Astilabor (pronounced: /ɑːsˈtɪləbɔːr/ as-TIL-uh-bore[2]) was the neutral dragon goddess of acquisitiveness and wealth.[3] She represented the draconic desire to acquire and treasure wealth and by doing so gain status, and so she was, in a way, the archetype of dragonkind.[1]
Description[]
Astilabor usually manifested as a huge dragon that shimmered with all the chromatic and metallic colors of dragonkind[2] or as a topaz greatwyrm.[4]
Realm[]
Astilabor's home plane was unknown,[3] but she was reputed to have a lair hidden somewhere in the plane of Limbo that contained more wealth than that found on all the planets of Realmspace.[2]
Worshipers[]
Astilabor was revered by dragons of all kinds but actively worshiped by few.[6] She was also worshiped by draconic humanoids and by those who sought to increase their wealth.[3] However, even those dragons that only paid lip service to her engraved her holy symbol on their hoards as a protective ward[6] or honored her when they established new lairs.[4]
Dragons who worshiped Astilabor sometimes promised a share of their gains to the deity if she helped them in their ventures, but never sacrificed what they had promised to her, as they believed Astilabor would lose her respect for them if they gave up their wealth so easily.[2]
Astilabor's worshipers were friendly toward those of Moradin and Garl Glittergold, as those gods respected the value of material wealth such as coins and gems. However, they distrusted the followers of gods of mischief and thieves, as they believed they were thieves at heart.[6]
Clergy[]
Astilabor accepted only clerics with an element of neutrality in their alignment, as they had to remain pure in their goal of acquiring and increasing hoards, and then protecting their treasures. Her clerics also abstained from getting involved in the conflicts of other dragons, and had a habit of rewarding those who had accumulated a large and valuable hoard.[3]
Temples[]
Temples to Astilabor were generally grand structures that were secure and well protected. The lavish furnishings and accoutrements were typically objects loaned to the temple by the congregation, as her worshipers struggled between the need to add to their own hoards and their desire to honor their deity.[6]
A temple might have elaborate platinum candlesticks and wall sconces provided by one dragon and cloth-of-gold wall hangings provided by another. The ownership of each item was always made clear, using a particular means characteristic of the owner.[6]
Dogma[]
Astilabor valued wealth and power,[3] and advocated for the collection of both as a way for dragonkind to connect with the magic of the Material Plane. She was sometimes incorrectly characterized as a goddess of greed,[4] but in fact she disliked greed and disapproved of Tiamat's naked display of it. Astilabor instilled in dragonkind the innate need for collecting and protecting a hoard,[3] and on few and very rare occasions, Astilabor herself granted boons from her personal hoard to those who had pleased her.[2]
While she claimed that she disapproved of theft of any kind from her worshipers, she often turned a blind eye if such acts were performed in the name of increasing personal hoards.[3]
Rites[]
Most of Astilabor's rites involved a group of supplicants (some of those supplicants being typical adventuring parties) seeking to gain more wealth. If a worshiper did something that had offended her, the treasures gained by their quest were usually turned over to one of her temples.[6]
Prayers to Astilabor were often performed while her supplicants counted their hoards. A typical prayer was "All this gold belongs to me. May I add to my riches tenfold, tenfold times."[6]
Relationships[]
Astilabor's allies included dragons, half-dragons, and other draconic creatures. Although some of those allies had celestial or fiendish lineage, all of Astilabor's allies always had a neutral component to their alignment.[6]
History[]
Following the Second Sundering, Astilabor's divinity came into question.[4]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ While Cult of the Dragon (1998) lists her as an intermediate deity, Draconomicon (1990) states that she is a greater deity.
External Links[]
- Astilabor article at the Eberron Wiki, a wiki for the Eberron campaign setting.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dale Donovan (January 1998). Cult of the Dragon. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 120. ISBN 0-7869-0709-6.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Nigel Findley, et al. (October 1990). Draconomicon. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 25. ISBN 0-8803-8876-5.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, Kolja Raven Liquette (2006). Races of the Dragon. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 150. ISBN 0-7869-3913-3.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 James Wyatt (October 2021). Fizban's Treasury of Dragons. Edited by Judy Bauer, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 152. ISBN 978-0-7869-6729-2.
- ↑ James Wyatt (October 2021). Fizban's Treasury of Dragons. Edited by Judy Bauer, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 43. ISBN 978-0-7869-6729-2.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, Kolja Raven Liquette (2006). Races of the Dragon. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 151. ISBN 0-7869-3913-3.
