View source for Bounty of the Goddess (Voonlar)

{{GA}}
{{Building
| image         = 
| caption       = 
| name          = Bounty of the Goddess
| aliases       = 
| type          = Temple
| architecture  = 
| floors        = 
| location      = [[Voonlar]], the [[Moonsea]]
| owner         = Lady [[Immithra Shrae]]<br /><small>(''c.'' [[1357 DR|1357]]<ref name="CotR-87">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Set/Cyclopedia of the Realms|87}}</ref>&ndash;[[1372 DR]]<ref name="ESa-10">{{Cite web/Elminster Speaks archive|10}}</ref><ref name="ESp8">{{Cite web/Elminster Speaks/Part 8: To Venerate The Great Mother}}</ref>)</small>
| staff         = {{Split table|lca=left|rca=right|caption=1357&ndash;1372 DR|captionstyle=font-weight:bold;font-size:90%;|
High Harvestmistress|1|Trueseeds|2|Watchfuls|4|Close Ones|8|Lay servants|11|Temple guards|20}}
| occupants     = 
| services      = Sold seeds, small fruit, [[herbs]], healing potions<ref name="ESa-9">{{Cite web/Elminster Speaks archive|9}}</ref><ref name="ESp7">{{Cite web/Elminster Speaks/Part 7: The House of the Helm}}</ref>
| worship       = [[Chauntea]]
| pipes         = 
| tankards      = 
| coins         = 
| daggers       = 
| quality       = 
| price         = 
| usethe        = yes
| useon         = 
| inhabitants   = Inhabitants of the Bounty of the Goddess (Voonlar)
| locations     = 
| organizations = Organizations in the Bounty of the Goddess (Voonlar)
}}
The '''Bounty of the Goddess''' was a temple and garden complex dedicated to [[Chauntea]] in [[Voonlar]].<ref name="MRG-22">{{Cite book/The Moonsea/Reference Guide|22}}</ref><ref name="MPG-10">{{Cite book/The Moonsea/Player's Guide|10}}</ref>

==Location==
Voonlar was a trading town and farming community located in the southwest corner of the [[Moonsea]] region of [[north Faerûn]].<ref name="CotR-87" /><ref name="FRCS-161-162">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition|161-162}}</ref> The temple itself stood at the intersection of the [[North Ride]] and [[Shind Road]] in the center of Voonlar.<ref name="CotR-87" /><ref name="MRG-22" />

==Description==
The temple and extensive gardens were surrounded by walls and took up about a third of the town proper.<ref name="ESa-10" /><ref name="ESp8" /> The gates were circular in design and made of thick [[iron]] bars overgrown with [[flower]]ing [[vine]]s and [[moss]]. The frame around the gates bore a design of sheaves of [[wheat]].<ref name="ESa-9" /><ref name="ESp7" />

The main temple was a beautiful edifice with multiple slender [[bell]] towers. The grounds of the compound were a maze of flagstone paths that passed by lush flower beds and blooming shrubbery interspersed with pools and trellis-covered benches. These bowers could be lit at night with ''[[dancing lights]]''. There were also three guesthouses and several greenhouses all connected by tunnels used for heating and irrigation pipes.<ref name="ESa-9" /><ref name="ESp7" />

==Activities==
The Bounty generated some revenue by selling [[quince]] and [[persimmon]]s, [[herbs]] and [[spices]], seeds, and herbal elixirs that had various healing properties. They kept a small supply of [[potion of healing|healing potions]] but sold these discretely,<ref name="ESa-9" /><ref name="ESp7" /> unlike the [[Lathander]]ites of the [[House of Holy Light]] who made it a lucrative business.<ref name="ESa-8">{{Cite web/Elminster Speaks archive|8}}</ref><ref name="ESp6">{{Cite web/Elminster Speaks/Part 6: Local Faith}}</ref> There was also a small brewery run by one of the Trueseeds, but it is unknown if the [[barley]] beer was sold or given away as gifts or favors.<ref name="ESa-10" /><ref name="ESp8" />

Adventurers on the run from [[Voonlar#Law & Justice|local law enforcement]], the [[Zhentarim]], or the [[Cyric|Cyricists]] from the [[Dark God Reformed]] could sometimes find shelter in the guesthouses and extensive tunnel system in the gardens of the compound.<ref name="ESa-9" /><ref name="ESp7" />

Despite the animosity between Voonlar and [[Shadowdale (town)|Shadowdale]], the Bounty of the Goddess enjoyed a close relationship with its counterpart in Shadowdale, the [[House of Plenty]]. [[Immithra Shrae|Lady Shrae]] exchanged news and information, such as intelligence about impending raids, and the activities of the Cyricists and the Zhentarim, with High Harvestmistress [[Glamerie Windbough]] via messengers with armed escort.<ref name="MRG-22" /> Under Lady Shrae's tenure, her messenger was Trueseed [[Rolivar Brimbruir]], typically  accompanied by at least eight mounted temple guards.<ref name="ESa-10" /><ref name="ESp9">{{Cite web/Elminster Speaks/Part 9: Voonlarran Religious Politics}}</ref>

