Hlal (pronounced: /həˈlɑːl/ huh-LAL[6]) was the chaotic good dragon goddess of humor, inventiveness, and pleasure.[4] Of all the dragon gods, she was the most friendly to non-dragons,[2] and her symbol, a single white flame, represented the light of wit.[4] In the Outer Planes she was more commonly known by the name of Aasterinian[4][11] and was often regarded as chaotic neutral in alignment. She was Asgorath's messenger, although she was known for being an unreliable messenger.[1][7] The Jester also had a male aspect known as Avachel or Quicksilver, who featured prominently in elven legends.[3]
Description[]
Hlal manifested in whatever form suit her purposes at any given moment. If she was not in the process of playing a trick on someone, she usually manifested as a faerie dragon that glowed with a yellowgold aura[6] or as a happy looking copper dragon.[2]
As Aasterinian, she always manifested as a huge brass dragon.[1]
Divine Realm[]
Hlal lairs were mostly unknown,[1][4] the only one known being Brassberg, located in Nidavellir, a region of the plane of Ysgard.[4] She had at least one lair on the plane of Arborea.[4][6]
Personality[]
Hlal delighted in wordplay and sophisticated humor,[6] and she was playful, stubborn and vain.[7] She enjoyed being shocking and innovative,[7] and shared stories and songs with those who appreciate such things, regardless of the listener's race or background.[2] She valued diversity of experience, learning, and innovation, and loved all who enjoy such things. She accepted all dragonblooded creatures, spellscales being exceptionally amusing to her.[1]
Baser humor, however, usually pranks, proved irresistible to her, especially if the victim took her pranks seriously. She was also happy disturbing the status quo[1] and was easily distractable by doing such things.[7] Myths told that Hlal played a particularly elaborated practical joke on Null; she barely managed to stay one step ahead of the angry Deathwyrm since.[6]
Activities[]
As Aasterinian,[11] she was the messenger of Asgorath, charged to deliver his lesser communications.[7] When she wasn't traveling on behalf of Asgorath, she often was traveling in search of arcane knowledge for herself.[7]
Following the Second Sundering, she was seen as a messenger in service to Bahamut, and was known for her especially powerful dragonsight.[12]
Worshipers[]
Hlal was revered by some brass,[7] copper, and faerie dragons who appreciated and identified with her sense of humor. These species didn't worship Hlal alone, however, unless they devoted their entire lives to jokes.[6] Spellscales found Hlal the most compatible deity for them.[1]
Her followers enjoyed friendly relationships with those of Erevan Ilesere,[11] Garl Glittergold, and similar deities.[1] Hlal's clerics were also often bards who used music, poetry, and tall tales to spread her faith.[2] They wandered the lands and usually traveled in disguise or secrecy. Most of her clerics were draconic or half-dragon humanoids.[1]
Temples[]
Temples to Hlal were rare in the extreme. It was more common to find one of her shrines that dotted the landscape. Those simple, hidden places served as temporary shelters for her wandering worshipers,[1] and were movable to the next town or dragon's lair at a moment's notice.[2] The shrines typically had a library or shelf holding a few books, with a sign indicating that travelers were welcomed to take a book if they replaced it with another one.[1]
The few temples dedicated to Hlal were only found in the largest of cities. They served as much as performance or concert halls as they did places of veneration, because entertainment and worship were inextricably linked for the devout of Hlal. In smaller settlements, taverns or other places of performance often included the holy symbol of Hlal, reminding the performers that their actions honored her.[2]
Dogma[]
Hlal encouraged her followers to think for themselves, rather than relying on the word of others. The worst crime in her eyes was not trusting in oneself.[1] She had little patience for tyrants -- even well-intentioned ones -- and even less patience for cruelty or bullying. She taught that one must be freed of restraint, whether real or imaginary, in order to freely express one's opinions.[2]
Rites[]
Hlal worshipers believed every time they learned or created something new, they were honoring her.[1] They believed she presided over the first performance of a new entertainment piece, and performers, conductors, or playwrights often dedicated their initial presentation to Hlal's glory (if serious) or amusement (if comic).[2]
Relationships[]
Besides Asgorath, Hlal was the bonded companion of Erevan Ilesere. In her aspect of Aasterinian they were almost never separated, and their legendary adventures often inspired young elves to emulate their daring exploits.[11]
History[]
According to the myths of the Trunalor wild elves of the Forest of Amtar, a wandering mercury dragon named Avachel once aided them in repelling an Arkaiun invasion of their home. Erevan Ilesere took notice of Avachel for this, and had the dragon become his traveling companion, with the two going on many legendary adventures together. Eventually the dragon achieved apotheosis as a protector of all wild elves, and was worshiped by the benevolent woodland peoples.[13]
Another legend states that Hlal once played an elaborate practical joke upon Null, earning that god's enmity, and was chased forever more until Null could enact their vengeance upon them.[14]
After the Second Sundering, Hlal's divinity came into question.[12]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ In contrast to the Player's Guide to Faerûn, the 3rd edition Core source Races of the Dragon still used the Great Wheel cosmology and placed Hlal into Arborea and Aasterinian into the Outlands, respectively.
External Links[]
- Aasterinian and Hlal articles at the Eberron Wiki, a wiki for the Eberron campaign setting.
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 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.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, Kolja Raven Liquette (2006). Races of the Dragon. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 155. ISBN 0-7869-3913-3.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 100. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Dale Donovan (January 1998). Cult of the Dragon. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 120. ISBN 0-7869-0709-6.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 121. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Nigel Findley, et al. (October 1990). Draconomicon. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 26. ISBN 0-8803-8876-5.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 Carl Sargent (May 1992). Monster Mythology. (TSR, Inc), p. 105. ISBN 1-5607-6362-0.
- ↑ Colin McComb (October 1996). On Hallowed Ground. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 175. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 221. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
- ↑ Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 150. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 127. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 James Wyatt (October 2021). Fizban's Treasury of Dragons. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 93. ISBN 978-0786967292.
- ↑ Murray J.D. Leeder (May 2005). “The Strength of the Jester”. In Philip Athans ed. Realms of the Dragons II (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 225–246. ISBN 978-0-7869-3808-7.
- ↑ Nigel Findley, et al. (October 1990). Draconomicon. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 26. ISBN 0-8803-8876-5.
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