The Weeping God

## Tholara

> *"Sleep well, child. I shall watch over you, always."*
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> - The Watcher's Promise
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Tholara is the Elder God of the Moon, Tides, Shelter, Grief, Fey, and Women. She is revered as the Watcher in the Evernight; the protector of the mortal realm from the horrors of the Realms Beyond and the creatures of the night. She presides over her Domains within the Celestial Plane of Naraia, her divine gaze piercing through the darkness of the Lands Below and guiding mortals on their many journeys.

Silvery light eminates from behind Tholara's head in a cool, soothing halo that obscures her face. Her voice is said to be sorrowful but comforting, easing fears as she offers guidance and sanctuary. Others say her voice is cold and cutting, her wit as sharp and painful as the searing radiance with which she smites her foes.

Tholara's form is that of a glowing woman, her body a mass of shimmering mist. Her features are indiscernable from the radiant halo behind her head, aside from two points of silvery light that are said to peer through any illusion, no matter the complexity. Those who hold that cutting gaze are said to gain a clarity verging on apotheosis, the state of which renders them catatonic.

## Tholara's Influence

Tholara's dominion is the Moon, and everything it offers and affects. To some she is their great protector; a tireless force of vigilance keeping mortals safe from extraplanar corruption. To others, she is the benevolent essence of the Moon, to which all women are attuned and the root of all life originates. To all, she is the Lady of Grief and Loss, whose eternal mourning provides the light with which the Mortal Races may survive.

She is further associated with the tides, exerting rare control over the unpredictable and often violent Seluva. Her followers include paladins, travellers, and sailors who seek safe passage by requesting her protection instead of appeasing the unhinged sea. Beyond the Divine Gate in the Feywild, she is known as the Feymother; the origin of all fey and their god of life.

Before space and time there was nothing. An infinite and empty expanse where naught but darkness claimed dominion. From the void came Syndarr, a beacon of light over the barren and inhospitable Prime Material. As the other Elder Ones came to consciousness, a glaring problem revealed itself: Syndarr was but one being, omniscient, but not omnipresent. He needed an opposite and equal to help ensure light reached all ends of the naiscient plane. It is from this desire that Tholara was born. She is one of the youngest of her kind. Despite this, she is often viewed as a motherly figure by many of the other gods. Kind, compassionate, and ever vigilant, it is under her soft guidance that life was able to take root among the darkness of the Many Realms. Without her, there would be no mortal races in the world, and thus over half the pantheon would not exist. It is because of this fact that she commands an eternal respect only Yndol truly matches.

Tholara acts to aid the Gatekeeper in his maintenence of the Divine Gate, and is one of the only beings who has the ability to seal the borders between the Realms, thanks to her control of the Feywild. She uses this power to safeguard the lands of the fey from the ever encroaching corruption of the Far Realm, as well as the tireless creatures of the night and their ever meddlesome gods.

Because of the importance of her domains and the respect she commands, Tholara is universally considered a major god. She is revered by all, most of all by the fey and those who travel by sea, for it is under her light that they are the most safe.

### Tholara's Goals

Like her siblings and her peers in the Celesium, Tholara does not care for the conflicts of the Many Realms. Her focus is on the maintenence of the Lunar Cycle, as well as the pushing and pulling of the tides, and the expansion and protection of the Feywild. Aside from these tasks, she also invests much of her attention to the expulsion of vile creatures from her sight. She views many of her fellows in the Elder Pantheon as misguided for their obessive concern with mortal affairs, despite her own frequent interactions with the New Races. She tends towards aiding good causes, however she will not hesitate to annihilate any self-proclaimed hero that dares upset the delicate balance of the Divine Mandate.

Tholara is focused on the destruction of aberrations and creatures of the night. Enraged by these foul corruptions and fascimiles of life, she works tirelessly to erase their presence wherever she finds them. She relies heavily on her mortal followers for this task, since her power has been heavily diminished since her censure by Syndarr.

Tholara is young in comparison to her fellow Celesium gods, however she commands respect from beings that are otherwise her elders. Unbothered by the politics of the Elder Ones, she chooses to devote her limited time and resources to her domains and further goals. By maintaining a constant vigil over the Mortal Races, she has amassed a large and fiercely loyal following that aims to repay her compassion and devotion in kind. Her followers make their presence known wherever they go, believing their cause to be just and thus unneeding of secrecy. When the actions of her followers will not suffice, she draws upon what power she can muster to aid and protect her faithful.

### Divine Relationships

Tholara has been forced into isolation by her former husband, Syndarr. Though she yearns for the company of others, she is often left alone for centuries at a time, only visited by the oldest and wisest of fey when they are able. It is because of this that Tholara is limited in her interactions with the wider pantheon, though she does maintain many relationships from before her binding.

