Sárbolc

A.k.a The Deceiver, Lord of Dragonfire

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Suggested Domains (D&D 5E)

Forge, Trickery, Tempest

Sarbolc's Words (Godbound)

Artifice, Fire, Deception, Passion

The Deceiver, the Lord of Dragon-Fire, He Who Spurs Into Action. The impulsive divinity known as Sárbolc is one of several who have grown to power in the mountaintops of Tukhamu Magas. Originally a god of Passion and Misdirection, he took on the additional aspect of Dragonfire when he tricked the Elden Wyrm Csártuzra and bound it to provide his people with the means to produce greater weapons to fend for themselves. These three aspects belong to the greater domains of Fire and Trickery. He is the natural opposite of Helőre, who despises lies and embodies the domain of Order.
Sárbolc has always been a rather pro-active god. He truly embodies passion in everything he does, he cannot sit still and when he desires something he must go out to get it. When he wants to achieve something, he will do anything to succeed. It is perhaps for this reason that he seems more relatable to people, rather than being aloof like some deities. But he's never been too involved in his own rule, instead he likes to move among the people, in disguise of course. He interacts with them, plays tricks on them, and aids those who draw his attention. He is also one of the few gods known to have taken up a relation with a mortal, the current Queen Consort Laszérel.
He is equally forward and aggressive in his behavior to his fellow divinities, and he has made a few enemies in the process. This does not bother him however, as he's itching for a fight anyway. Some say he became more aggressive after taking control of the Elden Wyrm, and there may be some truth to that. Because while he dominates the Wyrm currently, it is still a rare and immensely powerful creature and it wouldn't be unthinkable that it could in turn affect the Deceiver himself. It has certainly affected his appearance.

Hallow

In the mountains near Sárbolszeg, lies an active lava field that is the hallow of Sárbolc. In this field degassing, the expulsion of gasses from the earth, is a common occurrence and these fields are usually covered in a layer of smoke. When he is not out roaming the city or playing tricks on people, he rests here, hidden among the smoke and entertaining the rare few who dare enter this place. It is usually guarded at all times, but Sárbolc himself has ensured there is no real punishment for being caught entering aside from being thrown out, as he appreciates seeing how people work their way in past the guards.

Appearance

For such a wily god, it should be no surprise that he appears quite handsome. He takes on various appearances but nearly always as a handsome man, however his features are actually not perfect. On the contrary, he's even missing an eye, where the hole is filled by a smoldering coal (divinities cannot hide their eyes). Somehow this seems to add a more rugged charm to him, although that may simply be his divine essence making him appear pleasing to the eye regardless of actual appearance.
His appearance has changed slightly over time though. As his connection with the Wyrm grows more intertwined during the years, he's taken on slightly draconic traits. Around his hands and wrists he has glimmering, golden scales and his nails have turned into small talons. When visible, an intricate pattern of scales can be seen to cross over his torso, like a kind of natural tattoo or golden body-paint.

Followers

Sárbolc is fairly popular among his citizens for his outgoing nature, but he is most worshiped by the smiths of Sárbolszeg, especially those who employ the dragonfire. Which is somewhat ironic considering he doesn't pay them as much mind as he considers the forge a mere tool and not all that interesting despite how useful it is. His priests are active figures within the community who try to light the fire in others and themselves through tales of the trials and tribulations of great heroes that pursued their passion. They also frequently set up challenges or trials for themselves and other willing participants that mimic those in the tales.
His priests can be easily recognized by the thin blindfolds they wear so that their god can walk among them, and not be recognized by his missing eye. They also paint intricate patterns and depictions of well-known tales and myths on their arms and faces with blood to represent the sacrifices made in the pursuit of passion, and that passion is the lifeblood of people.
His church also handle the operation and distribution of the Dragonforge. They maintain the equipment and assign who gets to use it and when. They also take care of the great Wyrm at great personal risk. It may be bound by magical shackles and dominated by Sárbolc's mind, but it is still a terribly dangerous creature even stripped of most of its power. Those who come to close may find his snapping jaws tearing off a limb. And in the rare case when Sárbolc's attention slips, it may even regain slight control over its fire. Perhaps not fully, but even a fraction of its true power can burn a man alive. Illusions and trickery are of little help against the beast, so they have to rely on their reflexes, good judgement, and enchantments that protect against fire.

Devotion

Those who devote themselves to a divinity are sometimes rewarded for it, especially when they perform extraordinary actions. Sárbolc appreciates the passionate, those who chase their goals with everything they have. Passion is one of the most admirable qualities a person can have, and throwing everything away in pursuit of your true passion is not recklessness, but the only sensible decision. Life is fleeting and ignoring your heartfelt desires is utter foolishness to him, something he at best does not understand, and punishes at worst. He rewards those who spurn the expectations of others or society to follow their heart, even if it resulted in tragedy. He will lift them out of that tragedy and put them in their rightful place.
As his more warlike side has come out in recent times, he's also increasingly showing favor to those who pursue excellence in combat as their passion. He holds that fire, both physical and metaphorical (e.g. passion), can burn those who are careless, but will strengthen those that understand it.
His blessings represent his own powers in a way, consisting of both elements of trickery and fire. His followers can mend weapons and breathe fire like a dragon, but they are also capable of using misdirection and wit to turn things around. Legends say that his saints can even summon the spirit of the Elden Wyrm to rain destruction on their enemies. But as it stands there are is only one saint currently, who has not taken to the battlefield.
Piety Rewards (D&D 5E)

Earning Piety:

• Pursuing a passion at a personal cost.
• Stirring the flame in another. Spur them to pursue their own passions.
• Using misdirection to defeat a more powerful opponent.
• Raising or restoring a monument to Sárbolc.
• Expanding the domain of Sárbolc.

