Boler (5e Deity)

Boler

Boler's Holy Symbol

Alignment. Neutral Good
Domains. Darkness/Twilight, SinEater/Grave
Divine Rank. Greater Deity

Domains

Boler also known as The Benevolent Black, The Black Moon, The Dark Moon, The Dark Divine, The Night Father, The Sheltering Shade and Sire Dusk, is the protector of many good things, a supporter of those in need, and an adversary of all that is evil. He became a highly commonly worshiped deity among ordinary humans, only second to gods such as Lathander or Pelor, and his priests are well received wherever they go. Boler is the almighty Darkness God, a source of charity, compassion, coolness, health and protection. Boler is an excessively powerful deity, entirely devoted to the cause of Good, and who is indifferent to the quarrels between Law and Chaos, as long as Good prevails.

Boler represents, above all, the benevolent energy of the darkness bringing coolness and comfort, nourishing fungai, and consuming light. In addition to darkness Boler is closely associated with the new moon but is NOT the personification of the moon itself. He is the one who controls its course in the sky and the shadow it produces, protecting the darkness from the forces of corrupting light.

Boler's dogma is far reaching and his message is broad. He is not a crusader, not a deity of nature, or a god of magic. Because of this he is often worshiped alongside deities with a similar portfolio, unfortunately at times even an evil-aligned one.

As a god of darkness, Boler comes in direct conflict with other gods of darkness such as Tharizdun and Shar due to Boler's opposing beliefs on the true nature of darkness.

Boler's governance as a moon god, or more specifically the new moon, has led him to compete in this area with Selûne and other deities, especially when it pertains to phases of the moon and its light or lack thereof.

Boler is also a god of negative energy, but using it in a more beneficial way instead of its harmful methods. Using it to remove discomfort, both physical and mental, while also provide a boost of health. He would also use it to guide lost souls to their respective realms, even going as far as using it to give those fallen to the curse of undeath, a chance of redemption. These actions gave him allies with the Raven Queen, competition with Wee Jas and enemies with Myrkul.

Finally, Boler is known as a god of protection. Giving shelter to those whom need it. Shading those from harm from who would do harm to others, often through personal sacrifice but not necessarily requiring it unless the desire is dire.

Among all Boler is a compassionate god. Willing to aid those in need, giving of himself whenever he can. Boler's love and kindness is only rivaled by his fury at those who use the corrupting light or who taint the purity of darkness.

Residence

Although Boler is a god of pure goodness but he doesn't reside in Elysium as other neutral good gods do, nor resides in the Shadowfell as other gods of darkness do. Instead he resides in a realm of his own creation; the demiplane Tenebris.

Tenebris is a demiplane that embodies the concept of pure good without being overly restricted by law nor dissipated by the randomness of chaos similar to Elysium although with some key differences which brings it more akin to that of the Shadowfell. Where the Shadowfell is a "dark" reflection of the Material plane, the demiplane of Tenebris is the true dark reflection of Elysium except where the Shadowfell is bleak, desolate place full of decay and death, Tenebris is everything but. In fact, it is said that Tenebris is just Elysium with the lights turned off, a realm that emphasize the beauty of eternal night. A few examples of Tenebris uniqueness are where colors are vibrant and abundant in Elysium, Tenebris's shades of gray are prominent but no less beautiful. While Elysium has minor positive effect, Tenebris has a minor negative effect but it's no less life giving as this energy acts similar to the false life spell.

Even though Boler resides on Tenebris it doesn't mean that Boler doesn't have any connections to Elysium or Shadowfell. It is said that Boler does have a divine realm on both those planes and that connection gave rise to Tenebris's existence.

Avatars

Boler is depicted either as an young, wise and regal figure, with dark flawless skin, bald head, and glowing green eyes, He is either seen wearing dark purple robe with black trim connected by dark blue t-shaped arrow clasp and a black shirt visibly seen underneath. While holding a orange staff with a black crescent on the top bound by white wrap. Also wearing a necklace of his holy symbol, a black moon with a blue aura, a humanoid face with a blue eye. On his forehead he wears a white metal circlet with a onyx gem in its center. Finally he has a dark purple mace with silver accents on his hip.

