Ephara

As god of the polis, Ephara sees herself as the founder of civilization. She watches over cities, protecting them from outside threats. She is credited with establishing the first code of law, which Meletis has preserved and the other poleis have imitated. Even more important, she helps cities reach their highest potential, becoming centers of scholarship, industry, and art.

Ephara appears as a huge animated statue wearing a stone crown, resembling the capital of a column. When she chooses to walk about her cities at human scale, she often takes on the form of a human woman. In either form, she is always dressed in blue and white, and her expression is usually serious, but not unkind. She often carries a large urn on one shoulder, with the dark, star-studded sky of Nyx pouring from it and dissolving into mist as it hits the ground.

Ephara's sphere of influence is the polis. Although worshiped in many places, she is most beloved in Meletis, whose citizens credit her with the city's founding. Many city walls bear Ephara's face, fashioned thus in the belief that each of her images watches over the part of the city it looks upon.

Ephara is strongly affiliated with the daytime, when cities are awake, alive, and at work. Her followers generally pray at midday, with the sounds of the city forming an appropriate backdrop to their rites, as industry itself is sacred to Ephara. Many aspects of city life and culture fall under Ephara's influence. Scholarship is closely connected to Ephara, as is art-particularly poetry, sculpture, and architecture. Ephara is also highly concerned with civic wisdom and justice, and many politicians and other leaders seek her guidance in how to rule.

Alignment. Lawful Neutral

Realm. Nyx, the Realm of the Gods

Allies. Ephara, Karametra, Purphoros, Thassa

Enemies. Nylea, Phenax

Edicts. defend the poleis or any city from threats inside or outside of its walls, create masterworks that advance civilization such as a great building or a beautiful poem

Anathema. betraying one's trust to commit acts of corruption or tyranny, working against a civic institution or sowing chaos within a city, willfully breaking just laws for personal gain

Areas of Concern. art, cities, civilization, civil politics, daytime (not the sun), the poleis, scholarship

Worshipping Ephara and her Champions

To an extent, Ephara's devout show their faith by going about their lives and contributing to society. Midday services at Ephara's temples often feature a brief prayer, followed by a longer talk from an industrial or civic leader on a topic of general interest. Attendants often bring meals to eat while on a break from their jobs.

Ephara's face is a common sight in cities. Marble buildings, stone walls, and similar surfaces usually feature a sculpture or relief of her visage. People often swear oaths or engage in verbal disputes in front of these images, believing she won't let a falsehood told in front of her go unpunished. Whether she actually intervenes is unclear, but conflicts that play out this way are often resolved peacefully, without a need for the justice system to get involved.

Alignment. Usually lawful, often neutral

Suggested Classes. Bard, Cleric, Monk, Paladin, Wizard

Suggested Cleric Domains. Knowledge, Light, Order

Suggested Backgrounds. acolyte, athlete, guild artisan, noble, sage, sailor, soldier, urchin

Most champions of Ephara believe cities represent the pinnacle of achievement and do what they can to uphold the law and keep society functioning. Some of the god's most devout followers work as architects, artists, or philosophers, all striving to serve the public good.

Ephara's Favor

Ephara seeks champions who will defend her cities fiercely, both from external threats and internal corruption. She asks them to protect not only the people, but also the structures that comprise a polis. The circumstances that led you to worship Ephara most likely involved the polis you call home. The Ephara's Favor table provides just a few possibilities.

Ephara's Favor

d6	Circumstance
1	You grew up in a polis like Meletis and never feel safe outside one.
2	You grew up in a home that was next to a wall or a building with Ephara's face on it, and you felt like she was always looking after you.
3	You were part of a revolution to fight off tyrants and establish freedom in your city.
4	Your family members have all been architects, going back several generations, and all worshiped Ephara.
5	You are a highly skilled poet, scholar, or philosopher, and Ephara took notice of your talent.
6	You are a civil servant or a city leader, taking an active role in the welfare of your home.

Devotion to Ephara

Followers of Ephara support their cities, protecting them while helping them thrive. As a follower of Ephara, consider the ideals on the Ephara's Ideals table as alternatives to those suggested for your background.

Ephara's Ideals

d6	Ideal
1	Devotion. My devotion to my god is more important to me than what she stands for. (Any)
2	justice. Laws keep society functioning, and I must see to it that they are enforced. (Lawful)
3	Community. We are stronger together, and I must improve and support my community. (Lawful or good)
4	Scholarship. I serve my community and my god by learning new information or creating art. (Any)
5	Civic Duty. It is my responsibility to serve my city. (Lawful)
6	Protection. I must keep my city safe from threats both external and internal. (Any)

December 1st, 2023 December 1st, 2023

Piety with Ephara

You increase your piety score to Ephara when you expand the god's influence in the world in a concrete way through acts that enforce her edicts.

Your piety score to Ephara decreases if you diminish Ephara's influence in the world, contradict her ideals, or let her down through acts in her anathema.

Ephara's Devotee

Piety 3+ Ephara trait

Ephara grants you insight into how people communicate. You can cast comprehend languages with this trait, requiring no material component, a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of once). You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for this spell.

Ephara's Votary

Piety 10+ Ephara trait

You gain advantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks while you are within a city. In addition, when you fail an Intelligence check or Intelligence saving throw, you can reroll the die, and you must use the new roll. Once you use this reroll, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest.

Ephara's Disciple

Piety 25+ Ephara trait

You can cast Mordenkainen's private sanctum with this trait, requiring no material components. Once you cast the spell in this way, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for this spell.

Champion of the Polis

Piety 50+ Ephara trait

You can increase your Intelligence or Charisma score by 2 and also increase your maximum for that score by 2.