Losing Piety:

• Giving up on a passion due to difficulty.
• Giving up in the face of adversity rather than using trickery to worm your way out.
• Destroying a totem or monument to Sárbolc.

Sárbolc's Devotee.
(Piety 3+ Trait)
The Deceiver has granted you a limited part of the dragon's power that flows through him. You can cast dragon's breath with this trait, requiring no material components. Once you cast the spell in this way, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest. Your spellcasting ability for this spell is your choice of Constitution, Wisdom, Intelligence or Charisma.
In addition, you know the mending cantrip. When applied to an object made with dragonfire, the casting time becomes one bonus action, rather than 1 minute.
Sárbolc's Votary.
(Piety 10+ Trait; Minimum Level 6)
Your draconic power grows, you now cast the dragon's breath spell from your first trait at 3rd level. This increases to 4th level at level 11, and 5th level at level 17. In addition, while you are concentrating on the dragon's breath from your first trait (so not on any other casting), you have resistance to the damage type you chose for the spell, and you gain advantage on saving throws against being frightened.
Sárbolc's Disciple.
(Piety 25+ Trait; Minimum Level 11)
You have proven not only your strength, but also your guile to the Lord of Dragonfire, and he has granted you the power to trick and avoid opponents in a manner similar to how he does. You can cast mislead with this trait. Once you cast the spell in this way, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest. Your spellcasting ability for this spell is your choice of Constitution, Wisdom, Intelligence or Charisma.
Saint of Dragonfire.
(Piety 50+ Trait; Minimum Level 17)
Sárbolc has allowed you to see into the mind of the Elden Wyrm itself, and you can now pull forth an illusion of the great beast that somehow seems real and not at the same time. You can cast illusory dragon with this trait. Once you cast the spell in this way, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest. Your spellcasting ability for this spell is your choice of Constitution, Wisdom, Intelligence or Charisma.
In addition, while you are concentrating on the illusory dragon from this trait (so not on any other casting), you have immunity to the damage type you chose for the spell, and you are immune to being frightened.

Realm

Tukhamu Magas

Aligned Organization

Sárbolszég, Hearthhome of the Dragon-Forge

Related Myths

• A Fire Bound - Sárbolc's Trickery

Myths of Sárbolc

The First Lüdérc

There was once a young, ambitious witch called Ibolya, who sought the affections of Sárbolc. But she knew that even with her beauty she would never stand a chance, with how infatuated he was with the queen consort. So first she decided to drive a wedge between them. She created a potion of lust, intending to feed it to the queen so that she would cheat on Sárbolc and draw his ire. She disguised herself as a servant and attempted to poison the queen's drink during dinner time. But as fate would have it, Sárbolc appeared disguised as a servant himself to surprise his wife and join her for dinner. As a god of trickery he easily saw through her disguise and noticed the lust potion. Sárbolc is quick to anger and this time was no exception. He punished Ibolya by cursing her to eternally seek lust like she sought to afflict the queen with and then turned her into a firebird before casting her out. So he turned her into the first Lüdérc, a shapechanger that needs to feed on lust to survive.

An Eye for an Eye

Sárbolc has always loved people, and he has always been a bit of a philanderer. But on one occasion, it cost him. One day a man burst into his hallow, chased by the guards, shouting that he wanted revenge. The man claimed that Sárbolc had laid with his wife and he wanted him to pay for his transgressions. The Lord of Dragonfire is rarely threatened and so he was fairly amused, he asked who the man's wife was, and confirmed he had slept with her. Being the trickster he is, he then proposed a solution. He would subject himself to whatever punishment the man desired, if the man could beat him at a simple game. He pulled out a dice and said that if the man could roll higher than him, he would win. The man readily accepted and Sárbolc tossed the dice back over his shoulder and called out that it was a 6, not even bothering to look at it as he already knew. The man asked if this meant that they would have a do-over if he also rolled a 6, but Sárbolc smiled and said that no, that was not what they agreed upon. The man would have to roll at least a 7.
For a moment the man stared at the dice with a deep frown, but then he threw it up. He quickly drew his blade and slashed the dice mid-air, cutting it in two. Both halves fell to the ground, showing a 1 and 6, totaling 7. Sárbolc was dumbfounded, but he is always true to his word. So he asked what the man wanted, perhaps to spend the night with one of his consorts? The man said that what he wanted was merely symbolical, a sign of equality. He wanted an eye ... for an eye. That is the story of how Sárbolc, the Deceiver got tricked and lost one of his eyes. The man later came to be known as one of his most powerful saints, who sacrificed his own eye to protect the divinity, but that is another story.

A Fire Bound

See the full myth here.