World-Shaper, The Concordant Dragon, The Great Eternal Wheel, Swallower of Shades, The Ninefold Dragon, Creator of Dragonkind
Holy Symbol: Multicolored metal disk
Dragons are the First People, and also the rightful Lords of all. Dragons have power second only to the gods, which they afford only out of respectful deference. All glory, honor, and power belong to the mightiest race Orben has ever begotten.
Care only for Dragons and other Draconic creatures, that they may live forever in the world. Serve Dragons should they need your aid, or else slay them when they betray their entire race.
Feuds between Dragons are beyond the comprehension or authority of any mere mortal, but should such a conflict escalate, one must put an end to it, and maintain balance between all things, lest Orben itself be destroyed, and with it all of the accumulated knowledge and power of the Dragons, which is beyond measure.
(You need to abide by these as clergy, not as a worshiper)
-
Any Class
-
Non-Elf (including Avariel, High, Sylvan, Drow), Non-Dwarf
-
Read and understand the lore on Dragons
-
Obey any Dragon who speaks to you, unless they are a threat to the entire race of Dragons; then you must slay them, or die trying.
-
Non-Cleric/Paladin Initiation: Declare aloud the might and superiority of Asgorath in a public place where many people (player-characters) are present to hear you.
(You need to abide by these as clergy, not as a worshiper)
-
Level 1 Spell: Guidance
-
Asgorath will never deign to serve as some mortal's compass.
-
-
Level 5 Spell: Revelation
-
No mortal servant may expect answers from Asgorath for such petty requests.
-
(If you wish to become clergy of this god, take these as your vows—if you violate them you lose any moves, spells, and any other benefits granted by this god until you atone.)
-
Draconic Pride (Forbidden: Insulting, besmirching, or ridiculing any dragon for any reason)
-
Draconic Might (Forbidden: Suffering one who has slain a dragon to live)
-
Draconic Glory (Forbidden: Allowing memory of the Dragons to fade, or allowing fear of their might and power to wane)
Asgorath is the Ninefold Dragon, known as such because she embodies all alignments within her outlook. Asgorath is regarded as the creator of Dragons, subtly manipulating the destinies of all Dragons by operating where nobody suspects her involvement. Asgorath is concerned solely with the affairs of Dragons and Dragonkind, interfering in their lives only when she deems it absolutely necessary.
Home Plane
Outlands
Portfolio
Dragonkind, balance
Favored Weapon
Claw (Scimitar)
Myths
-
Creation of the Universe:
Many ages ago a primordial called "Asgoroth the World Shaper" was released by Ao into the universe from his bosom, and she an enormous dragon, mighty and fearsome to behold. Ao lay with her before he departed to another plane, and for an age she developed in her an egg. When its time came she lay it into nothingness, and when it hatched from it emerged Orben and all the other worlds and all the cosmos. Every every world in the universe bears at its heart a child of Asgoroth who keeps the world alive, and from this child springs the race of dragons to all of them, and when the child dies, its world dies.
Thus does Asgorath seek to preserve where she can her children while she remains aloof, daring not to interfere in their growth or their struggles.
-
Migration of the Dragons:
A long time ago before the first Elf or Man had breathed its first breath, Dragons ruled over a lush green continent called Yaraleth. Here they fought always, and would tear into one another out of hatred, for though some of them were good; still more were evil, and none would suffer the other to live. When at last the dragons came to a war which would end all wars, and indeed the whole of their kind, Asgorath descended, not in her full glory for she was too large, but only as the topmost tips of the spines at the end of her tail. It shown as polished metal, but iridescent in all colors, and stabbed between the warriors as a wall of peace. Then, with a thrust that might have rent the world had she wished it, Asgorath's tail swung northward, separating from the evil dragons the good, and hurled forth were they on a gust the likes of which Orban had never before seen. And so it was that the good dragons went north to Gwathia, where they stayed for fear of Asgorath's rage should they return; yet the evil dragon host remained south, and fought among itself.
