Myrkul and Mystra | Forgotten Realms Pantheon

Episode 57 - Myrkul and Mystra! the Lord of Bones and the Goddess of Magic!
And I know I left out the spellplauge, and Mystra dying yet again. But I've covered that in other videos check it out below!
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[@transient_moonlight]

Myrkul did indeed return with the Sundering. The Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide explicitly says as much. At this point, it's safe to assume that all the deities in the SCAG that were gone in 4e have returned with the Sundering. His portfolio even changed from "the dead" to "death", in order for him to coexist with Kelemvor, who is the judge of the dead.

[@Chardansearavitriol]

4 years later I'm using Myrkul as an executive officer for Kelemvor's pantheon of the dead. I've spun it so that Myrkul is serving as a lesser to Kelemvor, in repentance for conspiring to kill Mystra. One of my players is a cleric of Myrkul and works to make amends for Myrkul's past infractions.

[@knurled1]

Ed tells us that Mystra is indeed the most powerful deity yet she is also the most constrained. She is constrained to stop her conquering the entire pantheon, hence the chosen of Mystra etc.

[@ddillard143]

Oh this I didn't know please tell me more

[@ProffessorYellow]

Shes constrained to hunt that mortal D, that's what.

[@robertr.7995]

What I heard, essentially: "Yeah, Myrkul is a thing, he's okay I guess but he kind of sucks.....YO BUT MYSTRA THO!!!"

[@victorribeiro4235]

LOL, can you blame him? Mystra is a rockstar XD

[@kmannyt1539]

Meiliki took over autumn after the time of troubles and myrkuls death. That's how I understand it. Great job, loving these vids

[@spartandud3]

Mystra when ever a new edition is released: Oh boy. Here I go dying again!

[@irishlad6444]

This series of videos is so helpful. Thanks for posting.

[@MondoJohnny]

Mystra interests me so much because she seems more or less benign in temperment but in reality she stands to do more harm than even the more overtly evil dieties given her apparent lack of care for who wields the power of magic.

[@Jorpda]

This video was pretty helpful for me, one of my characters is a Death Domain Cleric worshipping Myrkul and I was trying to find more info so thanks. That Crown of Horns seems like something to work towards in the future

[@auroraourania7161]

I think Mielikki represents the preparation for survival and knowledge of eventual renewal, while Myrkul represents the aspect of the autumn of the change towards a time of year with less life.

[@dungeonmasteromega]

From what I could gather in researching FR lore, portfolios can fall into two categories: those that are broad and can be easily granted to or held by multiple deities, and those with a more specialized purpose that can be easily monopolized and are rarely shared. Kelemvor is a good example. There is only one judge of the dead (portfolio: the dead) for Realmspace, but there can be numerous gods of death itself (portfolio: death). Theoretically, Kelemvor could split the portfolio of the dead but due to the specific responsibilities of that portfolio, he'd probably have to share the same divine realm as whomever he shared the portfolio with.

[@layeredchip3220]

A priest of Myrkul is by far my favorite character concept, but I am still yet to master it.

[@TheFuriousBrother]

found this video due to research about myrkul, because I'm going to play a conquest paladin in a high level campaign soon. Even though there's much more to read about, this is a good summary of myrkul and helps me bringing my chaotic evil paladin to life! thank you Jorphdan

[@TheFuriousBrother]

he also has an ork band following him, playing Hail to the king by Avanged Sevenfold on magical instruments

[@jeromepeters9842]

Been a realms fan for 25 years and I love your videos

[@TimaeusEXE]

I feel the idea of them being in the book leave campaigns open to adventurers stumbling upon a cult of Myrkul trying to find and bring him back to his former power. I feel that if a deity has some form of followers that they're never truly removed from the pantheon.

[@screwedupcivic2285]

Cleric of Mystra / Wizard/ Mystic Theurge!!! Awesome character to play.

[@AdrianCHOY]

Excellent prestige classes

[@mitchywilson9892]

Fun fact. Midnight slew Myrkul by shooting him with a disintegration spell while simultaneously opening a dimension door behind him as he fell back. She ported him over the ocean, about a kilometer over the sea where he exploded harmlessly. Earlier in the books, they killed Bhaal and learned that when a god dies, they explode.

[@liambutler1586]

Another great vid! just wanted to add that it seems like Mystra died AGAIN, which triggered the spell plague and was gone for a while, but she is now resurrected in 5e after Elminster returned a huge amount of silver fire to an echo of her consioussness. So yeah, she dies alot but we still love her!