Her main rivalry is with Nefet, whose corruption of her creations led to the first creatures of the night. This is an act she has not forgiven, as she prosecutes a divine war of vengeance in the name of her fallen children. This hostility is openly reciprocated by the Withered God, who taunts the Feymother with the continued manipulation and corruption of fey and mortals with the ever tempting promise of eternal life.

Syndarr is loathed by Tholara, who blames his infidelity for the deaths of a countless many of her children. Syndarr is dismissive of his ex wife, viewing her as an essential component of the Many Realms' existence, but ultimately cares not for what she does. Their relationship is a point of contention amongst the otherwise unified Celesium Sect, alongside much of the pantheon. The King is almost universally condemned for his actions, with some gods such as Mira viewing him with contempt.

Seluva holds a unique relationship with the Tholara, as the Feymother is the only deity who dares control the wild tempers of the sea. She views Seluva as a close friend, a relationship nurtured by the Feymother's many years of captivity within the sea's domain. Seluva in turn considers Tholara her only friend, a patient being who is able to reign in her wild and unpredictable nature where no other dares to try.

Yndol, Asteria, and Vorai are close friends of Tholara, their goals sharing much overlap. The three form a holy triad of vigilance over the Prime Material; Asteria guards Above, Tholara guards Below, and Yndol watches the boundaries between. It is under their constant vigilance that the mortal races have enjoyed their relative peace for so many Eras.

Her closest ally is Aton, whom she shares a similar domain of watchfulness. The two have retained a close friendship since Tholara first began her vigil against Nefet's corrupting influence. The two are often depicted together in murals and shrines, acting as the divine bulwark protecting the Mortal races from the Realms Beyond.

## Worshipping Tholara

Tholara's worship is always done beneath the light of the moon, often at places where the boundary between the Prime Material and Feywild are weakest. Cults devoted to Tholara often work to provide sanctuary to those who seek shelter from the night. Some followers and champions of Tholara travel the seas and the Feywild, hoping to find the Court of the Moon and ease the grief of their mistress. A select few of her devout focus instead on the destruction of her greatest enemies: the creatures of the night. These holy crusaders — known as the Watchers — often venture to the far flung edges of the world, banishing the extraplanar and purging the monstrous wherever they are found.

Rituals honoring Tholara are usually performed in a Moon Pool, preferably under the light of a full moon. One of the god’s greatest festivals is the Winter Solstice, when the night is longest and the boundaries between Realms is weakest.

## Myths of Tholara

Tholara appears in many stories, often as a source of guidance or protection. Initiates in Tholara's churches and orders know of many stories where she plays a front and center role, though they are often sad and serve as cautionary tales.

***The Feymother.*** According to a few accounts, the Feywild did not develop in parallel with the Prime Material, but rather before it. It was the crucible of all life, a picturesque realm free from the corruption of the Elder Evils and protected by an eternal twilight, where both Syndarr and Tholara could watch over their fledgling creations. While this paradise would not last, it is frequently debated that Tholara, not Anerra, is the root of all life, and thus deserving of such deference.

***The Broken Vow.*** It is well known that Tholara and Syndarr were once bound in Divine Matromony. It is also well established that they would split, with Syndarr moving on to wed to the young Anerra, and Tholara being left jaded and sorrowful in her realm of magic and intrigue. What isn't often known — but frequently touted by Tholara's faithful — is that Syndarr intiated this split while still under the bindings of Divine Matromony, the further consequences of this causing the mass exodus of the fey from the prime Material, an event that killed untold thousands of their kind. This was an act that drew the ire of deities across the pantheon, most notable of which was Tholara. In a fit of heartbroken rage, she unleashed a torrent of wrath and destruction on the Prime Material, churning the oceans of the world into great tsunamis and typhoons that levelled the continents and purged the land of all life. Angered by this, Syndarr banished Tholara far from his sight, deep within the confines of the sea. Bound in radiant chains and forbidden from returning to her home in Mirnai, she has wallowed in grief and anguish for millenia, developing a fracture in her personality that the fey and elves refer to as the Aldai'Virae (Twins of Sorrow). It is said she rules over her domains in her new home of Naraia, her grief over her lost children manifesting as silver tears that pour from her realm into the Prime Material as the light by which all may navigate and find sanctuary.

***The Tidecaller.*** There once existed a man truly and utterly alone in this world. Deprived of every comfort but that of life itself, he wandered the many lands and seas, guided by only the light of the sun and moon, wanting much but asking for little. His only companion was his violin, which he would play whenever his heart required easing. Through his ceaseless wanderings he soon came to an isolated bay on the continent of Diros. There, under the moon's watchful gaze, upon a cliff overlooking the cerulean ocean, he played a serenade to the only thing that had ever truly shown him compassion: the moon. His haunting tune carried over the surrounding cliffs and across the waves, resonating with the latent magic of the area. Fey, enthralled by his performance, began to spin and dance, laughing and frolicking to his tune. Over the course of many hours did he play, until his fingers were numb and his breath was fast. It was then, as the full moon began to sink below the horizon, that a shimmering figure of mist revealed herself. With streams of Moonsilver pouring down her face, the Feymother thanked the man for his music; the only source of joy she had experienced in many an Era. Enamored by the figure, the man vowed himself to play for her each night, to ease the burden of whatever pained her so. In exchange for this gift, Tholara granted him her favor. His violin became enchanted, summoning Fey and Beast to dance and sway to the alluring song he so masterfully produced. It is said that to this day, upon that lonely cliff in Diros, the man plays under the light of the moon. And every night, the tides push and pull to his song.

