Anwyn
The Homely, the Blessed, Goodlady, the Fire Keeper, Lady of the Feast, the Plentiful, Giver of Gifts, Smiling Lady, Bright Lady, Heavenly Maiden
Anwyn (AHN-win) is the lawful good goddess of the hearth, the home, housewives, servants, peasants, and small folk of all variety. Mortals associate her with comfort, contentedness, and the warm happiness of a good life, whether wealthy or low.
Domesticated dogs, which are the servants of men that best love the hearth, are thought to be blessed by the goddess. In some cultures, such as those that do not keep dogs, she might be associated with the domestic cat, which also serves mortals by keeping their homes and farms free of mice. (Many find this association absurd, as cats are too aloof to be linked with the Giver of Gifts.) Finally, she is associated with blink dogs, and many believe they were taught much by Anwyn long ago, and serve her to this day.
Goodlady Anwyn is loved by halflings and in many of their communities, she is the only god with a full temple in her honor, but all people revere the Lady of the Feast, for she taught them to keep fire and make offerings to the gods, saving them from darkness. She is loved among women who keep homes, for it is Anwyn who keeps families safe and happy, and makes even the simplest meal a feast.
Divine Domains
Home, Hearth, and Servants
Divine Symbols & Sigils
Anwyn is depicted as a lovely lady in a well kempt, simple dress. She has flowing black hair like her mother’s, and eyes often made of some bright and sparkling stone, so that the light of the hearth can be seen in them. Anwyn the Plentiful is often drawn or carved as a stout maiden with a glorious smile, but some cultures show her instead as a thin, smiling lady with the downcast eyes of a servant.
Anwyn’s symbol is a warm fire in a circular stone hearth, sometimes with a dog or child curled up next to it. The dog or child can be found on the signs of taverns, or other businesses involving food and comfort, more often than in her churches. For instance, an inn called “The Goodlady’s Rest” might have sign featuring a dog curled by a fire. For haste or simplicity, her symbol can be drawn as a flame rising out of a flattened circle. Her manciple clergy wear depictions of elaborate golden flames fires contained by silver hearths.
Tenets of Faith
Bringing Pleasure and Happiness to the World
Anwyn seeks the pleasure and happiness of her family, and all the peoples of the world. She craves neither gain or glory, but she accepts harvest offerings and sacrifices with humility. She delights in the small kindnesses of mortals, putting less stock in the great acts of heroes than in the simple goodness of the baseborn. Alone among the gods, she spends her time watching the poor and forgettable, and has long believed that when mortals finally reckon with the evils of Hell and the Abyss, their salvation will come from common stock, not a line of aristocratic heroes.Holidays
Holy Days
The week after harvest signals the Anwynites’ primary festival, the Keeping, from which many hearths have grown wealthy. It comes fast on the heels of the Rontran harvest festival. People come to hearths and offer livestock and other foods to Anwyn. Many offerings are burned, but most of them go into the hearth’s larders. While farmers bring wagons filled with food, lords traditionally offer coins, gems and other treasures in lieu of the commoners’ offering. These monies help hearths maintain themselves and feed the poor. Anwyn is not connected to the ways of farming, and does not bless the growing of crops or animals. During the Keeping, celebrants ask her to help make food prepared from them stay nourishing and delicious, even when families must bring forth the oldest stores of pickles and salt meat. The faithful ask for a mild winter, and thank Anwyn for bringing fire to mortals. The festival is marked with much feasting, prayer, and the constant burning of offerings in the central hearth. The manciples burn that which smells sweet or enticing, to proclaim their hearths as places of comfort and plenty.
Servants
Anwyn believes herself a servant among the gods, and keeps no servants of her own. However, tending to the home and happiness of the gods is a difficult task, and requires many hands. Thus, she oversees the labors of many angels, particularly those led by archangel Camael, who attends the throne of the gods, and directs angels who tend to their halls. With their aid, Anwyn makes Heaven comfortable and happy. If Anwyn must send a message to one of her servants in the Material Plane, she either calls upon an angel, or sends it herself.
Divine Classification
God
Religions
Alignment
Lawful Good
Church/Cult
Children
Related Myths
