Begga Goodfingers

**Begga Goodfingers** is the Regent Court goddess of charity, mercy and goodwill. In her mortal life she was a beefoot halfling, an avatar of Ara uplifted, upon her death, to serve as the goddess of those so often forgotten by society. She is worshiped primarily in the Small Country and the Damescrown, with Beepeck host to her primary temple. Explosive urbanization, disruption of the traditional countryside and growing wealth disparity  across Cannor throughout the 18th and 19th centuries spurred the rapid growth of Begga’s cult, especially among the working classes.

### Childhood

The mortal Begga was born into an impoverished family in Beepeck in 1216. Her early childhood was spent begging for coins or scraps of food, when not plying the family trade of petty thievery, or avoiding abuse from her parents. She quickly became known for her unusually good fortune and ability to stumble upon the most valuable of items, which earned her the nickname “Goodfingers”.

Using some of the money she managed to keep from her parents, she eventually grabbed her siblings and ran away from home, seeking refuge at the local temple of Ara. The priests took them in, and in a rare act of mercy and charity refused to accept any of her gold as compensation. Simple chores around the temple and their eternal devotion to Lady Luck and the Regent Court would suffice.

Overcome by this charity, Begga threw open the temple doors, from which she cast her coffer of coins into the streets, wanting to give back just a little of her good fortune to the ones who needed it the most.

### Acolyte of Ara

Begga spent almost the entire next decade living the acolyte's life, studying the rites of Ara alongside her regimen of temple chores, as well as performing her promised chores. She made for an attentive and inquisitive student, at least according to temple records, and was generally considered a promising acolyte. Her seemingly random streaks of good fortune persisted; her knack for finding valuables would lead her to unexpected treasures all over the city, as would her ability to always stumble on the best deals for items needed by the temple while at market, and fortunate weather conditions would always accompany her outdoor plans regardless of prior divinations. As she reached adolescence they seemed to spill over to the people in the area near her; the once-impoverished neighborhood started to recover. A potentially devastating fire was swiftly put out by a sudden torrent of rain, which in turn led to massive renovations to avoid future fires. A local beggar suddenly inherited a large workshop in the area along with a small fortune, and decides to start hiring locals down on their luck.

These lucky events, alongside the widespread apprehension of a growing divine presence in the temple, prompted the elder priests to investigate her. They quickly determined she was an unwitting Avatar of Ara. The young Begga was seemingly blessed not only with personal good fortune, but also an aura of luck which seemingly rubbed off on the people around her, strengthening the longer she stayed in one place.

Once news reached the High Priest of Ara, he swiftly traveled to Beepeck, hoping to bring Begga to the court of the first Emperor of Anbennar Delian I Whitecloak and thus ensure good fortune to the most important people of the empire. Begga refused this call, deciding instead to use her power for those who needed it the absolute most. She gathered a following of like-minded acolytes and almost a third of the local clergy, and with them departed the temple for good.

### Life as Avatar

As an avatar, Begga traveled across almost all of Cannor helping all those she could find in need, leaving soup kitchens and shelters in her wake. These shelters would later serve as temples, the backbone of Begga's institutional cult. Begga generally tried to stay as long as she could in each region she visited, to make sure her good fortune spread to as many as possible. Rumors of the “rogue avatar” spread across  Regent Court temples across Cannor, her charity, and fortune a welcome respite from the Wars of Rule that raged across the fledgling empire. Soon her small following was swelled by a constant trickle of curious acolytes, generous philanthropists and well-meaning commoners. Despite her previous disagreement with the High Priest, the temples of Ara were always among the first to welcome her whenever she arrived in a new region. Often hosting her and her followers, providing supplies for their shelters as well as offering advice and counsel. Some scholars suspect this wasn't purely out of the goodness of their hearts, but also a way to gain followers and goodwill.

