Vidya

==Vidya==
Vidya, The Knowledge Seeker, is the Goddess of Knowledge of the Imperial Pantheon, known for her wits, intelligence, and love of learning. She is the champion of those who wish to educate themselves, and the embodiment of learning new things, regardless of how simple. She is usually open to talk about history, especially history that includes herself as she knows no topic better than herself.
===Biography===
Vidya started off as a normal Imperial, though a naturally gifted one. She was born some time before Stormfall. Her early life isn't much known about, except to those the Goddess has made friends with, but it is known she was a quick learner, who earned her way into prestigious schools and associations. She was also a natural at planning and strategizing, her skills getting her recruited by the Old Empire in 164 BtS when the War of Suli Extermination. 
====Pre Ascension Days (165 BtS-1 BtS)====
Vidya was a natural at war planning, and as a follower of Valorixa, prayed to the Goddess to give her the victories needed to end the war quickly, so that she could get back to expanding her knowledge. She would successfully defend and command The First Ferran Legion in defending the Imperial Outposts, having the mages put up a grand magic shield to block the fire. During the battle, Vidya felt her senses heightened and help her mind race faster than ever before, giving her the ability to make plans near instantly. She commanded the strongest of the Mages on what to do, and two of the three dragons came soaring down to the ground. Vidya roared louder than she ever had, "For the Empire!" before running at one of the dragons with the Legionaries and doing an incredible amount of damage to the thing, getting the killing blow. She saw the third dragon fly away as the other that fell was disposed of. Vidya looked around the battlefield, luckily only few were killed as the Legion had acted quickly. Still, for the few who died, she swore their deaths would not be in vein. She took up in front of the soldiers on the battlefield, proclaiming the lizardfolk and surviving dragon alike would pay for this attack. The Legion rallied behind her, and for her quick thinking, she was promoted to Head Strategist of The First Ferran Legion. Her heroic acts were spread back to Excaria, earning Vidya fame for not only being quick with the planning, but also great, slightly exaggerated, tales of how she slayed a dragon, which were told to be the Gods of the Lizard folk.
Six months later, Vidya would get to make good on her promise, saying she had a dream from Valorixa of an impending attack in the Suli Forrest. Vidya saw the attack coming, and as the dragon began to breathe fire, a powerful mage shield went up, blocking it. The Legion would fight for hours with the lizardfolk soldiers before Vidya got a whisper in her ears saying to provoke the dragon. She stood upon the highest makeshift tower and taunted the dragon, saying it would soon be easily destroyed, like the dragons before, and if it was truly as great as it likes to think of itself, it would be helping its soldiers instead of wasting its breath, literally. The dragon became enraged seeing its loses, the ineffectiveness of the fire, and now taunting from a mere mortal, so it dashed straight towards her. Vidya flashed a small smirk before shouting to her soldiers "Now!", and so they threw their spears at the dragon, causing it to lose its way and began falling down. Below, other soldiers did one final chop to trees which had been readied, these trees falling on the dragon. Then, once it was on the ground, it was easily slain. The lizardfolk who remained were horrified, and began to retreat en masse. Even this, however, was part of Vidya's plan, as she sounded the call, and cavalry started charging, completely slaughtering the retreating lizardfolk.
Once news of this victory, and especially the masterfully crafted plan and rumors of Valorixa helping, Vidya was celebrated throughout the Empire as a national war hero. Eventually, this popularity and Vidya's own rising power caused her to ascend to the Saint status, becoming known as the Saint of Grand Battle Planning. For the next three years, until the end of the war, she would continue leading the troops, though it was barely needed by this point, with the lizardfolk unable to put up any meaningful resistance. Vidya took this time to follow in the footsteps of the Great Goddess Lyra, and explore this new continent. Vidya had always made sure to make sacrifices to Lyra, even if not as devotedly as to Valorixa, as Vidya has always seen Lyra as a role model, someone who adventures and explores the unknown. This was something the two had in common. The war came to a close, as Vidya was given the opportunity for an honorable discharge if she wished to return to a more normal life. She accepted, but said she would still be there if there was ever a grand battle that needed her planning, but for now she was going to explore the new world and further her research. 
