Gargauth

Gargauth

Gargauth (pronounced: /ˈgɑːrgɔːθ/ GAR-gawth), or The Lord Who Watches, is the lawful evil demigod of betrayal, cruelty, political corruption, and power-brokers. He embodies the inevitable decay and corruption that accompanies all self-serving, greedy, and power-hungry leaders and groups.

Description

Gargauth appears as a fanged and clawed humanoid with horns and jagged shards of bone jutting out of his face and back. When manifesting for the first time to people, he wore an intricate guise meant to convey his handsomeness (he rarely manifested as female) and nobility, but couldn't help but revert to his true form over one to four months - however, by the time this reversion became apparent, he had usually corrupted those he appeared to so that they never realized this - only beings who first met him after this reversion had taken place would realise that his appearance was a facade.

Personality

Gargauth comes off as a personable sage in most of his encounters. Regardless of the species he manifested as, people almost always find him to be the most charming, amusing, and knowledgeable being they have ever met. In truth however, he is a dangerous manipulator who holds to the letter rather than the spirit of his agreements, and relishes in betraying anyone with whom he has forged a pact by twisting the contract to serve his own ends.

Powers

Gargauth radiates charm magic that is very difficult to resist and impossible to dispel. He is immune or resistant to most magical and physical attacks. His one weakness is being struck by silver, which has the potential to seriously injure him, and after an almost deadly encounter involving a thrown sack of silver coins, Gargauth ensured that he was protected with spells when meeting anybody he did not already have complete control over.
A unique power that Gargauth possesses, which he makes efforts to keep secret, is an ability to entirely absorb all the abilities of any baatezu whom he has managed to completely destroy. It is this power that allows him to achieve apotheosis.

Possessions

Gargauth has access to an unlimited supply of +3 daggers, which he can withdraw from one of his sleeves and is noted as occasionally wielding a rapier. He often carries venomous snakes wrapped around his arms which he uses as weapons in combat.

Relationships

Gargauth is opposed to many evil deities, Bane, Bhaal, Cyric, Iyachtu Xvim, Loviatar, Shar, and Talona all count themselves as Gargauth's foes. He poses a particular threat to Siamorphe, given his interest in corrupting those who she holds up as shining paragons of virtue. Gargauth does not seek allies due to his nature as a loner, preferring to directly control minions instead. However, he counts on the support of the archdevils of baator, including Asmodeus, who is perhaps his closest ally. Gargauth himself opposed Ghaunadaur, who stole the aspect of Gormauth Souldrinker from him.
Gargauth sometimes employs a powerful blue dragon named Rathguul as a steed, whom he has dominion over due to an ancient infernal contract.

Worshipers

The church of Gargauth is a secretive faith, although there are some significant exceptions.

History

Gargauth was once the arch-devil Gargoth whose foul nature was too much even for others of his ilk. Exiled forever from the Nine Hells to the Material Plane under pain of complete destruction, Gargauth took to wandering the planes, returning time and again to the world of Toril. The only complete record of these journeys exist in a journal he wrote while making them, the original of which is kept in Oghma's Library. During this time, he established a cult following on Toril and absorbed the powers and followers of Astaroth, a tanar'ri who had become stranded on that world and later, several baatezu as well.
Gargauth was ultimately responsible for the destruction of the realm of Peleveran by virtue of his manipulation of nearly two dozen powerful members of the Cult of the Dragon. He almost achieved lesser god status when his cult blossomed during the Harpstar Wars but the concerted effort of the churches of Bane, Bhaal, Loviatar, and Talona crushed his followers to prevent such an occurrence.
During the upheaval caused by the Spellplague, Gargauth apparently lost his divinity when he became trapped within the Shield of the Hidden Lord.

Rumors & Legends

Despite being widely unknown to most people living in Faerûn, Gargauth appears in many cautionary tales and parables under the names of his aspects and guises. One of the most popular of these is the dwarven Legacy of Astaroth, which teaches dwarves that steel can be more precious than gold.