[FR] Neutral Mystra variant? Help!

[Heretic Apostate]

On the old WOTC boards (I think it was tank.wizards.com?), someone in the Forgotten Realms forum posted a variant Mystra, one that was strictly neutral. This Mystra, in order to balance out the other Greater Gods, set up demigod servant beings, each with the portfolio of one of the specialty wizard classes, each having a distinct alignment. For instance, the demigod of abjurers would be lawful good, and would be set up to draw worshipers away from Tyr. (As an example.)

Trouble is, I didn't save them. It was great, and now it's gone. Unless one of you were on the old WOTC boards, and happened to save it? I hope so!

Help, please!

 

[Voadam]

I wasn't there, but from the cannon, I think Mystra used to be Neutral before the ToT. Savras is the patron of diviners and Velsharoon is the patron of Necromancers, and they are both servants of Mystra/Azuth. Formerly Leira (sp?) was patron of Illusionists but was killed by Cyric and her portfolio taken during the time of troubles, setting up a new illusionist patron would make sense to attempt to siphon away from Cyric. This leaves 5 schools (or more if you use variants like chaos, elementalism, etc.) to set up to siphon from specific greater gods. Decide which ones she would want to target and create alignment traditions to suit. Just expect the gods to attempt to subvert the demigods if they can (Talos and Shar, in particular) or decide to destroy them for encroaching.

Its a start . . .

 

[Gez]

No, Mystra was never true neutral.

First, there was Mystryl, who was CN. She got destroyed by Karsus and "resurrected" herself as the new Mystra, LN. Then, she got killed again during the Timesof Troubles, and gave her deific essence to Midnight, NG, who took the name Mystra for continuity.

 

[Heretic Apostate]

Someone on the WOTC boards had this snippet saved. It has most of the information. IIRC, it was from one of the many, "What god would you be?" threads.

[qb]
Mystra, but I'd be moving to Concordant Opposition/the Outlands.
I'd also start replacing Chosen with demipowers of schools of magic - one each for abjuration (lg), conjuration (le), enchantment (cg), evocation (ce), illusion (cn), and transmutation (ng). Divination (ln) and Necromancy (ne) are already covered, and Cyric isn't my choice for subservient illusion god.
Oh, and yes, the choices of alignment are specifically to undermine other powers. Abjuration, being a form of protection, will weaken Helm and Torm; conjuration, being a way to enslave creatures, steps on the Tyranny of Xvim and/or Bane; enchantment will compete with Love and Joy; evocation will take worshippers from the Gods of Fury; illusion will undermine Cyric's deceptions; and Transmutation shall suck away at the domain of Lathander, god of Renewal.
Not to destroy them, mind; merely to weaken them, to ensure that they are unable to threaten my maintenance of the Weave and the Balance, to make sure I control the greatest power bloc among the gods.
[/qb]

 

[Voadam]

Gez,

I only remembered that Mystra went from Neutral to Good, I was not aware of (or forgot)the Chaos/Law aspects of Pre-ToT Mystryl/Mystra.

Heretic Apostate,

I agree, those are good ideas for a neutral ambitious Mystra. Depending on the timeline, the gods would change but it looks like a fun variant default or neat sponsorship project for Mystra in an ongoing campaign.

 

[Heretic Apostate]

Once D&Dg gets here (should be today or tomorrow, unless I'm SERIOUSLY mistaken...), I'm going to see what sort of demigods I can build up, using the system....

 

[Aaron L]

That is my biggest problem with the Realms. Mystra. The fact that magic is controlled by a Neutral Good goddess who can "turn magic off" for the bad guys just makes everything a little un-fun to me. Why doesn't Mystra just cut off the Red Wizards? I like my Arcane magic with no interference, control, or even influence by the gods, thank you. When I play FR I just ignore that part. Don't look at it and it isn't there, so to speak

 

[Heretic Apostate]

Well, in FR, there's Shar who controls the Shadow Weave. And she's even tougher on mages accessing it. Access the Shadow Weave, lose two points of Wisdom. Want them back? Fine, just start turn to Shar as your patron deity. What, you're now powerful and not serving Shar? Well, then she'll send her Monk/Sorceror followers after you....

I'd prefer Mystra to be Neutral (Good), rather than Neutral Good.

 

[gamecat]

If you want to houserule a N mystra, use Boccob from the Greyhawk pantheon as a start.