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Kossuth (pronounced: /koʊˈsuːθ/ koh-SOOTH[1]), or the Lord of Flames was the god of elemental fire. Kossuth was symbolized by the holy symbol of a twining red flame and his portfolio covered elemental fire and purification through fire.[11] In the late 15th century DR, he was considered not to be a true god but actually an elemental primordial, a being whose power rivaled that of a true deity.[5]
Worshipers
The holy symbol of Kossuth.
The church of Kossuth is rather hierarchical and mostly impersonal. The Church's aims tend to revolve around the acquisition of land, power and wealth. The followers and clerics are often of the lawful neutral alignment.[11] Compared to the many other gods of Faerûn, Kossuth and the three other Elemental Primordials are well known for their relative silence when it comes to communication with their worshipers. However, of the four, Kossuth is the most active and vocal.
Many Red wizards of Thay worship Kossuth[11] and the Flaming Brazier of Eltabbar is supposedly the largest temple of Kossuth in all the realms.[12]
After death, bodies of worshipers are cremated.[13]
Clerical Orders within the Church of Kossuth in Thay
- Burning Braziers[14]
- Black Flame Zealots[15]
- Brothers and Sisters of the Pure Flame[15]
- Order of the Salamander[15]
Monastic Orders within the Church of Kossuth
Kossuth's church had three different traditions of monk.[16] Normally, monks lost the possibility to obtain further mastery over their monastic arts when they learned the arts of something else.[17] Kossuth's monks though enjoyed more freedom. They could learn to become clerics of the Firelord without sacrificing their potential as monks.[16] The three orders were:
was the good branch of the three. They rigidly ordered their members' studies and behaviors and put their focus on the purifying aspect of their deity.[16]
was the evil branch of the three. They were seen necessary for the renewal aspect of their deity and some members' view on destruction bordered Talos'.[16]
- Brothers and Sisters of the Purifying Flame
was the neutral branch of the three. Their goal was to strike a balance between purification and destruction and were acted as the go-in-betweens of the other two monasteries.[16]
Worship in Zakhara
On the continent of Zakhara, Kossuth is called one of the cold gods of the elements. "Cold" because those are seen as uncaring for human affairs, they are considered opposed to the Land of Fate's pervasive culture of Enlightenment. Only a few Zakharans are willing to worship a cold god in order to gain power.[18]
Temples
Main article: Category:Temples to Kossuth
Relationships
The supremely powerful elemental being known as Kossuth has lorded over fire since the earliest moments of the multiverse, though whether or not the contemporary Kossuth is the same primordial being or one in a long line of similarly named successors is a matter of much conjecture. The Lord of Flames rarely intervenes in affairs in the mortal world, spending most of his time embroiled in the intrigues of the Inner Planes.[1]
Kossuth's doctrine of elemental supremacy virtually assures conflict with the other elemental lords. Kossuth is vehemently opposed to Istishia and his clergy.[11] He is watchful of the upstart archomental Imix, who is always trying to undermine his better but while Kossuth remains clearly the true master of the element of fire, the Grand Sultan of the Efreet is the only being on the plane who holds even a slightly comparable level of power.[9] The Firelord interacts very little with the other deities of Faerûn. Moradin and Flandal Steelskin honor him for the heat of the forge, but he barely responds. The Return of Bane pleases Kossuth, however; the two deities seem to agree on the importance of a strong religious hierarchy and have a common intolerance for the ephemeral and unpredictable nature of chaos.[19]
Domain
Kossuth dwells in the Crimson Pillar, a 10 mile wide globe made of the primordial power of fire that floats over the Sea of Fire on the Plane of Fire. It is said that the blue-white flames of the Pillar give off a heat that makes the rest of the plane seem chilly in comparison.[9]
History
Noted Historical Interventions
−150 DR- Powerful Raumatharan wizards managed to summon Kossuth from his elemental home and instructed him to destroy a besieging army of hated Narfell. This he did, but he soon turned against the wizards, incinerating their city for their arrogance. The resulting conflagration consumed much of the northern coast of the Alamber Sea, and the fires of Kossuth's anger burned strong for more than a decade after his withdrawal from Toril.[19]
Perceived Historical interventions
1357 DR: The Salamander War- Kossuth is credited with limiting this disastrous event in Thay's history, by his faithful. Without his influence, they say, the War would have turned into an even greater debacle.[19]
Time of Troubles: Kossuth is not one of the deities spotted on Faerûn during their exile of the gods by Ao.[19]
Appendix
Publication history
- Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977–1988)
Ed Greenwood initially used Kakatal, one of Moorcock's Elemental gods as found in the original Deities & Demigods, as the elemental lord of fire for his home Dungeons & Dragons campaign set in the Forgotten Realms. As Greenwood indicated in his article "Down-to-earth Divinity" in Dragon #54 (October 1981), Moorcock's elemental gods "may later be replaced in [his] universe by 'official' AD&D beings as these are published".[20] Kossuth first appeared in the original Manual of the Planes (1987),[21] and was featured as one of the elemental lords for the Forgotten Realms in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Set's "Cyclopedia of the Realms" booklet (1987).[22]
- Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989–1999)
Kossuth was described in the hardback Forgotten Realms Adventures (1990),[23] the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (1993) in the "Running the Realms" booklet,[24] and Faiths & Avatars (1996).[25]
- Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition (2000–2007)
Kossuth appears as one of the major deities of the Forgotten Realms setting again, in Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (2001),[26] and is further detailed in Faiths and Pantheons (2002).[27]
- Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008–2015)
Kossuth appears in the fourth edition as a primordial.[28]
Notes
- ↑ Also a 30 HD fire elemental.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 35–36. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Julia Martin, Jeff Grubb (1993). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 2nd edition (revised), Running the Realms. (TSR, Inc), p. 61. ISBN 1-5607-6617-4.
