Ezra, Goddess of the Mists
The denizens of several domains worship an aloof god known as Ezra. Depicted as a vague, vaporous figure, the god is known for her dark, billowing hair and for her ability to manipulate the Mists. Her holy symbol is a sprig of belladonna atop a silver kite shield. Beyond that, her disparate sects of worshipers view her differently—and contradictorily. For some, Ezra is a goodly guardian, while others perceive her as a soul-stealing embodiment of the Mists. Ultimately, though, her true nature is a mystery. Whether she’s a manifestation of the Dark Powers, an aspect of the Plane of Shadow’s mysterious Raven Queen, or something else entirely is for you to decide. Whatever the case, Ezra’s followers, traditions, alignment, and the domains she grants her clerics vary widely.
History in Barovia
According to learned Barovians such as Kasimir Velikov and Father Lucian Petrovich, worship of Ezra began only after Barovia passed into the Mists. No Barovian had heard the goddess’s name before then, suggesting Ezra’s faith arose as a response to—or perhaps from—the Mists themselves.
Lady Wachter’s Teachings
Lady Fiona Wachter, a devoted follower of Ezra, explained the goddess’s philosophy during a dinner conversation:
“I heed the word of Ezra, goddess of the Mists, who teaches her followers to look past one’s hopes—to recognize them as the fog that clouds the mind—and to see the world as it truly is and shall forever be. Ezra teaches endurance. After all, the oak fights the wind and is broken, but the willow bends when it must and survives.”
In Lady Wachter’s interpretation, Ezra represents:
- Pragmatic realism over hopeful idealism
- Endurance through acceptance of harsh truths
- Survival through adaptation rather than resistance
- Clarity achieved by seeing through the fog of wishful thinking
This stands in contrast to the more hopeful teachings of the Morninglord, whose followers believe in eventual salvation and the return of sunlight to the valley. Where Morninglord adherents seek escape from Strahd’s dominion, followers of Ezra counsel accommodation and survival within the reality that exists.