***The Court of the Moon.*** In the Feywild, deep beneath the waves of its glittering oceans, is said to exist a palace of coral and moonstone. So bright does it shine that it illuminates the entirety of the land's seas from its position in the depths. Within this castle of crystal does the Feymother preside, bound to her throne in radiant chains. Silver streams of light pour from her eyes, forming pools of grief that shimmer in the light of her bindings. Those who visit this celestial realm are said to be struck by an overwhelming grief so encompassing that it drives them to hysterics. It is said that if one embraces this grief and joins the Feymother in her silent weeping, they will gain the wisdom of the ancients; a holy resolve that steels the heart against the direst of circumstance.

## Tholara's Champions

**Alignment:** Usually lawful, often good

**Suggested Classes:** Cleric, druid, ranger, paladin

**Suggested Cleric Domains:** Light, Nature, Twilight

**Suggested Backgrounds:** Acolyte, Far Traveller, Feylost, Hermit, Sage

Most worshippers of Tholara worship her aspect as god of shelter, looking to her for guidance through the long nights. It is the goal of all of Tholara's faithful to purge her enemies from her sight, a crusade that is unending in its execution.

### Tholara's Favor

As a member of the Celesium Sect, Tholara is a god focused first on the preservation of the Lands Below, second on the continuance of the Lunar Cycle and the effects it bestows, and last on individual mortals and their constant squabbles. When her mortal agents ask her for aid, she is quick and decisive in her response, with earth shattering effects that banish her foes from reality itself. When she requires a servant — which she often does — she will recruit from among the myriad of individuals whose lives have been harmed by the actions of the Far Realm and creatures of the night. The Tholara’s Favor table offers several suggestions for the nature of your connection to the God.

 **6** | You have no idea why Tholara shows interest in you.

### Devotion to Tholara

Servants of Tholara find resolve in the light of the moon. As a follower of Tholara, consider the possibilities on the Tholara’s Ideals table as alternatives to those suggested for your background.

 **6** | **Mystery.** The fey are a curious race full of intrigue and wonder. I hope to better understand these interesting beings. (Any)

### Earning and Losing Piety

You increase your piety score to Tholara when you expand the god’s influence in the world in a concrete way through acts such as these:

* Protecting those who live under the moon's light
* Guiding the aimless and rescuing the lost
* Slaying the creatures of the night
* Building or restoring a temple to Tholara

Your piety score to Tholara decreases if you diminish Tholara’s influence in the world, contradict her ideals, or make her look ridiculous or ineffectual through acts such as these:

* Leaving those you have sworn to protect to fend for themselves
* Misleading those who rely on your council
* Aiding the creatures of the night
* Furthering the aims of the Elder Evils and other aberrations

Tholara is a benevolent deity who cares for the world and its many denizens. Her followers make their presence known wherever they go, as they view their cause as righteous and unneeding of secrecy.

#### **Tholara's Devotee**

*Piety 3+ Tholara trait*

As a devotee of Tholara, you have embraced her guidance through the night. You have advantage on Wisdom saving throws against being charmed or frightened. As an action, you can invoke her blessing to suppress any effect causing you to be charmed or frightened for 1 minute. Once you use this trait, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.

#### **Tholara's Votary**

*Piety 10+ Tholara trait*

As a votary of Tholara, your senses have been honed to ward you against the dangers in the night. You gain darkvision out to a range of 120 feet. In that radius, you can see in dim light as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light.

As a bonus action, you can make a Wisdom (Insight) check against a creature you can see that isn’t incapacitated contested by the target’s Charisma (Deception) check. If you succeed, you can determine whether or not the target is a shapechanger.

If the target is a shapechanger and it enters within 120 feet of you for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there, you can use a reaction to force it to make a Constitution saving throw (DC = 8 + your Wisdom modifier + your proficiency bonus) at disadvantage. If it fails, it instantly reverts to its original form and can’t assume a different form as long as you can see it. Once you use this trait, it can't be used again until you finish a long rest.

#### **Tholara's Disciple**

*Piety 25+ Tholara trait*

As a bonus action, you can call on the blessing of the moon to protect you from harm. When you do, attack rolls have disadvantage against you for 1 minute. You shed bright light in a 10-foot radius, and dim light for an additional 10 feet. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.

#### **Champion of the Moon**

*Piety 50+ Tholara trait*

You can increase your Strength or Wisdom score by 2 and also increase your maximum for that score by 2.