During an extended stay at her old family home in Beepeck, converted into a shelter, in the winter of 1303 Begga suffered a sudden brain aneurysm, dying painlessly in her sleep among friends and followers. She left behind her a lasting legacy of charity and an impressive following of loyal believers. These people would serve as her first priests and were the most vocal advocates for her ascension within the court. When the Pantheonic Council finally canonized her as a goddess, it was mostly a formality. Begga was already well established among commoners all over Cannor and the Empire of Anbennar.

## Godhood and Orphanage of the Lost

#### Mythology and the Orphanage of the Lost

According to Regent Court scripture, once Begga was faced with the final judgment of Nerat, and Ara called her avatar back to her Golden Bazaar in the Divine Demesne, she refused. Seeing all of the lost and wayward souls lingering in the Crumbling City, and learning the fate of those souls not accepted by any deity in the Court being destined to roam the Fugue forever, she knew her true purpose.

With the small amount of divine power remaining within her, she claimed and warded a building inside the Crumbling City and made it into her Orphanage of the Lost. There, she would continue the work she had always done: taking care of those less fortunate, helping those unable to fully move on heal and find their way beyond guiding the souls of the scared and lost with a gentle caring hand. Her Orphanage thus served and still serves as the ultimate destination not only for her most faithful but also for the ones who need her the most.

Nerat initially protested and attempted to expel her from his realm, as he thought this shelter an upset of the natural order of his realm. Ara, with the help of Nathalyne, persuaded Castellos to allow it, and Nerat was forced to accept the decree.

## Legacy

### Settlement of Aelantir

When an order of Ara known as the Shining Circle established an Aelantir colony in the southern Ynn River Valley, they quickly found both fortune and success. The merchants in charge quickly hired more adventurers and mercenaries to consolidate their gains. Within the colony, a growing following of Begga emerged, trying to alleviate the suffering of the colonists and help any who needed it, including the local ruinborn. This following would later organise themselves into an order of their own.

#### The River's Hands

The River's Hands emerged as a religious order during the decade-long flood of the Ynn from 1560 to 1570. Dedicated to the veneration of Begga Goodfingers, this order embarked on a mission to travel along the Ynn, offering humanitarian aid to the downtrodden Ynnic Ruinborn. Their dual purpose was not only to provide assistance but also to engage in conversion efforts, steering individuals away from superstitions associated with the river and toward the teachings of Begga.

In 1568, Lord Talvynn of Selocshana, in perpetual gratitude for the order's efforts in saving his son from drowning, bestowed a substantial plot of land upon the River's Hands. This generous gesture laid the foundation for the Begga Community of Selocshana, whose priests passionately preached to the settlers working under the nearby Shining Circle. This would plant the seeds for the later founding of Beggaston.

#### The Founding of Beggaston

The Faith of Begga continued to grow alongside the widening wealth gaps between the Shining Circle leadership and the commoners working below them, eventually sparking a significant uprising that expelled the majority of wealthy merchants and their hired adventurer captains. In the aftermath, a ruling council emerged consisting of farmers, clergy, and craftsmen, which served as the governing body of the burgeoning settlement. As Beggaston grew into a fully-fledged nation, these councils, known as Begga Circles, played a crucial role in local administration.

This uprising was incredibly controversial and unprecedented within Begga’s priesthood, with many declaring such an act  against her wishes;  for these pacifists, violence and war only bred more suffering and Castellos taught that everyone has their divinely ordained place, to be endured with humility and grace. Others argued the violent action was a necessary evil to prevent the suffering of the growing lower classes of the colony, pointing to Beggas own split from the temple of Ara. This marked a significant shift in the attitude and perception of Begga and her worshippers, with some seeing them as a potential threat to the established order, should the Beggastonic ideas spread. This increasing mistrust would also become a contributor to the Adeanic and Corinite schism within the Temple.

