Baraelios

Baraelios in a Moon Shadow's dreams

He Who Sees All

Lord of Dreams

His Somnolency

The Great Float in the Sea of Stars (Eastern Islands)

The Nightwolf (The Westerlands)

"Mother" and "Child" (The Giants)

Cult of Baraelios

**Baraelios** (pronounced: /bɑːɹə'ɛl i os/ bar-uh-EL-ee-ohs or: /ˈbə'ɹeɪ li os/ buh-RAY-lee-ohs), also known as **The Many-Armed One**, and the **Lord of Dreams,** is the god of the moon and creator of the universe in the Forgotten Pantheon of Baraelion. Baraelios, despite their godhood, earns little praise from mortals due to their near-constant state of slumber; as well as the fact that, to most citizens of Baraelion, the moon looks no different than the Earth moon, though some can see the true form of Baraelios: a Beholder with billions of arms all with their own eye in the center of their palms. Their powers include affecting the tides; a magic-veil-creating beam that surrounds all of the planet; creating things by dreaming them up; choosing and elevating mortal avatars to stop the return of the Elder Gods.

They are also known as **The Nightwolf** to the Lizardfolk and Tabaxi of the Westerlands and **The Mother** (with Baramoul being the Child) to the Giant peoples. Most people believe the god Baramoul Namvalana to be the primary aspect of the twin moons, and so direct their prayers and adulation to him. The names given here are, however, the names for Baraelios in particular (though those Giants who don't know of Baraelios call Baramoul alone **The Mother and Child.**)

## Description

Baraelios almost never appears in aspect form, but when they do it is as a giant blueish silhouette of a constantly moving astrolabe. When not in aspect form, Baraelios *is* the moon, orbited by Baramoul Namvalana. This moon body emanates a ray of magic energy which, while giving access to Baraelios' own wish-making magic, blinds those in the ray to Baraelios' true form: a colossal beholder with billions of eyestalks with hands at the ends, eyes in the palms.

## Personality

A being who existed before time, Baraelios does not feel emotions very strongly. When actively dreaming, Baraelios experiences time as a human might, and so can more easily understand the needs of their creation, but this doesn't bring much to his waking mind, which still moves too slow to maintain emotion in any meaningful way. Though Baraelios feels no real attachment to any individual, they are full of love for themselves and their creation, as it believes the universe is merely an extension of its own existence.

When in aspect form, Baraelios' enters the dreams of whoever they wish to speak to. In this form, Baraelios speaks in cryptic half-sentences as their thoughts are bizarre and hard to comprehend by mortals and even many of their own children.

## Abilities

Being the progenitor of the universe, the amount of power Baraelios has is enormous, but it is not actually infinite. They are able to read minds, see partially into the future, create magic, create portals to anywhere in the prime material plane and Shadowfell, resurrect people from the dead, and kill people instantly.

When Baraelios senses the return of other Elder Gods, they select a mortal to channel their will and power through. This mortal becomes their avatar in the world, known as a Moon Shadow, meant to halt the machinations of those who would see the Forgotten Ones' return. There has, in the history of Baraelion, only ever been one. However, in 9E 976, a Wood Elf living in Veridis by the name of Amiens Gwessar failed the Ritual of the Maw and was saved by Baraelios, who then made them a Moon Shadow in training.