Blessings of the Gods

Deities sometimes choose champions to **bless** with their power, granting them diverse benefits, such as a passive attribute increase, a damage resistance, or an entirely new special ability that can only be used once per week.

Although the blessings themselves can't be inherited, part of their powers can mark the children of their bearers, giving them some form of magic.

## **History**

During the Calamity, some deities gave blessings to mortals and called them champions. One such champion, Alyxian, was granted the blessings of three of the Prime Deities: Avandra, Corellon, and Sehanine. Such blessing granted him the title of Apotheon.

As Vox Machina prepared to confront Vecna, several of their members earned the special attention of a Prime Deity. Pike, Vex'ahlia, and Scanlan each proved themselves worthy of the blessing of one of the gods.

Although Vax'ildan is often referred to as the "Champion of the Raven Queen," he has not received a specific blessing from her.

Livandra, a woman from the Menagerie Coast, was blessed by Melora, gaining magical powers that one of her sons, Bor'Dor, would inherit.

## **Blessing of the Everlight**

Pike, a cleric of Sarenrae, had spent much of her time in the *Critical Role* timeline restoring a ruined Temple of Sarenrae in Vasselheim. When Vox Machina visited the goddess on the Island of Renewal, she told Pike that she had been "a guiding light for these wonderful champions and so many more." Sarenrae then granted Pike, as her champion, the **Blessing of the Everlight**.

### **Properties**

*+2 Constitution*

*As a bonus action, you can summon the wings of the Everlight, granting you a flying speed of 40 feet for up to ten minutes. While you have these wings, any spells you cast that cause creatures to regain hit points heal an additional ten hit points. Once this ability is used, it can't be used again for seven days.*

## **Blessing of the Dawnfather**

When Vox Machina sought Pelor's counsel and aid in defeating Vecna, he offered to let one of them attempt his trial and become his champion. Vex'ahlia stepped forward to accept the challenge. She completed it, with some help from the rest of the party, and was granted the **Blessing of the Dawnfather**.

### **Properties**

*You have resistance to necrotic damage.*

*As a bonus action, you channel the light of day into your being. For one hour, you emit bright light in a 120-foot radius. Any evil creature within that 120-foot radius that hits you with an attack or spell immediately suffers 4d6 radiant damage and is knocked prone. Once this ability is used, it can't be used again for seven days.*

## **Blessing of the Knowing Mistress**

When Vox Machina found Ioun in her Endless Athenaeum, she chose Scanlan to undergo her trial. Upon completing the trial with Vex's assistance, he was awarded the Tome of Isolation and the **Blessing of the Knowing Mistress**.

### **Properties**

*+2 Intelligence*

*As a bonus action, you channel the omniscience of Ioun. For one hour, whenever you successfully hit a creature with a spell or attack, you can learn one of the creature's stats of choice from the following list: AC, senses, saving throw bonuses, damage resistances, damage immunities, damage vulnerabilities. During this hour, you also have advantage on initiative rolls and on saving throws. Once this ability is used, it can't be used again for seven days.*

## **Stormborn**

This particular blessing is given by Kord the Stormlord to certain children born beneath a raging storm. Those babies, once they grow up, manifest a great talent in combat, as well as an affinity with lightning, so many follow the path of legendary heroes and forge their destiny accordingly, although some of them become too reckless or prideful.

While in the past most of the stormborn children were born in goliath communities, and all of the legendary stormborn (such as Kaldon Thunderhead, Marydra Skysplitter and Yodrell Rumblechest) were, indeed, half-giants, by 836 PD more storm-blessed children of different lineages had been born, many in the Rivermaw Herd of Tal'Dorei.

### **Properties**

Stormborn have resistance to lightning damage. They are also capable of imbuing their weapon attacks with electric energy, as well as casting *Lightning Bolt* three times a day and *Call Lightning* once a day.

## **References**

1. ↑ See "A Haunted Past" (3x63) from 2:26:47 through 2:28:58.  Bor'Dor, a divine soul sorcerer, was the son of a woman who had been blessed by a goddess (Melora), and she taught him how to use those powers.
2. ↑ See *Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn*, p. 10. See also p. 15.
3. ↑ See "Elysium" (1x104) at 57:35.
4. ↑ See "Elysium" (1x104) from 1:01:50 through 1:02:50.
5. ↑ See "Elysium" (1x104) from 2:25:20 through 2:39:40.
6. ↑ See "Elysium" (1x104) from 2:49:05 through 2:49:55.
7. ↑ See "The Endless Atheneum" (1x106) from 1:04:40 through 1:05:30.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 See *Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn*, p. 253.
9. ↑ See *Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn*, p. 254.

**Art:**

1. ↑ Fan art of Pike blessed by Sarenrae, by J.T. Arndt (source). Also see J.T. Arndt's website. Used with permission.
2. ↑ Fan art of Vex'ahlia blessed by Pelor, by Jessica Scates (source). Used with permission.
3. ↑ Fan art of Scanlan blessed by Ioun, by David Rodrigues (source). Used with permission.
4. ↑ Official art of two half-giants, a stormborn and a brawler, by Claudia Ianniciello from *Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn*, p. 253. This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.