I'm running a 5e campaign set in the 1350s and my players are on their way to Waterdeep. I recently learned that during that time the Goddess Selune, under the name Luna, ran a tavern in the city and had sealed away her power in order to live among the people. I plan to use her as an NPC that the party run into, offering the party a quest in exchange for lodging at the Selune's Smile tavern (very subtle Selune, very subtle). However one of the party members is a Cleric of Selune, would they be able to tell who she is or is her Godly presence hidden thanks to the fact that she sealed her power?
if no one else that enters the tavern feels the godly presence (and it wouldn't be a good hiding spot if they did), then rest assured that the cleric cannot either.
...although, there's always dice if success/failure would be interesting. the cleric might need to pass a set of difficult perception checks: first when they see her, later if they cast a spell while within the tavern, and again later if they cast a spell while in her presence. or Luna might give the cleric a surprised look of recognition that they might or might not follow up with a set of difficult intuition checks. i think my recommendation boils down to not leaving it up to a single check when a failed series of checks are their own tantalizing hint. just remember that a god, locked powers or not, probably has a decently high charisma score and they are actively engaged in deception.
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The game answer is, they can only detect it if you want to engage with luna as selune the god. A god is more than capable of concealing themselves if they need. I do think you should probably at least hint to some level of involvement with the selunite church but the name of the inn is probably more than enough.
The lore answer is that in the dnd comics Luna was particularly difficult to identify as an avatar as Selune with shar posing as the avatar of selune and convincing selunes followers to attack Luna. She even briefly erased Luna's memory so not even she knew that she was the avatar of Selune. I don't think Shar would allow an obvious avatar of Selune and I don't think Selune would want to risk conflict with Shar.
Thank you, this has been a huge help. I remember reading about Shar posing as the real Selune during the Time of Troubles, thinking of using that at some point since I plan on bringing in the Avatar Series campaign trilogy once the party reaches the right level. xD
Though, one thing I do wonder is could any of Selune's followers, primarily levelled Clerics and Paladins, have sensed anything off with Selune (Shar)? Or was she simply just powerful enough to mask her divine presence as that of her sister's?
Secondly, as I understand, during the Time of Troubles, Divine Magic would only work within a mile radius of the respective God's Avatar. With Luna sealing away her power, and Shar posing as her Avatar, would Selunites not have gotten suspicious about their prayers being unanswered in her presence? Or did Shar just gaslight them into believing that that was normal due to Godswar? xD
To be honest it shouldn't be surprising to find among the clergy's tales and teaching all of Selûne avatar Luna did in the Realms and during the Time of Trouble, even if you play in late 1400's and this took place in 1350s DR, and at the tavern itself. Luna's past was a part of legend, told in the Song of Selûne afterall.
So it all depends if you as DM and Selûne want some people to know that the Godess is in disguise or not.
Otherwise she would probably adopt another identity to maintain a cover rather than re-use a famous avatar she previously appeared as.
Another aspect to consider metagamingly speaking , is how likely some of your players are to know or find out that Luna is an avatar of Selûne if you want it secret? It's easily found in books and internet.
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I'm running a 5e campaign set in the 1350s and my players are on their way to Waterdeep. I recently learned that during that time the Goddess Selune, under the name Luna, ran a tavern in the city and had sealed away her power in order to live among the people. I plan to use her as an NPC that the party run into, offering the party a quest in exchange for lodging at the Selune's Smile tavern (very subtle Selune, very subtle). However one of the party members is a Cleric of Selune, would they be able to tell who she is or is her Godly presence hidden thanks to the fact that she sealed her power?
if no one else that enters the tavern feels the godly presence (and it wouldn't be a good hiding spot if they did), then rest assured that the cleric cannot either.
...although, there's always dice if success/failure would be interesting. the cleric might need to pass a set of difficult perception checks: first when they see her, later if they cast a spell while within the tavern, and again later if they cast a spell while in her presence. or Luna might give the cleric a surprised look of recognition that they might or might not follow up with a set of difficult intuition checks. i think my recommendation boils down to not leaving it up to a single check when a failed series of checks are their own tantalizing hint. just remember that a god, locked powers or not, probably has a decently high charisma score and they are actively engaged in deception.
unhappy at the way in which we lost individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
tell them you don't like features disappeared quietly in the night: provide feedback!
The game answer is, they can only detect it if you want to engage with luna as selune the god. A god is more than capable of concealing themselves if they need. I do think you should probably at least hint to some level of involvement with the selunite church but the name of the inn is probably more than enough.
The lore answer is that in the dnd comics Luna was particularly difficult to identify as an avatar as Selune with shar posing as the avatar of selune and convincing selunes followers to attack Luna. She even briefly erased Luna's memory so not even she knew that she was the avatar of Selune. I don't think Shar would allow an obvious avatar of Selune and I don't think Selune would want to risk conflict with Shar.
Thank you, this has been a huge help. I remember reading about Shar posing as the real Selune during the Time of Troubles, thinking of using that at some point since I plan on bringing in the Avatar Series campaign trilogy once the party reaches the right level. xD
Though, one thing I do wonder is could any of Selune's followers, primarily levelled Clerics and Paladins, have sensed anything off with Selune (Shar)? Or was she simply just powerful enough to mask her divine presence as that of her sister's?
Secondly, as I understand, during the Time of Troubles, Divine Magic would only work within a mile radius of the respective God's Avatar. With Luna sealing away her power, and Shar posing as her Avatar, would Selunites not have gotten suspicious about their prayers being unanswered in her presence? Or did Shar just gaslight them into believing that that was normal due to Godswar? xD
To be honest it shouldn't be surprising to find among the clergy's tales and teaching all of Selûne avatar Luna did in the Realms and during the Time of Trouble, even if you play in late 1400's and this took place in 1350s DR, and at the tavern itself. Luna's past was a part of legend, told in the Song of Selûne afterall.
So it all depends if you as DM and Selûne want some people to know that the Godess is in disguise or not.
Otherwise she would probably adopt another identity to maintain a cover rather than re-use a famous avatar she previously appeared as.
Another aspect to consider metagamingly speaking , is how likely some of your players are to know or find out that Luna is an avatar of Selûne if you want it secret? It's easily found in books and internet.