Church of Mystra

The Church of Mystra, also known as the Church of Mysteries and by other names, was the primary religious organization dedicated to the worship and service of the goddess of magic, Mystra, or her successor, Mystra.

Dogma
The church of Mystra typically did not employ idols like statues of the goddess, but had no commandments against it.

Activities
The church apparently sent out communiqués to its members with news of the opening of new temples and such.

The church also found a duty to help folk driven insane by failed spellcasting.

Many Mystran clergy wandered the land as itinerant clerics, seeking out and preserving old magic.

The church of Mystra preserved magical lore so that magic would continue and flourish in the future even if the dominant races of Faerûn were to fall. Its members also searched out those skilled in magic or who had the potential to use it, keeping a close eye on those who were likely to become skilled. Her clerics were encouraged to explore magical theory and create new spells and magic items. Sites dedicated to the goddess were enhanced by the Weave to allow any spell cast by her clerics while in them to be affected by metamagic.

Organization
From 1358 DR, the patriarch of the church was Adon, who had been the first priest of the new Mystra.

Even itinerant clerics like Tunaster Dranik would remain in at least yearly contact with the church, and be considered to be in good standing. They had superiors among the settled clergy at the temples.

Rituals
One Mystran religious service took the form of an astronomy show, in which a priest pointed out, named, and revered various stars and constellations.

The Plea for Guidance was a simple prayer that was known to all devotees of Mystra. The clerics of the Lady of Mystery taught it to anyone who cared enough to learn it. The prayer was uttered while kneeling into the nearest lit candle or a visible star. The Plea was often evoked when followers Mystra faced with unknown magic or uncertainties of signs and dreams that their deity could've sent.

Festivals

 * Lady Day, the annual spring multi-day festival, most prominently celebrated in Halruaa. The festivities ended in a grand magically illuminated skyship regatta above the waters of Lake Halruaa.

Items
The Flame Blade was a magical artifact that once belonged to the Sisterhood of Silver Fire. The enchanted short sword usable only by Mystra's clerics. It was shaped like the Lady of Mystery's holy symbol and engulfed in her silver flames.

Regions
By 1374 DR, the kingdom of Cormyr did not have even one temple to Mystra. In that year, a Temple of Mystra was constructed in Wheloon, but it turned out to be a false temple run by cultists of Shar and Cyric.

Relationships
The Church of Mystra was opposed to the church of Cyric, just as Mystra was opposed to Cyric.

Affiliated Orders

 * Children of the Starry Quill
 * Order of the Blue Moon
 * Order of the Shooting Star
 * Knights of the Mystic Fire
 * Sisterhood of Silver Fire

Appearances

 * Novels
 * The Magehound