Maia, Celestial of growth, spring, and nurturing

Maia is a Celestial of spring, growth, and fertility in Greek mythology, and the mother of the messenger god Hermes.

• Alias – None
• Gender – Female
• Race – Celestial (daughter of the titan Atlas and the Oceanid nymph Pleione)
• Occupation – Goddess of growth, spring, and nurturing
• Religion – Greek mythology
• Allies – The other Pleiades, the Olympian gods and goddesses, particularly Artemis
• Enemies – None in particular, but sometimes conflicted with Zeus’ jealous wife Hera
• Abode/ Base of operations – Mount Cyllene in Arcadia
• Nationality – Greek
• Languages – Greek
• Alignment – Neutral Good
• Affiliation (s) – The Pleiades, the Olympian gods and goddesses
• Significant others – None

Maia is a powerful being of light who has lived for eons. She is deeply connected to nature and the universe, and possesses a profound understanding of the workings of the cosmos. Her main purpose is to promote harmony and balance in the world, and to help others achieve their fullest potential.

Born from the union of the sky god Atlas and the sea nymph Pleione, Maia is one of the seven Pleiades sisters, and is often associated with the month of May. From a young age, she showed a keen interest in the natural world, spending countless hours exploring the forests and mountains that surrounded her home.

As she grew older, Maia became increasingly aware of her own power and her connection to the universe. She began to see herself as a guardian of the planet, and dedicated her life to maintaining the delicate balance of the cosmos. She learned to control the elements, to communicate with animals, and to tap into the universal energy that flows through all things.

Maia’s quest for knowledge and understanding has taken her on many journeys throughout the universe, and she has encountered countless beings along the way. Despite facing many challenges and dangers, she has never wavered in her dedication to her cause. She is a wise and compassionate guide to those who seek her counsel, and is known for her unwavering loyalty to those she considers friends.

Although she is a powerful being, Maia is also humble and down-to-earth. She takes joy in the simple things in life, and is always seeking new experiences and knowledge. Her ultimate goal is to help humanity reach its fullest potential, and to promote a sense of interconnectedness and unity throughout the universe.

Maia, Pleiades Star Nymph

Pleiades (Star Nymph), Neutral Good

Armor Class: 18 (natural armor) Hit Points: 200 (20d10 + 100)

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
18	22	20	18	18	20

Speed: 50 ft., fly 90 ft.

Skills: Perception +12, Stealth +14

Senses: darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 22

Languages: Celestial, Greek, Elvish, Sylvan

Traits:

• Fey Ancestry. Maia has advantage on saving throws against being charmed and can’t be put to sleep by magical means.
• Innate Spellcasting. Maia’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 20). She can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
  • At will: detect magic, faerie fire, levitate, misty step, pass without trace
  • 3/day each: blinding smite, blur, fly, invisibility, lightning arrow, protection from energy
• Magic Resistance. Maia has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
• Regeneration. At the start of her turn, Maia regains 20 hit points if she has at least 1 hit point.

Legendary Resistance: If Maia fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead. She can use this feature up to 3 times per day.

Actions:

Multiattack. Maia can use her Divine Radiance. She then makes two attacks with her spear or two ranged attacks with her longbow.

• Spear. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (2d8 + 6) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) radiant damage.
• Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6) lightning damage.
• Divine Radiance. Maia unleashes her divine radiance, causing all creatures within 120 feet of her and aware of her to make a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 20 (4d10) radiant damage and is blinded for 1 minute. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and isn’t blinded. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to Maia’s Divine Radiance for the next 24 hours.

Legendary Actions: Maia can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Maia regains spent legendary actions at the start of her turn.

