(Mage 30, Cleric 22, Mystic 20, Fighter 16, Bard 12)
Selûne has a calm, placid nature, hut the specifics of her personal form change with the moon. Sometimes she appears as a dusky-hued, long- limbed woman with wide, radiant lime-green eyes and knee-length tresses of ivory-white hair, and sometimes she is a ghostly, lithe form with dark hair and eyes but robes of white that trail moon motes (see Other Manifesta- tions, below). At other tunes she appears as a fair but matronly woman of middling years, who dwells among mortals from tune to time, most recently as an innkeeper in Waterdeep. In time with the moon, Selûne is continu- ally either growing to full glory or aging and dying, but this change is only in outward appearance and does not involve any diminishment of powers— at least, as far as dealings with mortals are concerned. Whatever her form, she constantly glows with a faint blue-white moonlight whenever her sur- roundings are dark. She has access to all schools and spheres of spells, ex- cept the plant sphere, but cannot cast spells that create darkness as their primary function. She rarely casts the reversed, damaging forms of necro- mantic sphere spells or healing spells, and then only in pressing circum- stances. She has access to all quest priest spells also.AC -4; MV 18; HP 184; THAC0 0; #AT 5/2
Dmg 1d12+16 or 1d12+5 (moonblade +3 or Wand of Four Moons, +7 STR, +2 spec. bonus in either weapon)
MR 80%; SZ L (10 feet)
STR 19, DEX 22, CON 19, INT 23, WIS 24, CHA 21 Spells P: 13/12/12/12/12/8/3, W: 7/7/7/7/7/7/7/6/6 Saves PPDM 2, RSW 3, PP 5, BW 4, Sp 4
Special Att/Def: Selûne prefers not to fight unless she must, and when
she must, she is an awe-inspiring figure of martial fury and coordinated dis- plays of magical prowess. Selûne uses a moonblade +3 (similar to the moon- blade spell below) or the Wand of Four Moons in battle and strikes as if she were specialized in the use of both. The Wand of Four Moons strikes for 1d12+3 points of damage and gives its wielder specialization in its use. It
has other abilities, including the combined capabilities of a wand of para- lyzation, a wand of polymorphing, a wand of lightning, a rod of security, and a rod of resurrection (either one use of any of the abilities of these wands or rods or normal attacks in a round are possible for Selûne), but all of its abil- ities are unknown. Her scale mail, which she wears only in battle, has opalescent, perfectly round scales that glow with a dim silver light. While Selûne’s Armor Class does not appear to be affected by her scale mail’s pres- ence or absence, she sometimes loans this scale mail +5 to beings on a quest or performing a service for her. When used in such a way, it works as if it had the special abilities of armor of blending and plate mail of etherealness and the weight and encumbrance benefits of elven chain mail.
All Selûne’s spell effects begin as streaking moonbeams, altering to their true spell effects only when they near their intended target or area of effect. Her holy word spells automatically banish evil extraplanar creatures of less than divine power to their home planes, and within 100 yards of her, no summoned creature of good may be dispelled or involuntarily returned to its home plane.
Selûne radiates protection from evil in any radius up to 100 yards at will. Light- and electricity-based attacks cannot harm Selûne, and neither can she be affected by illusions, charm-type magic, charm sphere spells, and en- chantment/charm spells. No lycanthrope may lift a hand against her. She may cast any divination school or sphere spell as an ability; such spells do not count as part of her spell allotment, and she may cast one divination a round in addition to any other spells she can cast or actions she can take in a round. All beings make saving throws at a -3 penalty against her divina- tions when saving throws are allowed. Selûne may not be detected by or consulted by divination magics unless she wishes to be. (She always answers her own clergy.)