He might also appear as a figure clad in amethyst armour, with black sphere sucking in surrounding light, producing shadows like a new moon where his head should be. He is shown to be kind, but strict and fair, and welcoming to those who prove themselves to be good at heart.

Pantheon

Boler is part of the Layara pantheon, acting as one of the guiding voice of good in his pantheon and the people of his realm. He is allied with Lumina the Sacred White, enemy of Nocturnus the Sinister Shade and antithesis to Solas the Corrupting Light. Boler has also known to appear in other pantheons where gods exist, as a advocate of goodness, negative energy, and darkness if a god with those combined traits doesn't. In such realms he has been known to run conflict with existing gods of darkness such as Shar in Faerûn and Tharizdun in Oerth due to their penchant of associating the nature of evil with darkness. Although he has no strife with gods of darkness that aren't associated with evil he tries to sway them to good such as the goddess Xan Yae. His biggest enemies are those gods of light and evil as they run polar opposite to his beliefs for example the being known as the Burning Hate. Using what is generally view as the light of good to corrupt the souls of the innocent. He also has an intense rivalry and instinctual distrust with gods of light, life, and goodness due to prejudices he had to endure as a god of darkness.

Worship

While Boler's worshipper primarily are humans, any being that emphasize the importance of good has been known to worship Boler. People have been known to pray to Boler for protection, guidance and even redemption at times. While Boler commandment center on understanding, compassion, and community. Although generally darkness and negativity energy are viewed as evil Boler teachings show how these forces can be used in benign ways such as empowerment, shelter, and healing.

As befits a god of darkness, Boler's prays takes place at dusk when the darkness of night breaches the horizon or midnight , the apex of darkness for the day. While Boler's festivals take place at night his major events takes place on the new moon, winter solstice and solar eclipses, and many weddings and rites of passage take place at the end of a season. The Benediction of the Moon-Shade Field is a common rite requested by farmers.

Worshipers of Boler when not traveling can found at his temples. Temples to Boler are spherical structures that often feature small but numerous windows, often with decorative tinted glass. They're a good source of healing and often easy to find because Boler-worship is now so prevalent in civilized lands. Sermons and prayers can be heard all throughout the day but generally at night.

Boler's prayers often take the form of first person affirmations, such as "I am compassionate, just as the Moon of Compassion veiled on me." An exception to this comes in the form of his most famous prayer. It is the commonly known phrase that generally goes by " Have a good night" or " good night" for short.

All in all as a god of good, Boler does not tolerate evil and eschews it and its forms. He strongly advocates kindnesses, compassion, understanding, and bravery. Likewise, his followers, be they clerics, paladins or otherwise, must reflect these same values and qualities.

Lore

Children of the Void

In the beginning there was only the void. Out of the void came a voice, from that voice came the Light. Wherever the Light touched it was bright, but where the Light couldn't reach it was dark and so the Darkness was born. Hence the Light and the Darkness came into existence and their fates were forever intertwined. Then Light began to pull at its essence. From this essence the stars were birth. Darkness curious at and also began to pull from its essence, from that the planetoids came into being. Both Light and Darkness were filled the Void with the light of their stars and the darkness from their planetoids. Light and Darkness began to weaken from pulling from their essence so they decided to create last couple of things. Light created the a star so brilliant and warm it called it the Sun. Darkness created a planetoid so shadowy and cool it called it the Moon. For their final creation they pulled at their essence and combined it into a single sphere and from this sphere a new creation form, it was life and it was good. From then Light and Darkness felt tried a decided to leave Sun and Moon in charged of their sphere and the life that came from it. From there Light and Darkness confident in their children went to rest.