==Defenses==
The guards of the temple were mainly farmers and drovers, known as Harvestrods, who could be called upon to don [[Leather armor|leather]] and [[chainmail]] armor and defend the Bounty of the Goddess, typically against acts of vandalism, thievery, and arson by the local Cyricists. The guards had training in the [[broadsword]], [[dagger]], and [[mace]].<ref name="ESa-10" /><ref name="ESp8" />

==History==
When the walls around the Bounty of the Goddess lands were first constructed, there was strong opposition from Bron [[Buorstag Hlammythyl]], the elected sheriff of Voonlar. He later completely reversed his stance and became a supporter of the project.<ref name="ESa-9" /><ref name="ESp8" /> As part of the project to build a wall around the temple grounds, the Bounty donated a large tract of their gardens north of [[Daerndrean Street]] to the town, essentially tripling the size of the Common Gardens that adjoined them.<ref name="ESa-10" /><ref name="ESp8" />

The temple also sold a guesthouse it owned on the North Ride near the outskirts of town to a [[Sembian]] gold merchant from [[Yhaunn]] named [[Ornar Harlathar]] who converted it into a hunting lodge. This action pleased Bron Buorstag because more hunting in the woods meant more chances to kill or drive away raiders from Shadowdale or [[Harper]] spies.<ref name="ESa-10" /><ref name="ESp8" />

In the {{YearlinkName|1373}}, the city of Voonlar was attacked by the [[fiend]] army of the dreaded [[Order of the Crippled Fang]] that plagued the region. During the crisis caused by the order in the Moonsea, the Bounty of the Goddess suffered financial losses and was forced to sell its goods and services to the needy instead of having the available to the defenders of the city of free. Lady Immithra Shrae was leading the temple through that tumultuous time.<ref name="nwnt">{{Cite game/Neverwinter Nights: Tyrants of the Moonsea}}</ref>

==Rumors and Legends==
It was speculated that the Bron's sudden change of heart about building a wall around the temple was precipitated by a suggestion from someone in a superior position within the Zhentarim who felt that the wall would make it easier to contain and observe the Chaunteans and their visitors.<ref name="ESa-9" /><ref name="ESp8" />

It was said that the iron bars underlying the flowery wooded gates to the Bounty of the Goddess compound were of ancient [[dwarven]] craftsmanship.<ref name="ESa-9" /><ref name="ESp7" />

==Inhabitants==
The most well-known of the clergy at the Bounty of the Goddess were:<ref name="ESa-10" /><ref name="ESp8" />
* [[Ardethra Murmarand]]: Watchful Sister; expert herbalist for humans and livestock.
* [[Erlan Faerlnar]]: Watchful Brother; soil and nutrients expert.
* [[Haronstin Garulth|Haronstin "Leatherjaws" Garulth]]: Close One; seed-seller and carter; elderly, relaxed, high tolerance for alcohol.
* [[Immithra Shrae]]: Mother of the Harvest; high priestess of Chauntea; soft-spoken, kind, and pleasant.
* [[Jhalanessa Brithlar]]: Watchful Sister; expert herbalist; mischievous and passionate.
* [[Lauratha Delrym]]: Trueseed; prim but nosy; knew everyone in town and what they were doing.
* [[Lothan Maergh]]: Watchful Brother; expert with bulbs, seeds, and grafting.
* [[Rolivar Brimbruir]]: Trueseed; boisterous and burly brewmaster; even Cyricists laughed at his jokes and appreciated his beer.
Many of the lay servants were the mothers of the active clergy.<ref name="ESa-10" /><ref name="ESp8" />

==Appendix==
===Appearances===
{{Appearances
| adventures          = 
| adventure refs      = 
| novels              = 
| novel refs          = 
| video games         = ''[[Neverwinter Nights: Tyrants of the Moonsea]]''
| video game refs     = 
}}

===References===
{{Refs}}
[[Category:Buildings]]
[[Category:Breweries]]
[[Category:Temples]]
[[Category:Chauntean locations]]
[[Category:Temples to Chauntea]]
[[Category:Locations in Voonlar]]
[[Category:Locations on the North Ride]]
[[Category:Locations on Shind Road]]
[[Category:Locations on the Moonsea]]
[[Category:Locations in North Faerûn]]
[[Category:Locations in Faerûn]]
[[Category:Locations on Toril]]
[[Category:Locations]]