Other Manifestations
Selûne often manifests as trails of dancing light motes known as “moondust” or “moon motes” that resemble will-o’-wisps. These guide folk who are lost at night or who must travel over treacherous ground; they also appear in order for her faithful to provide the light necessary to perform a delicate task. These moon motes may exude sparkling, glowing drops of pearly liq- uid—“drops fallen from the moon”—which Selûnite clergy gather and prize highly, using as an ingredient of power in many helpful potions and healing ointments. She also sends owls, weredragons, certain lycanthropes and shapechanging creatures, and the Shards to aid mortals or to show her favor or presence.
The Church
CLERGY: Clerics, specialty priests, crusaders, mystics CLERGY’S ALIGN.: LG, NG, CG, LN, N, CN
TURN UNDEAD: C: Yes, SP: Yes, Cru: No, Mys: No CMND. UNDEAD C: No, SP: No. Cru: No, Mys: No
All clerics, specialty priests, crusaders, and mystics of Selûne receive religion (Faerûnian) as a bonus nonweapon proficiency.
Selûne is worshiped by a mixed bag of followers: navigators, sailors, women, female spellcasters (especially those born under a full moon or In- terested in divination), good- and neutral-aligned lycanthropes, those who work honestly at night, those seeking protection from Shar, the lost, the questing, and those curious about the future. Couples look to Selûne to bless them with children when they are ready, and women look to her for courage, strength, and guidance. The demands she places on her followers are few, and the goddess is reputed to be free with her gifts and boons to mortals.
Selûne’s priesthood is as diverse as her worshipers, with hers being truly a faith that promotes equal access and understanding. Reflecting the chaotic and scattered nature of the church of Selûne, its hierarchy is a hodgepodge of clerics, specialty priests, crusaders, mystics, informed or blessed by indi- viduals, and a smattering of good-aligned lycanthropes (both natural and in- fected). All cooperate in relative—if rollicking—peace under the symbol of Our Lady of Silver. Members of this diverse group all worship the goddess in their own styles. Her churches vary as do the phases of the moon, from opu- lent temples in Waterdeep to simple shrines in the Dalelands, from her- mitages and hilltop dancing circles to ornate mansion temples.
A great deal of moon-related activity occurs in and around Waterdeep, and most of this is attributed to the temple to Our Lady of Silver. Most Selûnites, however, tend toward smaller shrines and individual worship, since “Anywhere the full moon shines is the place for Selûne.” Selûnites refer to night conditions as being either “moonlight” (the moon is present, though perhaps not immediately visible) or “nightgloom” (the moon is not out or is dark).
Selûnite priests use a wide variety of titles, but novices (not yet full priests) are always known as the Called, and human females tend to domi- nate the ranks of the more powerful clergy. Typical Selûnite titles (in ascend- ing order) include: Touched, Enstarred, Moonbathed, Silverbrow, Lunar, Ini- tiate, and High Initiate. All of these titles are followed by Priestess/Priest. Those titles that follow these in rank tend to begin with Priestess, /Priest of the and end in some form traditional to the individual temple or shrine the priest is affiliated with. It must be stressed that outside of Waterdeep and other larger city temples, many departures from these forms of titles will be found. The elite specialty priests of the goddess are known as silverstars.
Selûne as Lucha is worshiped by nearly everyone in Durpar. Her wor- shipers believe that she will guide them to the most profitable customers. It is widely believed that Lucha herself watches over all marriages performed by her clergy, and nearly all marriages in Durpar are performed by priests of Lucha. Her priests work ceaselessly against those of Mask and other evil gods. Dogma: Selûnes ethos seems to be one of acceptance and tolerance over any other overriding principle. All are to be made welcome in her faith and seen as equal, and fellow Selûnites should be aided freely, as if they were ones dearest friends. May Selûne guide your steps in the night, and bring them to the new dawn is the common blessing of priests of Selûne to the faithful.
Novices are charged with the words of the goddess: Let all on whom my light falls be welcome if they desire to be so. As the silver moon waxes and wanes, so too does all life. Trust in my radiance, and know that all love alive under my light shall know my blessing. Turn to the moon, and I will be your true guide.