Celestials's Embrace

As the Sun and Moon were coddling their younger sibling, they didn't realize each had a detrimental effect on it. When Sun embraced its youngest sibling it's sibling was warm and full of light but then the warm changed to hot to burning and the light gave sight turn to blinding white. When Moon embrace its youngest sibling its was shaded and cool but then it turned to cold then freezing and the shade became a muted dark. So Sun and Moon and moon decided to change the amount of times they would embrace their sibling. When it was Sun's turn to embrace their sibling this time would be called Day and when it was Moon's time to embrace its sibling it was called Night. Although there were tow additional times when all three would hug, when Sun would embrace Moon and their youngest sibling, that was called Morning and when Moon would embrace Sun and their youngest sibling, that was called Dusk.

Divine Orgins

The Sphere, youngest of children of Light and Darkness, began to change thanks to Sun and Moon's care. The life within Sphere grew more complex and some became more aware of itself. Sun and Moon saw this and fell in love with the children of sphere. Sun and Moon informed their sleeping parents Light and Darkness of the children of Sphere. So they all four gave gifts to the children of Sphere. They gave the sky its blue color during the day with its fluffy white clouds and their dark sky with shining stars during the night. While Sphere gave its children its shifting seasons to ensure life continued and even place certain places within it that the weather stayed stable incase Sphere's children found their favorite season. The children of Sphere who were aware of themselves began to praise the Light, Darkness, Sun, Moon and Sphere for their gifts. While the gifts were given given with loved they also tried the 5. So before Light and Darkness returned to sleep they informed their children perhaps they should leave guardians for the children of sphere while the 5 rest. They even would give of their essence to Sun, Moon, and sphere to help build these guardians. Sphere suggested that these guardians should have an appearance that his children would recognize and possibly relate to so the children have a sense of familiarly and comfort. So as the 5 fell asleep the guardians came into being, the beings we just know as God's.

While these guardians had been given recognizable forms similar to the children of sphere they had abilities to protect and care that made them stand apart. In exchange the children of sphere gave names and praised to these guardians. These guardians have unique abilities and each were praised for. Such as its ability to grow crop, produce plentiful water, or even protective shelter. As the children of sphere became more complex so too the guardians to match the children's praise. They praise the guardian of light and warmth for the beauty of day, they praised the guardian of familiar bonds for their family and friends, they praised guardian of hunt for the abundant animals that could eat. It's was a paradise for the children of sphere and it seem it would last forever. Unfortunately corruption came beyond the from beyond the void and it brought ruin to not only to the Children of Sphere but to all of existence.

Light of Corruption

As the gods continued their duty to the children of Sphere, the children continued to praise the gods. Then something strange happened, the gods powers increased. It seemed the gods were receiving power from the praise from the children. In turn the gods increase their duty to the children. They bestow gifts and in return received more power from their devotion. This cycle happened for years until one day a strange rip in the void formed. From this rip strange light emerged. This light steaked across the void until its light reached the Sphere. There the children of the Sphere were bathed by that light. A strange reaction occurred the children began to convent. Many of the children love the strange light, desiring it above all else. The gods were aware of this but remained indifferent unaware of the lights Ture danger. The children began to change, they began to horde the strange light, the strange light caused them to act strange.

Lights of Sin

Their desire to reproduce grew to the point that they wanted nothing but the sensation of that release. Lust came into existence as the pleasure of sex consumed them. Others began to consume and consume whether it was food, water or other, they consume past the need to sustain their life. Guattony came into existence the over-indulgence grew to the point of waste. Still other Children felt the pleasure of the strang light that they began to horde it for themselves worrying that no longer be enough resources. Greed came into existence the Children gathered items for themselves to the point of excess. Some of the Children saw what was happening to the others and instead of helping the situation they stood by doing nothing. Sloth came into existence as the Children decided it was too much effort to do something or just didn't care enough to do anything. While some Children believe that the strange light was being stolen from them by the other began to get irritated. Everything started to annoy them that things didn't go their way and that irritation grew and grew to the point of explosion. Wrath came into existence as rage burst out of the Children leading to violence and even murder. Other Children saw the strange light favor others but them grew desire for what they didn't have or felt what they deserved. Evny came into existence as the Children unappreciated what they had in order to desire what others did. Above all the strange light gave the Children the feeling of harm they were doing to others was their right. Pride came into existence as their personal right was their truth regardless of the damage ot done others. The strange light effects did not end their.

