Cult of Astrid

The Hero Astrid

Once a half-elf bard of Clan Alfbjorn who stopped The Forgotten Powers from ending the world in the Fourth Age. Her temple is in North Mire. Her symbol is the golden cup filled with water and a glowing orb. Astrid simply appears wherever she wishes to go and seems to be, of the four Heroes, the most agreeable to the summoning prayers of her followers. She carries, but rarely wields, Sowilbringer.

Alignment

Neutral Good

Domains

Arcana, Knowledge, Life, Twilight

Favored Weapon

Whip or Whip Dagger

Cult Structure

The Cult of Astrid has many followers interested in lore, magic, and music. Her official priesthood (mostly women) is headquartered at her temple in North Mire, but many of her clerics travel as adventurers. There are many more followers of Astrid than clerics, however. Arcane casters of all sorts have her to thank for clearing the stigma around their arts. Bards and Astridian clerics often refer to her as "Flottskald" (Elvish for "the Great Bard").

Main Tenets

1. Always treat bards hospitably.
2. Disarm your foes if you can, rather than harm them.
3. Use words to solve conflicts when you can.
4. Use music when words fail.
5. Use magic when music fails.

Sins

• Allowing a secret to pass by unlearned.
• Wasting mead or wine.

Holidays

Astrid's followers celebrate two holidays specific to their cult: Sir Robert's Day and Corkman's Day.

On Sir Robert's Day, younger adventurers petition more experienced ones to accept them as apprentices in the adventuring lifestyle, often with a nominal supervision fee offered for their trouble. If asked on Sir Robert's Day it is considered very rude to refuse an apprentice, but it is generally accepted that one can only properly teach one apprentice at a time.

On Corkman's day, it is customary to drink wine and make innocent requests in ways that sound naughty, such as "I need a sausage in me so badly" to ask for one's breakfast or "Would you like to help me get dirty out in the garden" to ask for help gardening. The game is to make things sound as inappropriate as possible, but to never acknowledge this. Even the young tend to get involved, and as a consequence some Astridian mothers keep their preteen children at home all day on Corkman's day. It is important also to know that drinking from an already opened bottle on Corkman's Day is considered very bad luck: Only fresh bottles may be uncorked on this auspicious day to bring good luck throughout the coming year.

Astrid's followers also celebrate Vintersowilstede and Sommersowilstede, the communal winter and summer solstice celebrations of Sowil's light.

Type

Religious, Cult