### Contact with Sarhal

With the discovery of the Vyzemby in Sarhal and their reunification with their long lost Cannorian halfling kin, the worship of Begga was spread to the islands of Fahvanosy. Many island halflings admired the fact that their counterparts not only had a halfling goddess, but  one so good and widely worshiped. Before the priests of Lel and the Nakavy Avo had the time to assemble, many of the Fahvanosy had already incorporated Begga into their pantheon, and Begga was almost unanimously welcomed into the Nakavy Avo pantheon.

### Corinite Wars

The Temple of Begga was a rare beacon of peace and safety during the Corinite Wars, mostly spared from infighting. Beggans generally chose to help and assist victims of the wars as best they could by donating to temple relief efforts and handing out alms. Ever since the Beggaston Uprising, many nobles and temples had feared the movement would spread back to Cannor. This growing distrust made the Beggan charity work harder than before as donations started decreasing, and any Beggans attempting to organise larger gatherings or events were met with inquiries or dispersal by noble soldiers. This caused an even larger rift between the Beggans and the wider pantheonic faith. Many Cannorian kingdoms had also started to harshly punish any individual suspected of “forming a circle” for fear of a repeat of what happened in Aelantir. This didn't dissuade the majority of Beggans, and they kept their charity, shelters and donations going throughout the wars.

However, many of the more ascetic and introspective temples and followers of Begga argued this wasn't enough. Following Begga was supposed to be more than simply handing out gold or soup. The true teachings of Begga could only be found by rejecting any physical comforts and material things. Once you had given everything you could, only then could you start to truly understand and appreciate Begga. As their sect grew in popularity, and they increasingly felt their own beliefs being largely ignored by the High Priest, they saw no other way than to break away from the Regent Court to join the Corinite Faith. For many in the movement, the Corinite creed already reflected their values far more than the Regent Court proper ever did.

#### Monks of Unsanctioned Charity

The schismatics named themselves the Monks of Unsanctioned Charity and  spent their time wandering the world, not preaching or working as missionaries, but instead focusing on meditations of faith and offering help to anyone in need, much like Begga herself had done centuries prior. They considered themselves living examples of the belief that even if you have nothing, you can still have faith and compassion. 'Their name reflected their belief that acts of charity and compassion need not be ''sanctioned'' by the temples; for them, the act of charity itself was sacred, only truly born from within, never imposed by an external Temple. They would even mirror their distant kin across the Lament, and organize their order as a circle of equals with no single Grandmaster.

This philosophy and theology would come to shape the direction of Beggans within the Corinite faith.

## Appearance

Begga is most often characterized as a humble halfling woman, hands outstretched as if begging, or as if offering. She is most often dressed in simple and common clothes in natural or dampened colors, along with her signature brown wool cape and a sling. She is often depicted with shoulder-length brown hair, brown eyes with a kind expression and a roguish smile.

## Relations

The Temple of Begga has, despite their tense past, fairly good relations with the Temple of Ara. Some of the biggest donors to Beggan shelters have historically been wealthy Aranites. The belief that a wealthy and fortunate society has more resources to dedicate to helping the less fortunate is not lost on the Beggans.

Begga’s perceived slight and refusal to follow the will of Castellos as interpreted by the High Priest of Ara, has  however led to clashes between  the two temples  on occasion. Some Castellosians have gone so far as to call their temple “insolent commoners” outright. This is an attitude that has since been inherited by Adeanic temples following Castellos’ death.

Although Begga and Corin share the goal of doing good and protecting the innocent, their differing ideologies and core tenets often cause the temples to clash. While Begga is concerned with compassion, showing mercy, and aiding the needy, with  violence only ever a desperate and final option, Corin wants to find the root causes of suffering and defeat them by any means necessary. To Beggans, the Corinites in their shortsightedness inadvertently cause even more suffering, poverty, and homelessness with their warmongering .