- ↑ Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 21. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 60–61. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 79, 81. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 235. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Hal Maclean (September 2004). “Seven Deadly Domains”. In Matthew Sernett ed. Dragon #323 (Paizo Publishing, LLC), p. 65.
- ↑ Colin McComb (October 1996). On Hallowed Ground. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 181. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Monte Cook and William W. Connors (December 7, 1998). The Inner Planes. Edited by Michele Carter and Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 46–48. ISBN 0-7869-0736-3.
- ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 88. ISBN 978-0786903849.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 244. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Richard Lee Byers (April 2007). Unclean. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 96. ISBN 978-0-7869-4258-9.
- ↑ Richard Lee Byers (April 2007). Unclean. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 107. ISBN 978-0-7869-4258-9.
- ↑ Richard Lee Byers (April 2007). Unclean. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 104. ISBN 978-0-7869-4258-9.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Richard Lee Byers (April 2007). Unclean. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 108. ISBN 978-0-7869-4258-9.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 Sean K. Reynolds (2002-05-04). Deity Do's and Don'ts (Zipped PDF). Web Enhancement for Faiths and Pantheons. Wizards of the Coast. p. 7. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2018-09-08.
- ↑ Template:Cite book/Player's Handbook 3.5 edition
- ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1992). Land of Fate (Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara). (TSR, Inc), p. 57. ISBN 978-1560763291.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 36. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
- ↑ Greenwood, Ed. "Down to Earth Divinity." Dragon #54 (TSR, 1981)
- ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR). ISBN 0880383992.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb (August 1987). “Cyclopedia of the Realms”. In Karen S. Martin ed. Forgotten Realms Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-88038-472-7.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Ed Greenwood and Julia Martin (1993). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 2nd edition. (TSR, Inc).
- ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 978-0786903849.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
Connections
Azuth • Bane • Bhaal • Chauntea • Cyric • Gond • Helm • Ilmater • Kelemvor • Kossuth • Lathander • Loviatar • Mask • Mielikki • Myrkul • Mystra (Midnight) • Oghma • Selûne • Shar • Shaundakul • Silvanus • Sune • Talos • Tempus • Torm • Tymora • Tyr • Umberlee • Waukeen
Other Members
Akadi • Auril • Beshaba • Deneir • Eldath • Finder Wyvernspur • Garagos • Gargauth • Gerron • Grumbar • Gwaeron Windstrom • Hoar • Istishia • Iyachtu Xvim • Jergal • Lliira • Lurue • Malar • Milil • Nobanion • The Red Knight • Savras • Sharess • Shiallia • Siamorphe • Talona • Tiamat • Ubtao • Ulutiu • Valkur • Velsharoon
Akadi • Bazim-Gorag • Grumbar • Istishia • Kossuth
Miscellaneous Primordials
Achazar • Arambar • Asgorath • Borem • Bwimb • Cirotralech • Dendar • Draunn • Dur-baagal • Entropy • Erek-Hus • Karshimis • Kezef • Maegera • Maram • Nehushta • Petron • Queen of Chaos • Rorn • Telos • Ubtao
Template:EoU deity list
Hajama • Hakiyah • Haku • Jisan • Kor • Najm • Selan • Zann
Local Gods
Bala • Botu'Astok • Jarmik • Jauhar • Vataqatal
Savage Gods
Akadi • Faceless God • Grumbar • Istishia • Kar'r'rga • Kossuth • Lost One • Lotha • Ragarra • Shajar • Thasmudyan
Genie Lords
Marrake al-Sidan al-Hariq ben Lazan • Kalbari al-Durrat al-Amwaj ibn Jari