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The Order of the Aster, also known as the Knights of the Aster[4] or the Soldiers of Light, was a militant order that served Lathander the Morninglord in the 14th century DR.[1][2][5] They took particular interest in thwarting the clergies of several malevolent deities such as Bane, Shar and Talos.[3]

Membership[]

The order was loosely organized and comprised crusaders, fighters, and paladins dedicated to Lathander.[1][2][5] The paladins often trained in other discipline and served as divine champions, disciples, hierophants, and even counted some members among Purple Dragon knights of Cormyr.[2][5]

While all members of the order were devotees of Lathander with a comprehensive understanding of the church's teachings, some members had achieved the rank of Sunmaster within the divine hierarchy.[3]

While members were not required to pay a fee upon entrance into the order, they did make a solemn vow to a standing Morninglord. The order's barracks were located one block from the main cathedral in Waterdeep and held 80 templars. The organization had a monthly due of 50 gp to be paid once per month.[3]

Dogma[]

The paladins of the Aster were often more conservative and by-the-book than clerics of Lathander.[2]

Activities[]

Members usually defended Lathanderite shrines and temples commanded large military forces levied by the church of Lathander when required. Individual shrines and temples of Lathander typically did not maintain significant defensive forces of their own, owing to the cost, so they instead usually retained the Order's services to guard their holy sites, in appropriate numbers.[3]

When not thus engaged, the holy warriors of the order wandered the realms promoting the faith of Lathander and doing good deeds in his name.[1] Many spent their time defending individual Lathanderite temples or served within the City Guard of Waterdeep.[3]

Relations[]

Lathander's paladins stood as some of the most beloved heroes of the Realms, and the Order of the Aster was no exception.[2]

History[]

In the Year of the Shadowkin Return, 1136 DR, knights of the order fought off the dracolich Umbralax when it arrived in Faerûn from the Plane of Shadow along with the ruined village of Hespheira. Their victory at the Battle of Hespheira was aided in great part by their possession of the rod of Lathander, but came at the loss of nearly half their members.[4][6]

Notable Members[]

Appendix[]

Appearances[]

Novels
Finder's BaneTymora's LuckFarthest Reach
Video games
Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 91. ISBN 978-0786903849.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 26. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Eric L. Boyd (June 2005). City of Splendors: Waterdeep. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 40. ISBN 0-7869-3693-2.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Eric L. Boyd (2006-05-03). Environs of Waterdeep (Zipped PDF). Web Enhancement for City of Splendors: Waterdeep. Wizards of the Coast. p. 14. Archived from the original on 2016-08-16. Retrieved on 2009-10-07.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 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. 8. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2018-09-08.
  6. Eric L. Boyd (June 2005). City of Splendors: Waterdeep. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 151. ISBN 0-7869-3693-2.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (March 2006). Power of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 55. ISBN 0-7869-3910-9.
  8. Beamdog (March 2016). Designed by Philip Daigle, et al. Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear. Beamdog.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Eric L. Boyd (September 2005). “Vampires of Waterdeep: Blood of Malar”. Dungeon #126 (Paizo Publishing, LLC) (126)., p. 76.
  10. Richard Baker (July 2005). Farthest Reach. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-3756-4.
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