Divine Wisdom, penned by Triel Dilshanae

[magustaliesin]

((This collection of Essays is not immediately available IC. I will post when it is done, where they can be found))

Teachings of the goodly Gods of our world with some words from the neutral divine.

The purpose of this series of essays is to explore and collect the wisdom of many of the divine teachings of Toril. As a follower of the True, it is my duty to protect, support, and promote the goodly faiths of our world. There is some wisdom among the neutral Gods as well and I intend to touch briefly on them here.

As I have already penned an essay on the teachings of Torm, that will not be repeated in this text except as a comparison if needed.

Chauntea

Of all the things I think the Great Mother would view as a sin, waste would be highest among them. The protection of living and growing things is important to the protection of everyone. Good harvests mean healthy people and livestock. A well-fed populace is more content and the land tends to be peaceful. More food means those without money to buy it or skill to grow it will find a greater bounty from the charitable. The Earth Mother's teachings to protect all living things, and combat senseless destruction, makes her and her followers honorable allies of all the goodly people of Toril.

Eilistraee

I have collected some small knowledge, from trusted sources, about the Lady of the Dance known as Eilistraee. If the stories are true this former daughter of Corellon sacrificed herself to the dark curse in order to be a beacon of light to her people. A symbol of hope and redemption. From the things I have gathered her followers are tasked with helping others escape the darkness and providing for people in need. From their example we see that even the darkest can be redeemed and put the welfare of strangers at the forefront of their thoughts.

[magustaliesin]

Ilmater

The Crying God gives us the most glorious example of self-sacrifice. The pinnacle of mercy, to help all who suffer without exception. He and his followers will stand their ground regardless of the suffering they might receive because of it, even to their death. They are the epitome of what it means to put others above yourself. For the Ilmateri, there is no balking at taking a blow for another, or shying away from doing what is right versus what might harm them. To aspire to their example, even a little, adds a little more hope to this world and the future of the people.

Lathander

If nothing else is gathered from the teaching of The Morninglord, optimism and hope should always be evident. Lathander, and his followers, look to the future and strive to spread an image of a bring one. With support of growing, and living things, and new birth, the followers of Lander teach us that all life is important and to lose hope gives in to the darkness in the world. Through them we can learn the tenet of sparing even the darkest soul if there is hope for redemption. What greater hope is there than the sun rising over one more soul in the service of the light?

[magustaliesin]

Mielikki

The Forest Queen teaches that nature and civilization, when in balance with one another, can exist in harmony. She advocates the protection of nature from rampant, cruel, or unnecessary destruction. These are wise beliefs and a benefit to all when they are followed. People need nature far more than nature needs people and we should always be aware of that fact. Do not destroy without need, hunt for pleasure, or kill with undue cruelty, the plants and animals around us.

Mystra

Responsible and educated use of magic is what The Lady of Mysteries teaches her followers. Control, knowledge, and humility are all ideals that can benefit anyone of any profession. As a paladin tempers his passion against evil with wisdom, so too a Mystran seeks to temper the use of his art. The drive to learn, always seeking more knowledge is a discipline all with power should pursue. A mindlessly cast spell, just like any weapon wielded in ignorance, can cause destruction one might regret to their last day.

[magustaliesin]

Selune

Tolerance, sanctuary, and acceptance are the ideals of the Moonmaiden. Of all the deities of light, Selune most embodies the virtue of peaceful coexistence. She teaches that all are equals under the Gods. There is no caveat to this, no exception. All sentient beings are children of the Gods and should be granted all due respect, even if they are our enemies.

Sune

Love and beauty are the focus of The Lady Firehair. Though her fixation on appearances can seem shallow, she does value beauty within as well as out. There is great value to seeing beauty in unexpected places, and focusing on love rather than hate. One never knows where good and beauty might be found and we must keep our eyes open to it everywhere. These are aspects of Sune's teaching that can be a boon to any goodly soul.

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Tymora

Lady Luck teaches bravery, but not as a virtue of courage itself. She teaches faith in luck, and being brave so that luck will aid you. It is important to know that she does not advocate letting luck do everything for you, however. She promotes action; doing the things that must be done and trusting in luck to aid in it. She demands one have direction, a plan to reach a goal, not just blindly relying on luck to give us everything.

Tyr

Truth and justice are the foremost ideals of the Just God. He teaches us that just laws should be supported and defended, and law breakers punished. To the Tyrrans there is nothing more important than a stable society of just laws and vigilant enforcement of them.

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Deneir

The Scribe of Oghma is a staunch defender of knowledge and the written word. From him we know the value of reading and spreading knowledge. All of us should value this, for the pursuit of knowledge leads to truth which is a valuable weapon against the darkness.

Eldath

The Green Goddess values non-violence whenever possible. It is her wish that no thinking being ever be killed except in direst need. For her followers, the protection of all life is paramount. We can learn much from their convictions and try to remember that all sentient beings, natural to this world, are children of the Gods.

[magustaliesin]

Gwaeron Windstrom

The Master of Tracking preaches that people and nature can coexist. He teaches balance between nature and civilization, and a kind of symbiotic bond between the two. As with the other goodly Gods of nature he does not support harm to civilization, or people, unless it is to maintain that balance in defense of living things.

Lliria

Joybriger, they call the Goddess who teaches that life is to be celebrated every day. Her followers may seem naive or childish at times but there is great value to their philosophy when combating the darkness. Joy is a powerful emotion, almost as strong as love. Joy can comfort the sick or outcast, and turn despair into hope. This should never be discounted or underestimated.

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Lurue

The Unicorn, as Lurue is known, is a symbol of hope for those without reason to have any. Her views on joy and happiness makes her an ally of all righteous and goodly people, as these emotions are powerful tools. Her teachings should be always in our hearts as we struggle against the dark forces in the world. We need hope, joy, happiness and love to fight the hatred and evil in the world.

Milil

The Lord of Song is one of the followers of Oghma and a staunch believer in the effect song can have on the world. The enjoyment of life, song, and companionship makes the world a brighter place. Holding the ideals in our hearts can bring us merriment and joy which makes our work easier.