Day-to-Day Activities: Priests of Selûne spend their time wandering Faerûn reaching out to the faithful and to potential worshipers of the moon goddess, since Selûne can be worshiped anywhere on the surface world. They make much small coin by telling fortunes, because folk who try to read the stars never achieve the same success rate in predictions as do clergy for guidance.
thereby win respect among farmers and other members of the common folk. members who can call on Selûne for real guidance. In this way, Selûne steadily gains worshipers from the ranks of those who look to the night sky Members of the Selûnite priesthood also face lycanthropes fearlessly and
controlled.
Fly (as the wizard spell) for as long and as often as desired one night per moon.
Identify objects by touch seven times per moon. 30-foot infravision.
Locate object at will with no time or space limit within Faerûn once per moon.
Remove curse by touch once per moon.
as long as desired, but only when in moon- light. The ability ends abruptly in darkness or in nightgloom.
Immunity to all powers of and damage from elven moonblades. Complete control over lycanthropic transformations for seven moons for
lycanthropes of any type. Telekinesis once per night for
The moonfire flows down from the altar to touch or envelop beings and items. Its touch destroys undead, enchants objects to make them magical items for the use of Selûnite clergy, and confers special powers on creatures. Moonfire vanishes when Selûne wills and bestows power as she wills. Those who steal it gain nothing, and there is no known means of forcing it to yield up a specific power.
Typical magical items Selûne creates with her moonfire include bracers of defense, mooncloaks, moon motes, potions of moon-healing, rings of shooting stars, and various magical shields. Moonfire-created bracers of defense, in addition to working as other such bracers, allow their wearer to dimension door once a night from one moonlit place to another. A mooncloak is a silvery-gray cloak that combines the powers of a cloak of protection +1 with water walking and levitate at will. A moon mote is a round, smooth stone that can become danc- ing lights upon command under the directional control of whoever is holding the mote; range and duration for the effect are as if dancing lights were cast by a 22nd-level wizard. Potions of moon-healing restore 4d8+4 points of damage to injured mortals and can be split into four doses that cure 1d8 points of damage each. To natural or infected lycanthropes, potions of moon-healing re- store 8d8+8 points of damage or yield four doses that cure 2d8 points of dam- age each.
Moonfire can also bestow magical powers upon mortal worshipers of Selûne under special circumstances. They work, when applicable, as if their users were 22nd-level mages. Typical special powers include:
Dispel magic at will once per moon (month).
Feather fall in moonlight at will or when unconscious and descending un-
They are also, by the Ladys command, generous with their healing, often charging very little beyond a meal and a warm place to sleep for straightfor- ward healing. Selûnes way thus makes the goddess ever more popular and keeps her clergy hardy, well-traveled, and in practical touch with the natural world.
The Moonmaidens clergy are encouraged to be self-reliant, humble, and yet make as much of a success as they can in the world while always remain- ing as helpful and friendly to the lonely and to decent folk as possible. By this long-sighted policy Selûne allows her clergy to become happy, fulfilled, important people, and sees her faith steadily gain power thereby. Our Lady of Silver is inclined to be lenient in matters of alignment and religious ob- servance. Self-reliance and finding ones own, practical path are more im- portant than fussy detail in her faith, and so Selûne is also gaining favor among eccentrics, adventurers, and mavericks of all sorts, including out- casts. Many sages expect Selûne to rise again to great might among the pow- ers, perhaps within their lifetimes.
Holy Days/Important Ceremonies: Selûnite clergy embroider their rituals into quite individual, unique observances. The basics of these are open-air dances and prayers under the moonlight with offerings of milk and wine poured upon a central altar during the nights of every full moon and new moon. These rituals are often called night stalks and during them her priests reaffirm their closeness to the Night White Lady and commune with her when possible.
The most sacred rituals of Selûne are the Conjuring of the Second Moon and the Mystery of the Night. The Conjuring of the Second Moon is per- formed only during Shieldmeet. It summons the Shards to do the bidding of the mortal clergy, often to do battle with minions of Shar. The Shards always take one mortal priestess to be one of them before they depart.
