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Ao

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Ao

Title(s) The Overgod
The Hidden One
Power Level {{{power}}}
Subservient Deities {{{minions}}}
Dominion Abeir-Toril
Alignment True neutral
Sphere Governance of the gods
Portfolio {{{portfolio}}}
Worshipers {{{worshipers}}}
Cleric Alignments {{{cleric alignments}}}
Domains {{{domains}}}
Holy Day(s) {{{holy days}}}
Favored Weapon {{{favored weapon}}}
Channel Divinity Prayer {{{channel divinity}}}

Lord Ao (AY-oh) is the Overgod of the world of Abeir-Toril. As Overgod, all deities (and primordials) (even those who also operate in other spheres and planes such as Lolth) of Toril are subject to him. If it were not for Ao's involvement in the Time of Troubles, he would most likely be forgotten by the mortals of Faerûn. Ao does not want to be known, for cults once dedicated to him only a decade ago have begun to die out, and Ao's name is disappearing from written records. What goes on in Toril and what the other deities do are of no concern to Ao, as long the deities uphold their individual portfolios and do not completely ignore their worshipers.[1]

In addition, unlike the other gods under him, Lord Ao has no need for worshipers whatsoever, whereas those "normal" gods who do not receive the worship of mortals can "die" from lack of worship. Ao initiated this after the Time of Troubles in order to enforce his will that the gods act like guardians of the Balance rather than kings of mortals.

Contents

[edit] Worshipers

The cult of Ao is led by ministers instead of clerics, since these cultists never receive any spells from the Overgod; on the other hand, they have never been slain. His followers are likely considered "faithless" and therefore sent to Kelemvor's Wall of the Faithless when they die.

Ao established rules concerning the management of the divine.[2] For instance:

  • No two gods in the same pantheon could have identical portfolios.
  • When two gods clash, one of three results occurs:
    • One god fades from the Realms.
    • Both gods merge.
    • One (or both) god(s) alter their portfolio(s) sufficiently that both could remain in or join the Faerûnian pantheon.

[edit] Creation of the World

Lord Ao created the crystal sphere that holds the world of Abeir-Toril[3]. After he created the crystal sphere, it was just an empty, gray, and misty void, a timeless place of nothingness that existed before light and darkness became two separate things. Out of this shadowy realm came the two beautiful twin goddesses: Selûne and Shar, goddess of light and goddess of darkness.

[edit] References


[edit] Notes

  1. ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons, p. 4. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  2. ↑ Eric L. Boyd. Eric Boyd on Pantheons of the Realms. Retrieved on 2007-01-22.
  3. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition, p. 260. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.


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