[@Telleryn]

I would assume that the 2 gods represent different aspects of autumn, one aspect being the natural changing of the seasons and the other being the decay and death due to the descent into winter. Also, a paladin of Mystra sounds pretty cool to play

[@gallantblues5328]

My DM did a homebrew for me so I could play a Paladin of Mystra and it's been fun: homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/ByWdnbyl4- In practice I'm a meatshield who can also put out a little damage, heal, and cast some useful buffs and out of combat spells. Role playing the oath is fun because it's all about knowledge, which gives me something specific to focus on and gives my character lots of flexibility in other areas.

[@Jon_East]

Myrkul? More like... Myr-...cool! Am I right, guys? I'll see myself out. Re: Two deities sharing portfolios, though. I recently went through the Faerunian pantheon (AD&D timeline) to list some deities fitting for Rangers for a friend of mine (who is completely new to D&D). You wouldn't believe how many forest/nature deities there are. Or well, you probably would, but still. You got Silvanus as the big one, and then Mielikki as his subordinate, Eldath has some connection to forests as well, Chauntea covers a lot of nature aspects, and Shiallia if you want to get into the more obscure deities. And that's just from the general (human) pantheon, not looking at the Elven, Halfling and Gnome gods for example. I know that each of them has their own kind of niche, but still. How many forest gods and goddesses does one fantasy setting need? Seems a bit much.

[@Jorphdan]

#SlowClap 😀

[@Jon_East]

Same here, though that might also be my terrible German accent.

[@martinmarvinii3139]

I’m currently playing a wizard who actually hates Mystra. He hates her for allowing evil to utilize magic and believes this makes her just as guilty in the activities of evil forces as she refuses to stop them. He’s feels similarly about Ao and most neutral gods so his eventual goal is to supplant them somehow.

[@randomdragon8245]

I think Mystra probably gets murdered the most. She’s like Starscream in that she gets killed, but constantly comes back.

[@Yellowdigigod]

This is the most accurate video I found. WHY IS THERE SO MUCH INGNORANCE ABOUT MYSTRA

[@kyliepoe6231]

Mystara, the Raven Queen and the Lady of Pain are my favorite dieties. I must have a thing for powerful women.

[@Jon_East]

Careful with calling the Lady of Pain a deity. You might soon find yourself in her shadow, which is not a place you want to be in. She's very particular when it comes to worship. ;D

[@kyliepoe6231]

She's an overgod on par with Ao. Neutrality to his Law. But, I doubt if have a character worship her, a warlocks pact seems more feasible.

[@LordMortanius]

@@kyliepoe6231 The LoP is not an overgod. The entire point is that nobody knows who or what she is.

[@daryldacillo]

LoP is awaken!

[@victorribeiro4235]

My current character is a Sorlock who has a pact with the Raven Queen

[@MOO337]

This video has been a good source for my goblin cleric of myrkul lol thanks

[@tylerbrown7687]

you should do a video about spelljammer specifically realm space

[@Jorphdan]

I do love me some spelljammer!

[@NoActuallyGo-KCUF-Yourself]

Seconded. My campaign, if it goes high level enough, will eventually leave Toril via spelljammer ship or equivalent.

[@HybridArtist]

Greetings fellow travelers. I'm an artist that recently got into ttrpg and I'm amazed at the sheer possibilities and number of people playing this game. I just started doing a complete workshop on creating fantasy maps and I plan to do a lot of resource materials and props for the game. I'd really appreciate some feedback when you have a few minutes to spare, I posted part one of the workshop here on KZbin yesterday, so I'd love to know what you think. If you happen to be looking for any maps, I'd be more than glad to hook you up.

[@JamisonStone]

love these!

[@SkullDixon]

Hopefully with Mordenkainen's Tome coming out we'll get some more updated info on the gods ans whats up with them since the events of 4e.

[@transient_moonlight]

The Mordenkainen's Tome has been recently confirmed by Crawford to include in-depth info about the elven and drow pantheons (and I guess dwarven, gnomish, and halfing too). It will have sections for each deity in those pantheons, but it will focus on the non-human deities (who only got small blurbs in the SCAG). All the deities in the SCAG pretty much returned, even tho the how of it hasn't really been explained.

[@Aleph-Noll]

so how do you feel about it? its been out for a while

[@rednaxela5045]

Mystra 3:17

[@andrewvincent7299]

Hmm that's funny. I recall snuff out Myrkul in Mask of the Betrayer lol

[@j-fallard5351]

Nom nom nom, keep it coming!

