Moriel 'The Maid of Misfortune' (Mor-Re-El)
The Maid of Misfortune
The Maid of Misfortune
The Goddess of Misfortune and Mischief
The Daughter of Auril
Moriel
Moriel is the counterpoint to Velona and is just as frequently acknowledged in daily life as is her more benevolent "sister". She is seen as a cruel and capricious goddess who must be propitiated to avoid attracting her attention and interest in a negative way. Moriel's name is invoked when someone is beset by bad luck-which could be as minor as stubbing a toe or breaking a wagon wheel, or as catastrophic as slipping and accidentally falling off a cliff. It is also invoked to ward off her attentions when someone is doing something in which good luck wouldn't play a part but bad luck might. For example, someone rolling dice would invoke Velona because they want random chance to fall in their favour, but someone about to cross a rickety bridge would ask Moriel to keep the bridge intact. Folk make the symbol of Moriel by folding in their thumbs and extending their fingers on one or both hands (mimicking the horns of her holy symbol) to ward of misfortune. The same gesture raised to the head signifies a salute; when pointed at someone, the "horns" indicate ill favour directed toward that individual. Many Druids worship Moriel as one of the First Circle. They propitiate her with dances while wearing fire-blackened antlers dipped in blood. According to these druids, her holy symbol is the horns of a stag because when Moriel was first worshiped, Humans were simple hunter-gatherers and she was believed to bring misfortune to hunters, such as being gored by a stag. Although most people tremble in fear at the prospect of Moriel's attendance at any event (even in spirit), Moriel is almost always invoked and welcomed formally in the opening speeches or ceremonies of formal functions such as marriages and coronations, contests of sport or martial prowess, and at the naming ceremonies of children. If she isn't invited to such an event, she might take offense and wreak misfortune on those involved. Moriel is the daughter of Auril, and is the half-sister of Kort, Kord, and Kos. Moriel has the power of a 15th level Sorceress, a 10th level Druid, and a 5th level Rogue. Temples to Moriel are virtually unknown. It's common, however, for rural folk to erect a post and mount antlers on it at the site of some roadside accident or murder. In cities, where antlers are hard to come by and murders and accidents more prevalent, the fashion is to draw the black antlers of Moriel with charcoal on a nearby wall, leaving the symbol on display until weather scours it away. These "shrines", in either form, serve as warnings to others about places of ill fortune. More formal shrines to Moriel exist in places where folk frequently hope to ward off misfortune. These sites tend to be posts or stones painted red with blackened antlers attached to them, or a red, triangular wall-mounted plaque with attached antlers. Both types have a stone or bronze bowl where coins can be tossed or burnt offerings made. Few dare to take Moriel as a patron. The rare clerics of the Maid of Misfortune are those who have been deeply affected by great misfortunes and who seek to warn others of the essential unfairness of life-or to inflict that unfairness upon them.Divine Domains
- Death, and
- Trickery
Divine Symbols & Sigils
- The face of a beautiful black-haired woman, or
- A pair of black antlers mounted to a red triangle of wood (Her Elder symbol)
Social
Contacts & Relations
Auril, Greater Goddess & Mother of Moriel.
Kort, Lesser God & Half-Brother of Moriel.
Kord, Lesser God & Half-Brother of Moriel.
Kos, Lesser God & Half-Brother of Moriel.
Family Ties
Auril, Greater Goddess & Mother of Moriel.
Kort, Lesser God & Half-Brother of Moriel.
Kord, Lesser God & Half-Brother of Moriel.
Kos, Lesser God & Half-Brother of Moriel.
Relationships
Divine Classification
Lesser Goddess
Religions
Alignment
Lawful Evil (LE)
Church/Cult
Honorary & Occupational Titles
The Maid of Misfortune and The Goddess of Misfortune and Mischief
Spouses
Siblings
Kort 'The Mighty'
(Half-Brother)
Kord 'Of The Strong Arm'
(Half-Brother)
Kos 'The Doombringer'
(Half-Brother)
Children
Gender
Female in Human Avatar
Eyes
Grey
Hair
Raven Black, Long and Wild
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Pale
Height
5ft 7"
Weight
129lbs
Aligned Organization
- Kelldorian (Common),
- Amorian,
- Thentian,
- Thracian,
- Arcana,
- Druidic, and
- Celestial
Comments
Author's Notes
The Original Article Beshaba was written for D&D Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide by WoTc.