Connections[]
Faerûnian Pantheon
Akadi | Amaunator | Asmodeus | Auril | Azuth | Bane | Beshaba | Bhaal | Chauntea | Cyric | Deneir | Eldath | Gond | Grumbar | Gwaeron | Helm | Hoar | Ilmater | Istishia | Jergal | Kelemvor | Kossuth | Lathander | Leira | Lliira | Loviatar | Malar | Mask | Mielikki | Milil | Myrkul | Mystra | Oghma | Red Knight | Savras | Selûne | Shar | Silvanus | Sune | Talona | Talos | Tempus | Torm | Tymora | Tyr | Umberlee | Valkur | Waukeen
The Morndinsamman
Abbathor | Berronar Truesilver | Clangeddin Silverbeard | Deep Duerra | Dugmaren Brightmantle | Dumathoin | Gorm Gulthyn | Haela Brightaxe | Laduguer | Marthammor Duin | Moradin | Sharindlar | Vergadain
The Seldarine
Aerdrie Faenya | Angharradh | Corellon | Deep Sashelas | Erevan | Fenmarel Mestarine | Hanali Celanil | Labelas Enoreth | Rillifane Rallathil | Sehanine Moonbow | Shevarash | Solonor Thelandira
The Dark Seldarine
Eilistraee | Kiaransalee | Lolth | Selvetarm | Vhaeraun
Yondalla's Children
Arvoreen | Brandobaris | Cyrrollalee | Sheela Peryroyl | Urogalan | Yondalla
Lords of the Golden Hills
Baervan Wildwanderer | Baravar Cloakshadow | Callarduran Smoothhands | Flandal Steelskin | Gaerdal Ironhand | Garl Glittergold | Nebelun | Segojan Earthcaller | Urdlen
Orc Pantheon
Bahgtru | Gruumsh | Ilneval | Luthic | Shargaas | Yurtrus
Mulhorandi pantheon
Anhur | Bast | Geb | Hathor | Horus | Isis | Nephthys | Osiris | Re | Sebek | Set | Thoth
Other gods of Faerûn
Bahamut | Enlil | Finder Wyvernspur | Ghaunadaur | Gilgeam | Lurue | Moander | Nobanion | Raven Queen | Tiamat
Greater Gods of Faerûn
Amaunator | Asmodeus | Bane | Chauntea | Corellon | Cyric | Ghaunadaur | Gruumsh | Kelemvor | Lolth | Moradin | Oghma | Selûne | Shar | Silvanus | Sune | Tempus | Torm
Gods of Faerûn
Angharradh | Auril | Bahamut | Berronar Truesilver | Beshaba | Garl Glittergold | Gond | Ilmater | Loviatar | Luthic | Malar | Mielikki | Sheela Peryroyl | Sseth | Talona | Tiamat | Tymora | Umberlee | Waukeen | Zehir
Exarchs of Faerûn
Abbathor | Arvoreen | Baervan Wildwanderer | Bahgtru | Baravar Cloakshadow | Brandobaris | Callarduran Smoothhands | Clangeddin Silverbeard | Cyrrollalee | Deep Sashelas | Dugmaren Brightmantle | Erevan Ilesere | Fenmarel Mestarine | Fzoul Chembryl | Garagos | Hoar | Hruggek | Jergal | Labelas Enoreth | Lliira | Maglubiyet | Malar | Marthammor Duin | Milil | Obould | Red Knight | Sharess | Shargaas | Shevarash | Shiallia | Siamorphe | Solonor Thelandira | Thard Harr | Uthgar | Valkur | Vaprak | Vergadain
Greater Deities of Faerûn
Angharradh | Bane | Chauntea | Corellon Larethian | Cyric | Garl Glittergold | Gruumsh | Horus-Re | Kelemvor | Lathander | Moradin | Mystra | Oghma | Shar | Silvanus | Sune | Talos | Tempus | Tyr | Yondalla
Intermediate Deities of Faerûn
Abbathor | Arvoreen | Baervan Wildwanderer | Berronar Truesilver | Beshaba | Callarduran Smoothhands | Clangeddin Silverbeard | Cyrrollalee | Deep Duerra | Deep Sashelas | Dumathoin | Erevan Ilesere | Flandal Steelskin | Gond | Hanali Celanil | Helm | Ilmater | Isis | Labelas Enoreth | Laduguer | Lolth | Mask | Mielikki | Nephthys | Osiris | Rillifane Rallathil | Sehanine Moonbow | Segojan Earthcaller | Selûne | Set | Sharindlar | Sheela Peryroyl | Solonor Thelandira | Thoth | Tymora | Umberlee | Urdlen | Vergadain
Major Deities of Faerûn
Angharradh | Bane | Bhaal | Chauntea | Corellon Larethian | Garl Glittergold | Gruumsh | Horus-Re | Lathander | Moradin | Myrkul | Mystra | Oghma | Shar | Silvanus | Sune | Talos | Tempus | Tyr | Yondalla
Other Deities of Faerûn
Auppenser | Abbathor | Arvoreen | Auril | Baervan Wildwanderer | Berronar Truesilver | Beshaba | Callarduran Smoothhands | Clangeddin Silverbeard | Cyrrollalee | Deep Duerra | Deep Sashelas | Dumathoin | Erevan Ilesere | Flandal Steelskin | Gond | Hanali Celanil | Helm | Ilmater | Isis | Labelas Enoreth | Laduguer | Lolth | Mask | Mielikki | Nephthys | Osiris | Rillifane Rallathil | Sehanine Moonbow | Segojan Earthcaller | Selûne | Set | Sharindlar | Sheela Peryroyl | Solonor Thelandira | Thoth | Tymora | Umberlee | Urdlen | Vergadain