Mystra - Mistress of Magic

Mystra (pronounced: /ˈmɪstrɑː/ MISS-trah) is the eternal guardian of the Weave and the last light against the encroaching mist. Revered as the Lady of the Luminous Veil, she stands as the bulwark between the mortal realm and the horrors lurking beyond the shrouded dark. The world is veiled in a perpetual winter, where each night brings rolling mists filled with eldritch horrors. This mist is not Mystra’s creation but rather a force that threatens the very fabric of magic—the Weave she guards so carefully. The mist is ancient, predating the modern world by over a thousand years, and its origin is shrouded in mystery. Some say it emerged when mortals sought forbidden powers beyond even the gods' grasp, tearing a hole in the Weave that has never healed.

I am Mystra, the Lady of the Luminous Veil, the Radiant Flame in the Mist. I am the guardian of the Weave and the light that holds back the darkness! Where magic flows, there am I—across the frozen wastes, through the silent forests, and within the hearts of all who seek the arcane. Behold me and fear the power that I wield, for I stand between this world and the endless night. Yet, behold me and trust in the light I offer, for all who walk with me in truth shall find their way. This world is my charge, and I am magic itself—the eternal barrier that keeps the mist at bay. I am the One True Light, shining at the heart of all spells. There is none but me.

— The Mother of All Magic

The Shield Against the Mist

When the mist first appeared, the affects on the weave were at first unseen. However, as the mist engulfed the land, it began to unravel the weave itself - corrupting magic and twisting it into something alien. Mystra acted swiftly to save what she could, and through her divine intervention, managed to stabilise small parts of the world. Some call these "Havens of the Weave", and have become temples to honour Mystra.

She shared knowledge of wards she had created with her most trusted Chosen, for fear this knowledge would be harvested and corrupted. Over hundreds of years however, this knowledge has been passed down through the ranks of The Church of the Luminous Veil so that other cities, villages and homes can be warded.

Those that live within a settlement guarded by Mystra's wards pay a tithe to the Church for their continued renewing of the sigils. They require constant maintenance.

The Beacon of Hope

In a world where the nights are filled with terror, Mystra is the light in the darkness. Her presence is felt most strongly in moments of despair, when all seems lost. It is said that she places guiding stars—small glimmers of pure, blue-white light—within the mist to lead lost travellers to safety. Whether these lights are divine intervention or merely a trick of the mist, many see them as proof of Mystra’s mercy.

Mystra’s symbol, an eight pointed star, is often used as a warding sigil against the mist. Her clerics teach rituals that invoke her light to keep the horrors at bay, though these rituals require great focus and faith.

The goddess rarely speaks directly to her followers, but her guidance comes in the form of dreams and visions. Those who claim to have received her guidance often describe a sensation of warmth and a glimpse of her blue-white star.