals in honor of their Titan creators, and sung cryptic chants as they worked and rested, but Lyrium created the tools and "language" of abstraction and bring out complex emotional resonance in a creative work. If you see a painting of a sunrise, that is the fundamentals of art as practiced by those that went before; if you see a painting that lets you feel the sunrise and the things for which it stands, that can give you hope and the understanding of something beyond your horizon, that is the hand of Lyrium in elevating the artform. The giants created drums, horns, and musical bows capable mostly of conveying limited and focused feelings; Lyrium created true percussion, wind, and stringed instruments with the depth and complexity needed to make true music and convey a whole range of emotions and set all kinds of scenes from a single instrument, let alone when they are played in tandem. Even clothing knows his influence, for there are utilitarian garments that you wear simply because they are useful and protect you, and then there are clothes that enhance your appearance, that convey your personality or status, serving multiple roles at once rather than just the one.

Lyrium's Tenets

Lyrium holds that to comport yourself with grace and good humor in all things is the most important thing you can do to set yourself apart from and above your peers, for it will leave a more positive impression of you in the minds of both friend and foe no matter the goals you pursue. Do not raise your fist where your voice will suffice. Watch those around you carefully and take note of what moves them, so you can lead them to the feelings and actions that you wish of them. Choose your words wisely, for everything can carry more than one meaning. Know when to give up and accept that you have lost, so that you can begin plotting your reprisal or your renewed ascendance rather than digging yourself deeper into an irreversible failure. Practice hygiene and keep up your appearance, for it reflects on your worth as a person. Indulge and treat yourself, for you cannot meaningfully care for others if you do not take care of yourself first. If you can take something you wish without suffering a more significant loss in exchange, then do so, for it was clearly meant to be yours all along.

Lyrium's Relationships

Idaedon is the god of strokes of genius, inspiration and deep passions generally, and is highly complementary to Lyrium's patronage of artistic inspiration and love specifically. Xenoves oversees craft and the forge, and seeks Lyrium's input on works meant to be not simply utilitarian but also beautiful and meaningful. The three gods are on and off lovers and collaborators, and when all three come together at once on a project the results are some of the most surpassingly beautiful and glorious creations in the universe.
Paideia appreciates the arts that Lyrium brings to her cities, and Mytrah the lust that enables the blessings of fertility she bestows. Katabis and Persereka, the king and queen of the Underworld, are forever dedicated in love to each other and give credit to Lyrium for his patronage of love and relationships. But Lyrium's intrigues can also tear apart communities and relationships, so all of these deities are also highly wary of him, and cautious of whatever angle he might be playing at any given time. He is far too useful and important to turn away, but wherever he goes, they always have a suspicious eye upon him.
Thala and Varva's chief concerns are with nature first, and mortals second. Both have little use for Lyrium, who each considers a foppish wastrel. To Lyrium, this just makes them more enticing challenges to conquer.

Worshipping Lyrium

As god of love and beauty, Lyrium is prayed to by those seeking a personal connection or who hope someone will notice them, by those trying to maintain their existing love, by those trying to stave off the ravages of age, and by those who make art or distinguished crafts hoping for their work to be blessed with elegance and distinction. As god of the theatrical arts, he is prayed to by performers striving to master their craft, by those seeking to cultivate their wit, and by those who hope their work will find a receptive audience. As god of guile and intrigue, he is prayed to by politicians, thieves, spies, and those who hope to accomplish change through words and accord rather than war, but also by those seeking to convince others of justification for war and other double-edged activities of state.

Iahymin

In Nubir, Lyrium is known as Iahymin. He is renowned as the bringer of culture, tamer of the harsh hearts of the Yahre-Nesyt, the legendary Court of Sun and Moon. It is said to be because of Iahymin's influence and gifts that the Yahre-Nesyt were able to break their tunnel-focus on putting down the threat of the ancient Titans and Giants, and realized that the common mortals of the land were suffering and needed guidance. It is Iahymin who turned Ptakhai's cities from mere fortresses into places to live, and Iahymin who helped Harenet realize that the ruled must be given rest and space and entertainment or they would break under the strain of supporting the rulers, and bring the rulers down with them. It is Iahymin who brought forth the music and artistic iconography that the Khefiri peoples identify with so proudly. As such, he more than earned his place among the Eternals as the facilitator of their relationships with mortals.

