@TheEdVerse Great wise one, a question if I might ask. When Mystra chooses someone as her chosen, what criteria, test, or quests does she use to prove someone's worth?
— Lysbeth Raven (@LysbethRaven) February 29, 2020
1)
“Worth” to Mystra is loyalty to her and to her aims (spreading magic to all who won’t use it to keep magic from others), durability (the ability to withstand the horrible stresses of prolonged Weave-work, that have worn out several Chosen in the past), the Gift… 2)
… (that is, the ability to wield the Art = arcane magic), and incorruptibility (the ability to wield such power without succumbing to the temptation to misuse it, which was Sammaster's downfall and bars Manshoon from becoming a Chosen).
The Weave is a mighty…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) February 29, 2020
3)
…and magnificent thing, but it’s also incredibly powerful, and that sheer power is beyond some mortals to wield with any precision and without being mentally overwhelmed. So ‘tough cookies’ who can remain true to Mystra and themselves are what’s needed. Mystra…#Realmslore 4)
…doesn't send individuals on formal quests when she needs new Chosen, and rarely needs or wants new Chosen (and so few measure up; that's why she took a direct hand, to put it delicately, in birthing the Seven), but she does covertly test her Chosen to make…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) February 29, 2020
5)
…sure they aren't succumbing to temptation (in my novel THE TEMPTATION OF ELMINSTER, the temptation referred to is power, and the lure of using it to "fix" the world or do as the wielder pleases, when it should most often NOT be used).#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) February 29, 2020
So then, she would be heavily reluctant to elevate a candidate to replace the chosen she has already lost? Such as a candidate to replace Qilué Veladorn?
— Lysbeth Raven (@LysbethRaven) February 29, 2020
1)
It depends on whether or not she sees a need. Qilué, Syluné, and Dove are all still around, remember, as Voices in the Weave, serving Mystra. They can ‘possess’ bodies if need be, though there’s a moral cost to this.
And Mystra is one of the few deities to think… 2)
…she herself incurs a moral cost by making a mortal into a Chosen, knowing what she's doing to them.
It doesn't mean she won't. It means she won't create a new Chosen lightly.
So, if in your campaign, Mystra feels she needs a new Chosen…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) February 29, 2020
No no, I was talking about Mystra’s Chosen, not in general, in general it’s a given it depends on the deity. Mystra's Chosen need not be good-aligned, but in a world dominated by magic (the Weave), many of their actions will be seen as good by many creatures, regardless of their intent or alignment. Mystra has at times been seen as good, and at other times as lawful neutral.#Realmslore
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) February 29, 2020
So basically "Do what you want, just make sure everybody can afford tuition".
— Xyn Raven (@XynRaven) February 29, 2020
1)
There are two sorts of Chosen: the “Chosen” of Mystra, who contain part of her divine power by Ao’s decree (and as a fail-safe mechanism) that she can’t wrest back from them, and the lesser Chosen of other deities (whose powers and status their deities can 2)
…dismiss at will). All of these Chosen can be of any alignment, though they are likely to be Lawful (so as to be loyal to, and obey, the deity), and are otherwise likely to mirror or be akin to the alignment of the deity.#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) February 29, 2020
3)
…magic or access to magic, or who imprison or coerce 'wild talents.' Mystra is dedicated to the widespread use of magic. One way to think of it is that her servitors work to spread the wealth across a society. She sees magic for all improving the world for all. #Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) February 29, 2020