History
Asgorath's worshipers are too loosely allied for the coordination required to participate on the world stage. However, they were known to have gathered for the Dragonswars, where they fought as a small minority against Elves and Dwarves. Most of them at that time were Human or Half-Dragon, but after Aedar Arnad declared victory over the dragons he rounded up and killed any known to be members of the church. It is largely for this reason that the church remains decentralized today, more than ever, and keep no records of their membership or number. However, it is believed that Yuan-Ti have highly infiltrated the clergy as well, and for this enforce additional secrecy.
Relationship with other gods and churches
While the Dragonswar has driven Asgorath's own church into hiding for many centuries, no official dictates of any church (aside perhaps from Lolth) mandate opposition to or persecution of Asgorath's followers. Asgorath's wisdom and power is well respected among the other gods, for she stays out of their affairs and acts only as a gardener, pruning those of her own race.
Associated Lesser Deities
-
Astilabor: God of acquisitiveness and wealth.
-
Bahamut: God of enlightened justice and good dragonkind
-
Garyx: God of fire, destruction, and renewal
-
Hlal: God of humor, inventiveness, and pleasure, and also the messenger of Asgorath
-
Kereska: God of dragon magic
-
Lendys: God of harsh justice
-
Null: God of death and dead dragons
-
Sardior: God of gem dragons and psionics
-
Tamara: God of mercy and healers
-
Task: God of greed
-
Tiamat: God of vengeance and evil dragonkind
-
Zorquan: God of Dragonkind and "dragonness" (the essence of what it was to be a dragon)
Asgorath is revered by dragons of all kinds. She is also worshiped by some Yuan-Ti, half-dragons, kobolds, lizardfolk, troglodytes, humans, and even a few dragonborn.
Because of her generally neutral point of view, even those of opposing alignments can find common cause under the banner of the World-Shaper.
Asgorath has even fewer clerics or shrines than most other deities, since her outlook is so broad and all-encompassing. Still, even the most devoted cleric of other gods pay at least a modicum of homage to the Ninefold Dragon. She also occasionally finds clerics or adepts among the reptilian races, such as lizardfolk and troglodytes. Her clerics are few, and they have no established dogma. Each individual has their own way of paying homage to the creator of his kind.
Hierarchy
Clerics of Asgorath have no hierarchy; each interprets the World-Shaper differently, worshiping him in one of his many aspects. Red dragons worship him as an evil being, while gold dragons revere him as a paragon of good. Candidates for Asgorath’s clergy embark on an introspective journey to rid themselves of every judgmental impulse that colors their opinion of the world. They do so in the hope of one day perceiving all creatures and events with true objectivity. Many candidates never succeed in this endeavor, even after a lifetime of soul-searching. Asgorath counts no faiths among her enemies, knowing the value of neutrality in one’s outlook. Even those of greatly varying alignment can find common cause under the banner of the Ninefold Dragon.
Half-dragons who chose to become clerics of Asgorath are usually ascetic priests, while kobolds who worship Asgorath seek to challenge their own racial preconceptions, trying to judge members of other races, even their hated foes, with objectivity.
Vestments
Priests of Asgaroth tend not to reveal themselves with many public displays of worship, but may hide on there person the god's holy symbol. In private rituals, priests wear armored robes with a single narrow train, like a long tail. All clothing for these ceremonies is iridescent, and polished to a reflective sheen.
Rites and Duties
Asgorath's rituals involve the blending of many things in a whole, reflecting Asgorath's own nature. One common ritual involves drinking wine with a drop of blood from each participant dissolved in it.
Prayers to Asgorath prayers have a deep resonating quality that pleasantly reverberates throughout the entire body and invigorates the follower. One often-used supplication is “Asgorath, Swallower of Shades, shine in the face of your servant.” Among half-dragons, prayers are more like questions: “Why, though I walk with you, are my steps in darkness?” Although Asgorath never answers prayers, she always listens to them.
