A celestial paragon was a unique, powerful celestial. They were often considered the opposites of the archfiends. There were at least sixteen paragons in existence.[1]
Celestial paragons were the rulers of the celestials. Like the archfiends, each paragon had a unique form and abilities. Unlike the archfiends, celestial paragons never fought or spied upon one another.[1]
The celestial paragons operated independently of deities. They had their own agents, agendas, and goals, and many acted as patrons for organizations on the Material Plane. While paragons could not grant spells to divine spellcasters, they sometimes petitioned good-aligned deities to do so for them. The most powerful followers of celestial paragons could occasionally channel their patron for a short time. Celestial paragons did not desire worship and were careful to remind their followers of that fact.[1]
The dragon Bahamut spent some time as a celestial paragon after his aspect, Marduk, was killed.[2]
The Celestial Hebdomad[]
The Celestial Hebdomad consisted of the seven paragons that ruled Mount Celestia. They were powerful archons who were once mortals and later served as generals and advisers to the gods of Celestia. These mortals were the first to sacrifice themselves to the cause of law and goodness. Their eternal mandate was to lead the righteous armies of Celestia. They were led by Zaphkiel, who was the only original member of the Hebdomad, the others having since been slain. However, when one of the Hebdomad was killed, an archon was simply changed into the form of the deceased paragon with all of their powers. The Hebdomad formed a kind of ruling council with Zaphkiel at its head.[3]
It consisted of the following members:
- Barachiel, the Messenger: Ruler of Lunia and coordinator of Celestia's defenses should it be attacked.[4]
- Domiel, the Mercy-Bringer: Ruler of Mercuria.[5]
- Erathaol, the Seer: Ruler of Venya and patron of seers and prophets.[6]
- Pistis Sophia, the Ascetic: Ruler of Solania.[7]
- Raziel, the Crusader: Ruler of Mertion and patron of paladins.[8]
- Sealtiel, the Defender: Ruler of Jovar, charged with preventing incursions into Chronias and defending against the machinations of fiends. Patron of warden archons.[9]
- Zaphkiel, the Watcher: Ruler of Chronias and leader of the Hebdomad. Only gods and the Hebdomad saw him without either perishing or being absorbed into the essence of the mountain.[10]
Talisid and the Five Companions[]
This group of guardinal paragons were more like an adventuring party than any kind of rulers. They wandered the House of Nature[11][12] and smashed any evil creatures that threatened the plane. The guardinals always existed here as far as anyone knew, and the companions had always solved disputes and led celestial warriors into battle. Members of the group retired once they deemed themselves unfit for service, but Talisid had been around for so long, hardly anyone could remember the name of the group's former leader. Occasionally, members of the group argued, but they did so as the dearest of friends with a loyalty to each other that put mere family loyalty to shame.[12]
The membership of the group was last listed as follows:
- Talisid, the Celestial Lion: Leader of the companions for several millennia, most powerful of the leonals.[13]
- Sathia, the Sky Duchess: Representative of the avorals and patron of sculptors and painters.[14]
- Manath, the Horned Duke: Representative of the cervidals and newest member of the Companions.[15]
- Vhara, Duchess of the Fields: Representative of the equinals.[16]
- Kharash, the Stalker: Paragon of lupinals and Talisid's best friend.[17]
- Bharrai, the Great Bear: Matriarch of the ursinals and teacher of magic.[18]
The Court of Stars[]
The Court of Stars itself was a demiplane that traveled between locations in Arvandor and the Gates of the Moon at Morwel, the Queen of Stars' whim.[11][19] This was achieved by opening portals that shifted the plane between the two realms. Morwel was the only being with the ability to open and close these portals. The demiplane resembled an autumnal sylvan forest populated with fey and eladrins with a huge crystal palace erupting from the heart of the woods where the Queen entertained guests and discussed important issues. Beings on the plane did not hunger, thirst or tire, but could eat, drink and sleep for enjoyment. Morwel and her consorts ruled over the eladrins.[19]
