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Avandra was the name of a goddess of luck, time, change, and nature, and one of four [[Creative Celestials]].

== History ==
Avandra was acknowledged as a patron of travelers and [[sea elves]]. The [[Holy Church of the Tetrarchs]] (1 ME-38 DA) regarded her as the creator of all elves. This sparked a religious divide between the primarily human establishment and the ancient traditions of the sea elves of [[Strongwater (nation)|Strongwater]]. The Strongwater Lagoon elves believed in the [[Seldarine]], a loose pantheon which included a feminine [[Pelor]], [[Corellon Larethian]], [[Sehanine Moonbow]], and [[The Raven Queen|Kelemvor]] (a masculine interpretation of the Raven Queen), shunning acceptance of Avandra. Whereas the Seldarine refused to acknowledge Avandra, the Church did not accept the role of the chief deities of the Seldarine pantheon in the creation of the elven race.

[[St. Chaka Unas|St. Chaka]] recovered scriptures from the [[Vault of the Ancients]] in 770 ME, which eventually helped to mend the divide between the Church and the Seldarine; however, it took the entirety of the [[Dark Age]] to do so. The Vault scriptures acknowledged the attempt of Corellon and Sehanine in the creation of a race of people, but also Avandra’s chastisement as “power was not given to [them] to be Creative”. Eventually, Avandra chose to give a soul to the elven people, but not until after the [[Dawn War]] had already begun. For a time, this revelation caused controversy and even violence among the Strongwater elves, as the Seldarine priesthood’s teachings stated the elves were among the oldest races. In truth, the elves were one of the youngest—and only made [[sentience|sentient]] thanks to Avandra’s begrudging pity. Therefore, although the Seldarine created elves, it was Avandra who gave them life.

== Dogma and Followers ==
Lady Luck, as she was also known, smiled on those who take risks. Her temples were small, often little more than shrines. Avandra was more content with a simple collection of stones on a mountain path, or her signature three wavy lines etched on a boulder, than a grand cathedral. As a goddess of travel and change, she favored the bold wanderer and the free spirit. Her clerics ministered to weary traders on the roads, and were rarely found in the same place twice. Avandra delighted in nature, but was not opposed to civilization—so long as it remained free and respectful. One of the few mortals-turned-Exarchs, [[Yuan Altaya|Altaya]], lived in and watched over the [[Feywild]] in Avandra’s name.
[[Category:Deities]]