Lyrium's Champions

Suggested Classes: Bard, Cleric, Monk, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warlock
Suggested Backgrounds: Charlatan, Criminal, Entertainer, Sailor (Pirate), Urchin
Champions of Lyrium are known for their creativity and cleverness, and for being quick of wit and tongue. They are not all inherently beautiful, but they know how to carry and present themselves, such that even one who is plain of face can command attention and remembrance better than a vapid beauty. They often have an appreciation for the finer things in life, can tell a work of art or music or entertainment made with soul and passion from one of rote utility produced "by the numbers," and know the importance of self-care. They understand what to say and do, and who to say it to and where to do it, so that they can get what they want, one way or another.

Lyrium's Favor

Lyrium's adoration of drama, comedy, tragedy and irony makes him wish to see these enacted in the real world and not just on the stage. This is behind the mischief and intrigues he stokes in the world, simply to see what will come of it and whether the mortals involved can rise to the challenge and achieve great things, or whether they will falter and fall from not being up to their tribulations. Those who can accept such trials with grace and navigate them with cunning become his favorites among mortals, and may be drawn into further high-risk, high-reward mischief if they keep his attention.
What brought Lyrium's path together with yours? You may roll or choose on the table below for ideas, or develop an idea of your own with the GM.
d6 / Circumstance

1. You were born amid a lush and perfumed garden, or at midnight under the new moon.
2. One or both of your parents were famed for their beauty or wiles, possibly champions of Lyrium themselves.
3. You pulled off a daring theft or escaped from a seemingly secure confinement at a young age.
4. You have already proven yourself to be a preternaturally gifted musician, storyteller, liar, or politician.
5. You dedicated yourself to upsetting the balance of power in a corrupt polis.
6. People always gravitated to you and hung on your words without you even making special effort to snare them.

Earning and Losing Piety

You increase your piety score with Lyrium when you expand or shore up his influence in a concrete way, including but not limited to:

• Saving a relationship or bringing lovers together, in a difficult situation or across disparate social spheres
• Pulling off a daring heist or swaying an angry crowd
• Creating a masterpiece of art, music, or drama
• Tricking someone into undoing themselves

Your piety score to Lyrium decreases if you diminish his influence in the world, contradict his ideals, or make him look ridiculous or ineffectual through acts such as these:

• Forthrightly assisting lawgivers in their duties without playing an angle
• Swearing an oath and then faithfully honoring its spirit
• Producing rote, mundane or mediocre art or entertainment
• Not taking care of yourself and how you appear physically and socially

As a champion of unusual standing in the world, you receive benefits as your piety score rises. If you are a cleric or paladin of Lyrium, you start with a piety to Lyrium of 3.

Initiate (Piety 3+)

You gain Inspiration when you pull off a scam that bore a meaningful risk (not just lying to some random peasant) or your actions defer or prevent what seemed certain hostilities, or you perform an act that gains you piety. You also have advantage on rolls to know about Lyrium, his servants, and his works, and you know (the DM warns you) before you commit to an act that would displease Lyrium.

Devotee (Piety 10+)

As a devotee of Lyrium's mysteries, you know how to play the angles. You learn either the friends cantrip or the minor illusion cantrip (choose one), and learn either the dissonant whispers spell or the disguise self spell (choose one). Choose Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma to be your casting modifier for these spells. You can use the cantrip at will, and the spell a number of times per day equal to your casting modifier. If you are a spellcaster, treat the cantrip and spell as bonus spells known of your class that are always prepared.

Votary (Piety 20+)

Lyrium's blessing allows you to cheat to gain the edge in social situations. You may gain advantage on a Deception, Insight, or Sleight of Hand check. You may use this ability a number of times per day equal to the higher of your Dexterity or Charisma modifier (minimum 1), and regain all uses after a long rest.

Disciple (Piety 40+)

Lyrium bestows upon you the secret of Lyrium's Misdirection. When you are hidden from a creature and miss it with an attack, making the attack doesn't reveal your position unless you failed the attack roll by 5 or more. Likewise, in social intrigue, if you are not already being "watched" as a rival or enemy, a failed attempt to damage someone socially does not reveal you as the one behind the attempt - or in a public occasion like a speech before a crowd, does not out you as having intentionally tried to damage them - unless you failed the relevant skill check by 5 or more.

Champion (Piety 60+)

Lyrium's surpassing favor makes you seem like you're not a threat. You are protected by the equivalent of a permanent sanctuary spell, in that if you have never directed hostile action or words toward your opponent or their allies, or they at least don't know you have taken hostile action against them, they must make a Wisdom save to target you with an attack or offensive spell, ability or skill check. If they fail the save, they must change targets or lose the attack, spell or action. This does not protect you from area effects. The higher of your Dexterity or Charisma modifier is your "spellcasting modifier" for setting the "spell save DC" of this effect.
Additionally, increase your Dexterity or Charisma score by 2, and also increase your maximum for that score by 2.