Ceridwen, Goddess of Transformation, Inspiration, and Knowledge

Ceridwen is an enchantress, mother of Morfran and a beautiful daughter Creirwy.

• Pantheon: Welsh Mythology
• Deity Title: Goddess of Transformation, Inspiration, and Knowledge
• Deity Symbol: A cauldron
• Home Plane: Annwn
• Deity Level: Intermediate Deity
• Alignment: Neutral
• Aliases: Caridwen, Ceridwen, Kyrridwen
• Superior: The Morrigan
• Traditional Allies: Gwyn ap Nudd, Taliesin, Cerridwen, Morfran
• Traditional Foes: Afagddu, Dylan Eil Ton, The Fomorians
• Divine Artifact: The Cauldron of Awen
• Servants: N/A
• Servitor Creatures: N/A
• Sacred Animal: White Sow
• Manifestations: Shapeshifting, magical transformation, poetic inspiration
• Signs of Favor: Creative inspiration, successful magical transformation, prophetic dreams
• Worshipers: Poets, artists, bards, witches, and those seeking transformation and inspiration
• Cleric Alignments: Neutral Good, True Neutral, Neutral Evil
• Specialty Priests: Bards, Witches
• Holy Days: Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh
• Portfolio: Transformation, inspiration, knowledge, magic, prophecy, poetry
• Domains: Knowledge, Magic, Transformation, Trickery
• Favored Weapon: Staff
• Favored Class: Bard
• Favored Race: Elves
• Duties of the Priesthood: Creativity, inspiration, knowledge, transformation, poetry
• Major Cult/Temple Sites: N/A
• Benefits: Access to spells and magic associated with transformation, inspiration, and knowledge. Enhanced creativity and poetic ability.

Ceridwen is a strikingly beautiful goddess with long flowing hair that shimmers in shades of gold and copper, and large, expressive eyes that seem to contain a deep well of wisdom. She has a regal bearing and moves with a graceful fluidity that suggests great power and control. Her skin is porcelain-white, almost translucent, and her lips are full and perpetually curved into a serene smile.

Ceridwen is the goddess of poetry, music, and inspiration, and she is often depicted holding a harp or lyre, her fingers deftly moving over the strings to create melodies that stir the soul. She is a muse to many, and her influence can be seen in the work of poets, musicians, and artists throughout the ages.

Despite her beauty and grace, Ceridwen is also a fierce and powerful deity, with a deep understanding of the natural world and the cycles of life and death. She is associated with magic and transformation, and her cauldron is said to hold the power to create and transform life itself.

Ceridwen’s purpose is to inspire and guide those who seek to tap into their creative potential and connect with the natural world. She hopes to foster a greater understanding and respect for the power and beauty of nature, and to encourage people to use their gifts and talents to bring more beauty and harmony into the world. Her actions are often subtle and mysterious, but those who seek her guidance are said to be rewarded with great insight and inspiration.

In addition to her role as a deity of inspiration and magic, Ceridwen is also associated with fertility and the cycles of life and death. She is said to have the power to grant blessings of abundance and prosperity to those who honor her, and to protect the land and its people from harm. Her wisdom and guidance are sought by many, and she is revered as a powerful and benevolent force in the natural world.

Ceridwen, Goddess of Transformation, Inspiration, and Knowledge

Medium celestial, neutral

Armor Class 25 (natural armor) Hit Points 750 (40d10 + 520) Speed 40 ft., fly 60 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
26 (+8)	24 (+7)	28 (+9)	30 (+10)	30 (+10)	30 (+10)

Saving Throws Int +20, Wis +20, Cha +20 Skills Arcana +20, History +20, Insight +20, Perception +20 Damage Resistances radiant; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks Damage Immunities necrotic, poison Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, poisoned Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 30 Languages All, telepathy 120 ft. Challenge 33 (225,000 XP)

Divine Awareness. Ceridwen can sense the presence of creatures or objects within 1 mile of her, as well as detect any magic or magical effects.

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Ceridwen fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead.