Asgorath’s followers are tasked with seemingly random quests, such as “Decrease the hoard of by one-quarter” or “Fortify influence over this region.” Asgorath rarely offers an explanation for her assignments, but expects every follower to trust her impartiality. Half-dragon followers of Asgorath seek acceptance and inner peace in the god’s boundless love for her children. A typical quest involves finding other half-dragons and revealing Asgorath’s love to them. Locating or consecrating a shrine—sometimes in hostile territory—is a common mission for clerics of Asgorath. Sometimes a follower must journey to the lair of a wyrm or older true dragon, face the dweller, and return with a piece of long-forgotten lore.
Asgorath has few temples. Shrines built in Asgorath's honor usually take the form of open-air constructions surrounded by pillars and topped with domes. These shrines are placed in open terrain -- the middle of a desert, the center of a valley, atop the peak of a mountain, or on a vast, treeless plain
For Cleric/Wizards
When you gain a level from 2–5, you may choose a Domain once. A full list of domain spells and moves is under Choosing a God in Advanced Play Guides.
When you gain a level from 6–10, you may choose a second Domain once.
If you choose the primary domain for your god, you also get the Primary Domain Move of that domain and take +1 to cast spells from the domain.
Clerics/Wizards
If you are a Cleric or Wizard (and your god permits your class), choose from the following domains. You gain access to all spells of the chosen domain up to level 7 (once you meet the mana requirements) or up to level 9 (if it's the primary domain and once you meet the mana requirements).
Primary Domain
Dragons
Primary Domain Move
I Am the Elements
You are unaffected by nonmagical extremes in temperature.
Level 9 Spell
Dragonbreath| Level 9
You spew dragonbreath from your mouth, dealing 2d6 damage to up to 3 people standing in a rough line in front of you.
Secondary Domains
Fire
Water
Justice
For Non-Cleric/Wizards
When you gain a level from 2–5, you may choose a Domain once. A full list of domain spells and moves is under Choosing a God in Advanced Play Guides.
When you gain a level from 6–10, you may choose a second Domain once.
If you choose the primary domain for your god, you also get the Primary Domain Move of that domain and take +1 to cast spells from the domain.
Non-Cleric/Wizards
If you are not a Cleric or Wizard, you gain access to all spells of your chosen domain up to level 3 and can cast them using the Cast a Spell Cleric move (you do not however gain any spells from the Cleric spell list). You can also gain a secondary domain move from that domain, in addition to the domain spells.
Primary Domain
Dragons (Gain spells at levels 1-3, the Primary Domain Move, and one Secondary Domain Move)
Primary Domain Move
I Am the Elements
You are unaffected by nonmagical extremes in temperature.
Secondary Domain Moves (choose 1):
To the Stars
Standard
While out of doors, you can grow Dragon wings and fly; however you have not mastered them. Roll +WIS.
-
On a 10+ roll 4d6. Your result is the number of meters away you land from where you intended to land.
-
On a 7-9 as above but you crash land and damage your wings. You cannot use them again until after a day of rest.
-
On a 6 or lower you get the result of a 7-9, but also take 2d6 damage from the fall.
When you’re not in the middle of using this ability you can’t have your wings hanging out. Keep those danglies tucked in!
I Practice Dragonlaw
You can use I Am the Law on Dragons, using Asgorath's Authority.
Secondary Domains
Fire (Gain spells and its Secondary Domain Move)
Secondary Domain Move:
Crossfire
When using Run Away or Defy Danger to get out of a situation where you have no stake in either side of a conflict, take +1.
Water (Gain spells and its Secondary Domain Move)
Secondary Domain Move:
Go With the Flow
When someone tells you to do something you don’t want to do and you do it anyway, take +1 forward.
Justice (Gain spells and its Secondary Domain Move)
Secondary Domain Move:
It’s All a Deep End
When you're outnumbered 2 to 1 or more in a fight against criminals, do +2 damage. This ignores armor.