Augusta

*The storm is unyielding, and everlasting. Trapped, but uneroded. Rumbling for a seeming eternity. Its escape seems inevitable, yet at the same time impossible.*

## (Clergy)

### Subdomains

Lightning, Clouds, Self-Realization, Storms, Arcane, Monsoon

### Symbol

A cloud with fangs jutting from the bottom

## History

### Origin

During the Age of Creation, the Plane of Air was under the dominion of the Cloud Dragons. These majestic creatures roamed the boundless skies, leaving behind occasional resting spots and trophies of their conquests. As time passed, the dragons gradually ventured further afield, with many eventually departing the plane altogether.

But there was one Cloud Dragon who chose to remain, tethered to a particular patch of sky where he pursued his research. Through his studies, he discovered that the very essence of the plane could be harnessed to produce magic, and that his own body could be infused with it to a certain extent.

With this newfound knowledge, the Cloud Dragon began to imbue himself with more and more of the plane's essence, growing ever more powerful until he finally transcended his draconic form and became an Elemental Lord of Air, known as Augusta.

### Reign

In the fullness of time, Augusta amassed great power and wielded his mastery over the plane. With a deft hand, he gathered vast swathes of cloud, molding them into firm foundations upon which he brought forth life. Among his creations were an array of electric creatures, elementals, and other beings, all of which he crafted to populate his own utopian civilization. Soon, great cities of air rose into being, their inhabitants all devoted to the worship of Augusta.

Alas, despite the god's best efforts, his creations could never endure. Every society he made invariably collapsed into turmoil, as its citizens descended into bloody conflict or simply wandered away to explore the far reaches of the plane. Nevertheless, Augusta refused to be deterred by these setbacks, and he continued to strive towards the creation of the perfect society, even though success always seemed to elude him.

### Containment

In due course, Augusta, began to realize that despite the many failures of his creations, there were certain "successes" that emerged. As a result, he decided to construct a magnificent and iridescent palace, the "Nimbus Nacre," in the farthest corners of the plane and gather all of his triumphs there. Having collected all of his successful creations from across the universe, he locked them within his palace.

However, Augusta failed to recognize that he had imprisoned a group of creatures who shared little in common other than a desire for freedom and a reluctance to remain where they were. The inhabitants of Augusta's "experiment" formed a plot to overthrow him and take his powers for themselves, selecting one of their own to carry out the plan.

After a long stretch of time, Augusta returned to check on his disgruntled horde of "perfect" creatures, but he was immediately besieged by some of the plane's strongest and most fervent inhabitants. Although they were unable to kill him, the creatures managed to siphon off enough of Augusta's power to trap him indefinitely within the palace he had created, and then fled.

Ranginori, one of the creatures Augusta had originally confined within the palace, succeeded him as the Elemental Lord, and he is one of the few living beings who knows Augusta's true location or even of his existence.

### Current time

In his eternal incarceration, Augusta slumbers, yet his restless spirit finds solace in infiltrating the dreams of mortals, sowing the seeds for his eventual release. He vigilantly watches over the happenings of both his plane and the material world, but is powerless to make his presence known to others.

## Relationships

### Enemies

Ranginori treats Augusta as an awful threat and grand enemy, but Augusta has a more amiable view of him.

Augusta despises Hshurha, although she most likely doesn't know of his existence in her plane; he feels the same about each of the Elemental Plane's evil lords.

## Appearance

Augusta takes the form of a dragon made entirely of dark and tempestuous clouds. His form is malleable, however, shifting in size and shape from moment to moment. Indeed, accounts of his appearance vary greatly, with some describing him as no larger than a house cat, while others report him as stretching hundreds of miles in length.

## Home

Augusta's unwilling realm is the Nimbus Nacre, a gigantic and gorgeous palace within the realm of air, and permanently sealed off.

## Teachings

After his millennia of imprisonment, Augusta has reflected somewhat upon the use of life and how one treats those within it although he hasn't truly become a good god, he has adopted many of the views of them. His paladin code is as follows:

* Everyone should be free. I break the bonds of prisoners and buy or claim by force slaves' freedom, except when they are best left in prison or servitude than free to harm others.
* I am a beacon of hope. I won't allow myself or those I help to be prey of despair, even at desperate odds.
* I never lose my faith. There's always another way. There's always a better way. There can always be a better tomorrow. I never tire of searching for it.
* Every discovery might be an asset for good. Learning and exploration are my sacred duties.
* Levity deflates pride. I will never oppose good-natured mischief that violates no law.
* Strength lets me offer more protection. I will do all I can to become stronger and remain morally sound in the pursuit of protecting others.

### Favored animals

The common crane is Augusta's favored animal.

## Worship

### Obedience

Climb to the highest point available to you, where you have a clear and unobstructed view of the sky. If you are able to fly, you should fly as high as you reasonably can instead. Spread your arms wide and reflect on the openness and freedom of the skies, and the power of flight. At the culmination of your obedience, cast any electric spell, or spell-like ability or activate a spell completion or spell trigger magic item. Gain a +4 sacred or profane bonus on spellcraft and perform checks. The type of bonus depends on your alignment—if you’re neither good nor evil, you must choose either sacred or profane the first time you perform your obedience, and this choice can’t be changed.

### Boons

#### Exalted

1. **Tempestuous Talent (Sp)** Shocking Grasp 3/day, *Steal Breath* 2/day, or *Gaseous Form* 1/day
2. **Shocking Surge (Su)** As a swift action, you can infuse your body with crackling electricity. Your electricity spells deal an additional 1d6 damage per caster level, and you gain a +20-foot enhancement bonus to your base land speed. Additionally, any creature struck by one your electricity spells during this time must make a Fortitude save (DC 10 + half caster level + your Charisma modifier) or be stunned for 1d4 rounds. This ability lasts for 1 round for every Hit Die you possess. The rounds in which you manifest this surge don’t need to be consecutive. You can dismiss the surge as a free action.
3. **Stormcaller's Supercharger (Su)** Once per day, as a full-round action, you may summon a massive thunderstorm centered on yourself. This ability may be used indoors. The storm has a radius of 1 mile and lasts for 1 minute per character level. You may end this storm early as a free action. During this time, any metal weapons wielded within the storm deal an extra 2d6 points of electricity damage on each hit. While the storm is in effect, all enemies within the storm's radius suffer a -6 penalty to their saving throws against electricity-based attacks and effects. In addition, any electric spells cast in the area of this storm gain the following effects:
	* The damage dealt by the spell is increased by 50%.
	* The spell's range is increased by 50%.
	* Any creatures damaged by the spell must make a Fortitude save (DC 10 + Caster Level + Charisma modifier) or be paralyzed for 1d4+1 rounds.

### Divine Gift

The recipient's spells that deal electricity damage are enhanced, gaining a 20% chance to stun their targets for 1 round.