The temples of Begga and Nathalyne are very close. Many of Nathalyne's followers are, or grew up, very poor. Some turned to crime and the shadows as their way of surviving,  while many of Begga's followers are in turn also thieves or criminals out of desperation. While the temple of Begga officially condemns stealing, even refusing stolen goods as donations, they have been known to act as safe houses or sanctuaries for notable criminals and followers of Nathalyne. In the end, Nathalyne does much to protect those in need with her shadows, and helps redistribute wealth between those who have and have not. This is cause for deep respect and appreciation between the two.

## Religion

### Temples

Begga’s Temples are often small and unimposing. Many were originally founded in old derelict buildings, warehouses, and abandoned structures. As such, the architecture and style of temples varies greatly, even from town to town.

All temples also serve as temporary shelters and soup kitchens for anyone who needs a warm meal. No questions are asked, and no judgment given. They are also known to take mercy on orphans and unwanted children, raising them within the temples as their own. A common denominator between all Temples of Begga is an active effort to make the temple feel safe, warm, and homely. They often look more like comfortable and cozy homes, rather than the awe-inspiring grandness often expected of temples.

There are however exceptions, and traditional temples of Begga, built in the classical style, do exist across Cannor, albeit to a much lesser extent. One such temple is the Grand Temple of Begga in Beepeck, originally built around the former temple of Ara where she grew up and first discovered her nature as an Avatar.

### Priesthood

There are no formal requirements for becoming a priest or cleric of Begga, as she strongly believed that the only thing needed to help her spread compassion was patience and generosity. This has led to her priests being the most diverse out of all temples, in terms of race but also social class and personal background.

The common dress for a priest of Begga is the signature brown woolen cape, and a simple quarterstaff or wandering stick. Most also carry a simple sling. Once used for defense during missionary or charity work, the sling is now purely symbolic. Although they are permitted to own both property and personal belongings, many elect to live entirely without, feeling closer to Begga and its core tenets with such a choice; this is especially common among the Corinite followers of Begga. Her priests are thus often seen in ragged or threadbare clothing, saving their vestments for truly special occasions.

### Followers

Followers of Begga most commonly comprise the poor, the downtrodden, and those forgotten by society. Beggars, thieves, the homeless, and the permanently injured or sick are also strongly associated with her. Begga is however also widely worshiped among wealthy philanthropists wanting change, intellectuals, and activists working for expanded basic rights. She is also a traditional goddess among many of the Regent Court halflings, as she was the first halfling goddess accepted into the Court.

## Rites

### Marriage Ceremonies

Couples who elect for a wedding officiated by a priest of Begga are often looking for a life and relationship blessed by generosity, compassion, and mutual understanding. The ceremonies are often simple, minimal, and open for anyone. All food and any gifts are collected for redistribution to those in need by the temple, along with a gift from the newlywed couple.

### Funeral Rites

People who ask for their funerals to be presided over by a priest of Begga are more often than not looking for final compassion and to absolve guilts they might have had during their lives.  They are characterized by themes of compassion and giving. How generous the recently departed was in life, and the hope for that generosity to be kept alive by the living. The recently departed worldly possessions are then claimed and donated to various organizations, people, or temples in need unless the will of the deceased states otherwise.

The Temple of Begga also performs funerals for those without means or those without kin. They believe deeply in the right for every person to have a decent burial, and not to die in fear or alone.

### The Emptying of the Coffers

Emulating what is considered Begga's first act of avatarhood, at the end of each year each temple of Begga is expected to “empty their coffers” and give it all to the needy. Early on, this was done exactly like Begga, following her example by throwing gold into the streets in front of the temples, while preaching about spreading the fortune. In modern times, this practice has become somewhat more advanced involving paying off loans for those unable to pay, giving back foreclosed homes, or donating to charities. But in some areas of Lencenor and the Small Country, the old practice is still the norm.

Regent Court DeitiesCastellos • The Dame • Esmaryal • Falah • Nerat • Adean • Ryala • Balgar the Builder • Ara • Munas Moonsinger • Nathalyne • **Begga Goodfingers** • Minara • Corin