![[Talona.png|500]] **Also Known As:** Lady of Poison, Mistress of Disease, Mother of All Plagues, The Plague-Crone **Alignment:** Chaotic Evil --- # Overview Talona is the Faerûnian goddess of disease and poison. She is one of the most feared deities in Faerûn and is blamed for plagues, sickness, poisoned wells, blighted crops, venomous creatures, and countless forms of physical affliction. Her worship rises during times of epidemic and declines during periods of prosperity, creating a cycle that has persisted throughout Faerûnian history. Talona is a lesser deity of the Faerûnian pantheon whose portfolio has remained largely unchanged for centuries. While many evil gods pursue conquest, domination, or destruction, Talona's influence is centred upon disease, poison, and the suffering they create. --- # Domain and Influence Talona's divine portfolio consists of: - Disease - Poison - Pestilence - Venom - Epidemics - Crop blights - Contaminated food and water Talona is worshipped and feared because disease affects every level of society. Farmers blame her for diseased livestock and failing harvests. Merchants fear outbreaks that cripple trade. Rulers fear epidemics that devastate cities. Common folk often invoke her name during times of illness in hopes of avoiding her attention. Her influence extends to both natural and magical diseases, as well as poisons of every kind. --- # Symbols and Icons Talona's holy symbol is three amber teardrops arranged in a triangle upon a purple triangular field. Later depictions often simplify the symbol to three teardrops arranged in a triangular pattern. Talona is most commonly depicted as: - A diseased crone marked by sores, scars, and visible illness. - A beautiful woman concealing corruption beneath her appearance. Religious texts frequently describe her as a figure whose beauty has been ravaged by disease and time. --- # Worship and Tributes Talona receives worship from a variety of individuals including: - The diseased and afflicted. - Poisoners and assassins. - Alchemists and apothecaries. - Healers and physicians. - Individuals seeking protection from illness. Many prayers directed toward Talona are motivated by fear rather than devotion. During outbreaks of disease, communities often make offerings in hopes that she will spare them from further suffering. Her worship has historically reached its greatest levels during major plagues, including the Year of Clinging Death (75 DR), the Rotting War (902 DR), the Year of the Scourge (1150 DR), and the Great Plague of the Inner Sea. --- # Clergy and Cults Talona's clergy are known collectively as the **Talontar**. Talontar are recognised by their ragged grey-green robes, which are traditionally washed but never repaired. Senior clergy often cover themselves in ritual scars or tattoos. The Talontar are skilled in: - Diseases and epidemics. - Poisons and antidotes. - Herbal remedies. - Alchemy. - Treatment of the sick. Many deliberately expose themselves to disease and poison while developing magical and physical resistance to such afflictions. Their expertise often leads rulers, merchants, and nobles to employ them as poison testers, physicians, or advisers during outbreaks. One notable organisation within her faith is the **Plague Rats**, a group of assassins, thieves, and wererats active throughout parts of Faerûn. --- # Powers and Abilities Talona possesses divine authority over disease and poison. Her powers include: - Creating new diseases. - Spreading epidemics. - Inflicting magical plagues. - Poisoning food and water supplies. - Corrupting crops. - Granting immunity or resistance to disease. - Granting immunity or resistance to poison. Her clergy receive divine magic associated with sickness, corruption, venom, and pestilence. --- # Treatment of the Faithful Talona rewards followers who spread her influence and increase fear of disease throughout the world. Favoured servants may gain: - Resistance to disease. - Resistance to poison. - Knowledge of toxins and cures. - Divine magical power. The church encourages followers to understand and master disease rather than fear it. Talontar often study both the creation and cure of illnesses, viewing such knowledge as sacred. --- # Dogma Talona's faith teaches that disease and death are unavoidable realities of existence. Her clergy believe that sickness, plague, and poison are among the greatest forces in the world because every living creature is vulnerable to them. One traditional teaching of the church holds that life and death exist in balance, but that death is ultimately the greater power. Followers are encouraged to respect disease, understand it, and use it as a tool when necessary. Talontar are expected to spread Talona's influence, increase awareness of her power, and ensure that people continue to fear the consequences of ignoring her. --- # Divine Realm Talona's divine realm is known as the **Palace of Poison Tears**. Under the Great Wheel cosmology it was located on Cathrys, the second layer of Carceri. Under later cosmologies it became associated with the Barrens of Doom and Despair. The realm is a vast marshland filled with poisonous vegetation, insects, parasites, disease-bearing creatures, and stagnant waters. At its centre stands a massive structure shaped after Talona's holy symbol. Among her servants are rats, dire rats, monstrous spiders, quasits, and other creatures associated with disease and infestation. --- # Relationships with Other Powers Before the Time of Troubles, Talona served Bhaal. During this period she maintained a fierce rivalry with Loviatar, another servant of Bhaal. Loviatar frequently mocked Talona's appearance, influence, and number of followers, creating a long-standing hostility between the two faiths. Around 1369 DR, Talona formed an alliance with Shar. Talona is known to despise: - Chauntea - Mielikki - Tyr - Kelemvor These deities and their churches frequently oppose the spread of disease and corruption. --- # Myths and Legends One of the most significant events in Talona's history was her conflict with the demipower **Kiputytto**. In -33 DR, Kiputytto challenged Talona's claim over disease. The resulting struggle devastated the nation of Asram through a succession of catastrophic plagues. Talona ultimately emerged victorious and killed Kiputytto. In later centuries, some texts referred to Kiputytto as an aspect or alternate identity of Talona, further cementing her victory and erasing much of Kiputytto's independent legacy. During the Time of Troubles, an avatar of Talona indirectly provided knowledge used in the creation of the magical affliction known as the Chaos Curse. --- # Encounters with Talona Direct manifestations of Talona are rare. Those who encounter her typically describe: - A gaunt woman marked by disease. - A withered crone bearing signs of countless afflictions. - A beautiful woman concealing illness beneath her appearance. Most mortals experience Talona's presence indirectly through plague outbreaks, poisoned water, blighted crops, infestations, or mysterious sicknesses. --- # Conclusion Talona remains one of the most feared deities in Faerûn. Her worship has endured for centuries because disease touches every settlement, kingdom, and civilisation. Through her clergy, cults, and divine influence, she continues to spread sickness and poison across the Realms, ensuring that even those who do not worship her are forced to acknowledge her power.