Celestial paragon

A celestial paragon was the antithesis of an archfiend. There were known to be sixteen paragons: seven of them each ruled one of the seven heavens of Mount Celestia, six of them resided in Elysium, and three roamed Arborea on a whim. Unlike archfiends, infighting was unthinkable to paragons and no paragon's army had ever marched against another's.

The paragons operated outside of the ranks of the good-aligned deities. They had their own celestial agents and many had organizations working for them on the prime material plane. They reminded their followers constantly that they themselves were not gods and to worship them thus was a sin. They couldn't directly grant spells to divine casters but sometimes petitioned good deities to grant their followers particular spells or allow them access to divine domains. The most advanced followers could also research and cast a spell that would allow them to channel a celestial paragon for a time, in case they had to battle with an archfiend or some other exceptionally powerful evil.

The Celestial Hebdomad
The Celestial Hebdomad are powerful archons who were once mortals, and now serve as generals and advisers to the gods of Celestia. These mortals were the first to sacrifice themselves to the cause of law and goodness. Their eternal mandate is to lead the righteous armies of the House of the Triad. They are led by Zaphkiel, who is the only original member of the Hebdomad, the others having been slain. However, when one of the Hebdomad is killed, an archon is simply changed into the form of the deceased paragon with all of their powers. The Hebdomad forms a kind of ruling council with Zaphkiel at it's head and consists of the following members:


 * Barachiel, the messenger: Ruler of Lunia and coordinator of Celestia's defenses should it be attacked.
 * Domiel, the Mercy-Bringer: Ruler of Mercuria.
 * Erathaol, the Seer: Ruler of Venya and patron of seers and prophets.
 * Pistis Sophia, the Ascetic: Ruler of Solania.
 * Raziel, the Crusader: Ruler of Mertion and patron of paladins.
 * Sealtiel, the Defender: Ruler of Jovar, charged with preventing incursions into Chronias and defending against the machinations of fiends. Patron of warden archons.
 * Zaphkiel, the Watcher: Ruler of Chronias and leader of the Hebdomad. Only gods and the Hebdomad have seen him without either perishing or being absorbed into the essence of the mountain.

Bahamut
After Bahamut's aspect of Marduk died, Bahamut shared the domain of Domiel as a fellow paragon. Since Bahamut's meeting with Gareth Dragonsbane and his apotheosis back to godhood, Bahamut has retaken his realm in Dragon Eyrie. Following the Spellplague and Tyr's death during a demonic invasion of Celestia, he also maintains a home in the House of the Triad, having taken up the mantle of god of justice.

Talisid and the Five Companions
This group of Guardinal Celestial Paragons are more like an adventuring party than any kind of rulers. They wander the House of Nature and smash any evil creatures that threaten the plane. The guardinals have always existed here as far as anyone knows and the companions have always solved disputes and led celestial warriors into battle. Members of the group retire once they deem themselves unfit for service but Talisid has been around for so long, hardly anyone can remember the name of the group's former leader. Occasionally, members of the group argue, but they do so as the dearest of friends with a loyalty to each other that puts mere family loyalty to shame..

The membership of the group is currently as follows:


 * Talisid, the Celestial Lion: Leader of the companions for several millenia, most powerful of the leonals.
 * Sathia, the Sky Duchess: Representative of the avorals and patron of sculptors and painters.
 * Manath, the Horned Duke: Representative of the cervidals and newest member of the Companions.
 * Vhara, Duchess of the Fields: Representative of the equinals.
 * Kharash, the Stalker: Paragon of lupinals and Talisid's best friend.
 * Bharrai, the Great Bear: Matriarch of the ursinals and teacher of magic.

The Court of Stars
The Court of Stars itself is a demiplane that travels between locations in Arvandor and the Gates of the Moon at Morwel, the Queen of Stars' whim. This is achieved by opening portals that shift the plane between the two realms, Morwel is the only being with the ability to open and close these portals. The demiplane resembles an autumnal sylvan forest populated with fey and eladrins with a huge crystal palace erupting from the heart of the woods where the Queen entertains guests and discusses important issues. Beings on the plane do not hunger, thirst or tire, but can eat, drink and sleep for enjoyment. Morwel and her consorts rule over the eladrins. Morwel is flighty but always has the best interests of the eladrin people at heart. While Morwel holds absolute power as a feudal queen would, she relies heavily on the counsel of her consorts whom she holds a great amount of affection for. Though she has had many consorts in the past, she currently only has two:


 * Faerinaal, The Queen's Consort: Master politician and shrewd judge of character. Tasked with defending the Court of Stars and rescuing captured eladrins as well as providing company and counsel to the queen.
 * Gwynharwyf, The Whirling Fury: Patron of barbarians, when not leading good-aligned barbarian hordes against evil she also acts as consort to the queen.