Innate Spellcasting. Ceridwen’s spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 28). She can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: detect magic, dispel magic, true seeing 3/day each: heal, plane shift, teleport 1/day each: foresight, mass heal, wish

Magic Resistance. Ceridwen has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Spellcasting. Ceridwen is a 20th-level spellcaster. Her spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 28). Ceridwen has the following wizard spells prepared:

Cantrips (at will): light, mage hand, prestidigitation 1st level (4 slots): comprehend languages, identify, mage armor, shield 2nd level (3 slots): detect thoughts, invisibility, mirror image 3rd level (3 slots): counterspell, dispel magic, haste 4th level (3 slots): arcane eye, dimension door, polymorph 5th level (3 slots): geas, scrying, telekinesis 6th level (2 slots): chain lightning, globe of invulnerability 7th level (2 slots): etherealness, prismatic spray 8th level (1 slot): mind blank, power word stun 9th level (1 slot): foresight, power word kill

Actions

Staff of Knowledge. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (4d6 + 8) bludgeoning damage plus 21 (6d6) radiant damage. The target must succeed on a DC 25 Constitution saving throw or become stunned until the end of its next turn.

Legendary Actions

Ceridwen 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. Ceridwen regains spent legendary actions at the start of her turn.

• Spell. Ceridwen casts a spell from her innate spellcasting list or her prepared spell list.
• Knowledge Blast (Costs 2 Actions). Ceridwen unleashes a blast of magical energy in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 25 Dexterity saving throw, taking 28 (8d6) force damage and 28 (8d6) radiant damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
• Mystic Shield (Costs 3 Actions). Ceridwen surrounds herself with an impenetrable shield of magical energy. Until the start of her next turn, she gains a +5 bonus to AC and has advantage on all saving throws.

Lair Actions

On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Ceridwen can take a lair action to cause one of the following magical effects. She can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row:

• Fountain of Inspiration. A magical fountain appears in a location of Ceridwen’s choice within 120 feet. Creatures that drink from the fountain gain advantage on ability checks and saving throws for the next hour.
• Veil of Transformation. Ceridwen creates an illusory wall of swirling colors and shapes within 60 feet. The wall provides total cover and lasts until the start of Ceridwen’s next turn.
• Prophetic Whispers. Ceridwen’s voice echoes throughout the area, conveying cryptic messages and glimpses of the future. Each creature within 60 feet must make a DC 25 Wisdom saving throw or be stunned until the end of its next turn.

Regional Effects

The region containing Ceridwen’s presence is altered by her magic, creating the following effects:

• The area is filled with an aura of inspiration, granting advantage on all ability checks and saving throws made to create, perform, or inspire art or music.
• Plants grow with enhanced vigor, producing bountiful harvests and vibrant foliage.
• Creatures that worship Ceridwen gain advantage on all Intelligence-based ability checks and saving throws made within the region.

These effects last as long as Ceridwen remains in the region and for 1d10 days afterward.

Currently in the World

As the goddess of magic and transformation, Ceridwen has played a significant role in shaping the world and the creatures that inhabit it. From her creation, she has worked to preserve the balance between life and death, light and dark, and chaos and order.

In the early days of the world, Ceridwen was a constant presence, shaping the elements into their proper forms and imbuing them with magic. She was instrumental in the creation of the first beings, including the first dragons and the first humans.

As time went on, Ceridwen became more focused on the development of magic and the pursuit of knowledge. She created the Cauldron of Inspiration, which was said to grant great wisdom to those who drank from it. Ceridwen herself drank from the Cauldron, gaining immense magical power and knowledge.

However, the Cauldron also had unintended consequences. One of Ceridwen’s servants, a boy named Gwion, accidentally consumed some of the potion while tending to the Cauldron. He gained immense magical power and fled from Ceridwen, who chased him in a rage. Their chase lasted for many years, with Gwion transforming into a variety of animals to evade Ceridwen’s wrath. Eventually, he transformed into a grain of wheat and was consumed by Ceridwen, who then gave birth to the great bard Taliesin.

Ceridwen’s pursuit of magic and knowledge has continued to shape the world, and she remains a powerful force in the present day. In the 1450s, she would likely be focused on the development of new spells and magical artifacts, as well as the continued preservation of the natural balance. Her motivations are driven by her desire to maintain the balance of the universe and ensure that magic remains a force for good.