Evils of Everlasting Life

The strange light began to physical change the Children as well. Although a boon at first. Some of the Children who were injured began to heal rapidly to the point where they were exploding. Unfortunately the explosion wasn't the end of the Children for the life within the bodies of the children mutated them. Transforming their life form, Spirit or Soul into personification of Strange Light. Some were Calculating and Cruel, these were the first devils. Some were wild and malevolent, these were the first demons. While others just malignant and malice, these yugoloths. Luckily the devils and demons hated each other and concentrated their malice to one another. The yugoloths on the other hand help whatever side paid more. Over time some of the Children bodies were adapting to the strange light and in fact thrive under the light, these were the Deathless. The Deathless were the Children who transcend life and ignored death. The strange light's corruption did not end with the Children as it started to effect the gods as well, particular the God's of light especially. The gods began to embrace the effects of the strange light, they began to embrace what are now known as the sins. The gods began to personify the sins themselves, using their influence to speard the strange light like a plague. It seemed like everything was being infected by the strange light, everything but the Darkness.

Martyrdom of Darkness

The Darkness although asleep it was aware of the strange light and its intentions. Although the 5 left the care of the Children to the guardians they couldn't foresee the invasion of the strange light. The strange light's corruption was so potent that affect other things besides the Children, all expect the Darkness. The Darkness noticed that the strange light was at most virulent was during Day when Light and Sun present was most prominent and nearly inertia during Night when Darkness and Moon was prominent. Darkness concluded that both it and Moon were on the opposite end of the ontological spectrum of the strange light. As so both Darkness and Moon were poised to act when they realized that Light and Sun were infected by the strange light. Darkness and Moon had to act fast before the strange light completely consumed Light and Sun. Darkness and Moon envelop Light and Moon and absorbed the strange light, sin, and corruption from them and Sphere. Imprisoning the strange light and its evil within them freeing Sphere, the Children, Light and Sun but unable to completely curing them. Evil still existed but they spread was hampered tremendously as the strange light was trapped within Darkness and Moon. From then on evil was forever tied with Darkness and the Moon changed to have a phase where they shown bright in night sky causing insanity to the Children. Darkness and Moon using their last bit of will then created several guardians that where not tied to the corruption within them that represented their values before their sacrifice. They even created a few guardians with help of Light and Sun to battle against them in order to lessen the strange light influences. Finally Darkness and Moon created a unique guardian that represented their power and virtue at their purest. This guardian had abilities allowed it to control Darkness and Moon and channel their power for good. They even gifted him with the power of negative energy ti specifically combat the strange light and corruption in case it escapes its imprisonment. They gifted him the name Boler as was the tradition of the Children to name their guardians or otherwise known gods . They also burden him with the knowledge of their history for when Darkness and Moon absorb the strange light it also absorb its events in order so others might not assist in its escape and caused another Apocalyptic event. This was done so Boler would be forever prepared to battle the strange light and its spawn.

Gifts and Relics

There are several relics and artifacts of Boler. Each are hidden throughout the world. Here are few of the most known.

There are 3 Nightaegis. They were obsidian shields that were said to be so dark that it could absorb not only all forms of blows but even light itself. They were gifts from Boler to 3 lunarians who rescued a mind templar from the recesses of the Far Realm.

The Shards of the Black Moon are described as pieces of the New Moon that fell from the heavens which "carry a darkness so profound and deep that no light can escape it."

Zatrenz's Mace is a relic of a legendary mind templar called Zatrenz. His petrified heart was placed as the head of his mace, becoming the relic. Its main feature is absorption; absorbing light to create shadows, absorbing illnesses to cure disease, and absorbing damage to heal its wielder.

---

Back to Main Page → 5e Homebrew → Deities