====Traveling====
Now that she would be living for far, far longer than she originally planned, she decided to pray to Lyra, asking to join her on travels. Lyra said Vidya could join only if Vidya agreed to not use her powers. The Saint agreed, though she was nervous about traveling with the legendary Goddess of Travel. These fears would be quickly disposed of once Vidya met Lyra. The Goddess was very nice, and took it slower than her usual pace for Vidya to be able to keep up. While traveling, Vidya used the opportunity to research the new wildlife and environment of this new world. She documented the landscape, and with Lyra's help started to map the environment. She kept a collection of these in writings now lost to time, but these writings were widely read across both the colonies which were eventually set up, and Excaria alike. The Saint and The Goddess became closer friends, and as Vidya became more and more known through the fields of science, her power grew with every new worshiper. She slowly took on the domain of Knowledge to add to her domain of Strategy. She would help with minor small battles here and there, giving commanders brilliant ideas, but mostly she spent her time wandering the world with her friend Lyra. 
After years, about 16 decades or so, of travel, she would be ready to publish her research, including maps, common poisons and remedies, wildlife, and more. She just needed to revise it, one more look over to make sure it was good. She decided she would return to Excaria in a month to present her findings. This is when everything went south.
====The Storm Rift and Ascension (1 AtS-293 AtS)====
At a time now understood to be 1 AtS, an event known as Stormfall happened, causing the Stormrift to appear, completely blocking off travel from or into the continent, even across planes. It was a shock to everyone, and for the first few years, Vidya worked around the clock with the top minds in Ferra to try to find a way to get back to the old world, yet it would be fruitless. It was at this time, that Vidya decided to get all of the greatest minds and drop a bombshell - Currently there was more than likely no way to break the rift, but they could survive in this new world. She revealed all of her findings, officially publishing them the day after she broke the news to everyone. From now on, she was seen as so knowledgeable about this world, that she was getting nearly constant prayers for help. The sheer amount of prayers she received helped her ascend to the rank of Goddess. She knew she'd be unable to help everyone alone, so she decided to search for the most talented people in this new world to ask for their help. She formed a group of loyal followers of knowledge, known as the Warriors of the Mind, a group that would last hundreds upon hundreds of years. These people would travel the wrold, while Vidya continued to conduct her own research into both Ferra and the Rift. 
Still, Vidya had some issues, such as her feelings, something she wasn't as good at as something knowledge based. Her research also led her to find out that the rift was very, very powerful, and that a laboratory aligned with it could harness great power, making spell castingand potion brewing easier. She also copied the designs of an Old Empire Forge, making her own in a hidden location only the Goddess knows of. She also modified the design to be even more powerful than the might of an Old Empire Forge. She conducted research into the crafting of various items, magical and nonmagical alike, along with properties that these items could have. She would keep a record of this on hand, for her own personal crafting. She would train herself with all weapons, allowing her to be able to plan for all types of armaments a soldier could use. Meanwhile she would continue to build up her Warriors of the Mind in the early days after Stormfall. 
12 years after Stormfall, she would show up, in secret, to the Second Council of Pomariames meeting, observing and letting people know which Gods she knew were on this side of the Rift. A new cult would rise, called Cult of the Shattered Sky, who wound up killing one of Vidya's Warriors, enraging the Goddess. Vidya would end up ever so slightly lend her aid against the cultists in The Social Wars, giving information used to crack down on the cultists in disguise. This would not be the first or last time Vidya would involve herself in mortal affairs, doing it quite frequently to share her findings or nudge imperial researches in the right direction. Unless push came to shove, she didn't like to see herself as a Goddess, something she picked up from traveling with Lyra.
Around the late 90s AtS, one of Vidya's Warrior's and an actual friend of hers named Admiral Carcan Methreni was let go from his position after the Imperial Colonies scraped their navies. Due to this, he desperately looked for new employment, praying to Vidya for help. Vidya would help him, giving him a plan of showing the imperials why a navy was necessary - to have his own ship, given by her, raid merchant ships. Carcan demanded that Governor Alanus Damian has 6 months to find him new employment, or, after the time has passed, he would start raiding more than ships. In the meantime, she would whisper in the Governor's ear, telling him to accept these generous terms, yet he seemed steadfast on not giving in. This aggravated the Goddess who decided that the Governor will either see his mistake, or fall due to their hubris. Alas, the Governor did not listen, and wound up dead in 196 AtS, with which the Goddess surely had nothing to do with. His son, Auxilium Damian, would take over in his his place.