[@DragonRage61]

In my playthrough of Baldur's Gate 3, my Avatar is a Tiefling Cleric of Mystra!

[@astromoe1]

"Myrkil and Mystra" I hope there isn't a "I got a bone to pick with you" joke :)

[@amosericson]

Thank you Jorphdan!

[@Shadybish]

as someone who has a huge magic bias... Mystra is my favorite deity alongside Selune

[@ProffessorYellow]

I wouldn't be surprised if another schism happened, and the portfolio of death and "undeath" get seperated. I mean, all it would take is a god that saw undead as their own .... peoples?

[@oysterstu4822]

So so good!!

[@ripper1157]

Ty so much

[@pantlessninja4696]

Myrkul! My lord!

[@mordecairasputin8110]

What what Oath are the Paladins if Mystra? Because I've been wanting to play a paladin of Mystra and I don't know which oath fits!

[@ericgniechwitz955]

I plan on making a cleric/necromancer but that’s lawful neutral and totally cliche undead funness.

[@georgekrone7019]

So I was wondering... how much does a laymen know about their god... Like would a cleric know that Mystra has died and come back like 3 times? do they know she used to be Midnight, or is that only like the other gods, and their close chosen know that? Does the average worshiper know any of this? or even the average person?

[@alainpbat3903]

But ... What does myrkle want? I mean mielikki wants to preserve the forest, Asmodeus wants control over souls....

[@zachary5664]

I dont mean to be a nuisance, but Myrkul actually did not win the knucklebones game. He placed second. Bane actually won, and claimed himself ruler of all living creatures. Myrkul, because he picked second, outsmarted Bane and chose the dead, which is more powerful. Its strange, because I feel like I learned this from one of your videos. Perhaps it was a newer one?

[@Jorphdan]

if you have a source I'd love to know so I can pin a comment with it to the video

[@zachary5664]

@@Jorphdan Hey thanks for the reply! Here is where you said it in an older video: around 1:25, maybe slightly before. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2mVcoCabqydb8U And if you head to the wiki page fore Myrkul and CRTL-F knuckle bones, its the sentence that starts right after that one under "History".

[@Jakel79]

Myrkul is my favorit

[@ryanhentges4956]

Where's the vid on the non human deities? Lolth, dumathion, gruumsh etc.. Please!

[@matthewkrieg584]

I love your videos! You should cover the Drow Pantheon.

[@Shadeem]

Myrkul, I ate that guy

[@mark9801]

Is that an Overwatch map at 2:35? Haha

[@Jorphdan]

Yup!

[@dustinduffy5870]

but nothin on nerull?

[@EthanW56]

I'm eager for when you get to Sune

[@cyborglion4179]

Didn't midnight die too?

[@godofwarandpeace]

אתה מדבר עברית?

[@adamhubbert8896]

Myrkul is the god of necromancy so probly got a phylactery or some such other lich type fuckery.

[@Siegmernes]

What I'm asking myself is: Why doesn't she take away the powers of necromancers and other evil spellcasters? I previously assumed she was true neutral, but if she's good, why does she allow magic to be used for evil?

[@dr.strangelove3932]

I'm a little late to the conversation, but I thought you might like a few quotes from the book: "Elminster, The Making of a Mage", by Ed Greenwood, major architect of the Forgotten Realms, from Part 2, Chapter 5, when Elminster was a young man (before he was a champion and archmage of Mystra) in a keep of an evil magelord, where he met Mystra's Magister, Dorgon Heamilolothtar. He had something to say to Elminster about ethics, magic and wizardry: -"Those who don't love hurling power make the best mages... and those who live by stealing almost always rob themselves of their own lives, in the end" Also Mystra to Elminster in Part 3, Chapter 7: -"I let mages use spells freely so that all beings who use magic may escape tyranny. But from that freedom come such as the magelords in this land. If you would overthrow them... why not become a mage yourself? It is but a tool in your hand..." From these two excerpts, you can see that Mystra is good aligned and her devout followers/champions have a inclination towards good. The focus is on charity (of knowledge), discipline (self-control), responsibility and scholasticism of the arcane, the Weave.

[@jonathancampbell5231]

To be more accurate, Midnight is Neutral Good, Mystra was Lawful Neutral, and Mystryl was Chaotic Neutral. And I would assume that part of the reason is because of all the trouble that would cause with the other gods. It would upset the balance between good and evil and the evil gods in particular would be furious at her (especially if it affects them, but even if it only affected their followers this would make them mad). Its also pretty obvious that Ao, for whatever reason, is happy to allow evil to have its chance, so he might see this as her overstepping her duties. Or, if she doesn't control the Shadow Weave, then Shar might end up benefitting immensely, as evil spellcasters would have no choice but to turn to the Shadow Weave if they want to use magic, making Shar too powerful. Other reasons no doubt exist, but those are off the top of my head.

