Astilabor (pronounced "As-TIL-uh-bore" [1]) is the neutral-aligned draconic goddess of Acquisitiveness, Status, and Wealth. She serves as a representation of and of whom imbues one of all dragonkind's basic instincts, to collect and hoard wealth, and is thus revered by members of all dragon species.[1][2]
The true homeland of Astilabor is unknown, although it is known she has a presence on the Plane of Limbo. In that plane contains her hoard, which is said to contain more gold than the gold present on all planets in the Material Plane.[1]
Appearance[]
Astilabor's avatar appears as a huge dragon that possesses, and of which shines all of the colors of both chromatic and metallic dragonkind.[1] As an exarch of Correlan, she is a Red Dragon.[3] As a Greatwyrm, she is a Topaz Dragon.[4]
Dogma[]
Astilabor advocates for the collecting and growing of dragon's hoards, albeit preaches an ethical direction for the practice and dislikes the "naked greed" of Tiamat and her followers. She is often mistaken as the draconic goddess of greed, however her aims are more altruistic than what they would seem. In relation to her emphasis on hoards is her active study of the Material Plane, its magical properties, and how both relate to dragonkind, specifically the functioning of their lairs of which is innately tied to the region's magic. Relating to her advocation for wealth, she claims to be intolerant of the act of thievery from any of her followers, although she often doesn't hold those of her following who steal in order to build their own hoards to that standard.[2][4]
Clergy & Temples[]
Astilabor allows only those who follow a neutral-aligned perspective, with only the sole goal of acquiring and building one's hoard, to become members of her clergy. Her followers frequently avoid conflicts involving a member of dragonkind, however they will reward those who achieve a larger hoard as a result of those conflicts. Her followers have friendly relations with followers of other deities who prioritize material wealth such as the gnome diety Garl Glittergold or the dwarf deity Moradin. On the other hand, all of her followers have a distrust for Olidammara and her followers, who they know are "thieves at heart".[2]
Despite her requirement for a neutral-aligned perspective from her followers, most dragons at least follow her to some regard with the majority at least placing her symbol around their hoard as means of protection. Additionally, most dragons acknowledge Astilabor and her teachings when constructing their lairs, of which are innately tied to the surrounding region's magic.[2][4]
Astalibor's temples are often of prestigious design. Each follower of a given temple might put on a display luxurious item of theirs at the temple, these items oftentimes having something that signifies the ownership of said item to a given individual. Above all else on this subject however is the dilemna her followers face with either acquiring wealth to build their own hoard or to donate parts of said wealth to their respective temples for the collective benefit of the congregation and for Astilabor herself..[5]
Quests[]
Quests most often performed by Astilabor's followers involve finding and retrieving a designated item of high value or amount of gold, either of which would serve as additions to one's hoard. If a worshipper finds to displease the goddess, the material gained from said quest are required to be turned over to one of her temples.[5]
Prayers[]
Prayers from the goddesses' worshippers are often enacted when counting one's hoard. A common rehearsal from a worshipper might be "All this gold belongs to me. May I add to my riches tenfold, tenfold times." during this process.[5]
Rites[]
The majority of the goddesses' rites involve a group of her followers, of which is not all to unfamiliar from a typical adventuring party, going somewhere to collect wealth.[5]
Relations[]
Astilabor's herald is a neutral 19th-level draconic human rogue. The goddess's allies consist of dragons, half-dragon's and other draconic creatures. Some of these followers may have celestial or fiendish ancestry, however even those followers have an aspect of their alignment that lends to neutrality.[5]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Nick Findley et al. (1990) Draconomicon TSR Inc pp.25
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Andy Collins, Skip Williams, James Wyatt (2003) Draconomicon: The Book of Dragons Wizards of the Coast pp.32
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Ari Marmell, Robert J. Schwalb (2008) Draconomicon: Chromatic Dragons Wizards of the Coast pp.29
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 James Wyatt (2021) Fizban's Treasury of Dragons Wizards of the Coast pp.152
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Gwendolyn F.M. Krestel, Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, Kolja Raven Liquette (2006) Races of the Dragon Wizards of the Coast pp.150-151
External Links[]
- Astilabor on the Forgotten Realms Wiki