====Vengeance (204 AtS-210 AtS)====
The new Governor, Auxilium Damian, issued an ultimatum to the settlements of Hylthia for them to join the Imperial Colonies in 204 AtS. After the settlements rejected, the governor declared war. Vidya saw this as the perfect way to finally get back at Alanus, and it didn't hurt that his son was no favorable person to her either. Hylthia had long seem Vidya as one of their greatest Goddesses due to them always fighting with the lizardfolk, and them needing help with strategizing on how to deal with them. So in 206 AtS, Vidya decided she would fully support the Settlements. First thing the Goddess did, was recommend to the settlements to form an alliance and cooperate with their militaries. Next, she suggested that Rendor Haystan be made the chief commander. Haystan had proven himself many times before Vidya had taken an interest in him. She decided that for the duration of the war, she would grant him immense power, making him her champion. This would help the Settlements, now called the Hylthian Alliance, greatly. Vidya, in disguise, helped with training the militia of the alliance in the ways of discipline and magic. After hearing of the Massacre of Rotterstep, Vidya felt shame that the First Legion was being used like this, and started whispering in some of the more moral of the legion's members asking if this was really the right thing to do. 
After the massacre, settlements would no longer just surrender, now becoming openly hostile. Vidya had an idea, she knew the First Legion could never be beaten in a fair engagement, so she gave the Alliance the plan of drawing them far, far away from their supply lines, having smaller battles on the way to weaken them. Then, in Kassinsted, Haystan would meet and destroy them. The plan worked flawlessly, and the First Legion was, even though it broke Vidya's heart, shattered, with the survivors running just like the lizardfolk did all of those years ago. After this grand victory, the Settlements finally made up their mind and officially became an alliance, with Haystan as the leader.
Lyra would visit Vidya, asking why she involves herself in such violence. Vidya, slightly coldly, responded it was her duty. A frown appeared on Lyra's face asking what happened to the happy hearted explorer she traveled with centuries ago. Vidya's shoulders slumped, knowing her friend was right but she couldn't back down now. Vidya said that after just two more years she will withdraw herself from the war. She turned to Lyra with a smile asking if she'd like to go on an adventure then. Lyra too smiled, saying she'd love to.
With a two year clock, Vidya knew she had to ensure a quick victory. She coordinated godly scales of plans, showing Haystan detailed numbers of the enemies and their locations, along with plans to crush them. An opportunity for a coup de grâce presented itself in 210 AtS, when in the Silver Battle of Miselar, the Aurulum Legion, one of the last three remaining, was completely destroyed. Vidya told Haystan to use the very trick she had used centuries ago, to have troops on standby to catch the retreating Legions. Haystan would execute this flawlessly, with his own personal Knight Detachment catching the two fleeing legions, crushing them in the Golden Battle of Miselar. Vidya knew the war was won and she let Haystan handle it from there on out.
====Another Adventure (210 AtS-226 AtS)====
Finally having a break, Vidya enjoyed getting away from the complicated mortal web of politics. Here, with her girl who is a friend, exploring the great unknown. It had been centuries since Vidya had gone without her godly abilities, relying solely on her wits and craftsmanship to survive. She enjoyed her time with Lyra, she truly did. Still, even after facing down certain death, she had not the courage to tell Lyra how she really felt. Vidya made a mental note to ask a newer Goddess on the scene, Arianne to see if she could help. Still, for around 16 years, the two adventured, travelling around Ferra, with Vidya collecting even more samples for research. It was on this adventure that Vidya found out if you took an acer tree flower, cleaned it, and dried it, it can be mixed into a medicine to help relieve stomach and raspatory pains. The two would travel far, away from the lands Vidya knew, getting all the way to the region which is now known as Eratium. One night, it got very, very cold, and the two had to stay close to stay warm. Vidya would never admit it out loud to her travel partner but she never wanted the cold to end.
This travel also helped Vidya get over her hatred of lizardfolk, realizing they were but distant descendants of those who attacker her friends centuries ago, not responsible for sins of their ancestors. Still, she saw them as untrustworthy, believing they were waiting for the day they could turn the tables. For Lyra's sake though, she focused on the adventure and the knowledge it could bring, more than her commander mindset.
One day, Vidya got tired of having to hunt prey so tediously. Since they weren't supposed to adventure as Gods, the two still had to eat and rest. To remedy this, Vidya made a temporary workstation to make the firing range on her cross bows 30 feet longer, and made it so she could shoot five total shots before reloading, allowing for quicker, more efficient hunting.
Around 226 AtS, Vidya and Lyra had made it back to where they left from, and Vidya thanked Lyra for helping her relax. Vidya decided that before heading back to her secret abode, she'd see how the mortals were doing.