[@derekmiller5462]

This might be a dumb quesiton, but what is the difference between Myrkul, the god of death; and Asmodeus, ruler of the 9 hells? Myrkul is the one to come collect souls and gives them to Asmodeus in hell? Asking for my campaign that i'm runing.

[@Jorphdan]

Asmodeus was a devil that ascended to godhood. His goal was to corrupt mortals so their souls would not follow the path home to their deities. Those who follow Mystra would go to Mystra in death but if corrupted would go to Asmodeus instead. Myrkul would work like any other deity. His portfolio is the dead, those that worship him would go to him in the afterlife. Perhaps those that didn't follow any god would go to him (not sure on this one). But Asmodeus steals souls from what I understand, by corrupting them and bargaining with mortals, getting them into unbreakable contracts for their souls.

[@LordMortanius]

Asmodeus just rules Baator. Lawful Evil souls aligned with baatific values by default end up in the Nine Hells. Myrkul is chiefly the ruler of his pantheon's afterlife, tasked with organizing the souls that worship his pantheon. They don't overlap, since Myrkul is a death deity while Asmodeus is head honcho of an outer plane.

[@justinswank367]

You said the name for the clerics, and paladins of mystra but didnt say anything on the rangers?

[@novarag]

What about Moradin? You seem to be going alphabetically, hoping you didn’t skip this one.

[@Jorphdan]

Hitting the main pantheon right now, I'll go back and get some of the more popular non human deities afterwards 😀

[@tuckerwoods8365]

do a video on my boy, Talos

[@wallycastagnir]

gods camt have identicle portfolios but thevsame Domain

[@spensirmclife6549]

This might be useful considering I have a dwarf cleric of Mystra (whos been rebranded as Mystara)

[@merlinmeurer5339]

So i guess Oghma next?

[@Jorphdan]

you are correct!

[@merlinmeurer5339]

Jorphdan Nice :) my favourite god in the pantheon. Im playing a bard/cleric of oghma at the moment, its really fun

[@Nic7800]

Has he cover Sune yet?

[@Jorphdan]

not yet!

[@km1dash6]

As of the time of this comment, yes.

[@Dule810]

What god does that priest with a beholder on his head serve?????

[@Jorphdan]

From the book it says he's a Beholder Cult Leader!

[@Dule810]

Jorphdan The only thing I could find about that was an appearence in Baldurs Gate 2. The cult of the Eyeless. Guess they meant that.

[@Hellbunnyism]

Alternatively, they could be a worshipper of the Great Mother (goddess of beholders). Strangely...it appears she is chaotic evil and resides in the Abyss despite many (if not most) beholders and ocular adapts being lawful evil. Kind of reminds me of Tiamat in 5e as she resides in the Nine Hells (apparently) but is chaotic evil which seems odd given her past portfolios.

[@Dule810]

While the Great Mother did give birth to the first beholders, todays beholders are faaar away from what she is, mostly given the fact how they multiply. As for Tiamat, she made a deal with Asmodeus to keep her there, no one knows why. In my game thou it is because the two halves are drawing each other (Tiamat and Bahamut) if they are too close to each other they will merge again into Io and neither Tiamat or Bahamut want to relinquish their individuality. But other dragon species (Mercury, Mist, Gem) are plotting against them and are working towards the rebirth of the Dragon God.

[@HoundofOdin]

Never liked the Forgotten Realms or its pantheon. The Gods have fallen like five times, there's been eight Mystras, and every six months there is some new earth shattering catastrophe that the Gods never saw coming. Just when you've gotten the lore down well enough to understand it, something else happens that turns the world on its head again.

[@MisterTutor2010]

The Reaper? That means nobody fears him :)

[@thatkingdomheartsguy9615]

*Spoilers for BG3* It's funny how its said hes the end, when in BG3 he refers to himself as a beginning

[@themalcontent100]

Thinking of making a tifling cleric who got kicked out of a wizard academy for having sex with a polymorphed cow that at the time looked like his very attractive teacher. The female students thought that it would be hilarious and it was for all the wrong reasons. He worships Mystra thinking that she could personally teach him the secrets of magic, and has the magic initiate feat.

[@GrimmDelightsDice]

@@themalcontent100 Check that your table is comfortable with beastiality + sexuality playing a significant role in your player backstory at least