• Move. Maia moves up to her speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
• Attack. Maia makes one longsword or Spear attack.
• Magic Blasts (Costs 2 Actions). Maia casts lightning bolt, targeting any point within 120 feet of her. Each creature in a 100-foot line must make a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw, taking 54 (12d8) lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Lair Actions:

On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Maia can take a lair action to cause one of the following effects:

• Starfall. Maia creates a rain of shooting stars in a 60-foot radius centered on a point she can see within 120 feet of her. Each creature in the area must make a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw, taking 55 (10d10) radiant damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
• Radiant Shield. Maia creates a protective barrier of radiant energy around herself that lasts until the end of her next turn. While the shield is active, she has resistance to all damage types and her attacks deal an additional 10 radiant damage.

Challenge Rating: 20 (25,000 XP)

Physical Description:

Maia is a beautiful, lithe humanoid with pointed ears, flowing silver hair, and large, glowing blue eyes. Her skin shimmers with a faint iridescent sheen, and small star-shaped markings adorn her cheeks. She wears a suit of enchanted mithril armor, adorned with celestial symbols and gems that glow with an inner light. She wields a spear that shines with radiant energy and a longbow that crackles with lightning.

Overall, Maia is a powerful and versatile opponent, capable of dealing significant damage from range or in melee, while also possessing potent magical abilities and the ability to frighten her foes. Her innate spellcasting and magic resistance make her a formidable adversary for even the most skilled adventurers, while her lair actions and legendary actions allow her to manipulate the battlefield to her advantage.

Currently in the World

Maia stands on the bustling streets of Florence, Italy, in the 1450s. Her sharp eyes take in the sights and sounds of the Renaissance city, as the smells of fresh bread and roasted meats waft towards her. She moves with a grace that belies her age, her flowing robes catching the breeze as she walks.

As a being of immense power and knowledge, Maia is acutely aware of the events unfolding around her. She knows that the printing press, invented by Johannes Gutenberg, will soon revolutionize the way knowledge is disseminated across the world, and that the Medici family’s patronage of the arts will usher in a new era of creativity and innovation.

Maia is fascinated by the possibilities that these changes bring, but also cautious of the potential dangers. She sees the rise of nation-states and the quest for power that drives them, as well as the corrupting influence of wealth and ambition.

To counter these negative forces, Maia has dedicated herself to the pursuit of knowledge and the preservation of wisdom. She spends her days traveling the world, seeking out new sources of information and sharing her own insights with those she deems worthy.

As she wanders through the streets of Florence, Maia takes note of the young Leonardo da Vinci, and sees in him a potential for greatness. She watches as he scrawls sketches of his inventions and studies the movement of birds in flight, and knows that he is destined for greatness.

Maia approaches da Vinci, introducing herself as a fellow seeker of knowledge, and offers to mentor him. He accepts, and together they explore the mysteries of science, art, and philosophy, their discussions ranging from the nature of the universe to the intricacies of human anatomy.

Through her interactions with da Vinci and other thinkers of the time, Maia hopes to foster a new era of enlightenment, one that will bring about a better world for all. She knows that her task is difficult, and that the forces of darkness and ignorance are strong, but she is confident in her abilities and her mission.

As the sun sets over Florence, Maia contemplates the events of the day and looks forward to the adventures that await her. She knows that the road ahead will be long and challenging, but with her knowledge and her determination, she is ready to face whatever challenges come her way.

In Myth

Maia is a figure in Greek mythology and was one of the seven Pleiades. She was the daughter of Atlas, who was condemned to hold up the sky, and Pleione, an Oceanid nymph.

Maia was the mother of Hermes, the messenger of the gods, and Zeus was the father. According to the legend, Zeus seduced her while she was sleeping, and Hermes was born from their union.

In Greek mythology, Maia was often depicted as a gentle and nurturing goddess. She was associated with fertility, motherhood, and nursing, and was considered a protector of women in childbirth.

Maia was also associated with the month of May, which was named after her in the Roman calendar. In some traditions, she was honored with sacrifices and rituals during this month.

Overall, Maia was a significant figure in Greek mythology, known for her connection to motherhood, fertility, and the birth of Hermes.