====Too Much Downtime (226 AtS-898 AtS)====
Vidya found out a nation had formed, called The Confederation of Haystan, named fittingly after her champion. Vidya was also proud to learn, that it was currently the most powerful one on Ferra. She posted her research findings once more in 233 AtS, after ensuring it was fully accurate. She also wished to see the current state of science, and so she once more disguised herself as a mortal, and investigated. She saw that the Confederation of Haystan had become the centre of science and technology research, and so she decided to help them out by granting them ideas on how to improve their forges to be even better than before. After thoroughly seeing how the mortals were, she returned to her 'home.' She would stay in her isolation for years, perfecting her knowledge over different crafts and traits they could have, along with how to improve these traits. She would compile her findings in a book, and would update it as she found out more.
Around 264 AtS, Vidya heard news, while in disguise to gather materials, that beastfolk were escaping their captivity. It was quite uneventful for Vidya herself, but she did know this would be a heavy blow to imperial society. She blessed a few cities she liked in Haystan to give them the foresight to avoid total famine, before returning to her divine home.
In 312 AtS, Vidya had finally sculped the perfect armor and weapon for herself, making them out of full kaiserium metal, an extremely strong alloy from the days of the Old Empire. She then would improve it, making it resistant to magic and spells, easy to quickly take on and off, made the Goddess resistant to many types of common damage, and was still able to be snuck around in. Meanwhile, her spear, which she called Quick Thought, had a longer reach, was balanced enough to be usable with one hand, made it easier to land fatal hits with, was strong enough to also act as a shield, and for a few seconds allowed her to perceive time as flowing slower, allowing her to calculate tough decisions in what seems like a blink of an eye to others. This armor was stronger than any other on the continent, making the Goddess, especially when paired with her natural skills, practically untouchable.
The next noteworthy event happened in 415 AtS, when two new divine children were born - Alaria, Goddess of Sun, and Laria Goddess of Moon. Vidya suspected them to be children of Thalindra, which would be confirmed when the two children grew up enough to take on their domains. The two would constantly fight though, having the sun rise at night, and making day become as dark as night. This would stop when in 488 AtS the Goddess of Dusk and Dawn, Lura, and Aura respectfully, were born - Lura beingthe daughter of Laria, and Aura being the daughter of Alaria. These two would keep their respective mothers in check to ensure the skies would remain stable.
Nothing too important in the Goddess's eyes happened for a few centuries after that, as she would spend her time conducting more research on the Rift and talking with Lyra. Vidya had made friends with some other Gods as well, notably Arianne, Goddess of Lesser Love, Leusfiette, Goddess of Redemption, and Thalia, Goddess of Health and Family. This downtime would soon come to an end though, when the mortals started to clash once more.
====The Warriors of the Mind (898 AtS-1226 AtS)====
In 898 AtS, the Massacre of Kings would lead to the Eccasiorian Wars, a war Vidya would try not to get heavily involved in. Instead, she decided to share her findings from her centuries away from mortals, including a new technique of enchanting she had learned, which allowed for far more powerful enchantments. By now, all of her Warriors had long since passed, great heroes of days old. She decided it was time to rebuild them, and chose the town of Badenbach to be where they gather, due to its central location. Mages flooded in from all around, starting around 920 AtS. By the year 994 Ats, Badenbach's growth was becoming exponential, with magic users, merchants, and scribes alike flocking to the city. With so many mages, Vidya knew she would have to more properly organize her Warriors, who at this point were less fighters and more scholars. First, however, Vidya had to ask Lyra out on an adventure for 1000 years into the Rift. It was a standard travel, with Vidya simply wishing to spend time with Lyra before she enacted her plan. When she returned in 1004 AtS, she made a two year plan to organize her mages, having them focus on educating new mages and spreading magical thinking, along with general education of course. In 1006 AtS, her plan came to be and The Shimmerhand Association was born. It started as a simple guild. Vidya would disguise herself, negotiating with Baron Ester Osterlanded to gain privilege for the guild, such as tax exemptions and the ability to bend the laws. In return, the guild would bring in a great growth like never before seen in Ferra. The Baron agreed, and Vidya could begin her plan.
