Astaroth (Dungeons & Dragons)
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
roleplaying game, Astaroth was a demon lord
who is now a vestige
. He was known by the title of Diabolus for his ability to infiltrate the ranks of the devils
, and was worshiped by mortals for his prophetic abilities.
of the same name in demonology
.
Astaroth is mentioned as having been killed and replaced in the second edition Forgotten Realms
book, Powers & Pantheons (1997).
Astaroth received further details in third edition in Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss
(2006). Astaroth was further described in Dragon
#357 (2007), in the article "Gazing Into the Abyss." Astaroth played a role in the 2007 Savage Tide adventure path in Dungeon
magazine #148 in the adventure "Wells of Darkness".
, becoming one of its foremost nobles as the Treasurer of Hell. When the archdevil Gargoth exposed him, Astaroth fled back to the Abyss
to escape Asmodeus
's wrath. To prepare the inevitable retaliation from the Lords of the Nine, Astaroth used his prophetic powers to gain mortal followers on the Prime Material Plane
in order to gain true divinity. He even struck a bargain with Ahazu
to have his body imprisoned in the Wells of Darkness in the event of his death so he could be resurrected. It is said Astaroth did achieve true divinity, but that still was not enough to protect him when Gargoth, under Asmodeus' command, tracked him down and destroyed him. It is said that Gargauth went on to claim Astaroth's divinity, and even traveled under his name as well.
Astaroth's body is currently located in The Wells of Darkness. However, his promised resurrection has been stalled by the hellfire that Gargauth ignited in him; even as the Abyss
itself works to regenerate his body, the hellfire keeps consuming it.
As a vestige, Astaroth grants his summoner a hatred toward devils, divination abilities, and to burn with the flames of the Abyss.
Green Ronin's Armies of the Abyss has its own non-canonic take on Astaroth the demon prince. He appears as a beautiful angelic human with white feathered wings, golden hair, and rides a dragon and has a viper wrapped around one arm. He is said to rule a layer of the Abyss called the Terminal Archives, which is an infinite library. It is said that the coming of end of the multiverse is signaled by Astaroth burning every book from his library.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
roleplaying game, Astaroth was a demon lord
Demon lord (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, demon lords are demons who have gained great power and established a position of preeminence among demonkind. Each demon lord has a unique appearance and set of abilities. Most control at least one layer of the Abyss...
who is now a vestige
Tome of Magic
The title was reused for a 3.5 Edition supplement published in 2006. The new Tome of Magic is devoted to new forms and styles of magic as a path to power...
. He was known by the title of Diabolus for his ability to infiltrate the ranks of the devils
Devil (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, devils are a powerful group of monsters used as a high-level challenge for players of the game. Devils are Lawful Evil in alignment and originate from the Nine Hells of Baator. True to their Lawful Evil alignment, devils are locked in a strict and brutal...
, and was worshiped by mortals for his prophetic abilities.
Creative origins
Astaroth, at least name-wise, is based on the demonAstaroth
Astaroth , in demonology, is a Crowned Prince of Hell. He is a male figure named after the Canaanite goddess Ashtoreth.-Background:...
of the same name in demonology
Demonology
Demonology is the systematic study of demons or beliefs about demons. It is the branch of theology relating to superhuman beings who are not gods. It deals both with benevolent beings that have no circle of worshippers or so limited a circle as to be below the rank of gods, and with malevolent...
.
Publication history
Astaroth was one of many demon lords that was mentioned only by name in a list in the original Monster Manual II (1983).Astaroth is mentioned as having been killed and replaced in the second edition Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
book, Powers & Pantheons (1997).
Astaroth received further details in third edition in Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss
Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss
Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss is an optional supplemental source book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Chapter 1: Demonic Lore:...
(2006). Astaroth was further described in Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#357 (2007), in the article "Gazing Into the Abyss." Astaroth played a role in the 2007 Savage Tide adventure path in Dungeon
Dungeon (magazine)
Dungeon Adventures, or simply Dungeon, was a magazine targeting consumers of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 as a bimonthly periodical. It went monthly in May 2003 and ceased print publication altogether in September 2007 with Issue 150...
magazine #148 in the adventure "Wells of Darkness".
Description
Astaroth, in life, appears as a handsome human with both draconic and feathered wings. As a vestige, when called by binders, he manifests his old form but his body is slowly consumed by hellfire.History
A once powerful demon prince, Astaroth gained the title of Diabolus for his ability to infiltrate the legions of BaatorBaator
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Baator, also known as the Nine Hells of Baator or the Nine Hells, is a lawful evil-aligned plane of existence...
, becoming one of its foremost nobles as the Treasurer of Hell. When the archdevil Gargoth exposed him, Astaroth fled back to the Abyss
Abyss (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the Abyss or more fully, the Infinite Layers of the Abyss, is a chaotic evil-aligned plane of existence. It is one of a number of alignment-based Outer Planes that form part of the standard Dungeons & Dragons cosmology, used in the Planescape...
to escape Asmodeus
Asmodeus (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Asmodeus is an Arch-Devil: a lord of the game's version of Hell . There he is the Overlord of the Dukes of Hell...
's wrath. To prepare the inevitable retaliation from the Lords of the Nine, Astaroth used his prophetic powers to gain mortal followers on the Prime Material Plane
Prime Material Plane
The Prime Material Plane is the central plane of existence in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game...
in order to gain true divinity. He even struck a bargain with Ahazu
Ahazu
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Ahazu the Seizer is a demon lord that now functions as a vestige as a result of his self-imposed imprisonment in the Abyssal layer known as the Wells of Darkness.- Creative origins :...
to have his body imprisoned in the Wells of Darkness in the event of his death so he could be resurrected. It is said Astaroth did achieve true divinity, but that still was not enough to protect him when Gargoth, under Asmodeus' command, tracked him down and destroyed him. It is said that Gargauth went on to claim Astaroth's divinity, and even traveled under his name as well.
Astaroth's body is currently located in The Wells of Darkness. However, his promised resurrection has been stalled by the hellfire that Gargauth ignited in him; even as the Abyss
Abyss (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the Abyss or more fully, the Infinite Layers of the Abyss, is a chaotic evil-aligned plane of existence. It is one of a number of alignment-based Outer Planes that form part of the standard Dungeons & Dragons cosmology, used in the Planescape...
itself works to regenerate his body, the hellfire keeps consuming it.
As a vestige, Astaroth grants his summoner a hatred toward devils, divination abilities, and to burn with the flames of the Abyss.
Other Astaroths
Other than Gargauth, who uses his name, there is another being, who is also a vestige, who goes by the name of Astaroth. This Astaroth was a fallen celestial.Green Ronin's Armies of the Abyss has its own non-canonic take on Astaroth the demon prince. He appears as a beautiful angelic human with white feathered wings, golden hair, and rides a dragon and has a viper wrapped around one arm. He is said to rule a layer of the Abyss called the Terminal Archives, which is an infinite library. It is said that the coming of end of the multiverse is signaled by Astaroth burning every book from his library.