The Mystery of the Night must be performed at least once a year by every priest. During the Mystery ritual, Selûnite priests cast certain secret spells and lie before the Moonmaidens altar, from whence they fly upward and spi- ral around the moon in a trance while they speak personally with Selûne via mental visions. This ritual causes a mortal 1d12 points of damage as it is so draining, but this damage heals normally through rest or the use of healing magic.
When the goddess is pleased, she causes moonlight to bathe the wine or milk poured out on her altar, which transforms it into moonfire: an opales- cent, glowing, soft-as-silk, ambulatory fluid mass the consistency of custard.
Major Centers of Worship: The greatest and most beautiful temple to Selûne is the House of the Moon in Waterdeep, where Priestess of the High Moonlight (or to the uninitiated, simply High Priestess) Naneatha Suaril holds court in a gilt-domed temple whose ornate new gates depict Selûne triumphantly hurling Shar down into the spires of Waterdeep as the faith- ful say she did during the Time of Troubles. Here dozens of silver-robed priestesses harp out tunes to the moon or sell healing drafts, potions that keep one alert for an entire night and yet bestow the benefits of a solid sleep, and other potions that give their imbibers infravision from one dusk to dawn.
Here, too, the devout make pilgrimages to see the holy replica of the Wand of the Four Moons in its glass case (guarded by specialty priest of Selûne). Selûne usually manifests in the temple from out of this wand. It was created and blessed by Selûne herself in memory of the battle with Shar she had in Waterdeep. This holy duplicate is identical in form to the wand that Selûne wields in battle. It levitates in its glass case and glows with a soft, silvery-blue light, though it has no other known magical powers. Some swear that Naneatha can, by special request to the Moonmaiden, switch this duplicate with the real Wand of Four Moons and wield it in all its glory for short periods, but no witnesses to such an event have ever come for- ward. A fortunate few pilgrims have witnessed drops of Selûnes holy essencethe ingredient used in the making of her potionsfalling from the hovering wand or heard her whisper words of advice or encouragement in their heads as they gazed upon it. On Selûnes Hallowing, a yearly Wa- terdhavian temple holiday, Naneatha carries it before her at the head of a parade of worshipers that leave the House of the Moon at moonrise and move down to the harbor.
She Who Guides is favored in Lastarr, an independent city once part of Estagund which is her most prominent center of worship.
One lost center of Selûnite worship is Myth Lharast in the heart of Amn, one of the legendary cities surrounded by a mythal. Founded as a city of Selûnites ages ago, its mythal is linked to the moon, and it appears only on certain moonlit nights as a ghostly, floating splendor of walls and towers only to disappear again. An assortment of evil beings and groups, from un-
dead armies ruled by demiliches to gargoyle clans, have seized control of it over the years and used it to raid the surrounding land. This has given it a fell reputation. The faithful of Selûne yet hope to restore it to her care.
Affiliated Orders: One order of fanatic Selûnites is known as the
Swords of the Lady, who are often referred to colloquially as the Lunatics. Its members are led by a few Selûnite crusaders, specialty priests, and mys- tics. They tend to act rapidly in response to threats from Shar and her priesthood, although their behavior is often viewed as bizarre by the public at large. Among other groups, the church of Selûne is also affiliated with the Harpers and a group of female diviners who worship the Night White Lady who call themselves the Oracles of the Moon.
Priestly Vestments: The ceremonial costume of Selûnites varies from
place to place. Selûnite clergy members wear everything from plain brown robes to only a little moonstone jewelry as an accent to normal clothing to rich bejeweled gowns of the finest make and haughtiest fashion with en- chanted, animate trains and capes and accompanying moonstone crowns. The finest can be found at the House of the Moon in Waterdeep, where the high priestess Naneatha Suaril presides over rituals in a wide-bottomed hooped skirt with a large fanlike collar rising at the back of its neck. Both skirt and collar are stiffened with whalebone and set with clusters of pearls