Academies were put up all throughout the city, which soon began to thrive as Vidya used her knowledge of Old Empire cities to help design a thriving metropolis. The Shimmerhand also began to have great sway over mages all over the Confederation. One day, the Goddess would visit the High Council of the Association in secret, giving them a copy of her research in crafting and magic, granting the Association great knowledge. By 1198 AtS, Badenbach was a massive city, and The Shimmerhand Association became powerful and influential enough, that it somewhat formed its own government, independent from the Confederation. The education was nearly the quality it was for Vidya when she was a child, which pleased the Goddess immensely. Yet in, 1226, someone would try to limit the Association and its power. 
Grand Prince Ulrik Fulke would try to limit the Association's power, which would go awful for the prince. The Shimmerhand would embargo the Prince and his noble supporters of magical materials. The Prince and Association would eventually negotiate, with Badenbach becoming independent, Badenbach and the Association would have an everlasting alliance with the Confederation, and the embargo would end. This would create the City-State of Badenbach, Vidya's preferred state on Ferra. 
From here on out, however, Vidya decided to finally take Lyra's advice and stopped getting involved with mortal affairs. She would still answer prayers, but would mostly watch from the sidelines for the next few hundred years, simply ensuring her city of Badenbach stayed safe.
====The New Age (1550 AtS-Present)====
In the Year 1550 AtS, a new crisis presented itself, The Emberot Crisis. Vidya would immediately look into where this new threat came from. She had heard of a great phoenix like Emberot far, far in the past, named Etros, that was defeated by the Old Empire. She knew that Stranghan would also dislike the phoenix, since it brought things back from the dead, which went completely against The Blood Lord's domains. She carefully watched the bird, seeing the destruction it brought on towns, but had yet to get involved. This was until in 1551 AtS, the bird began to attack her city of Badenbach. She didn't know why, nor did she care. She was ready to join the war in full, and fight the Phoenix, personally if she had to.
===Personality===
Vidya hates not knowing something, and will stop at nearly nothing to learn. 
Vidya, unlike some of the other Gods, involves herself very heavily in mortal affairs, though in secret, advising her preferred side in strategy and giving them knowledge.
Vidya is more than willing to help all imperials by giving them knowledge, including the story of her life.
When asked if she would fight a dragon again, the Goddess replied, "Probably not personally, but I would probably help whoever the strategist is come up with a grand plan."
While being knowledgeable in how it works, the Goddess is a self admitted terrible singer, though she can play the flute, which she learned while traveling with Lyra.
Vidya, after learning to play the flute, invented the piano and later grand piano, an instrument which could play just about any note possible.
==== Blessings ====
Vidya has many times given her blessing to those she deems fit, whether that blessing helps you with a project or a design, or it helps your skills in battle. These blessings can be prayed for, though it's far more common for the Goddess to bestow these blessings upon her Warriors, rather than just people praying to her. Some of the effects are permanent, unless Vidya revokes them herself, while others are temporary. 
===== Champion of Wisdom =====
The Blessing of the Champion of Wisdom is specifically to A Warrior of the Mind who obtains the rank of the same name or higher. It's effects are fairly unknown due to the limited number of Champions, though it is believed their wisdom and intelligence increases, and they gain a keen mind.
===== Sentinel of Wisdom =====
Given to dedicated Paladins of Vidya who Vidya uses for missions too small for The Warriors, the blessing lasts the duration of the mission, giving the blessed the ability to add their charisma modifier to any wisdom based skill they are not proficient in, and add their charisma modifier to any non spell attack and damage rolls. 
===== Wisdom Burst =====
This is a temporary blessing given to those in a moment of great need. It's effect can vary wildly, though some of its well known features is the ability to quickly form a battle plan, or proficiency in an intelligence or wisdom based skill for a very short period of time. The longest known time this lasted was for 2 minutes before the effects completely wore off. 
=== Channel Divinity: Quick Thought ===
Starting at 2nd level, you can use your Channel Divinity to quickly make plans before combat.
Before combat, you may channel your divinity to mentally link with a number of friendly creatures up to your proficiency modifier within 120 feet. Time seems to slow around you as you all come up with a plan, who you will strike, where you will move, ect. You must be specific, just saying "Hit the enemy" isn't good enough. Once it is done, you all roll with +5 to initiative, ready for combat! Any attack you make which follows the plan will be done with advantage. If you planned to do an action which requires a saving throw, the target has disadvantage on that saving throw, as long as it was the planned target. You may, for your first turn, move double your movement speed so long as it was to or towards a planned location. After the first round of combat, Vidya will assess your plan in secret, judging how you did. Everyone part of the plan rolls a 1d8, with disadvantage if they missed their target and gain that many temporary hit points.
Category:Deity