Istishia (pronounced is-TISH-ee-ah [3]), also known as King of Water Elementals, is the neutral primordial deity of elemental water and purification.[4]
Worshipers
Istishia is worshiped by Sailors, Pirates, Water Elementals, Water Genasi, some Aquatic Elves,[5] and others who feel a bond with the Ocean's destructive power.
Worship in Zakhara
On the continent of Zakhara, Istishia is called one of the cold gods of the elements. As those are seen as uncaring for human affairs, they are considered opposed to the Land of Fate's pervasive culture of Enlightenment. Only a few Zakharans are willing to worship a cold god in order to gain power.[6]
Relationships
Istishia allies are those deities with a relation to water, like Deep Sashelas, Eldath, Valkur, and Umberlee, but they are not strong relationships. He opposes Kossuth in every way. Istishia sits back and watches the struggle of the archomentals of water, Ben-Hadar and Olhydra; presumably he would intervene if one would achieve a real chance to get control of elemental water.[7]
History
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Publication history
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
Ed Greenwood initially used Straasha, one of Moorcock's Elemental gods as found in the original Deities & Demigods, as the elemental lord of water for his home Dungeons & Dragons campaign set in the Forgotten Realms. As Greenwood indicated in his article "Down-to-earth Divinity" in Dragon #54 (October 1981), Moorcock's elemental gods "may later be replaced in [his] universe by 'official' AD&D beings as these are published".[8] Istishia first appeared in the original Manual of the Planes (1987),[9] and was featured as one of the elemental lords for the Forgotten Realms in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Set's "Cyclopedia of the Realms" booklet (1987).[10]
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
Istishia was described in the hardback Forgotten Realms Adventures (1990),[11] the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (1993) in the "Running the Realms" booklet,[12] and Faiths & Avatars (1996).[13]
Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition (2000-2007)
Istishia appears as one of the major deities of the Forgotten Realms setting again, in Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (2001),[14] and is further detailed in Faiths and Pantheons (2002).[15]
Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-Present)
Istishia appears in the fourth edition as a primordial.[16]
Notes
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 235. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Colin McComb (October 1996). On Hallowed Ground. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 181. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 98. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 79, 81. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ Template:Cite book/Nightwatch In The Living City
- ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1992). Land of Fate (Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara). (TSR, Inc), p. 57. ISBN 978-1560763291.
- ↑ Monte Cook, William W. Connors (1998). The Inner Planes, pp. 55-56. TSR, Inc. ISBN 9-780786-907366.
- ↑ Greenwood, Ed. "Down to Earth Divinity." Dragon #54 (TSR, 1981)
- ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR). ISBN 0880383992.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb (August 1987). “Cyclopedia of the Realms”. In Karen S. Martin ed. Forgotten Realms Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-88038-472-7.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Ed Greenwood and Julia Martin (1993). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 2nd edition. (TSR, Inc).
- ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 978-0786903849.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
References
- Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 98. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
- Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 79, 81. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
Azuth • Bane • Bhaal • Chauntea • Cyric • Gond • Helm • Ilmater • Kelemvor • Kossuth • Lathander • Loviatar • Mask • Mielikki • Myrkul • Mystra (Midnight) • Oghma • Selûne • Shar • Shaundakul • Silvanus • Sune • Talos • Tempus • Torm • Tymora • Tyr • Umberlee • Waukeen
Other Members
Akadi • Auril • Beshaba • Deneir • Eldath • Finder Wyvernspur • Garagos • Gargauth • Gerron • Grumbar • Gwaeron Windstrom • Hoar • Istishia • Iyachtu Xvim • Jergal • Lliira • Lurue • Malar • Milil • Nobanion • The Red Knight • Savras • Sharess • Shiallia • Siamorphe • Talona • Tiamat • Ubtao • Ulutiu • Valkur • Velsharoon
Akadi • Bazim-Gorag • Grumbar • Istishia • Kossuth
Miscellaneous Primordials
Achazar • Arambar • Asgorath • Borem • Bwimb • Cirotralech • Dendar • Draunn • Dur-baagal • Entropy • Erek-Hus • Karshimis • Kezef • Maegera • Maram • Nehushta • Petron • Queen of Chaos • Rorn • Telos • Ubtao
Hajama • Hakiyah • Haku • Jisan • Kor • Najm • Selan • Zann
Local Gods
Bala • Botu'Astok • Jarmik • Jauhar • Vataqatal
Savage Gods
Akadi • Faceless God • Grumbar • Istishia • Kar'r'rga • Kossuth • Lost One • Lotha • Ragarra • Shajar • Thasmudyan
Genie Lords
Marrake al-Sidan al-Hariq ben Lazan • Kalbari al-Durrat al-Amwaj ibn Jari