Morwel was flighty but always had the best interests of the eladrin people at heart. While Morwel held absolute power as a feudal queen would, she relied heavily on the counsel of her consorts, whom she held a great amount of affection for. Though she has had many consorts in the past, she was most recently known to only have two:[19]
- Faerinaal, The Queen's Consort: Master politician and shrewd judge of character. Tasked with defending the Court of Stars and rescuing captured eladrins as well as providing company and counsel to the queen.[20]
- Gwynharwyf, The Whirling Fury: Patron of barbarians. When not leading good-aligned barbarian hordes against evil she also acted as consort to the queen.[21]
Appendix[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 James Wyatt, Darrin Drader, Christopher Perkins (October 2003). Book of Exalted Deeds. (TSR, Inc), pp. 121, 123–124. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Eytan Bernstein (August 2006). Dragons of Faerûn. Edited by Beth Griese, Cindi Rice, Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 8. ISBN 0-7869-3923-0.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Darrin Drader, Christopher Perkins (October 2003). Book of Exalted Deeds. (TSR, Inc), pp. 124–125. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Darrin Drader, Christopher Perkins (October 2003). Book of Exalted Deeds. (TSR, Inc), pp. 125–127. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Darrin Drader, Christopher Perkins (October 2003). Book of Exalted Deeds. (TSR, Inc), pp. 127–128. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Darrin Drader, Christopher Perkins (October 2003). Book of Exalted Deeds. (TSR, Inc), pp. 128–130. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Darrin Drader, Christopher Perkins (October 2003). Book of Exalted Deeds. (TSR, Inc), pp. 130–132. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Darrin Drader, Christopher Perkins (October 2003). Book of Exalted Deeds. (TSR, Inc), pp. 132–134. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Darrin Drader, Christopher Perkins (October 2003). Book of Exalted Deeds. (TSR, Inc), pp. 134–136. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Darrin Drader, Christopher Perkins (October 2003). Book of Exalted Deeds. (TSR, Inc), pp. 136–138. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 189. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 James Wyatt, Darrin Drader, Christopher Perkins (October 2003). Book of Exalted Deeds. (TSR, Inc), p. 138. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Darrin Drader, Christopher Perkins (October 2003). Book of Exalted Deeds. (TSR, Inc), pp. 138–139. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Darrin Drader, Christopher Perkins (October 2003). Book of Exalted Deeds. (TSR, Inc), pp. 141–142. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Darrin Drader, Christopher Perkins (October 2003). Book of Exalted Deeds. (TSR, Inc), pp. 142–143. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Darrin Drader, Christopher Perkins (October 2003). Book of Exalted Deeds. (TSR, Inc), pp. 144–145. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Darrin Drader, Christopher Perkins (October 2003). Book of Exalted Deeds. (TSR, Inc), pp. 145–146. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Darrin Drader, Christopher Perkins (October 2003). Book of Exalted Deeds. (TSR, Inc), pp. 148–149. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 James Wyatt, Darrin Drader, Christopher Perkins (October 2003). Book of Exalted Deeds. (TSR, Inc), p. 150. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Darrin Drader, Christopher Perkins (October 2003). Book of Exalted Deeds. (TSR, Inc), pp. 153–154. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Darrin Drader, Christopher Perkins (October 2003). Book of Exalted Deeds. (TSR, Inc), p. 155. ISBN 0-7869-3136-1.
Connections[]
| Angel (any good alignment) | ||
| Archon (lawful good) | Guardinal (neutral good) | Eladrin (chaotic good) |
Arcadian avenger • Asura • Bariaur • Couatl • Einheriar • Foo creature (Foo dog • Foo lion) • Harmonious choir of the words • Hollyphant • Ki-rin • Lillend • Moon dog • Pegasus • Shirokinukatsukami • Sliver • Unicorn (Celestial charger)
Related Creatures
Aasimar (Deva) • Celestial creature • Half-celestial