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From the hilltop, Thelwyn surveyed the scene below him, noting the contingent of skeletal guards standing silently at the tomb’s entrance. The cleric of Avandra considered his options, smiling a bit, and turned to his compatriots. “Twelve skeletons brandishing rusty blades,” said Thelwyn in a matter-of-fact tone. “They shouldn’t be much of a prob- lem. Avandra will aid us.” Thelwyn’s second, Bria Hammerhelm, looked at him incredulously. “Four on twelve. No, that shouldn’t be a problem.” “We could create a distraction,” offered Elistrial, the party’s thief. “Perhaps draw a few of them away from the tomb doors. I bet Tornal’s wizardry could manage that.” The acerbic wizard snorted. “Skeletons might not fall for such trickery.” Thelwyn’s three companions fell to bick- ering over how to deal with the skeletons. The cleric’s smile never faltered as he broke into the exchange. “Friends! We Channel Divinity: Avandra don’t have time for intricacies. The ghost within the tomb is about to rise. We need to act now.” He glanced over his shoulder The Ever- and began reciting the credo he had driven into his friends’ minds over the past few months. “A life lived timidly . .” He rose, turned, and charged toward the tomb. Forking Path As Thelwyn ran forward, his friends By Craig Campbell smiled to one another and finished in one Illustration by Miguel Coimbra voice: “. is a life not worth living!” TM & © 2011 Wizards of the Coast LLC. All rights reserved. Apr il 2011 | Dragon 398 1 Channel Divinity: Avandra he ver The Wind Always Blows Although one might think that this way of doing T e - things would create resentment among the older, Avandra promotes change in all forms, but more so more experienced clerics, it instead creates a strong Forking PaTh as an agent for bringing about a better tomorrow. Her sense of camaraderie. All followers of Avandra con- The faithful of Avandra see the cosmos in simple faithful never shy away from changes in life, whether sider their brothers and sisters in faith to be on equal terms. History informs their decisions, and thoughts such changes occur in government, trade, or personal footing with themselves as they, as a group, work to of what might come fill their hearts with hope. But goals. They consider change to be an opportunity that deliver Avandra’s message to all. This is not to say their place in the world, right now, is paramount. might be harnessed or influenced to improve the lives that censure or even excommunication doesn’t occur They see themselves walking along a road that began of all. in history and leads forward to myriad possibilities. within the faith. If a member is not pulling his or her They call this road the Ever-Forking Path. Eyes on the Horizon weight, he or she is told so. If the offending individual doesn’t step up his or her work, he or she is removed What lies along the path? They don’t know, but Avandra’s faithful always look to the future. They seek they’re eager to find out. They live their lives in the from the faith. out the new and undiscovered (as well as rediscover- When a leader is needed, such as in times of politi- now, daring the world around them to meet their ing the forgotten past), and bask in the opportunities stride, always seeking the next horizon and the next cal turmoil or war, all a follower of Avandra needs the future holds. They foster such beliefs in others by to do is step forward and take control. If more than great adventure. leading them into these new frontiers. Avandra’s faithful hold to the following as the core one takes a leadership role, they work as a team for precepts of their faith. the good of the faith, dividing up responsibilities The Greatest Blessing according to their personal strengths. If conflicts One Foot in Front Paramount among the favors bestowed by Avandra arise among these leaders, they call for a vote by all is luck. Avandra’s faithful don’t consider luck to be a involved parties (including nonfollowers who have a of the Other random occurrence or something the gods mete out stake in the matter) to settle the dispute. Avandra’s faithful are constantly on the move. They on a whim. Rather, they believe luck to be a reward travel to distant lands, seek new adventures, and revel for a life filled with forthrightness and daring, Initiation into the Faith with all those they meet along the way. They consider and they teach others to respect luck in the same Although some members seek to join the ranks of travel a gift and trade a joy. Rare is the follower of manner. Avandra, sometimes becoming a member of the Avandra who settles in one place for long, even in old faith is a happy accident. Those already in the faith age. Wanderlust, and all the glories it brings with it, is avandra’s FaiThFul keep an eye open for anyone who lives a bold life, in each one’s blood. Given Avandra’s embrace of all things free and ever- helps others, and spreads Avandra’s beliefs and Left, Right, or Straight Ahead changing, her followers don’t hold to a stringent philosophies—whether these people do so on purpose hierarchy within her faith. No high priest of Avandra or because that is how they live their life normally. Followers of Avandra promote freedom in all aspects exists. Instead, the faithful revere individual merit Initiation is not a complicated process of oaths and of life. They seek to bring independence to the within their ranks. A young member of the faith who rites. Instead, the new member is welcomed to the subjugated and promote self-determination and self- has promoted the precepts of the faith throughout his faith by those attending, and then the group shares awareness in those who have fallen into stagnant, or her short life is held in as high regard as an elder tales of derring-do while enjoying an evening feast close-minded lives. They oppose slavery and oppres- who has worshiped Avandra for many decades. and a round of drinks to toast the goddess. sion in all its forms. Apr il 2011 | Dragon 398 2 Channel Divinity: Avandra The Stepping Stone Holy symbols of Avandra vary as much as her fol- shrewdest barterers in the world. They also give lowers. When first embarking upon the Ever-Forking thanks to her for her continued protection of their Worshipers of Avandra have little use for holy days Path, the faithful craft their own holy symbols from freedom after ages of slavery. and clerical rites, but they do greet each new year whatever materials they find readily available. Dragonborn, proud and bold by nature, see Avan- with a short ceremony called the Rite of the Step- Symbols of Avandra might be made of stone, wood, dra as a strong, daring female who rewards forthright ping Stone. leather, or bone. behavior. They refer to her as Thes Ilnnen, a formal At this event, all followers of Avandra in atten- These holy symbols are utilitarian and never Draconic phrase meaning “unwavering female.” dance take turns stepping upon a large, flat runestone ostentatious. The faithful dislike the idea of using pre- Given their race’s past foibles, tieflings honor blessed by Avandra. There they renew their faith cious metals or gemstones in their symbols, because Avandra’s support of change for the better. After all, and declare their intentions for the coming year, these materials can be better used to purchase goods if anyone or anything can change, so too can the tief- with the caveat that intentions could be changed by or services for those in need or to finance further lings shrug off their collective past and create a better reality. Once a follower’s declaration is finished, he travels. Even those who craft magic holy symbols future for themselves. or she takes a long stride off the Stepping Stone as a create simple implements bereft of expensive metaphorical representation of his or her continuing material. journey on the Ever-Forking Path. holy siTes Temples dedicated to Avandra are rare. The most The Traveler’s Journal avandra well known is the Temple of the Fates, in which Each of Avandra’s followers keeps a personal jour- embraces all worshipers of Avandra, Ioun, and the Raven Queen congregate to pay homage to the three gods of nal. Some faithful record facts in it. Others compose Though Avandra holds the halfling race near and destiny. poems or songs. Still others pen sweeping prose, dear, she embraces all the intelligent and goodly races Small shrines to Avandra, on the other hand, are connecting the entirety of the journal in a grand, of the world. Given this fact and her dominion over plentiful along major roadways and less traveled epic tale. many aspects of life, Avandra’s faith is among the paths all over the world. Travelers, trade caravans, When they congregate, followers recite the stories most widespread in the world. pilgrims, and adventurers stop at these shrines to rest of their adventures while enjoying fine ale and a Halflings see Avandra in a particular light. Her and pray for continued safety in their travels and suc- hearty meal. Sometimes, a group performs a mum- “adoption” of their race marks her as more than a cess in their coming endeavors. mer’s play based on the accomplishments of a guest of goddess—she is a mother.

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